In Washington, Reuters reports that the acting administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency told his Senate confirmation hearing that he still expects year-round E15 to be in place by the summer driving season that kicks off in June despite the ongoing government shutdown causing delays to rulemaking. The rule was expected to be released in […]
By Tomi Nyman, Principal at Pöyry Special to The Digest It seems like there is a never-ending deluge of negativity about plastics in the media. Yet for all the valid and important points being made about the environmental impacts of plastics, the most important question is all too often missed: can plastics be replaced? Ending […]
Ensyn produces a biocrude from forest and agricultural residues using its proprietary thermal technology. Dr. Robert G. Graham, Founder and Executive Chairman of Ensyn gave this illuminating overview of their growth in RFO, advancement in refinery co-processing, and start-up of a new 10 million gallon/year production facility in Quebec at ABLC Global 2018 in San […]
In Finland, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd has developed a new technique based on gasification, which offers a sustainable way to turn forest industry byproducts, such as bark, sawdust and forestry waste, into transport fuels and chemicals. The new technique reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 90 per cent compared to fossil fuels. […]
In Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds released her 2019 Iowa budget proposal Jan. 15. Included in her budget was $3 million for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, which provides cost-share grants to help Iowa retailers incorporate blender pumps, storage tanks and other necessary equipment to offer higher blends of biofuels. In response, Iowa Renewable Fuels […]
In Belgium, Reuters reports that the European Commission is ready to accept a proposal by Argentina to set a minimum price for its biodiesel exports to Europe in lieu of anti-dumping tariffs, a proposal which stakeholders have been given until January 18 to comment upon before giving a final thumbs up, although apparently the EC […]
In Canada, local press reports there has been an outbreak of vomitoxin in Ontario-origin corn, some of which is used for ethanol production, that is causing challenges because the ethanol production process can’t kill the toxin and therefore would remain in DDGS. Levels have been detected at up to 25 times the allowed limits in […]
In Brazil, sales of hydrous ethanol jumped by 25% on the year during December while anhydrous ethanol sales fell by roughly the same amount, reflecting demand provoked by higher fossil fuel prices that continue to call for E100 sales in response. Hydrous sales were just over 1.79 billion liters while anhydrous sales were just 633.8 million […]
In California, Greenbelt Resources Corporation announced initial funding for a licensing and exclusive distribution rights agreement from PURNOL, a California-based distribution company. In accordance with the agreement between PURNOL and Greenbelt, a substantial portion of an undisclosed fee was funded in December of 2018. Subsequently, Greenbelt commenced the process of modifying and enhancing its production […]
In Wisconsin, researchers at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, recently published a paper in the journal mSystems in which they analyzed the makeup and metabolic activity of a mixed microbial community within a bioreactor. By doing so, they’re edging closer toward engineering such a community to optimally generate particular products—an outcome that would boost […]
