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March 25, 2016
Midwestern Senators Ask EPA to Put 2017 RFS “Back on Track”
On March 23, 19 Senators wrote to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, asking EPA to put the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) “back on track.” In their letter, they state that while they are “pleased that the EPA increased the renewable fuel volumes from the proposed to the final rule, we remain concerned that it continues to use distribution infrastructure as a factor in setting blending targets.”
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U.S. Advanced Biofuels Producers – An Update
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released an update to their annual report, “Survey of Non-Starch Ethanol and Renewable Hydrocarbon Biofuels Producers.” Sixty-one commercial scale U.S. facilities were included in the 2016 report, including 27 cellulosic ethanol facilities, two algae-ethanol facilities, and 32 renewable hydrocarbon, or “drop-in” biofuel producers. Of the 61 facilities, 11 of the cellulosic ethanol facilities are operational (5 at commercial scale), and 12 of the drop-in biofuels facilities were operational (2 at commercial scale) at the end of 2015.
Headlines
1. Senate Dems Urge Full Funding of Conservation Programs
2. Duke Energy to Buy Biogas from Developing N.C. Plant
3. Ethanol’s Quest for More Room in Gas Tanks Gets a Push in Chicago
4. USDA Reports 105% Increase in Farm-to-School Food Program
5. Unilever to Use Algae Oil in Personal Care Products
Briefing Re-Caps:
1. Advancing Mobility Sustainably: Ridesourcing and Public Transport Together
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing exploring how shared mobility technology is transforming transportation services. The emergence and growth of ridesourcing services like Uber and Lyft is clear evidence of the impact of technology on transportation choices to enhance urban mobility. A study released at the briefing looks at who uses ride-sourcing services, when, and for what purposes. Check the briefing summary for video, speaker powerpoints and event highlights.
2. Geothermal Energy: Heating Up
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) held a briefing highlighting the state of the geothermal energy industry and its near-term prospects in the United States and in more than 80 other countries working to expand its use. With demand for clean energy accelerating around the globe, geothermal energy has major potential as a renewable resource that can provide power around-the-clock, complementing intermittent renewable power technologies. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) launched the Global Geothermal Alliance at COP-21 in Paris this past December to achieve a 500 percent increase in global installed capacity for geothermal power generation and a 200 percent increase in geothermal heating by 2030. Check the briefing summary for video, speaker powerpoints and event highlights.
Upcoming EESI Briefings & Webinars:
1. Solar Power and Resilient Design for Schools and Shelters How Sustainable Public Buildings Can Enhance Their Communities
Tuesday, March 29 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
121 Cannon House Office Building Independence Avenue SE and 1st Street, SE
Please RSVP to expedite check-in
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing about a “solar secure” recreation center in Brooklyn and a “high performance” school in Kentucky that are benefiting their communities as well as those who use the buildings. This briefing will show how sustainable public buildings can collectively reduce emissions and clear the air, especially in disadvantaged communities where energy utilities are often sited. Case studies will feature buildings—both in urban and in rural areas—that are improving public health and driving economic growth, while protecting and serving their communities and neighborhoods even during emergencies.
2. Webinar: Can Coal Country Thrive in a Clean Energy Economy?
Please RSVP to receive log-in information
Tuesday, April 5 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Registrants will receive the webinar login information on Monday, April 4
In the United States, coal is being supplanted by cheap domestic natural gas, rising renewable power generation, and a growing energy efficiency sector. The decline of the U.S. coal industry has had significant negative impacts on the communities and industries traditionally supported by coal. However, if managed properly, coal's sunset also opens up new economic and social opportunities for regions to grow diverse economic sectors with renewable energy, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, and technology as drivers of economic redevelopment.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a webinar that will explore how traditionally coal-reliant communities can transition, diversify and strengthen their economies as the United States moves toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. Join us as we discuss the funding opportunities and work being done at the local, regional and federal levels to help these communities grow vibrant local economies. This webinar will highlight the range of actions being taken by various coal-reliant regions to diversify and develop new jobs and sources of revenue.
To Contact the Editor: Jessie Stolark at [email protected]
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