Sapphire Energy Policy News

Advanced biofuels, farm, airline groups call on US to fund proposed military biofuels project

Jim Lane, BiofuelsDigest — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:53:03 GMT

In Washington, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the Advanced BioFuel Association, the Algal Biomass Organization, Airlines for America, and the National Farm Bureau Federation today wrote leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee asking them to include authorization for the U.S. Department of Energy to transfer funds to the Defense Production Act necessary for an interagency project to ramp up production of military aviation and diesel fuels.

The Game Changer

Jim Lane, Biofuels Digest — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:56:49 GMT

Protect and defend the US Renewable Fuel Standard, says BP Biofuels chief

“And then there was a game-changing event,” BP Biofuels chief Philip New told delegates at the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, “with a profound effect on the shape and the trajectory of the biofuels industry.”

There was a stillness in the room, as a quiet spread over the delegates at the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference. Usually, at an event attracting over 500 delegates and more than 100 C-level delegates, there was the slam of conference doors opening and shutting, and the low, continual hum of click-click as CEos and senior executives consult their Crackberries.

But, today, there was none of it.

Airline Industry Executives Call On Govts To Promote Biofuels Use

Dow Jones Newswires — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 01:54:43 GMT

SANTIAGO – The global airline industry wants stronger government efforts to promote using biofuels, with new regulations and economic incentives for its production. It is working to meet the growing air-passenger demand without a proportional increase of carbon emissions, industry executives said Thursday.

When Defending Biofuels, Supporters Point to History

David Ferris, Forbes — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:38:55 GMT

President Obama and the U.S. Navy are getting a lot of flak these days for backing unproven, alternative fuels in a time of high gas prices. But supporters of biofuels have a counterargument: We’ve been here before.

Obama Defends Energy Policy, Hitting Back at Presidential Candidates

Mark Landler, The New York Times — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:36:10 GMT

LARGO, Md. – In what has become a weekly ritual, President Obama on Thursday defended his administration’s energy policy, in the face of relentlessly rising gasoline prices, to an American public that believes he can do more to ease the pain at the pump.

Anchors Aweigh on Clean Energy

Coral Davenport, National Journal — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:28:24 GMT

Tuesday, March 13, 2012 | 12:43 p.m. ABOARD THE USS KEARSARGE, NORFOLK, Va. - President Obama is under attack from the right on energy, but the U.S. military’s got his back - particularly Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.

As the Pentagon pursues a broad strategy of slashing fossil-fuel use and increasing renewable energy and conservation across all forces, Mabus has acted as the most prominent figurehead and cheerleader of the effort. That could bolster Obama’s push for clean energy as Republicans are traditionally far less likely to push back against the U.S. military - which cites the energy policies as essential to security - than they are an incumbent Democratic president.

Air Force alternative fuels process paves way to future

Dr. Donald Erbschloe, Air Mobility Command Chief Scientist — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:17:13 GMT

AMC chief scientist: Air Force alternative fuels process paves way to future AMC chief scientist: Air Force alternative fuels process paves way to future

Pentagon's new energy plan comes from the top

Annie Snider, E&E reporter — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:08:19 GMT

Monday, March 12, 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has created a high-level energy advisory board to oversee combat energy use in a significant step toward institutionalizing energy awareness throughout the Pentagon.

Mabus defends biofuels during hearing on Navy ship

BROCK VERGAKIS, Associated Press — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:00:17 GMT

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- Navy Secretary Ray Mabus defended the service's investment on biofuels Monday, saying that it is a "false choice" for critics to suggest the Navy should focus on building more ships instead of finding alternative fuels to power them.

Operation Greentech: The Military Goes All In With Energy Innovation

Yoni Cohen, GreenTech Media — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:51:22 GMT

From better batteries to advanced biofuels and energy-efficient buildings to distributed generation, the U.S. military is committed to green technologies for the long term.

Bringing oil intensity to the energy debate

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:53:49 GMT

Here we go again. Oil is over $100, gasoline is $4, motorists are angry, the media is obsessed, and politicians are sounding off. It seems like the movie Groundhog Day: the same panic over high oil prices, time after time.

Obama touts algal biofuels; $14M in new R&D funding; $2.28 per gallon algal biofuels in sight?

Jim Lane, BiofuelsDigest — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:40:21 GMT

As President Obama highlights the role of algal biofuels in the long-term energy strategy, critics and supporters duke it out over the nearer-term prospects, as R&D spending increases.

Obama Promotes Pond Scum as Renewable Fuel Source

Brian Wingfield and Jim Snyder, Bloomberg — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:45:33 GMT

Faced with the highest oil prices in nine months, President Barack Obama is backing pond scum as a path to energy independence, pitting the nascent algae-based biofuels industry against critics of his energy plan.

President Obama Announces $14 million Funding Opportunity to Develop Transportation Fuels from Algae

Biomass Program, Department of Energy — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:26:57 GMT

February 23, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Obama announced new funding to catalyze breakthrough technologies for two key alternative fuels – natural gas and biofuels – as part of his all-of-the-above energy strategy to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and provide American families new choices for vehicles that do not rely on conventional gasoline.

Obama’s 2013 US Budget: what’s in there for the bioeconomy?

