Archives

January 8, 2021

Swansea University Researchers Develop One-Step Method For Producing Porous Carbon Spheres

By  Lynn L. Bergeson and Ligia Duarte Botelho, M.A. Researchers at Swansea University’s Energy Safety Research Institute have developed a new method that produces spheres that have strong capacity for carbon capture and work at a large scale. Described as “[a] fast, green and one-step method for producing porous carbon spheres, which are a vital component for carbon capture technology and for new ways of storing renewable energy,” the method was developed by a...
January 31, 2020

House Democrats Announce New Framework To Achieve Climate Resiliency

By Lynn L. Bergeson On January 29, 2020, Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and other House Democrats unveiled a five-year, $760 billion investment framework to repair and upgrade the U.S. infrastructure to create jobs while reducing carbon pollution, improving safety, and supporting economic activity. Called the “Moving Forward Framework for the People,” the plan includes measures to increase climate resiliency and put the United States on a path toward zero carbon pollution from...
November 25, 2019

EPA Issues Final SNUR for Carbon Nanomaterial (Generic) (PMN P-10-366)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final significant new use rules (SNUR) on November 25, 2019, for 22 chemical substances, including carbon nanomaterial (generic) (PMN P-10-366), that are the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN).  84 Fed. Reg. 64754.  Persons who intend to manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or process any of these chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by the SNURs to notify EPA...
June 7, 2019

IATA Approves CORSIA Resolution

By Lynn L. Bergeson On June 2, 2019, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the approval, by the IATA 75th Annual General Meeting (AGM), of the United Nations’ (UN) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) resolution, which calls governments to continue work on the implementation of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). The first global carbon pricing instrument for an industry sector, CORSIA will cap carbon dioxide...
May 10, 2019

Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News

Chemical Engineering, “Bio-based Aromatics Plant Achieves Commercially Targeted Yields, Anellotech Says” Renewable Energy Magazine, “Neste MY Renewable Jet Fuel Wins Award for Reduction of Black Carbon Emissions” BBC News, “Coffee Waste ‘Could Replace Palm Oil” Big Ten Network, “How Michigan State Is Building Better Bioplastics: BTN LiveBIG” Pune Mirror, “Bacteria Turn Agri Waste to Biofuelm First-of-its-kind Research Conducted by SPPU...
May 3, 2019

ELI Publishes Book On Legal Pathways To Deep Decarbonization

By Lynn L. Bergeson On April 25, 2019, the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) held an event to provide an overview of their latest publication, a book titled Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States. Providing an overview of the book, a few of the authors were part of a panel discussion opened by William K. Reilly, former EPA Administrator under President George H. W. Bush. In his opening remarks, Mr. Reilly emphasized the...
November 30, 2018

G20 Brown To Green Report 2018 Published

By Lynn L. Bergeson Climate Transparency, a global partnership of international organizations to stimulate G20 climate action and empower zero carbon technologies through transparency, published in early November 2018 their annual “G20 Brown to Green — The G20 Transition to A Low-Carbon Economy” report. The report summarizes carbon-reducing activities across all G20 countries, utilizing 80 indicators. In an assessment of the climate policy and efforts performance of each G20...
August 10, 2018

Bipartisan Carbon Utilization Act Promotes Biogas, CCUS Technology

By Lynn L. Bergeson On July 19, 2018, the bipartisan Carbon Utilization Act was introduced by Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA) and David Young (R-IA) to promote biogas and carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS) technologies. Biogas is produced by converting organic waste material into CO2, methane, and other carbon products that then are captured by CCUS technologies to use as energy or fuel. The newly introduced bill incentivizes the use of innovative technologies for...
September 15, 2017

Ontario Announces $25.8 Million In Funding Available For Low Carbon Innovations

By Kathleen M. Roberts On August 29, 2017, the government of the province of Ontario, Canada announced $25.8 million has been allocated to the Low Carbon Innovation Fund (LCIF) as a part of the province’s Climate Change Action Plan.  The funding will be used to support emerging, innovative technologies in areas such as alternative energy generation and conservation, new biofuels or bioproducts, next-generation transportation or novel carbon capture and usage technologies. ...
June 2, 2017

Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News

International Renewable Energy Agency, “Renewable Energy Employs 9.8 Million People Worldwide, New IRENA Report Finds” E&E News, “Are Advanced Biofuels Ready for Takeoff?” University of Pittsburgh, “Fueling the Future” Tomsk Polytechnic University, “How Gold Can Recycle Biofuel Waste into Useful Additive” GoodFuel, “‘Goodshipping Program’ Hands Cargo Owners Control of Their Carbon Footprint”...