In Washington, rumors abound that US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu may step aside shortly for a new Secretary – with President Obama seeking a number of cabinet-level changes to inject fresh faces and thinking into his Administration as he heads into his second presidential term. Are the rumors true? Only time will tell – […]
In New Jersey, Senator Frank Lautenberg, D, has applauded Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev, for his stance on climate change: “As we work with New Jersey families, business and communities to rebuild, after yet another devastating extreme weather event, it’s clearer than ever that climate change poses a direct and dangerous threat to our nation,” said Lautenberg, a member of […]
In Michigan, a research team led by Michigan State’s Bruce Dale, writing in the November 2012 issue of Biomass & Bioenergy, that they believe that a lifecycle analysis approach to ILUC requires replacing the nutritional functions of the crops grown on the land, not the crops themselves. This functional approach to ILUC reduces the calculated […]
In Thailand, the new policy mandating 5% blending of palm oil-based biodiesel came into effect on Nov. 1. The move to B5 from B4, which requires additional supply of 200,000 liters per day, was delayed due to lack of availability of locally-produced palm oil due to poor weather conditions but the supply issue has since […]
In New York, New York City has followed Pennsylvania’s lead and has temporarily suspended its 2% biodiesel blend for heating following Hurricane Sandy. The suspension goes through Dec. 2. The mandate only just began on Oct. 1.
In Zimbabwe, if the government approves a 20% ethanol blending mandate as expected, Green Fuel will need to raise about $40 million to fund an expansion that would allow it to satisfy increased demand. The roughly 2,000 employees who were put on half-time salaries in February when the plant shut down after reaching its maximum […]
n Pennsylvania, the two percent biodiesel content blending requirement has been temporarily suspended in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The suspension will be in effect until Thursday of next week. “Hurricane Sandy has impacted the supply and demand of diesel fuel,” Agriculture Secretary George Greig said. “Temporarily lifting this requirement will keep trucks on the […]
In Iowa, The American Seed Trade Association and the Biotechnology Industry Organization recently completed the first phase of an industry Accord to establish a framework for post-patent single trait seeds. The following reaction should be attributed to Chuck Larson, executive director of Americans for Choice and Competition in Agriculture: “After five years of tireless negotiations […]
In the UK, the environment minister has declared that all palm oil used in the government’s food and catering services must be sustainably sourced from 2015, following in the path of sustainability criteria for biofuels. The UK’s biofuel supply only includes 0.5% from palm oil and no biofuel is produced in the UK using palm […]
In Thailand, the energy ministry says that strict rules from the customs and excise departments are hindering ethanol exports, boosting the cost of trade and keeping the country from becoming the Southeast Asia ethanol hub that it desires to be. Domestic demand is only 1.3 million liters per day compared to 3.5 million liters of […]
