Biofuels backers say a U.S. House Science Committee had very little to do with science in regards to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Congressional committee met on the 10th anniversary of the RFS, and Tom Buis, co-chair of Growth Energy, said the committee has a history of misrepresenting biofuels, relying on misinformation and outright lies to cast a negative …
Vertimass Gets US Gov’t OK for Biofuel Tech
A California company received U.S. government approval for its technology that will be able to blend more biofuels with gasoline, diesel and jet fuels. This news release from Vertimass says the technology validation allows the company to get a new award of $2 million by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technology Office. Vertimass technology was originated at Oak Ridge …
ABFA Opposes Biodiesel Tax Credit Restructure
A move that extends the federal biodiesel and renewable diesel tax credit for two years, but changes its structure, is finding opposition from at least one biofuels group. The Advanced Biofuels Producers Association opposes an amendment by Sens. Charles Grassley and Maria Cantwell, which would extend the $1-per-gallon federal credit, but would convert the credit from one for blenders (those …
Opinion: VW Could Repair Image with Biodiesel
Biodiesel could be the solution to fix Volkswagen’s image left tarnished by revelations the company rigged the emissions testing for its diesel vehicles. This opinion piece in the Denver Post by Bill Germain, described as a sustainable business strategist and environmental advocate, makes it very clear he’s not happy with what VW did, especially since he owns one himself. And …
Bubbles Could Make the Difference for Biodiesel
Researchers in Canada might have found a way to increase biodiesel production by using bubbles. This article from McGill University’s The McGill Daily says Peter Adewale, a PhD student in the school’s Bioresource Engineering Department, has devised a method to shorten the production time of biodiesel to twenty minutes, a significant drop from previously reported production times ranging from 24 …
East Kansas Agri-Energy Celebrates 10th Anniversary
East Kansas Agri-Energy (EKAE) is celebrating its 10th anniversary of operations. The Garnett, Kansas ethanol biorefinery is hosting an event on Saturday, August 15th and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) will be onsite to share in the plant’s success along with government and industry officials and featuring a keynote speech from Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan). Attendees can also tour the …
EPA’s Ethanol Rules Pollutes Air Equal to 1 Mil Cars
The government’s proposal to cut the amount of ethanol to be blended into the nation’s fuel supply would pollute the air equivalent to one million more vehicles on the road. The Energy Resources Center (ERC) at the University of Illinois at Chicago conducted the analysis on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed ethanol blending rules. The findings come in the …
Celebrating a Decade of Success with the RFS
August 8, 2015 marks the 10th anniversary of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) containing the original Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) being signed into law by President George W. Bush. The signing ceremony took place at the Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where President Bush noted that the bill he was signing into law would “…lead to …
Fuels America Submits 200k+ Pro RFS Comments
More than 200,000 Americans took a stand for biofuels by submitting written comments in support of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Today is the final day of the comment period following the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) releasing its final renewable fuel volumes for 2015 and 2015. Fuels America, during a press call this morning, said these comments only paint a …
EPA Officials Visit Kansas Ethanol Plant
In advance of a public hearing in Kansas City on the proposed volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials visited East Kansas Agri-Energy (EKAE) in Garnett, Kansas Wednesday. Federal and regional EPA personnel toured the 45 million gallon per year corn ethanol plant, examined progress on EKAE’s co-located renewable diesel project, and discussed the importance …