Nebraska Will Test 30 Percent Ethanol Blend in State Vehicles
September 25, 2018
By Joe Duggan
Nebraska will run 50 state-owned vehicles on a 30 percent ethanol blend to see how the corn-derived fuel performs in conventional engines.
The pilot program will monitor the effects of E-15 and E-30 blends on vehicle performance, fuel economy and emissions control systems in state vehicles, some of which will include Nebraska State Patrol cruisers. The fuel used in the pilot program will be supplied by Nebraska ethanol companies, according to a Tuesday press release from Gov. Pete Ricketts.
The vehicles will not be equipped with the “flex-fuel” technology that allows vehicles to burn fuels with various percentages of ethanol.
Engineering consultants from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will help provide technical expertise during the project, and six fuel marketers agreed to provide access to the E-30 fuel in Lincoln, Grand Island and Norfolk. State officials obtained approval from the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct the pilot project.
Todd Sneller, adviser to the Nebraska Ethanol Board, said smaller municipal testing projects with E-30 have been conducted in South Dakota and Kansas. Anecdotal reports from those two locations did not reveal performance issues in the vehicles, he added.
The pilot program is expected to be launched in coming weeks.
Nebraska produces about 2.2 billion gallons of ethanol annually, making it the second-biggest ethanol state behind Iowa.
Read the original article: Nebraska Will Test 30 Percent Ethanol Blend in State Vehicles
Virgin Atlantic Announces World First in Race to Develop New Sustainable Aviation Fuel
September 13, 2018
By Richard Branson
Virgin has always been at the forefront of disruptive new technology and ideas, which help us do business differently and champion change. As an airline reducing carbon is a major priority at Virgin Atlantic, and we’ve already taken a number of steps to reduce CO2 emissions, including investing in our latest, new A350-1000 aircraft.
Now I’m excited to reveal that Virgin Atlantic’s low carbon fuel partnership with LanzaTech has taken a vital step forward. This October we will make history by using LanzaTech’s innovative new sustainable aviation fuel in a commercial flight for the first time.
The fuel will be used in one of our much-loved 747s on a flight from Orlando to London Gatwick, demonstrating the art of the possible, and taking a landmark leap towards making this ground-breaking new low carbon technology a mainstream reality.
The appetite for long haul travel is only getting bigger, and as airlines it’s our responsibility to deliver that in the most sustainable way possible. Since 2011, Virgin Atlantic has been working with LanzaTech to pioneer technology that captures and recycles carbon-rich industrial waste gases from steel mills into ethanol – gases that would otherwise go up the chimney into the atmosphere. The ethanol, in turn, can be used for a variety of low carbon products, including jet fuel.
Because it uses waste carbon, the LanzaTech jet fuel has a fantastic sustainability profile and has the potential to achieve >70 per cent lower carbon emissions compared to regular fossil jet, and no land or food competition issues. And because it uses a plentiful, affordable waste stream, this is set to keep the fuel price competitive with that of traditional jet. This means airlines like Virgin Atlantic will be able to buy and fly it routinely, and that is when the big carbon savings will come.
The future potential of this technology is enormous. LanzaTech estimates its process could be retrofitted to 65 per cent of the world’s steel mills, to produce nearly one fifth of all aviation fuel used each year, at a commercially viable price.
This exciting first flight is all about showing we’re ready for business. We are working with LanzaTech to turn this new fuel into a day-to-day reality, and want to secure the world’s first carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) commercial jet fuel production facility in the UK.
We’ve had some great support from the UK government so far. But we now need to turn this into firm government action on incentives and investor commitment, to help us accelerate towards building the world’s first full size plant producing jet fuel from waste carbon gases.
We are delighted to be able to use this flight to raise awareness, thank all our partners so far and call on others to help turn this tantalising tipping point into an exciting breakthrough in our joint fight against climate change. Head over to Virgin Atlantic and LanzaTech to keep up to date.
