In Washington, reform of the Renewable Fuel Standard could be on its way following confirmation of a meeting between President Trump and oil industry leaders regarding biofuel policy. The meeting was a result of Texas Senator Ted Cruz blocking the approval of a high level USDA appointment in the Senate until the meeting was agreed. […]
In Japan, biodiesel produced from used cooking oil will be used to power more than 420,000 pink LED lights in cherry trees along 2.2km of road in Tokyo’s Meguro river, meant to resemble the famous cherry blossoms the attract visitors from around the world every spring. The demonstration began seven years ago after the Fukushima […]
In the Netherlands, an open letter to the Dutch cabinet signed by 178 Dutch scientists called on policy makers to ensure that food crop-based biofuels were not included in the European energy policy post-2020. “We, the undersigned, wish to express our sincere worries about the European biofuel policy. In this letter we urgently implore you […]
As any observer of roadkill knows, time takes care of even the most complex organisms if they die by the side of the road — rots sets in, and time takes its toll, and bones are generally all that is left by the side of the road. Rot is nature’s free bioconversion technology — and […]
There are two approaches to encouraging low-carbon fuels — volumetric mandates and carbon reduction incentives. What is different about a Low Carbon Fuel Standard — as compared to a Renewable Fuel Standard? There are 4 primary differences. 1. An RFS creates a standard, and any fuel that meets that standard can compete in that market. Once […]
Codexis is a leading protein engineering company that applies its technology to the development of biocatalysts for the commercial manufacture of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. Codexis’ proven technology enables implementation of biocatalytic solutions to meet customer needs for rapid, cost-effective and sustainable manufacturing. Codexis CEO John Nicols gave this illuminating presentation on the company’s progress, […]
In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency released its final Renewable Fuel Standard renewable volume obligations for 2018. The agency finalized a total renewable fuel volume of 19.29 billion gallons , of which 4.29 BG is advanced biofuel, including 288 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel. As the Renewable Fuels Association explained: “That leaves a 15 BG […]
Elevance Renewable Sciences is a world leader in natural oil metathesis, with a commercial-scale biorefinery in Gresik, Indonesia and a group of collaborators including Stepan, P&G, Wilmar, Materia and Clariant. In 2015, the company introduced Elevance Clean 1200, what it describes as “a superior-performing degreasing and VOC-exempt solvent that outperforms traditional and bio-based solvents for […]
By Lisa V. Mueller, Partner, Industry Group Chair, Life Sciences, Michael, Best & Friedrich Special to The Digest On November 27, 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear arguments in Oil States Energy Services LLC. v. Greene’s Energy Group. It’s no “ho-hum” case. If you or your company has any issued patents or is worried […]
CRISPR technology will ultimately impact what we eat, wear, and how we maintain our health — and it just crashed successfully into the big party known as the Advanced Transportation revolution. Specifically, a new path to producing fuel molecules that replace diesel. For some time we have seen tremendous activity around the development of CRISPR […]
