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On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report on its audit to determine whether the Safer Choice program effectively meets its goals and whether the program achieves quality standards through its product qualification, renewal, and required audit processes.  OIG states that EPA’s Safer Choice program does not have formal goals included in the fiscal year (FY) 2018-2022 EPA Strategic Plan, and the program has not reported...

By Lynn L. Bergeson On February 17, 2020, researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) announced that one of its laboratories has developed a device using a natural protein to create electricity from moisture in the air. Electrical engineer Jun Yao and microbiologist Derek Lovley have created what they call “Air-Gen,” which consists of an air-powered generator with electrically conductive protein nanowires produced by the microbe Geobacter. The Air-gen...

Live Kindly, “Edible Vegan Seaweed Pods Are the New Soda Bottles” Nikkei Asian Review, “Trapping CO2 into Concrete to Be Cheaper” Reuters, “Trump Promises Ethanol-related ‘Giant Package’ to Please Farmers” ZME Science, “This Fashionable Ski Jacket Is Made from Spider Silk Grown by Bacteria” Composites Manufacturing Magazine, “Lessons in Sustainability” Hellenic Shipping News, “Oil Industry Urges Trump Administration to...

Business Times, “Trump intervention triggered EPA’s surprise biofuel waiver decision: sources”   newelectronics, “Greener and Cheaper Way to Make Patterned Metals for Electronics”   TechXplore, “Researchers Turn Plastic Water Bottles into Prosthetic Limbs”   Wisconsin State Journal, “Wind, Solar Developers Say Transmission Line Key to Achieving Tony Evers’ Clean Energy Goal”    npr, “U.S. Recycling...

By Lynn L. Bergeson On July 12, 2019, the House Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucus and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute co-hosted the 22nd Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum. The forum brought together government agencies, businesses, and trade associations to showcase renewable energy technologies and discus sustainable public policy options. Ruth McCormick, Director, Federal and State Affairs, Business Council for...

National Renewable Energy Laboratory, “NREL Develops Novel Method to Produce Renewable Acrylonitrile” National Renewable Energy Laboratory, “NREL Research Finds a Sweet Spot for Engineering Better Cellulose-Degrading Enzymes” Reuters, “Exclusive:  Senator Cruz Wants to Cap Renewable Fuel Credits at 10 Cents” University of Bristol, “Bacteria Breakthrough Marks New Era in Cellular Design and Biofuel Production”...

By Lauren M. Graham, Ph.D. On April 19, 2017, DOE announced an open teleconference of the State Energy Advisory Board (STEAB) in the Federal Register.  STEAB advises DOE and EERE on the operation of its energy efficiency programs, renewable energy programs, and grant programs for research and deployment in energy efficiency and renewable energy fields.  The tentative agenda includes: STEAB Task Force updates and objectives for fiscal year (FY)...

By Lauren M. Graham, Ph.D. On April 12, 2017, the nova-Institute announced the publication of its commentary on the European Commission’s proposal for a revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED).  The proposal, which is referred to as RED II, aims to raise renewable energy usage in Europe to 27 percent by 2030 and to require fuel suppliers to include a minimum share of advanced biofuels in their offering, which will increase steadily between 2021 and 2030.  In...

By Lauren M. Graham, Ph.D. On April 3, 2017, the European Environment Agency (EEA) announced the publication of the report titled “Renewable Energy in Europe 2017:  Recent Growth and Knock-On Effects,” which demonstrates that renewables have been a major contributor to the energy transition in Europe.  An analysis of the compound annual growth rate demonstrated that the use of biofuels in transport grew fastest between 2005 and 2014 at 18 percent per year. ...

On March 9, 2017, Neste, a member of the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®), announced that its My Renewable Diesel helped reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 6.7 million tons in 2016.  The reduction of carbon emissions from MY Renewable Diesel is equivalent to the removal of 2.4 million passenger cars from the road for one full year.  The low-carbon diesel, which is refined from renewable raw materials, is suitable for all diesel-powered...