Read the original article: Virgin Atlantic Announces World First in Race to Develop New Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Virgin Australia Leads Trial Using Gevo’s Biojet in Brisbane
September 13, 2018
By Erin Voegele
On Sept. 11, Virgin Australia announced the successful completion of a trial to deliver sustainable aviation fuel through Brisbane Airport’s general fuel supply system. Biojet used during the trial was supplied by Gevo Inc.
Working in partnership with the Queensland government, Brisbane Airport Corp., Gevo and supply chain partners Caltex and DB Schenker, Virgin Australia led the procurement and blending of biojet with traditional jet fuel for supply into the future infrastructure at Brisbane Airport.
According to Virgin Australia, the trial marked the first time that sustainable aviation fuel has been delivered through the general fuel supply system at any airport in Australia.
Gevo indicated its jet fuel was used to fuel approximately 195 domestic and international flights that departed from Brisbane Airport during the trial. Virgin Australia noted those 195 flights traveled more than 430,000 kilometers (267,190 miles) to destinations around the globe.
Virgin Australia Airlines Group Executive Rob Sharp, said the airline was proud to lead the delivery of sustainable aviation fuel into the fuel infrastructure at Brisbane Airport.“Virgin Australia is leading the way in the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel in Australia. We recognize that there is a great opportunity to develop a thriving sustainable fuels industry, which will help to reduce emissions and drive investment and jobs growth in Australia,” Sharp said.
“The successful completion of the trial at Brisbane Airport is the first important step in ensuring Australian airports and the fuel supply chain will be ready for the regular supply of sustainable fuels in Australia, he continued. “We would like to thank the Queensland Government and our partners for their involvement and look forward to fueling more flights departing from Brisbane Airport with biojet over the next 12-18 months.”
Patrick Gruber, CEO of Gevo, offered his congratulations and commented on the potential of biojet produced in Queensland. “Congratulations to Virgin Australia and the Queensland Government for their vision and leadership,” he said. “Gevo recognizes that Australia, and Queensland, in particular, have great potential to produce renewable low-carbon jet fuel from a variety of raw materials. The establishment of production capabilities for renewable jet fuel in Australia would not only be good for economic growth, leveraging the abundant raw materials, but more importantly it could lead to domestic jet fuel production which could reduce Australia’s dependence on imported jet fuel. We look forward to continuing to work with Queensland, Virgin Australia, feedstock suppliers, and other partners in Australia to make Queensland-based production of renewable jet fuel a reality."
Read the original article: Virgin Australia Leads Trial Using Gevo’s Biojet in Brisbane
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House Members Advocate for Strong RFS, Year-Round E15 Sales
September 19, 2018
By Erin Voegele
Reps. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., and Collin Peterson, D-Minn., leaders of the bipartisan Biofuels Caucus, led more than 20 House members in sending a letter to the U.S. EPA urging the agency to approve year-round E15.
The letter, dated Sept. 13, encourages Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheler and the Trump administration to reduce federal regulations on ethanol instead of implementing policies that work against farmers and slow the biofuels markets down.
Within the letter, the House members ask the agency to increase proposed renewable volume obligation (RVOs) for biomass-based diesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard and address the 48 retroactive small refinery hardship waivers the EPA approved for compliance years 2016 and 2017. Those 48 waivers effectively eliminated demand for 2.25 billion gallons of biofuel.
“The 2019 RVO targets and the success of the RFS will continue to be undermined if the EAP does not account for further waivers,” the House members said in the letter. “We urge the EPA to put an end to these secret waivers until a process is established to make the name of the refinery, the gallons waived, and other relevant information publicly available. Additionally, accounting for any 2019 waived gallons in the final rule would help ensure biofuel production is not harmed by retroactive refinery exemptions.”
“Instead of advancing policies that would hurt farmers and prevent market growth of ethanol, we encourage you to also consider reducing regulations, like those that prohibit the year-round sale of E15,” the House members continued in the letter. “This regulatory change would increase consumption of biofuels while also lowering RIN prices, which eases implementation of the RFS and provide consumers with another choice at the pump.”
