Sustainable Bioenergy, Farms, and Forests - May 8, 2015

Senate Hearing on Wildfires – Chamber Continues to Stall Dealing with Fire Borrowing

On May 5, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing, “on the Federal government’s role in wildfire management, the impact of fires on communities, and potential improvements to be made in fire operations.”  While the discussion centered on how forestry restoration practices such as thinning and controlled burns will help prevent severe forest fires, the conversation naturally returned to the practice of fire borrowing, or re-appropriating funds from other U.S. Forest Service (USFS) accounts to fight wildfires.

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Quadrennial Energy Review Contains Clues on Federal Biofuels, Biomass Priorities

In January of 2014, President Obama directed the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct the first-ever Quadrennial Energy Review (QER), as part of the President’s Climate Action Plan.  Published in April, the first installment focuses on the U.S. aging energy infrastructure network, including the electric grid.  The same day, the President announced a proposal to update and harden the electric grid to cyber-security and climate change impacts, at an estimated cost of up to $18.85 billion.  In the weeks since the announcement, Congress has held a host of hearings on the QER.  And while not a major focus of the report, the QER contains language pertaining to biofuels and bioenergy which give some hints as to the top-level goals for DOE for biofuels and biomass power.  

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Headlines:

1. Report: EPA Delays on Renewable Fuels Has Cost $13.7 Billion

2. EPA Sends Renewable Fuel Standards Proposal for 2014, 2015 to White House for Final Review

3. Abengoa Nabs $200 Million Contract for MSW to Jet Fuel Project

4. Hawaii Legislature Debates Ending E10 Blending Requirement

5. GOP Presidential Hopeful Ben Carson: Use Oil Subsidies to Install Ethanol Blender Pumps 

 

Event: 

Economic Competitiveness: Transit’s High-Value in the Knowledge Economy

Wednesday, May 13
11:45 am - 1:30 pm

B-318 Rayburn House Office Building
Independence Avenue SW and South Capitol Street

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) invite you to an Infrastructure Week briefing about how transit investments affect the nation’s competitiveness. The world’s economies are increasingly based on knowledge and information. High-tech, knowledge-based innovation districts are increasingly shaping the U.S. economy. What are the characteristics of a knowledge-based economy, and the people who work in it? What role does transit play in the location choices of high-value technology firms, and why? Does transit help these firms attract the workforce they want?

Please RSVP to expedite check-in

 

To Contact the Editor: Jessie Stolark at [email protected]

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