The August issue of EPM has a plant optimization theme and contains stories about new technologies, plant trials, a profile of an energy systems chief and more, writes Tom Bryan of BBI International.
The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for June, reporting that more than 1.56 billion RINs were generated during the month, including more than 12.41 million cellulosic RINs.
New products undergo extensive research and collaboration before real-time testing. This story appears in the August issue of EPM.
Companies aim to tweak and transform key systems to reduce energy use and resolve bottlenecks. This story appears in the August issue of EPM.
In July, the U.S. Department of Energy published a notice in the Federal Register inviting public comments on proposed revisions to certain information collection forms, including several focused on biofuel. Comments are due Sept. 8.
The Senate Finance Committee has passed a tax extenders package that includes two-year extensions of tax credits for cellulosic biofuels and biodiesel. The next step for the legislation is consideration by the full U.S. Senate.
U.S. Water has announced the launch of PhosZero with E-FeX Technology, which is a synergistic blend of ingredients that replaces the most common uses of phosphorus in cooling water applications.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Finance is scheduled to address a tax extenders bill on July 21. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, recently announced he has secured the inclusion of tax incentives for cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel in the legislation.
DuPont and Jilin Province New Tianlong Industry Co. Ltd. have announced a licensing agreement to begin the development of China's largest cellulosic ethanol manufacturing plant, located in Siping City, Jilin Province, China.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is soliciting nominations for candidates to fill vacancies on the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. Nominations are due Aug. 14.
MIT researchers have found a way to make yeast produce more ethanol from sugars: Spike the mixture they're growing on with two common chemicals. Adding potassium and an acidity-reducing compound helps the yeast tolerate higher ethanol concentrations.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technology's Office (BETO) has announced plans to hold a workshop focused on the challenges associated with the coproduction of biomass-derived chemicals, products and biofuels.
On July 14, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out a lawsuit filed by the Energy Future Coalition and other groups against the U.S. EPA regarding the agency's failure to use E30 as a test fuel in a recent rulemaking.
When Ethanol Producer Magazine asked for nominations of rock star operators, the name of an industry veteran of almost two decades rose to the top. This story appears in the August issue of EPM.
On July 13, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance welcomed UNICA, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, as its newest member. UNICA is the largest organization in Brazil representing sugar, ethanol and bioelectricity producers.
The Agricultural and Fisheries Council of the European Union has officially adopted the new rules to address indirect land use change (ILUC) impacts associated with biofuels. The directive was accepted by the European Parliament in late April.
The Auto Channel has launched the Ethanol Chronicles. A long-time champion for ethanol, copublisher Marc Rauch describes the blog as "lively, spirited and sometimes humorous repartee concerning energy issues."
USDA Rural Development's Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) has scheduled a July 16 forum to introduce the new Biorefinery, Renewable Chemicals, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program.
Nine more ethanol plants have achieved the U.S. EPA's efficient producer status, bringing the total to 40. The agency posted the newly completed pathway assessments on its website in early July.
The USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service has announced it is soliciting applications for the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program, which provides loan guarantees to eligible biorefining projects.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has issued the July edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting ethanol production, which averaged 935,000 barrels per day last year, will remain near current levels in 2015 and 2016.
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations has published a new agricultural outlook predicting that ethanol and biodiesel use will continue to grow over the next decade, although at a slower pace.
The White House Office of Management and Budget has published a statement detailing its opposition to several components of an appropriations bill pending the in the U.S. House of Representatives, including a provision related biogenic emissions.
Station owners who offer ethanol blends above 10 percent are gaining increased sales and higher customer counts, contrary to assumptions made by the U.S. EPA in its recent proposal for the renewable fuel standard (RFS).
UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane association, has announced mills in the country's south-central region produced 1.66 billion liters (438.53 million gallons) of ethanol during the first half of June, including 1.02 billion liters of hydrous ethanol.
Renewable Fuels Association member company East Kansas Agri-Energy recently hosted key officials from the U.S. EPA at its facility in Garnett, Kansas, 70 miles southwest of Kansas City.
Spero Energy Inc., a company that licenses Purdue intellectual property, has received federal funding to develop its one-step, patent-pending technology that could improve the efficiency of alternative fuel production.
Microvi Biotechnologies, working with the Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, has demonstrated breakthrough improvements to biological ethanol production.
U.S. ethanol production set a new record the week of June 19, when production averaged 994,000 barrels per day. The new record comes only two weeks after the previous weekly record of 992,000 barrels per day was tied.
On June 25, the U.S. EPA held a hearing to address its proposed rule for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 renewable fuels standard (RFS) in Kansas City, Kansas. More than 250 people were scheduled to testify at the event.
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