ICIS Blogs : usa

China aims to reduce imports

Chemicals & The Economy — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:16:26 GMT

China has been a major beneficiary of the globalisation movement in recent years. In turn, it has become a tremendous importer of most chemicals. It accounts for up to 50% of total demand for many Asian chemical producers, and is a critical factor in...(read more)

Pacific Ethanol

The Big Biofuels Blog — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:49:31 GMT

Video from WSJ Marketline about Pacific Ethanol's Plant in Stockton, California . Production at the Stockton was suspended in February. It is now mothballed. Too much capacity, margins too thin, seem to be the story. This isn't the first time...(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)

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)

The relationship between corn, ethanol and autofuel replacement US-style

The Big Biofuels Blog — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:20:30 GMT

There is a direct relationship between the volume of corn converted to ethanol with the % of gasoline replaced in the US. Its shown more clearly if you click the line which contains the mysterious word Thi at the bottom of this poor thumbnail. I've...(read more)

Interactive US map of advanced fuels

The Big Biofuels Blog — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:31:28 GMT

I saw this map from the Natural Resources Defense Council on Robert Rapier's i-r-squared blog and couldn't resist it. I guess it is incomplete, but it looks pretty good. Read More......(read more)

NW Biodiesel Network Forum in May

The Big Biofuels Blog — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:30:43 GMT

I've just come across the NW Biodiesel Network. It will be holding a forum in Seattle on May 2 0. The East Side Chapter has meetings at the North Bend Railroad Depot every second Wednesday. (Which looks a lot better than it sounds) Read More......(read more)

Exporting is no fun anymore

Chemicals & The Economy — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:06:16 GMT

Japan and Germany are the great exporting countries of the industrialised world. They didn't have the consumer booms seen in the USA and UK. Yet their economies are plunging, as export opportunities dry up. Yesterday , the Japanese finance minister...(read more)

Comment on US proposals for E15

The Big Biofuels Blog — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:09:24 GMT

The US Environmental Protection Agency wants comments on proposals to increase the volume of ethanol blended into gasoline to 15% . Read More......(read more)

12000 gals water make 1 gal ethanol

The Big Biofuels Blog — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:02:26 GMT

Wholly irrigated corn can take up to 1200 gal of water to produce 1gal ethano l, according to a report on the MinPost today. That's a lot of water and touches again on my obsession with aquifers . Read More......(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)

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)

The Big Biofuels Blog — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:10:38 GMT

The Scientifc Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) has produced a report looking at the enviromental impacts of biofuels ,. The group makes a number of recomendations for second generation feedstocks, and favours woody or grassy plants. As...(read more)

25x25 launching blog soon

The Big Biofuels Blog — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:04:46 GMT

25x25.org in the US is launching the 25x25blog on 1 April. I'll be keeping an eye on it. 25x25 is an interesting organisation this is its vision: By 2025, America's farms, forests and ranches will provide 25 percent of the total energy consumed...(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)