ICIS Blogs : politics

Celebrities in Chemicals

ICIS Chemicals Confidential — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:55:30 GMT

Bowing to popular pressure, the Blog today launched a new category: " Celebrities in Chemicals ," which has gathered together recent postings on: Park Ji Sung (May) Kim Jong Il (May) Vivienne Westwood (May) Adam Lambert (May) Mikhail Gorbachev...(read more)

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)

Minnesota's auditor suggests ending state ethanol subsidy

The Big Biofuels Blog — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:56:41 GMT

A few days ago the auditor in Minnesota suggested that the state's use of subsidies to the ethanol industry may have outlived its purpose , since ethanol firms have been profitable. Also it is likely to cost $44m over the next three years. There are...(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)

NPRA, lobbyists are against higher volumes of ethanol in fuel

The Big Biofuels Blog — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:18:50 GMT

An alliance of environmentalists, health groups and the US National Petrochemical Refiners Association is opposed to higher levels of ethanol in automotive fue l on the basis that it might endanger the environment, through changing land use, and people's...(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)

Obama and Lula spoke about the tariff

The Big Biofuels Blog — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:14:43 GMT

Last week end Presidents Lula (Brazil) and Obama (US) met and had a conversation, According to the ICTSD, Brazil's Lula pressed Obama on Doha and on the US tariff policy for Brazilian ethanol this is ICTSD's take on the conversation The leaders...(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)

Wes Clark appointment confirmed

The Big Biofuels Blog — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:20:55 GMT

The appointment of General Wes Clark as co-chairman GrowthEnergy , has been confirmed by the organisation. I picked up a blog post that said it was likely to happen yesterday. Read More......(read more)

Wes Clark to lobby for ethanol?

The Big Biofuels Blog — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:34:17 GMT

General Wes Clark may be joining a pro corn ethanol lobby group to take on the mighty American grocery lobby, according to Politico a blog by Ben Smith. I can't imagine that you'd get a General (retired or not) doing that sort of thing anywhere...(read more)

The EU climate and energy package welcomed by EuropaBio

The Big Biofuels Blog — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:23:16 GMT

I've just recieved a press release from EuropaBio, which explains why the organisation likes the recently approved EU Climate and Energy Package.... Here it is. European Parliament's approval of the Climate and Energy Package provides the European...(read more)

European Bioethanol industry welcomes EU 20% by 2020 plan

The Big Biofuels Blog — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:44:50 GMT

The European Bioethanol industry body has welcomed the EU's plan to ensure that 20% of its energy comes from renewable sources by 2020 , according to ICIS news. (Disclosure: I work for ICIS. About ICIS ) The idea that governments will be able to work...(read more)

Biofuels are sticking point for EU renewable policy

The Big Biofuels Blog — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:29:54 GMT

According to ReutersThompson Biofuels have deadlocked the EU'a renewables policy. Read More......(read more)

Can the EU square ethics with trade, should it even try in biofuels?

The Big Biofuels Blog — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:07:32 GMT

Can the EU square its desire to import only biofuels that conform to high ethical standards with the needs of free trade? That might sound like the kind of question we'd be covering in an ethics course (which thankfully we're not). But it is possible...(read more)

More politics on energy

Green Chemicals — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:46:41 GMT

Here's another energy-based issue that both US presidential candidates seem to agree on: the development of clean coal. According to the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) , both Obama and McCain recognized the need for clean coal...(read more)