The Urban Air Initiative joined with a broad cross section of public and private interest groups supporting the call for more aggressive regional pollution control measures in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials released a draft standard, titled "Low iLUC Risk Biomass Criteria and Compliance Indicators," that could make it possible to certify biomass as low risk for indirect land use change (ILUC).
In April, the U.S. Department of Energy released its Quadrennial Energy Review. The report focuses on energy infrastructure and identifies threats, risks, and opportunities for U.S. energy and climate security.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the launch of two new private funds, known as rural business investment companies (RBICs), which make equity investments in rural businesses, helping them grow and create jobs.
Produced by BBI International, the 2015 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop will bring together the largest gathering of ethanol producers to discuss the industry's renewed certainty for long-term growth supported by the U.S. government.
A new analysis produced by the University of Illinois at Chicago's principal research economist, Steffen Mueller, found that giving Illinois consumers more access to cleaner fuel options, such as E15, would provide significant environmental benefits.
The Canadian government issued an emergency directive to railway companies to slow trains transporting dangerous goods. Companies must now slow their trains to a maximum of 40 miles per hour when traveling in highly urbanized areas.
The European Parliament voted April 28 to approve the 7 percent cap on first-generation biofuels, providing a degree of closure to the long-debated measure. European biofuel trade associations now want talks to focus on post-2020 policy.
On April 27, Morning Consult released the results of a national survey conducted on behalf of the Renewable Fuels Association. The results show that Americans overwhelmingly support the renewable fuel standard (RFS).
A bipartisan group of 37 senators have send a letter to the U.S. EPA urging the agency to reverse course from the 2014 proposed rule and maintain a strong renewable fuel standard (RFS) to drive innovation and growth in America's economy.
In a speech April 23 at Michigan State University, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack laid out a comprehensive approach to partner with agricultural producers to address the threat of climate change.
Bill Rep. Rod Blum, R-Iowa, recently introduced legislation in the house that includes a provision to extend the ethanol waiver for Reid vapor pressure (RVP) to ethanol blends with more than 10 percent ethanol.
On April 22, the world commemorates Earth Day. Around the globe, communities will take part in activities to promote awareness of environmental issues. However, for farmers, promoting the health and stability of nature resources happens every day.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., recently introduced legislation that would allow railroads to be granted short-term extensions on the implementation of Positive Train Control. The bill also contains a provision that would impact ethanol trains.
A multinational report on bioenergy and sustainability released in April concludes the sustainable production of bioenergy can be an important tool for addressing climate change. Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers contributed to the report.
The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for March, reporting that more than 1.44 billion RINs were generated during the month, including nearly 7.8 million cellulosic RINs.
For this week's Scoop Blog, I communicated with a leader of a German ethanol industry association, who revealed some differences between ethanol production in that country and the U.S.
The U.S. EPA published two studies recently; defending its stance that ethanol increases toxic emissions. However, if you follow the same flawed formula, you get the same flawed results, warned representatives of the Urban Air Initiative.
Legislation pending in Iowa aims to create a 5-cent-per-pound renewable chemical production tax credit. The legislation was introduced in March and is currently awaiting review in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
On April 17, the U.S. Department of Transportation and two of its agencies announced a package of actions that aims to enhance the safe transportation of Class 3 flammable liquids, including ethanol and crude oil.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has announced plans to host a webinar on biofuel sustainability on April 22, titled "Biofuels for the Environment and Communities."
In an analysis of a recent Iowa Department of Revenue motor fuel report, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association has revealed that if E15 was widely available Iowa drivers could save more than $50 million per year in fuel costs.
Sen. Jeff Flake, R, Ariz., has introduced legislation that aims to amend the renewable fuel standard to require the cellulosic requirement to be based on actual production and alter the statutory definition of cellulosic biofuels to exclude biogas.
Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., recently introduced legislation that aims to expand the U.S. EPA's existing waiver for Reid vapor pressure to fuels blends containing more than 10 percent ethanol. If signed into law, the bill would expand E15 availability.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released its Annual Energy Outlook 2015, which presents updated projections for U.S. energy markets, through 2040 based on six different scenarios. The outlook includes ethanol forecasts.
On April 14, the environment committee of the European Parliament voted 51-12 to endorse a deal struck by legislators earlier this year that aims to cap the use of first-generation biofuels and accelerate the shift to alternative sources.
The RFS is helping improve our environment by incentivizing the production of fuels that ensure a cleaner, greener future, writes Tom Buis of Growth Energy. He urges readers to ask elected officials to support the RFS.
The RFS is important and worthy of support, writes David VanderGriend. However, it should not be viewed as what defines the value of biofuels, a value which can only be realized if the industry can get fuels into the market.
The U.S. EPA has posted a notice to its website announcing that the volume requirements for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 renewable fuel standard (RFS), along with the 2017 volume requirement for biomass-based diesel, will be finalized by Nov. 30.
The Surface Transportation Board has rescheduled a meeting of the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee. The event, originally scheduled for March 5, was cancelled due to inclement weather. The meeting will now be held April 14.
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