ICIS Blogs : policy

25x25 warns on restricting cellulosic biomass

The Big Biofuels Blog — Mon, 11 May 2009 10:55:31 GMT

25x25 a pressure group in the US is warning that some proposed legislation in the US could severely restrict the amount of cellulose available for biofuels in what is effectively a call for managed woodlands. I can see why the Waxman-Markley proposal...(read more)

California looks at emissions from crop to tail pipe and legislates

The Big Biofuels Blog — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:16:28 GMT

California's newly adopted low-carbon fuel standard may mark the beginning of the end of ethanol, according to a report on Planet Ark. The new legislation examines the carbon impact from seed to tailpipe, which seems sensible. Read More......(read more)

Times twigs that biofuel policies have environmental impacts too

The Big Biofuels Blog — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:16:05 GMT

This article in the Sunday edition of the Times understands that there are environmental costs to biofuel policies. Read More......(read more)

Smart Choices for Biofuels

The Big Biofuels Blog — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:43:20 GMT

I missed this about a month ago, but it is worth looking at, The Sierra Club and World Watch Institute produced Smart Choices for Biofuels . It rounds up quite a lot of stuff we've gone over here. It is good to see the Ogallala aquifer getting a mention...(read more)

Antibiotics at heart of corn ethanol

The Big Biofuels Blog — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:09:34 GMT

Some US corn ethanol producers are using penicillin and three other antibiotics in corn fermentation process says Minnesota Public Radio . /* Why? To ensure that the yeast they use in fermentation does not have to compete with naturally-occurring bacteria...(read more)

Cellulosic ethanol the US dream and reality

The Big Biofuels Blog — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:16:36 GMT

This graph, produced with data from the Des Moines Register, and another good article from Phil Brasher shows the current gap between US cellulosic ethanol production next year and the curent legislative requirement for it. It looks as if the US will...(read more)

EU puts tarrif on US Biodiesel

The Big Biofuels Blog — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:25:46 GMT

The European Union has started applying tariffs to biofuel exported from the US to the E U. The EU says that American biodiesel is being sold at less than the true cost of production in the US because of local, state and national subsidies to producers...(read more)

The Malaysian Minster of Plantation Industires on sustainability

The Big Biofuels Blog — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:23:14 GMT

The Malaysian Minister of Plantation Industries spoke exclusively to the World Refinning Association ahead of the Asian Biofuels Roundtable to be held in Malaysia at 23-25 March. It is interesting that there is no discussion of prior informed consent...(read more)

AMFI enewsletter arrives

The Big Biofuels Blog — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:05:07 GMT

I've just been sent a copy of the AMFI enewslette r. The AMFI is the group which is implementing the Agreement on Advanced Motor Fuels of the International Energy Agency. It appears four times each year, apparently, and gives around up of some of...(read more)

The Global Justice Ecology Project doesn't like biofuels

The Big Biofuels Blog — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:29:20 GMT

The ethanol battle has been joined again now that a new Administration is due to take over the White House. The flurry started late yesterday UK time (for me at any rate) with an email from The Global Justice Ecology Project with a letter (that's...(read more)

US DOE updates E85 portal page

The Big Biofuels Blog — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:20:06 GMT

The US Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels & Advanced Vehicles Data Center has updated its portal for ethanol . With hints on how to succeed with E85 and Business cases for E85 retailers. Read More......(read more)

Eleven eastern US states plan biofuels boost

The Big Biofuels Blog — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:43:10 GMT

Eleven eastern US states are planning an indirect boost to biofuels with a plan to significantly reduce emissions from transportation, according to the Environmental News Service . It is hard to disagree with both the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger...(read more)

Obama wants to double renewables production

The Big Biofuels Blog — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:41:25 GMT

Over on Greentech media, there's a piece about Obama wanting to double renewable energy production and make public buildings more energy efficient, create three million new jobs. Through his Recovery and Reinvestment Plan with strategic investments...(read more)

The good, the bad, the ugly 2008/2009

The Big Biofuels Blog — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:01:01 GMT

The best piece of work on Biofuels 2008? For me that was the The Gallagher Review of the indirect effects of biofuels production . If you're a serious player in this market, you should read that report. Worst technology to make biofuels: Fermentation...(read more)

A Short Essay on Biofuels and Related Matters

The Big Biofuels Blog — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:34:59 GMT

This is a guest post from Professor David B. Benson (retired), who is a regular commenter on The Big Biofuels Blog. David's contact details: dbenson@eecs.wsu.edu Biofuel ------- Photosynthesis uses only a very small fraction of the available sunlight...(read more)