Author Archive: Jim Lane

rss feed

Mission to Mars (Materials): The Long Walk to Fossil Freedom

Mission to Mars (Materials): The Long Walk to Fossil Freedom

August 21, 2025 |

Three years ago, at ABLC 2022 Mars Materials CEO Aaron Fitzgerald arrived on stage for his ABLC debut with the kind of conviction that can only come from founders staring into the abyss and seeing an opening instead of a wall. Not many had heard of the company then. Lot more now, with the news […]

Read More

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Policy for a Circular Bioeconomy

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Policy for a Circular Bioeconomy

August 20, 2025 |

Policies are critical for deploying sustainable bioenergy effectively within a circular bioeconomy, a newsworthy concept combining regulatory and promotional elements across sectors. The core innovation lies in smartly integrating biomass with wind and solar, using biomass more circularly to yield “more with the same”. Bioenergy from by-products and waste is presented as a key enabler […]

Read More

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to International Bioeconomy Coordination

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to International Bioeconomy Coordination

August 19, 2025 |

The Biofuture Platform, a multi-stakeholder initiative, pioneers international coordination for a sustainable bioeconomy. Its innovative focus is evidence-based analysis, including a Global Biomass Resource Assessment and common criteria for sustainable fuels. Newsworthy outcomes include G20 consensus on harmonizing GHG emission assessment methodologies and transparent lifecycle carbon accounting standards. The initiative advocates for performance-based, technology-neutral, and […]

Read More

Feast of the Assumptions: ADM, OCOchem, and the Right Form for biobased innovation

Feast of the Assumptions: ADM, OCOchem, and the Right Form for biobased innovation

August 19, 2025 |

August 15 on the calendar marks the Feast of the Assumption. But in the bioeconomy, we’re forever caught in what I’d call the Feast of the Assumptions. Assumptions that persistence will eventually pay off.Assumptions that subsidies will close the cost gap.Assumptions that CO₂ isn’t waste but feedstock.Assumptions that this partnership will be the one that […]

Read More

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to SixRing’s Biomass Deconstruction Breakthrough

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to SixRing’s Biomass Deconstruction Breakthrough

August 18, 2025 |

SixRing unveils a patented, ambient pressure/temperature technology for biomass deconstruction, a newsworthy departure from energy-intensive methods. This innovative approach enables economic operation without subsidies, offers high yields, and reduces carbon intensity. A key advantage is flexible product allocation, including SAF via HEFA and ATJ pathways from non-food biomass, addressing “food vs. fuel” concerns. With TRL […]

Read More

CO2 as a Laser Gas

CO2 as a Laser Gas

August 18, 2025 |

By: Sam A. Rushing, Advanced Cryogenics, Ltd, www.CO2consultant.us Special to The Digest CO2 lasers were one of the earliest gas lasers to be developed. The development occurred in 1964 by Bell Labs, and remains one of today’s most useful lasers; which some claim to be one of the most powerful continuous lasers available as of […]

Read More

Common Sense Ain’t Common: Will Rogers tips his hat to Bill Bivin’s NetZero City

Common Sense Ain’t Common: Will Rogers tips his hat to Bill Bivin’s NetZero City

August 18, 2025 |

Will Rogers once said he never met a man he didn’t like. I gave him a run for his money when I was writing my novel When Heat Comes. He wasn’t crazy about the way I put him in there — he told me I made him sound too much like a preacher and not […]

Read More

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Development and Challenges

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Development and Challenges

August 14, 2025 |

The evolving regulatory landscape, including global SAF mandates (e.g., India’s 1% by 2025, UK’s 10% by 2030), is driving SAF development. Key challenges are high cost (1.5-6x conventional fuel), scaling production, infrastructure, and sustainable feedstock. ICARUS evaluates promising pathways like Biocrude Oils to SAF (HTL), Alcohols to SAF (ATJ), and Syngas to SAF (FT), noting […]

Read More

Liberal, Kansas and the fight conservatives are waging for energy freedom

Liberal, Kansas and the fight conservatives are waging for energy freedom

August 14, 2025 |

By General Jim “Jayhawker” Lane Special to The Digest I am a fighting man, and I mean to fight for freedom. You remember me as General Jim Lane, the Jayhawker — we were the ones who raided the border, broke the chains, and made Kansas free soil. I wore the name gladly. Freedom wasn’t just […]

Read More

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to International SAF Policy Landscape and Investment Hurdles

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to International SAF Policy Landscape and Investment Hurdles

August 13, 2025 |

International SAF markets are heavily reliant on HEFA (85% future volume), but need diversification due to feedstock limits. Strong global policies and mandates are emerging (e.g., EU’s ReFuelEU, UK’s 10% by 2030, US’s 3 billion gallons by 2030). Despite this, investor hesitation persists due to past failures and differing sustainability criteria between regions, indicating a […]

Read More

}