Sustainable Bioenergy, Farms, and Forests - June 5, 2015

Drought in the West a "New Normal" According to Experts at Senate Hearing

On June 2, a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the status of the drought in the West painted a grim picture of the ongoing drought affecting an increasing number of western states. Testimony from witnesses communicated a wealth of scientific data supporting a growing sentiment among experts: the present conditions may represent a "new normal"--longer dry periods and insufficient water supply--for much of the western United States. Witnesses further elaborated on actions that could remediate the situation.

 

Headlines:

1. EPA Expected to Release Endangerment Finding for Emissions from Aviation
2. Some Oil Companies Asking for a Price on Carbon ... But Not All
3. Study Finds Double-Cropping Biofuels Feedstock and Row Crop Beneficial
4. Meet the Smokejumpers and Hotshots Who are the First Line against Wildfires

Events:

 

Save the date:

Future Fuels: Can Biofuels Make Gasoline Cleaner, Cheaper?
Friday, June 12
10:00 AM -- 11:30 AM
Location 334 Cannon House Office Building

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Governors' Biofuels Coalition invite you to a briefing examining the current state and potential future of the transportation fuel supply. While combustion engines are more efficient and cleaner than ever, the transportation sector is still responsible for 27 percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as half of all toxic emissions in the United States. Researchers from Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), and Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) are conducting coordinated studies to address the opportunities and challenges to deploying a high octane mid-level ethanol blend to the passenger vehicle fleet. They found such fuels, which blend between 25 to 40 percent ethanol and 60 to 75 percent conventional gasoline (instead of the current 10 to 90 percent ratio), could lead to greater fuel efficiencies and lower overall GHG emissions.

 

Please distribute Sustainable Bioenergy, Farms, and Forests to your colleagues. Permission for reproduction of this newsletter is granted provided the Environmental and Energy Study Institute is properly acknowledged as the source.

Past issues are available at www.eesi.org/sbff_archives. Free email subscriptions are available here. Contact the editor, Jessie Stolark, at [email protected].

 

 

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 by a bipartisan Congressional caucus. EESI is dedicated to finding innovative environmental and energy solutions.