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October 10, 2014
EESI Briefing on Advanced Cellulosic Ethanol Dispels Myth of ‘Phantom Fuels’
On Monday, October 6, EESI held a briefing, ‘Cellulosic Ethanol: A Technology Update’, with speakers from Rep. Tammy Duckworth’s (D-IL) office, Poet, LLC., Abengoa Bioenergy, DuPont Industrial Biosciences, and Novozymes North America. Currently, cellulosic ethanol is commercially produced at one U.S. facility, Poet-DSM’s ‘Project Liberty’. Abengoa’s Hugoton KS facility is expected to begin commercial production in mid-October, and DuPont’s Nevada IA plant is expected to come on-line before the end of the year. Combined, these three plants are expected to produce 80 million gallons of renewable cellulosic ethanol per year. While the speakers highlighted the phenomenal progress that has occurred in the industry in a short period of time, policy uncertainty moving forward -- in particular, possible changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) -- was cited as chilling to the overall U.S. investment climate for the industry. Conversely, they said the investment opportunities for their technologies and companies are very positive in South America, Asia and Europe. Improved market and policy certainty will be critical if they are to stay and expand their operations in the United States.
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USDA Asks, Why Biobased?
On October 7, the USDA released a report, Why Biobased?, written by the Duke University Center for Sustainability & Commerce and the NC State University Poole College of Management. The report takes the pulse of the growing bioeconomy. According to the USDA, “the bioeconomy is characterized by … environmentally-friendly materials and products and economic opportunities for U.S.-based agriculture, chemical, and manufacturing sectors and their value chains.” In the petroleum industry, the maxim has always been: chemicals for value, fuels for volume. Certainly, the same can be applied to the growing bioeconomy, where valuable biobased chemicals can provide significant value to bio-refiners.
RFS Roundup: President Obama, Senators Boxer and Markey Express Support for Renewable Fuels
On October 8, Senators Boxer (D-CA) and Markey (D-MA) sent a letter to President Obama and Shaun Donavan, director of Office of Management and Budget (OMB), supporting a common-sense approach to setting 2014 renewable fuel targets. Boxer and Markey state that the EPA’s proposed 2014 fuel volumes would hurt the ability to bring “low carbon cellulosic, advanced biofuels and biomass-based diesel to market.” Additionally, while President Obama has been relatively mute on the topic thus far, he made remarks that are overall supportive of renewable fuels during a trip to Indiana to speak about American manufacturing on October 3. Meanwhile, political pundits now are predicting that final fuel volumes for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) will not be released by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) until after mid-term elections.
Event: Renewable Energy Latin America & Caribbean Workshop, Conference & Exhibition (RELACCx)
ACORE and the Latin American and Caribbean Council on Renewable Energy Conference & Workshop
NOVEMBER 19 - 21, 2014 FAJARDO, PUERTO RICO
(EESI is a supporting organization)
Advancing Renewable Energy in Latin America and Integrated Farm Energy Systems Workshop (11/19)
This workshop will cover the integrated approach of iF8PS – Farm, Forest, Food, Feed, Fertilizer, Fuels, Feedstock for Chemicals (biochemicals), and Power Systems. These industries, while interconnected, are not integrated to maximize both the benefits to society and profits. In iF8PS, integrated systems closely work with natural systems while minimizing carbon footprints and creating meaningful community benefits that include local energy security, renewable fuels, healthier lifestyles and living spaces, humane animal husbandry practices and sustainable medium-scale farming. The iF8PS concept has the ability to create self-reliant, sustainable and healthy communities, as well as address the growing challenges posed by disaster and humanitarian relief needs. Generous support for this workshop has been provided by Agro Energy, Renew the Earth, the Club de Madrid and the P80 Group Foundation.
Speakers for the workshop will include:
The conference (10/20 – 10/21) will focus on renewable energy finance and development for Latin American and the Caribbean. Investors, developers, consultants and renewable energy businesses will share current challenges and opportunities in the development, regulation and financing of renewable energy. For more information, including registration and hotel details please visit www.relaccx.com.
To Contact the Editor: Jessie Stolark at eesi@eesi.org
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