In Brazil, Platts reports that agriculture ministry data shows ethanol stocks were the highest ever on record at the start of the sugarcane crush on April 1 at 2.33 billion liters. That figure was 98% higher than at the start of the prior crush while ethanol was scarce and was being imported from the US […]
In the UK, researchers have developed a cheap and simple way of creating biofuel and fertilizer from seaweed, whilst removing plastic from the oceans and cleaning up tourist beaches in the Caribbean and Central America. Partly fueled by fertilizers washing into the sea from farming in the Americas, the foul-smelling Sargassum seaweed devastates the tourism […]
In Washington, mayors from across the U.S. farm belt condemned oil industry efforts to seize markets from farmers and biofuel producers under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler, 70 mayors called on the agency to “reject unjustifiable RFS waiver requests and protect rural communities.” “Some of us […]
A new technology that produces a doubling of overall biomass in algae and 40 percent in camelina has appeared on the horizon, and I’d like to draw your attention to this work in The Plant Journal and this one in Nature Research. If you’ve been a fan of the New Mexico Consortium, Dick Sayre’s algae […]
In the past 50 years, population has doubled, food and water tripled, fossil fuels quadrupled. So how do we transition to a net positive world? That’s where RSB comes in with their community, resources and sustainability standard and certification system as part of a global movement to create a world of positive impacts and a thriving planet. […]
In Canada, NOVA Chemicals Corporation and Enerkem have entered into a joint development agreement to explore turning non-recyclable and non-compostable municipal waste into ethylene, a basic building block of plastics. Working together, the companies will research advanced recycling technology to transform hard-to-recycle municipal waste, including items such as plastics, household waste, and construction materials, into […]
In Texas, Global Clean Energy Holdings bought the Alon Bakersfield Refinery in California from Delek US Holdings for $40 million cash. Primoris Services Corporation announced ARB Industrial was awarded a $200 million contract for the engineering, procurement and construction of a renewable diesel facility at the refinery. The retooled facility will produce renewable diesel from […]
In Pennsylvania, Reuters reports the Environmental Protection Agency has offered to cut Philadelphia Energy Solutions’ RIN obligation by 70%, capping it at $10 million. It is the second time the agency has offered to make such a deal for PES that entered into bankruptcy protection last year after it suffered a major fire. By limiting […]
In Illinois, Brownfield Ag News reports two commodity analysts predict the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath will force significant consolidation in the ethanol industry that will lead to permanent closures. One said that with many ethanol plants getting near 3 gallons of ethanol per bushel, those that are less efficient, getting less than 2.8 gallons […]
In Vietnam, the VN Express newspaper reports a State Audit Agency report shows that despite the Binh Phuoc Ethanol Plant shutting down more than seven years ago, the defunct facility is still accruing $11.25 million per year in costs. More than $5.12 million is spent annually on loan interest for the non-functional plant in addition […]
