Sustainable Bioenergy, Farms, and Forests - September 23, 2016

Summer Is Over: Bring on the Pumpkin Spice and the E15

September 22 marks the autumnal equinox and the official end of summer. But for approximately 330 gas retailers, the season ended last week, on September 16—a day celebrated as “E15 Day” in Minnesota and Iowa, as well as in several U.S. cities. The day marks the end of summer blend restrictions based on Reid Vapor Pressure, meaning that E15, which contains 15 percent ethanol, can be sold again to all Model Year 2001 or newer cars.

Reid Vapor Pressure, or RVP, is regulated during the summer months to reduce the formation of surface ozone and smog. For more information on RVP regulations, see EESI’s article Summertime, When the Living’s Easy. Essentially, EPA requires summer blends to have a RVP of no more than 9 pounds per square inch (psi). E15, which has an RVP rating around 10 psi, doesn’t qualify, and so can’t be sold year round.

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JetBlue Makes Ten-Year Deal to Purchase Bio-Based Jet Fuel

Avid SBFF readers will remember last week’s article, “Alternative Jet Fuels Tackle Rising Aviation Emissions,” which referenced the U.S. Navy, Advanced Biofuels USA, European airlines KLM and Lufthansa, and Virgin Atlantic increasing their use of bio-based jet fuel. Just a few days after publication, U.S. airline JetBlue joined the group, with one of the biggest deals to date.

JetBlue’s deal is with Philadelphia-based bioenergy company SG Preston. The airline has pledged to purchase 330 million gallons of sustainable jet fuel over a period of ten years, which they estimate will account for around four percent of their total fuel use. JetBlue President and CEO Robin Hayes said, “The future of aviation relies in part on renewable energy sources.” 

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Headlines

1. The Standoff Between Big Oil and Big Corn 

2. Australian Researchers Find Eucalyptus-Based Fuel Would Save More Emissions for Aviation Biofuel 

3. Opinion: Do We Still Need a Renewable Fuel Standard?

4. California's E85 Sales Top 14M Gallons in 2015

5. Lockheed Martin Opens Advanced Bioenergy Plant in New York 

 

 

Upcoming Event: 

EPA Biogenic Carbon Emissions Panel - Public Teleconference

The U.S. EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board staff office has announced plans to hold a public teleconference of the SAB biogenic carbon emissions panel on Oct. 12 as part of its continuing review of the framework for biogenic CO2 emissions from stationary sources first released in November 2014 and updated this February.

 

 

 

To Contact the Editor: Rebecca Chillrud at [email protected]

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