The battle over the Renewable Fuel Standard and how much ethanol should be blended into the US fuel system next year is heating up again, with trade groups exchanging punches and lawsuits being filed. The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers are involved in a war of words with the Renewable Fuels Association and the American… Keep reading →
Well it’s not quite that dramatic, but Houston was passed over as host of the 2017 World Petroleum Congress in favor of Istanbul, Turkey. The Texas energy capital hosted the event in 1987 and nearly won the honors for the 2014 event, narrowly losing out to Moscow. [Houston Business Journal] Eni drilled a successful appraisal… Keep reading →
Could implementing a widespread change in energy use be as simple as educating leadership? The US Navy’s top-down structure may provide an effective means of implementing broad, sweeping changes to energy use in one of the country’s largest institutions. The Naval Postgraduate School’s Energy Academic Group and Cebrowski Institute hosted a five-day training course for Naval… Keep reading →
Only Saudis & Russians pump more oil According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), US will surpass Russia in total production of liquid fuels in 3rd Qtr. 2013 – that includes crude oil plus biofuels like ethanol. Moreover, US is now the third largest crude oil producer behind Saudi Arabia and barely trailing Russia. Saudi… Keep reading →
Like something out of a Bacigalupi novel, a crop disease that attacks corn – known as Goss’s wilt – is blighting crops across the US. While bioengineered seeds are believed to be the main culprit, crop rotation helps limit the disease’s ability to spread, but demand for corn used in ethanol production disincentivizes such rotation.… Keep reading →
By: Javier E. David As the U.S. prods the oil industry to blend more ethanol into gasoline, charges are flying between refiners and biofuel advocates about the impact of such mandates—and whether the so-called Blend Wall is really a problem at all. Under a law passed in 2007, refiners are required to mix a certain… Keep reading →
The credits – Renewable Index Numbers – created to track compliance with EPA-mandated ethanol blending into the US fuel supply as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard reportedly created a market easily manipulated by Wall Street and other players. [New York Times] Some positive climate change news may be on the horizon when the Intergovernmental… Keep reading →
An examination of liquid biofuels published in Strategic Studies Quarterly, a peer-reviewed journal for security professionals, has concluded that they fail to provide meaningful benefits when pitted against petroleum products. “The United States cannot achieve energy security through biofuels, and even the attempt is ironically achieving effects contrary to ‘clean’ and ‘green’ environmental goals and… Keep reading →
As the US ethanol industry expanded, it quickly became clear that numerous limitations and complications came with using food crops – primarily corn in the US – to manufacture fuel. As is often the case in modern society, technology was seen as the solution. Ethanol can also be made from non-food feedstock like switch grass,… Keep reading →
EPA’s 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) require blending of 16.55 billion gallons of renewable fuels into transportation fuel, providing additional lead time and flexibility for compliance. On August 6, 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its finalized volume and percentage standards for four renewable fuel categories – cellulosic, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuels, and total… Keep reading →