Jim Lane, BiofuelsDigest — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:56:07 GMT

In Washington, the Obama Administration released its 2013 budget request. Highlights for bio-based industry include:

Aviation and military biofuels: new thinking on finance, fuels

Jim Lane, Biofuels Digest — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:17:36 GMT

The US Navy, and a group of international airlines, struggle to foster sustainable, affordable aviation biofuels — the Navy for warfighting, the airlines for carbon-fighting.

New thinking in finance may finally clear the runways for take-off.

A new era of domestic energy

Mary Rosenthal, Executive Director of the Algal Biomass Organization — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:52:21 GMT

As we move into 2012, I think everyone is in agreement the world needs more fuel – of any type. Cambridge Energy Research Associates, the leading analyst group for the petroleum industry, estimates that by 2030, the world will demand 35 million barrels per day of liquids from unidentified sources—an “oil gap” that must be filled.

Out from Solyndra’s Shadow

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:06:18 GMT

Federal loan guarantees may be scuttled after the Solyndra affair – but should the baby really be thrown out with the bathwater?

Federal loan guarantee programs for bioenergy may be headed for demise – death by 1.2 trillion cuts. The recent Solyndra scandal is tailor-made to be the final nail in their coffin. But the programs’ untimely end may coincide with the first commercial successes for advanced biofuel projects, as several large-scale projects have begun to actually put steel in the ground. While the Solyndra situation shows how isolated political considerations can make a mess of any program, successful projects backed by the loan guarantees demonstrate why policymakers should keep a stable funding policy in place.

Algae confronts its destiny and identity, at ABO Summit

Jim Lane, Biofuels Digest — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:38:14 GMT

Is it algal, or algae? Is HeteroBoost really a technology platform, not a product offered by Michele Bachmann? Is it about green premium, or green value?

At ABO, the algal biomass industry seeks the answers.

Algae Summit opening morning includes company execs, US senator

Luke Geiver, Biorefining Magazine — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:25:05 GMT

Following the supportive, humorous speech given by U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., during the opening morning of the 2011 Algae Biomass Summit could have been difficult for a group of high-ranking algae executives chosen to update a room of nearly 1,000 people on the state of the industry. Franken’s speech was a combination of standard political rhetoric with his call for algae to reduce the nation’s dependence on fossil fuel, mixed with well-timed humor exemplified by his laugh-inducing phrases like “the United States of Algal America” and, most importantly, a strong, supportive tone in his message that “it’s time to stop subsidizing dirty energy.”

Fifth Annual Algae Biomass Summit Kicks Off With Powerful Statement of Support From Senator Al Franken (D-MN)

Algal Biomass Organization — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:26:15 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS, MN--(Marketwire -10/25/11)- The 2011 Algae Biomass Summit, the official conference of the Algal Biomass Organization (ABO), officially opened this morning in Minneapolis with remarks by Senator Al Franken (D-MN) and other leaders on the role the algae industry can play in stimulating economic growth, enhancing national security and addressing climate change. More than 800 industry leaders and stakeholders from 20 countries are participating in the event, the world's largest algae conference.

Algae industry is bubbling up

DAVID SHAFFER , Star Tribune — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:53:33 GMT

The latest clean-tech energy contender pushes toward commercial production, even as federal money is drying up.

The ingredient list for products ranging from jet fuel to dietary supplements may soon get an unusual addition: algae.

Entrepreneurs who hope to profit from algae-growing ventures in Florida, Iowa, Hawaii and elsewhere described a broad array of commercialization plans Tuesday at an industry summit in Minneapolis.

The Importance of Alternative Energy to the U.S. Military

Sohbet Karbuz, OilPrice.com — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:59:56 GMT

Much has been written on the dependency of the US military on oil. However, most of the writings focus on the supply side of the issue and emphasize the role of technology primarily on alternative fuel production. A US Army research paper by Colonel Fields is rather different. That is why this post is about his paper.

Secretary of Navy visits Naval Postgraduate School, addresses energy independence

Kevin Howe, Monterey County Herald — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 21:42:57 GMT

The Secretary of the Navy told the 1,500 students and faculty of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey on Monday that he has set energy independence and security as a top priority.

Ray Mabus, who assumed office in 2009, also announced that NPS, beginning this fall, will offer a master's degree program in biofuel research, development and engineering applications.

"Too much of the energy the Navy and other military branches use comes from 'volatile' areas that could quickly become unfriendly to the United States" Mabus said.

President Obama Announces Major Initiative to Spur Biofuels Industry and Enhance America's Energy Security

White House — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:12:18 GMT

USDA, Department of Energy and Navy Partner to Advance Biofuels to Fuel Military and Commercial Transportation, Displace Need for Foreign Oil, and Strengthen Rural America

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2011 – President Obama today announced that the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Navy will invest up to $510 million during the next three years in partnership with the private sector to produce advanced drop-in aviation and marine biofuels to power military and commercial transportation. The initiative responds to a directive from President Obama issued in March as part of his Blueprint for A Secure Energy Future, the Administration’s framework for reducing dependence on foreign oil. The biofuels initiative is being steered by the White House Biofuels Interagency Work Group and Rural Council, both of which are enabling greater cross-agency collaboration to strengthen rural America.