6 item(s) were returned.
In 2007, US EPA began using renewable identification numbers (RINs) to track fuel producer compliance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which calls for fuel blends to contain a minimum amount of renewable fuels. RINs quantify the biofuel, produced or imported, used in fuel blends. Fuel producers buy and sell them, and then submit them to demonstrate compliance. The complexity of RIN markets and RFS compliance has come under scrutiny lately, as several instances of fraud have emerged. In 2010, two small biofuel producers – Clean Green Fuel and Absolute Fuels – started selling fraudulent… [more]
View InsightOn Tuesday, President Obama outlined a package of efforts his administration is pursuing to ensure that energy traders are not responsible for “market manipulation” that drives up the cost of oil and consequently gasoline. President Obama called on Congress to “pass a package of measures to crack down on illegal activity and hold accountable those who manipulate the market for private gain at the expense of millions of working families.” Specifically, Obama suggested that Congress should provide funding to better police energy trading, and policing of those investors usually go for stock apps when trading online. He suggested that Congress… [more]
View InsightAt the Methanol Policy Forum – held March 27, 2012 in Washington, DC – energy industry and policy experts convened to discuss the fuel’s potential as a transportation fuel. The Forum’s opening remarks were made by DOE Assistant Secretary David Sandalow, who offered that methanol offered advantages as a transportation fuel but also brings along some challenges. Among the advantages: “First, and perhaps most important, methanol is inexpensive to produce. At today’s low natural gas and high oil prices, methanol could help reduce fuel costs consumers pay at the pump. “Second, methanol is a liquid at room temperature. It doesn’t… [more]
View InsightNote: Synopsis drawn from report’s executive summary. Synopsis intended solely for purposes of generating discussion. The Future of Natural Gas: An Interdisciplinary MIT Study By the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative Natural gas has moved to the center of the current debate on energy, security and climate. This study examines the role of natural gas in a carbon-constrained world, with a time horizon out to mid-century. The overarching conclusions are that: Abundant global natural gas resources imply greatly expanded natural gas use, with especially large growth in electricity generation. Natural gas will assume an increasing share of the U.S.… [more]
View Insight[Note: The statements below are intended solely to stimulate discussion among the Expert community, and do not represent the position of OurEnergyPolicy.org. Text in italics indicates clarification or expansion.] Diesel accounts for 30% of U.S. transportation fuel. In many uses (like trucking), there is no replacement technology in sight. The use of diesel in Europe is double that of the U.S. Bio-diesel is an excellent replacement for oil-derived diesel since it requires only minor infrastructure change or engine change (unlike methanol and ethanol). However, our sources for bio-diesel are limited today. We need to create a larger bio-diesel market… [more]
View Insight[Note: The statements below are intended solely to stimulate discussion among the Expert community, and do not represent the position of OurEnergyPolicy.org. Text in italics indicates clarification or expansion.] Government intervention is not required. Let the best/cheapest solution win. The key is to maintain an even playing field between all oil replacements (like methanol and ethanol). If we find an economically viable alternative which can be used in today’s cars, the priorities of the energy policy should be reviewed. All validated alcohols should benefit from the same tax benefits as ethanol and methanol. Coal to Liquid (CTL) is… [more]
View Insight