Wednesday Edition

07.01.09

Global





UN REVISES DOWN WORLD GRAIN PRICES


The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization expects world grain prices to trade in line with their average prices over the past 10 years, revised down from previous forecasts due to the economic downturn.
However, prices are likely to face more instability due to volatile oil prices and exchange rates, Mer-7 [http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WorldEnergyAlternati/a5bf7be1f1/TEST/25c25d9201]
reports.






North America





OREGON TO ENACT LOW CARBON FUEL STANDARD


Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski is expected to sign a low-carbon fuel standard, H.B. 2186 [http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WorldEnergyAlternati/a5bf7be1f1/TEST/052e3c82b9]
, which passed the Senate this week. The bill calls for a 10% reduction of 2010 GHG emissions by 2020 to begin Jan. 1, 2011, and would apply lifecycle GHG emissions including indirect land use change to any low carbon fuel to meet the standard.





INVESTMENT IN GREEN TECHNOLOGIES INCREASING IN 2009


Venture capital investment in 'green' technologies totaled $1.2 billion in 85 deals in the second quarter of 2009, up from $836 million in 59 deals in the first quarter, according to Greentech Media's quarterly reports. The category 'Biofuels, Gasification, Clean Coal' contributed $195 million, with 'Automotive and Transportation'
adding $203 million. Read more
[http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WorldEnergyAlternati/a5bf7be1f1/TEST/802db745ad]






EPA EXTENDS RFS-2 COMMENT PERIOD


US EPA is extending the RFS-2 comment period by 60 days to Sept. 25 on formal requests by the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, US Sen. Mike Johanns, and 24 members of the House Agriculture
Committee. Public comment that commenced on May 26 was scheduled to
close July 27.





CALIFORNIA GRANTED WAIVER TO CONTROL VEHICLE EMISSIONS


California has been granted a waiver from the EPA to implement its clean cars program to cut vehicle GHG emissions by 30% by 2016.
According to reports, 14 states are poised to follow California's lead, and together will make up 40% of the US vehicle fleet. The waiver was previously denied by the Bush administration. Read more [http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WorldEnergyAlternati/a5bf7be1f1/TEST/4bc7eb694d]






NEW ARKANSAS BIODIESEL PLANT TO COMMENCE


Arkansas SoyEnergy has stated that its 10-million gal/yr biodiesel plant will be online in July. The company has also hired a 25-year ADM veteran as manager.





KINDER MORGAN SUCCESSFULLY SHIPS BIODIESEL VIA PIPELINE


Kinder Morgan Energy Partners has announced the first US commercial shipment of B5 biodiesel by pipeline from Collins, MS, to Athens, GA, and Roanoke, VA through the Plantation line. The product passed quality tests. Read more [http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WorldEnergyAlternati/a5bf7be1f1/TEST/f5e58fa5c3]






SRS TO BUILD RENVISION BIODIESEL PLANT


SRS Engineering has signed a contract with ReNvision Biofuels to build its 10-million gal/yr, multi-feedstock biodiesel plant in Alberta, Canada. SRS will provide design work, engineering, and equipment to build the plant.




South America





BRAZIL: ETHANOL FUELS MORE VEHICLES THAN GASOLINE


Gasoline is no longer the primary fuel for light vehicles in Brazil, according to Petrobras. Ethanol is now fueling over 50% of the cars in the country, and developments in cellulosic ethanol production are making ethanol less expensive than gasoline.





FIRST SUGARCANE BIODIESEL PLANT OPENS IN BRAZIL


US-based Amyris has inaugurated its first industrial sugarcane biodiesel plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The biodiesel produced is compatible with conventional diesel, and also matches or exceeds performance of petroleum fuels and currently available biofuels, the company claims.






Europe





EU STATES TO DETAIL RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET PLANS


The European Commission has published a template for national renewable energy action plans, requiring member states to detail how they will reach renewable energy targets. The Renewables Directive, ruled last month, sets a target to source 20% of EU's energy from renewables by 2020. Each member state will have until June 30, 2010 to submit its plan to the Commission. View the template [http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WorldEnergyAlternati/a5bf7be1f1/TEST/078f436b6d]







UK PROPOSES BILLION DOLLAR CLIMATE FUND


UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has proposed an international $100 billion annual fund to distribute to developing nations to combat GHG emissions, but also recommends cutting biofuel subsidies, reports Reuters. The announcement comes two weeks before a climate summit of the 17 largest economies. Read more [http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WorldEnergyAlternati/a5bf7be1f1/TEST/df05644406]







EUROPA MIL OPENS CROATIA BIODIESEL PLANT


Europa Mil Biogoriva has opened its new 40k mt/yr rapeseed biodiesel plant in Vukovar, Croatia, which will employ 30 people. Another biodiesel plant is in the planning stage.






Asia / Pacific





NEW BIODIESEL TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED IN JAPAN


In Japan, Kyoto University has developed a waste oil to biodiesel technology that has almost zero byproducts. The process allows for about 90% of the waste oil to be recovered as biodiesel, a 25% better yield than with conventional methods.

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