In addition to Noem and Peterson, the letter is signed by Reps. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa; Rodney Davis, R-Ill.; Steve King, R-Iowa; Cheri Bustos, D-Ill.; Mark Pocan, D-Wisc.; Rod Blum, R-Iowa; Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb.; Adrian Smith, R-Neb.; Darin LaHood, R-Ill.; Sam Graves, R-Mo.; Roger Marshall, R-Kan.; Tim Walz, D-Minn.; Ron Estes, R-Kan.; Don Bacon, R-Neb.; Richard M. Nolan, D-Minn.; Tom Emmer, R-Minn.; Mike Bost, R-Ill.; David Young, R-Iowa; Kevin Yoder, R-Kan.; Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio; Andre Carson, D-Ind.; and Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo.
The Renewable Fuels Association has spoken out in support of the letter. “We greatly appreciate the support of the House Biofuels Caucus and welcome their voice to the growing chorus of consumers, farmers, and fuel choice advocates who all recognize the need for administrative action repealing this antiquated regulation today,” said Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the RFA. “The year-round use of E15 would empower consumers to choose a higher octane, lower priced fuel, provide farmers struggling with chronically low commodity prices with an important value-added market, and send a strong signal to the marketplace to invest in the infrastructure and technologies that will lead to higher ethanol blends. The time to act is now.”
Growth Energy has also expressed support for the letter. “We’re deeply grateful to our rural champions for standing united behind a strong RFS and fighting for better, more affordable options at the fuel pump,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “It is vital that the EPA uphold President Trump’s commitment to American biofuels and immediately tear down outdated regulatory barriers against the summertime sale of E15. Opening the market to year-round competition will help to revitalize farm income and restore growth in rural communities hit hardest by the agricultural downturn.”
“EPA waivers have destroyed billions of gallons of biofuel demand and cut a key market for U.S. farmers,” Skor continued. “To reverse the damage, the EPA should listen to rural lawmakers, restore those gallons, and unlock E15—a move that could create demand for two billion bushels of American corn.”
A full copy of the letter can be downloaded from Noem’s website.
Read the original article: House Members Advocate for Strong RFS, Year-Round E15 Sales
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Klobuchar Talks Ethanol in Fergus Falls
September 18, 2018
By Frances Stevenson
Sen. Amy Klobuchar spent the afternoon Saturday at Green Plains ethanol plant speaking with Fergus Falls officials and employees of Green Plains about the importance of ethanol in America and the future of Fergus Falls.
Attending the meeting from Fergus Falls was Mayor Ben Schierer, City Council member Anthony Hicks, Gary Spies, president of Greater Fergus Falls Corporation, Stephen Rufer, and several Green Plains employees.
“I think that it’s probably in Fergus Falls in the last couple of years our attitudes went to heck,” Spies said. “It seems to me that a negative attitude got going in our nation a little bit and that was picked up in our community.”
The group discussed the importance of ethanol and farming in rural Minnesota.
Klobuchar spoke about the importance of ethanol in Minnesota and the country as a whole. She noted that there are many struggles those in the ethanol industry are facing today.
“It is such an important part of Minnesota’s economy, it employs thousands of workers, and we’ve had some kind of frost-winds that they’d had to deal with,” Klobuchar said. “One is the tariffs and their exporting which these guys do to Canada, and then secondly is some of the waivers went to some of the oil companies from the EPA. The third is we want to get E15 year-round. It’s no longer a boutique industry and we want the investment not going to the oil cartels of the Middle East but to the farmers and the workers of the Midwest.”
Klobuchar went on a short tour of the ethanol plant and met some more Green PlainS employees who walked her through the ethanol process. She also spoke about the importance of farming as a whole and the congressional effort to get a farm bill completed.
