Category: Top Stories

New tech converts natural gas to hydrogen at scale anywhere and Plastic-eating enzyme ‘cocktail’ heralds hope for plastic waste

September 29, 2020 | admin

It’s Tuesday and we’ve got two hot-off-the press technologies making news today. And if that isn’t enough Ts in one sentence, they also hit the target in terms of solving today’s tough trials. Converting otherwise wasted natural gas into high-value hydrogen and acetylene In Florida, Transform’s patented commercial-scale microwave plasma reactor system accelerates hydrogen infrastructure […]

Bioeconomy News Worth Sharing 9/25/20: Hemp Renewable Diesel, Steelanol, EVs, how oil & gas looks at biofuels

September 28, 2020 | Jim Lane

Renewable hemp diesel – who says there’s no hope in dope, or rope? Steven Fance shred this update on Emerald. Björn Heijstra shared this account from Nikkei.com of how the Chinese Steel industry is pivoting towards a fuel business based on LanzaTech technology. Jigar Shah shared this article from CleanTechnica looking deeper into the economics […]

Scotland’s opportunity to grow a new clean, sustainable economy

September 28, 2020 | admin

By Mark Bustard, CEO at Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) Special to The Digest The idea of a net zero carbon emissions and zero waste economy isn’t as far-fetched as some may think. The key promise of a bio-based economy is that we can grow the sources of raw materials for every day products. Industrial […]

Switching to switchgrass – will DOE and USDA funding turn switchgrass into a Rockstar biofuel feedstock?

September 27, 2020 | admin

Australian rock band AC/DC was on a roll with several record hits like ‘Back in Black’ and ‘For Those About to Rock We Salute You’ in the early 1980s, until that is, the ‘Flick of the Switch’ in 1983 that some rock critics say was the beginning of the end for them and a “commercial […]

Heating Oil Industry launches Plan to Shift to 100% renewable fuels by 2050

September 24, 2020 | Jim Lane

“Biofuels proven as most affordable, immediate path to net-zero carbon,” says NEFI. In Washington, representatives from the National Energy & Fuels Institute (NEFI) and global management consulting firm Kearney announced a plan for the heating oil industry to eliminate fossil energy use by 2050. This will in effect transform the very nature of heating oil, […]

No ICE: California bans sale of non zero-emission cars from 2035

September 23, 2020 | Jim Lane

All Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to be zero-emission where feasible by 2045 Air transport, marine not affected. Complete details and text of landmark announce In California, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order requiring sales of all new passenger vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035 and additional measures to eliminate harmful emissions from the transportation […]

Mycelium coffins, wine waste sneakers, Ingredion’s new protein isolates and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the week of September 24th

September 23, 2020 | admin

As COVID-19 deaths sadly reached the 200,000 mark in the U.S. this week, some innovators are finding more sustainable ways to deal with death in the form of mycelium coffins that help compost the body and remove toxins from the soil. On a more uplifting note, you can walk in sustainable shoes while you are […]

Paths to a capped carbon economy: 6 ways we can really make a change

September 22, 2020 | Jim Lane

By Russ Freeman, PE Retired Special to the Digest Through publications and Webinars, The Digest has done a remarkable job of keeping interested parties informed about the global impacts of a fossil-based once-through society and growing efforts to transform it. From the substantial body of information presented and a big-picture viewpoint, it is clear we […]

The Protection Election, in a year of choices: Trump v Biden, Law-and-order v Defund-the-Police, Border Walls v Bridges, and even crop protection care of FMC, Zymergen

September 21, 2020 | Jim Lane

A few weeks ago, on an otherwise empty soundstage in Wilmington, former Vice President Joe Biden accepted the Democratic Party nomination for President and said, “As president I’ll make you a promise. I’ll protect America. I’ll defend us from every attack, seen and unseen, always, without exception, every time.” In doing so, he defined this […]

On the Move – New experts at Lee Enterprises Consulting, new President at Total-Western, Inc.

September 20, 2020 | admin

2020 has taught us that things are always changing including people and what they are working on and where they are working. This week we have Payman Farrokhyar who was named President of Total-Western, Inc. effective Oct. 1st and Lee Enterprises Consulting formed two new sections – “Land & Natural Resources Management” and “Food […]

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