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By Charity Pennock, on February 18th, 2010
Read the Renewable Fuels Association issue brief on EPA’s final RFS2 ruling here.
By Charity Pennock, on February 18th, 2010
From 25x’25:
The new rule announced by EPA last week implementing the federal Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) takes a major step toward a clean energy future by including forest biomass as a feedstock for transportation fuels. However, any effort to maximize this plentiful source of low-cost, domestically produced biomass is hamstrung by a flawed legal definition that excludes an estimated 90 percent of the nation’s renewable biomass from private forests from the program…
Read more here.
By Charity Pennock, on February 18th, 2010
From The Guardian:
The brains trust of the Pentagon says it is just months away from producing a jet fuel from algae for the same cost as its fossil-fuel equivalent.
The claim, which comes from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) that helped to develop the internet and satellite navigation systems, has taken industry insiders by surprise. A cheap, low-carbon fuel would not only help the US military, the nation’s single largest consumer of energy, to wean itself off its oil addiction, but would also hold the promise of low-carbon driving and flying for all.
Darpa’s research projects have already extracted oil from algal ponds at a cost of $2 per gallon. It is now on track to begin large-scale refining of that oil into jet fuel, at a cost of less than $3 a gallon, according to Barbara McQuiston, special assistant for energy at Darpa. That could turn a promising technology into a market-ready one. Researchers have cracked the problem of turning pond scum and seaweed into fuel, but finding a cost-effective method of mass production could be a game-changer. “Everyone is well aware that a lot of things were started in the military,” McQuiston said.
By Charity Pennock, on February 11th, 2010
From DOE:
President Barack Obama announced on February 3 three actions that the federal government is taking to boost U.S. biofuels production. The measures include: the final rule from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) of 36 billion gallons by 2022; a proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its Biomass Crop Assistance Program, which provides financing to increase the production of biomass for bioenergy (see article below); and the release of Growing America’s Fuel, the first report from the president’s Biofuels Interagency Working Group. The report lays out a strategy to advance the development and commercialization of a sustainable biofuels industry.
By Charity Pennock, on February 9th, 2010
A new report commissioned by the Bipartisan Policy Center compares the economic impacts of a 25% renewable electricity standard (RES) and a 20% RES to the impacts of the North Carolina Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (NC REPS). The study projected impacts from renewable electricity generation, renewable electricity feedstock production, and from electricity rates per kWh.
The analysis found that in 2025, the total impact from operating additional renewable facilities would reach $2.2 billion under the NC REPS, $4.5 billion under the 25% RES, and $4.1 billion under the 20% RES.
In addition, the analysis found that 25 to 30 percent of those impacts would come from the production of feedstock for bioenergy. While the direct economic activity of the North Carolina agriculture sector in 2007 is estimated at $9.9 billion, the economic impact of the NC REPS on North Carolina’s agricultural and forestry sectors in 2025 is projected to be $0.7 billion from the NC REPS, $1.6 billion from a 25% RES, and $1.4 billion on 20% RES.
Read the full report from the Center here and further analysis from Southern Alliance for Clean Energy here.
By Charity Pennock, on February 4th, 2010
From Dupont Danisco:
Leaders from DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE), University of Tennessee and Genera Energy, cut the ribbon on one of the world’s first cellulosic ethanol demonstration facilities, located in Vonore, Tenn. The 74,000-square-foot plant has started producing ethanol and will deliver low-cost, fully-integrated technology for commercial production of ethanol from agricultural residue and bioenergy crops, including corncobs and switchgrass.
By Charity Pennock, on February 4th, 2010
From Biofuels International:
In 2008, Georgia Power announced that one of its plants would convert from burning coal to burning woody biomass in an attempt to generate green electricity. The conversion of Plant Mitchell would make it the largest biomass plant in the country and was given the go-ahead last March by the Georgia Public Service Commission.
Plant Mitchell was due to be operational in June 2012, after conversion was due to begin in April 2011. However, spending has been suspended momentarily. It has been claimed that the reason for delay is down to the reservations over federal rules regarding the production of harmful air pollutants from industrial boilers, which are planned for Plant Mitchell.
Spending on the conversion has ceased until the US Environmental Protection Agency releases a draft of the proposed regulations, due this April. A final decision is expected in December. Project manager Kenny Smith commented, ‘We didn’t feel it was prudent to spend several million dollars in early 2010 without having at least the draft rule.’
By Charity Pennock, on February 4th, 2010
From 25x’25:
The National 25x’25 Steering Committee applauds President Obama and the members of the Biofuels Interagency Working Group for the actions announced today recognizing the role of biofuels in a new, clean energy future. In a report issued by the working group this afternoon, the administration unveiled a plan that will boost the development of biofuels that could generate billions of dollars in additional revenue for rural America. The Steering Committee believes that administration proposals for a reinvigorated USDA-run Biomass Crop Assistance Program will spur the expansion of dedicated non-food crops for renewable energy and biofuel production. The final rule adopted by EPA to implement the Renewable Fuels Standard is a step forward, recognizing that first-generation ethanol can, and will continue, to contribute to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The Steering Committee welcomes the administration’s recognition of the contributions that farmers, ranchers and forestland owners can make to enhance our energy independence, boost our economy and improve our environment. Today’s announcements signal to investors that solutions from the land provide valuable and sustainable returns. However, we call on the White House and Congress to maintain the momentum of today’s actions and quickly adopt a comprehensive, stable and long-term energy policy.
From House Agriculture Committee:
“Typical of most decisions made in Washington, there is some good and some bad in the Renewable Fuel Standard final rule announced today. I am pleased that ethanol and biodiesel will qualify as advanced biofuels under the RFS. However, I am concerned about some provisions in the final rule that fail to use science-based standards,” Chairman Peterson said. “To think that we can credibly measure the impact of international indirect land use is completely unrealistic, and I will continue to push for legislation that prevents unreliable methods and unfair standards from burdening the biofuels industry.”
Read more responses at Biofuels Digest.
By Charity Pennock, on January 12th, 2010
From ELPC:
Conceived in the 2002 Farm Bill, REAP [Rural Energy for America Program] is responsible for the development of thousands of new clean energy projects across rural America. Farmers and rural businesses are using REAP to build new clean energy projects for wind and solar power, biodiesel, anaerobic digesters and other biomass, geothermal, and energy-saving upgrades. REAP also helps rural electric cooperatives, ag extension offices and other non-profits to conduct energy technical assistance to assess rural clean energy needs. REAP is a strong success, with more than 3,500 clean energy project awards in 49 states since the program’s first year in 2003.
ELPC has calculated REAP’s job creation benefits at current and higher funding levels. Our analysis is based on employment data from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for clean energy industries in combination with REAP project awards.
Our calculations show that REAP could create approximately 5,900 net jobs in the national economy each year at a funding level of $350 million a year. In other words, REAP produces nearly 17 jobs per $1 million of investment.
Read more here.
By Charity Pennock, on January 12th, 2010
From NREL:
Having rapidly established itself as a “go to” site for transportation and other related energy information, the Virtual Information Bridge to Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (VIBE) is expanding its reach to attract new users across the widest range of energy issues. A sister site to VIBE, called Open Energy Information, has been launched to allow organizations around the world to both post their own energy data and download data, for free.
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