After a year-long talk fest, the BPC emerges with a report on RFS reform, and lays an egg. Was the process doomed from the start by an insistence of “RFS reform” as a topic for discussion, instead of RFS enforcement? The Digest investigates. In Washington, the Bipartisan Policy Center has issued its high-awaited 61-page report […]
1 billion liters by 2024, vows Raizen. Record speed on start-up. What’s the story on the ground? The Digest investigates. In Brazil, Iogen and Raízen announced they have begun production of cellulosic ethanol on schedule at Raízen`s newly expanded Costa Pinto sugar cane mill in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Raízen broke ground on the $US100 […]
In Washington, the US Senate passed the tax extenders bill, including the $1 per gallon biodiesel tax credit, 76-16. The tax extender legislation including a one-year retroactive extension of four key advanced biofuels tax provisions as part of a larger package of tax credit extensions. These four advanced biofuels incentives include: (1) the Second Generation […]
Castor, jatropha, pongamia — the three steps that Bosques Energeticos is taking in piloting its way to success in fuels, chemicals and other markets. Can the early-stage company thrive, based on its uncommon approach to intercropping? The Digest investigates. In science, there exists the difficulty in developing a new energy crop — improving yields and stress tolerance, […]
How does $60 oil impact payback for natgas or hybrid electric vehicles, and cellulosic biofuels? The going assumption is that low oil prices are bad for alternative fuels — but it’s not always the case. Consider the competition. Quite a bit of ink has been spilled regarding hybrid electrics and natgas vehicles — as alternatives […]
Lost your biobased mojo? Mesmerized by tumbling energy prices? Tired of the “calls to inaction”? Why not REnew, REthink, REfocus on renewable energy’s solvable challenges – starting with The Digest’s REFocus 2015 survey. (Skip to the 2015 REfocus Survey, right here) The global worryfest over oil prices intensified this weekend when OPEC head Abdullah al-Badri […]
The Digest’s Dashboard is a convenient “news you can use” 5-Minute summary of current markets including key commodity prices, relevant futures, bioenergy-related stocks, and historical equities data. Latest prices – key commodities. Most recent commodity closing prices, and price changes, for NYMEX’s crude oil, Brent Crude, Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel, Natural Gas, RBOB gasoline, and Ethylene; ethanol […]
Boom times for two-product strategies? Can feed markets offer relief for the challenges on the fuel side? The Digest investigates. The energy industry continues to feel the impact of falling energy prices. In Wednesday’s Top Story, we noted that the industry conversation has shifted from long-term fundamentals to a form of “oil price watching” — […]
Contract manufacturing agreement with DTI speeds Rivertop’s time to market for its novel performance chemicals In Montana, Rivertop Renewables announced that it has begun construction of its first commercial plant, located at DanChem Technologies’ facility in Danville, Virginia. DTI, a custom manufacturer of fine and specialty chemical products, is expected to begin production of Rivertop’s sustainable, […]
US biodiesel leader heads for the EU – what’s up with used cooking oil, and what is REG’s path forward with the German-based biodiesel producer? In Iowa, Renewable Energy Group and IC Green Energy announced that REG will acquire ICG’s majority equity ownership position in German biodiesel producer Petrotec AG (XETRA: PT8). Closing of the […]
