B&C® Biobased and Sustainable Chemicals Blog

On July 15, 2014, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced grant awards to support the development of wood energy projects. According to the press release, the federal funds will leverage more than $4.5 million in investments from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) partners. Under the terms of the agreements, private, state, and federal organizations will work together to stimulate the development of additional wood energy projects in their states. Activities may include workshops that...

On July 16, 2014, EPA announced it is soliciting comments on its Design for the Environment (DfE) Program's logo redesign. The Agency will consider the information gathered from this notice and other sources as it selects a logo for the DfE Program that accurately communicates the Program's efforts to advance human and environmental health protection through safer products. EPA would like the DfE logo redesign to achieve the following: * Better convey the scientific rigor and benefits of...

On July 14, 2014, EPA announced recipients of funding to develop and commercialize innovative, sustainable technologies to address current environmental issues. Among the recipients were the following companies pursuing biobased products: * Sustainable Bioproducts, LLC, Bozeman, Montana, for Direct Conversion of Municipal and Agricultural Wastes to Biodiesel and Ethanol Utilizing a Unique Extremophilic Fungus. * Environmental Fuel Research, LLC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for Biofuel Production...

On July 11, 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that several biobased DOE research projects were recognized by R&D magazine as the most outstanding technology developments with promising commercial potential. According to the DOE notice, projects included in the awards were: * Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Tissue-Specific Cell-Wall Engineering for Biofuels and Biomaterials. This suite of precision genetic tools is expected to improve crops bred for production of...

On July 1, 2014, BRAG members and a number of representatives from EPA held a very productive meeting to discuss specific issues regarding biobased substances and the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) Rule. To take part in future meetings such as this, contact BRAG Executive Director Kathleen Roberts, kroberts@bc-cm.com, for information on joining BRAG.  

On July 2, 2014, EPA released a signed, pre-published version of its final rule for "Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Pathways II and Modifications to the RFS Program, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Requirements, and E15 Misfueling Mitigation Requirements." Under the rule, EPA qualifies certain additional fuel pathways that the Agency has determined meet the lifecycle greenhouse gas reduction requirements for cellulosic biofuel under the RFS. The final rule also provides guidance regarding the...

Learn how to pre-screen new chemicals using EPA's models and methods during this hands-on, three-day workshop co-hosted by BRAG, EPA, and George Washington University (GWU) School of Law. You will learn about a variety of tools, methods, and models that can be used to assess the hazard and potential exposure of chemicals early in the development process and anticipate regulatory action before submitting the chemical to EPA for review. Sustainable Futures (SF) graduates can be eligible to...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that, as part of its work to improve the safety of existing chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Agency will hold a public workshop to hear from experts on the use of trichloroethylene (TCE) as a degreaser, availability and efficacy of safer alternatives, and possible risk reduction approaches. The workshop is scheduled to be held on July 29, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on July 30, 2014, from 9:00...

DOE's Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) hosts its seventh annual conference -- Biomass 2014: Growing the Future Bioeconomy -- July 29-30, 2014, in Washington, D.C. Co-hosted with Advanced Biofuels USA, this year's conference will take place at the Washington Convention Center. As in past years, Biomass 2014 will bring together top government officials and members of Congress -- with industry leaders and experts from across the bioenergy supply chain -- to continue ongoing dialogue...

On July 3, 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it is making an additional $4 billion available in loan guarantees for innovative renewable energy and energy efficiency projects located in the U.S. that avoid, reduce, or sequester greenhouse gases. Part one of the solicitation is due October 1, 2014. Copies of the solicitation and fact sheet about the solicitation are available online. According to DOE's press release on the announcement, "the Department has...