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On July 9, 2015, the DOE announced a public workshop to collect information about challenges that occur during coproduction of biobased chemicals, products, and biofuels. The Bioproducts to Enable Biofuels Workshop was organized by the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and will cover the following topics: Identifying and evaluating economic drivers for producing bioproducts.   Identifying and prioritizing targets for bioproducts produced from biofuel waste streams, coproduced with...

On June 30, 2015, 46 U.S. Senators sent a letter to the EPA, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and USDA stating that "[f]ederal policies across all departments and agencies must remove any uncertainties and contradictions through a clear, unambiguous message that forest bioenergy is part of the nation's energy future." Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) headed the letter and pointed to the recognized carbon neutrality of forest biomass as a renewable...

? Uganda Media Centre, "Cabinet pproves The Biofuels Bill, 2014" ? National Marine Manufacturers Association, "Recreational Boating Industry Turning to Biobutanol as Alternative Biofuel" ? University of Manchester, "Mould Unlocks New Route to Biofuels" ? KiwiNet, "KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards 2015 Winners Announced" ? Phys.org, "Straw-Insulated Houses Beat Petroleum-Based Alternatives"...

? BizJournals, "Biofuel Company Nature's Methane Has Ambitious Goals For Kentucky" ? Business Wire, "Verdezyne Signs Agreement With Major European Chemicals Distributor Will & Co"...

On April 24, 2015, EPA released a Federal Register notice inviting comment on analysis of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced during the production and transport of Brassica carinata (carinata) oil feedstock for use in the production of biofuels. The plant is not used for food in the U.S., and has high concentrations of erucic acid, making it attractive for use in biolubricants and biopolymers, as well as biofuels. EPA anticipates that biofuels produced using...

On April 21, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the initial installment of its Quadrennial Energy Review (QER). This first installment focuses on ways to modernize the U.S. energy infrastructure to increase the country's energy competitiveness and security. In its QER, DOE points out that while U.S. biofuel production has increased significantly over the past decade — due largely to the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) –"[c]ontinued growth in ethanol use...

The Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota is advocating strongly for two bills in the state that if passed would result in a two-year, $5 million production incentive for producers, and a capital loan equipment program. The bills, HF 536 and SF 517, would benefit companies that develop biochemicals, advanced biofuels, and anaerobic digestion projects. There is concern, however, that the legislation would increase the production of corn rather than encourage the production of crops that do...

On March 12, 2015, Christopher Grundler, Director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, signed the Notice Of Opportunity to Comment on an Analysis of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Attributable to Production and Transport of Pennycress (Thlaspi Avense) Oil for Use in Biofuel Production. This notice states that biofuels produced from pennycress oil could qualify as biomass-based diesel or advanced biofuel when they are produced using typical fuel production process technologies....

Flint Hills Resources has completed the acquisition of an ethanol plant near Camilla, Georgia, from Southwest Georgia Ethanol, LLC. Flint Hills Resources’ biofuels business now includes seven ethanol plants with a combined annual capacity of 820 million gallons, a biodiesel plant, and investments in biofuels technology and feedstock development. Camilla is the Company’s first ethanol plant located outside of the Midwest.  ...

The United Kingdom (UK) Department for Transport (DfT) announced the launch of a £25 million competition for funding to build advanced biofuel plants. The funding will eventually lead to the construction of up to three demonstration level advanced biofuel plants in the UK. In order to qualify for funding, the biofuels being produced need to have at least 60 percent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels and be made from waste materials....