Read the original article: Klobuchar Talks Ethanol in Fergus Falls
United Airlines Commits to a Cleaner Future; Becomes First U.S. Airline to Pledge to Reduce Own Emissions by 50 Percent by 2050
September 13, 2018
By United Airlines
United Airlines today made history by becoming the first U.S. airline to publicly commit to reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2050, further strengthening the carrier's ambition to be the world's most environmentally conscious airline. United's pledge to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent relative to 2005 represents the equivalent of removing 4.5 million vehicles from the road each year, or the total number of cars in Los Angeles and New York City combined. The airline will continue to invest in the company's ongoing environmental initiatives to support this commitment, including expanding the use of more sustainable aviation biofuels, welcoming newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft into its fleet and implementing further operational changes to better conserve fuel.
"At United, we believe there is no point in setting challenging and ambitious goals without also taking tangible steps towards achieving them, especially when it comes to securing the health of our communities and our planet," said Oscar Munoz, United's chief executive officer. "While we're proud to be first U.S. carrier taking such an ambitious step, it is a distinction we look forward to sharing as the rest of the industry catches up and makes similar commitments to sustainability."
To celebrate this significant milestone, United will operate flight 44 tomorrow from its hub in San Francisco to Zurich with the carrier's most fuel-efficient aircraft – the Boeing 787 – via a blend of sustainable aviation fuel supplied by World Energy's California-based AltAir Fuels. The airline will use 16,000 gallons of biofuel at a 30/70 blend with conventional jet fuel for the flight to Zurich, representing the longest transatlantic flight to date - and longest by a U.S. airline - powered by a biofuel volume of this size. United has sourced more than 2 million gallons of sustainable aviation biofuel since 2016 and is responsible for more than 50 percent of the airline industry's commitments to biofuel.
United's commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions represents yet another first for the airline in an extensive list of innovative initiatives undertaken to reduce its impact on the environment. Several of United's most significant environmental achievements include:
-Becoming the first airline globally to use sustainable aviation biofuel on an ongoing daily basis, marking a significant milestone in the industry by moving beyond test programs and demonstrations to the everyday use of low-carbon biofuels in ongoing operations.
-Investing more than $30 million in California-based sustainable aviation fuels producer Fulcrum BioEnergy, which remains the single largest investment by any airline globally in alternative fuels. United's agreement to purchase nearly 1 billion gallons from Fulcrum BioEnergy is the largest offtake agreement for biofuel in the airline industry.
-Becoming the first airline to fly with Boeing's Scimitar winglets, which reduce fuel consumption by an additional 2 percent; United is the largest Scimitar winglet operator today, with nearly 400 aircraft equipped with these winglets.
-Becoming the first U.S. airline to repurpose items from the carrier's international premium cabin amenity kits and partnering with Clean the World to donate hygiene products to those in critical need.
-Eliminating non-recyclable plastic stirring sticks and cocktail picks on aircraft and replacing them with an environmentally-friendly product made of 100 percent bamboo.
-Continuing to replace its eligible ground equipment with cleaner, electrically powered alternatives, with nearly 40 percent of the eligible fleet converted to date.
United's award-winning Eco-Skies program represents the company's commitment to the environment and the actions taken every day to create a sustainable future. In 2017, Air Transport World magazine named United the Eco-Airline of the Year for the second time since the airline launched the Eco-Skies program. This year, United Airlines ranked No. 1 among global carriers in Newsweek's Global 500 Green Rankings, one of the most recognized environmental performance assessments of the world's largest publicly traded companies.
For more information on United's commitment to environmental sustainability, visit united.com/ecoskies.
United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 4,600 flights a day to 357 airports across five continents. In 2017, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 148 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates 757 mainline aircraft and the airline's United Express carriers operate 551 regional aircraft. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 193 countries via 28-member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".
Read the original article: United Airlines Commits to a Cleaner Future; Becomes First U.S. Airline to Pledge to Reduce Own Emissions by 50 Percent by 2050