Biofuels
In his FY 2014 budget proposal, President Obama increases spending on clean energy development, seeking to expedite R&D and boost cost-competitiveness and deployment of clean energy technologies. President Barack Obama’s FY2014 budget plan released on April 10, 2013, proposes increases in spending for clean energy production and deployment. The budget aims to support cost-competitiveness…...
DOE’s five-year renewal of funding for its bioenergy research centers aims to bring new methods to maturity and accelerate transition of advanced technologies to the marketplace. On April 4, 2013, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced a five-year renewal of funding for its three Bioenergy Research Centers (BRCs) to support ongoing research for the development…...
Department of Energy (DOE) study examines opportunities to attain significant reductions in emissions and petroleum use, revealing that the U.S. transportation sector has the potential to achieve 80% reductions by 2050. On March 14, the Department of Energy (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) released a study examining opportunities to…...
A recent report from the Bipartisan Policy Center outlines common ground energy policy recommendations that build on energy abundance and efficiency accomplishments of the U.S. On February 27, 2013, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) released a report proposing a set of recommendations intended to serve as a blueprint for establishing strong and diverse energy resource portfolios…....
President Obama outlined bold actions to combat climate change, elaborating on his inaugural vow to address the issue. Obama further pledged to use his executive power to tackle climate change challenges if Congress denied action. At his State of the Union (SOTU) speech on February 12, 2013, President Obama cast a bold vision on climate change…...
Divided opinions over climate change issues delayed approval of the draft oversight plan in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Democrats called to amend the draft plan to hold hearings on climate change science, an issue that Republicans have long opposed. On February 6, 2013, democrats in the House Energy and Commerce Committee introduced a…...
The EPA has proposed the 2013 standards for fuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, as well as a new voluntary quality assurance program to verify the validity of tradable Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). On January 31, the EPA proposed the 2013 annual volume and percentage standards for fuel categories under the RFS2 program. The RFS…...
As part of the state’s 2013 energy package, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed a $1 billion “Green Bank” to draw in private sector money and spark investment in clean energy projects. The Governor also named a “Cabinet-Level Energy Czar” to advance cleantech strategies. The announcements are a step forward to promote renewable energy development…...
A federal court decision on January 15, 2013 denied petitions challenging an EPA ruling that permits the use of a 15% ethanol fuel blend (E15) for light-duty gasoline-fueled vehicles. The step is a major victory for the biofuels industry, with several facilities just beginning to reach commercial production levels. The decision will also help the industry…...
Congress considered one piece of energy legislation last week and will not vote on legislation again until after Thanksgiving. However, a number of important energy-policy events occurred in Washington in the last week related to biofuels and the oil and gas industries. In biofuels, the Environmental Protection Agency denied the request for waiver from the…...
With the election over, President Obama’s energy priorities will emerge as new rules and regulations are finalized under existing law. The balance of power in Washington is the same as it was prior to the elections– President Barack Obama will serve another four years and Congress will continue to be divided with a Democrat-controlled Senate…...
Under President Obama’s second term, energy industry officials and analysts are keen on the Administration’s priorities for the energy sector, envisioning regulatory reforms and policies to advance the nation’s energy and economic security. Key areas to watch include Keystone XL Pipeline talks, recognizing the primacy of states in regulating oil and natural gas development, and…...