Biobased and Renewable Products Update
September 5, 2019
Federal
DOE Office Of Science
Announces BERAC Open Meeting
On September 5,
2019, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science announced an open
meeting of the Biological and Environmental Research Advisory Committee
(BERAC). The purpose of the meeting will be to provide advice to the
Office of Science Director on various technical issues that occur in the development
and implementation of the Biological and Environmental Research Program.
Tentative agenda topics listed by DOE include news from the Office of Science
and the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER); workshop
briefing and research topic discussions; a report from the Biological Systems
Science and Climate and Environmental Science Divisions; science talks; and an
opportunity for public comment, among other topics. The meeting will take place
in North Bethesda, MD, on October
24, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (EDT) and on October 25, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. (EDT).
2020 Presidential
Candidate, Elizabeth Warren, Writes Article On Achieving 100 Percent Clean
Energy
On September 3,
2019, Medium
published an article by U.S. Senator and 2020
Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren where she outlines her plan for
achieving 100 percent clean energy. Highlighting the fact that the
United States is the world’s largest historical carbon polluter, Warren claims
that the United States has a “special responsibility to lead the way” in the
clean energy movement. As an original supporter of the Green New Deal, which
outlines a plan to achieve zero-net domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, Warren continues
her public campaign calling for large and sustainable structural changes to
decarbonize key sectors of the U.S. economy. In her article, Warren challenges
other Presidential candidates to do the same in demonstrating commitment to
clean energy through the decarbonization of electricity, vehicles, and
buildings. Warren expands her argument by stating that a federal investment of
$3 trillion will leverage additional trillions in private investment and create
millions of jobs in addition to achieving:
- 100 percent zero-carbon
pollution for all new commercial and residential buildings by 2028;
- 100 percent zero emissions for
all new light-duty passenger vehicles, medium-duty trucks, and all buses
by 2030;
and
- 100 percent renewable and zero-emission energy in electricity generation by 2030.
To achieve the goals outlined above, Warren
states that there is no time to waste and that changes must begin now,
including the readjustment of the U.S. economic approach to assure communities
of color and other underserved populations are not left behind. As part of her
campaign, Warren further delves into measures she would take as President to
achieve these goals. Among these measures are the establishment of high
standards for utilities; the creation of a Federal Renewable Energy Commission;
federal subsidies to speed clean energy adoption; greater interstate and
regional coordination; and the use of federal investment and policy to
accelerate the transition. Warren further outlines her plan in her article,
concluding by stating that should she win the election, she will “take bold
action to confront the climate change crisis, starting on day one.”
Industry
National Chicken Council
Submits Comments To EPA On The RFS Program Standards For 2020 And Biomass-Based
Diesel Volume For 2021
On August 30,
2019, the National Chicken Council submitted a letter to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) expressing concerns with the proposed required volume
obligations (RVO) for 2020
combined with the recent waiver that will increase the use of ethanol-15 (E15)
under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Representing companies that
produce and process over 95 percent of the chicken in the United States, the
National Chicken Council’s concerns are related to its broiler production,
which comprises the largest single user of corn not operating under RFS. In its
letter, the National Chicken Council claims that under RFS since 2007, broiler
producers have faced $68.5 billion in higher feed costs for the production of
broiler meat. Calling for greater efforts to create a more sustainable
approach under RFS, Mike Brown’s, National Chicken Council President,
concluding statements express the view that both the proposed RVOs for 2020 and the waiver
allowing for E15 sales year-round are overly aggressive. These measures,
according to the letter, are also overly reliant on corn-based ethanol, stating
that it is likely to cause disruptions to the feed supply in the U.S.
Events
ELI To Host Webinar On
Genetic Engineering
On September 11, 2019, from 12:00 p.m. to
1:30 p.m. (EDT), the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) will
host a webinar titled “Genetic Engineering: The Good, The Bad, and The
Necessary.” The webinar is designed to cover the vast possibilities
offered by genetic engineering in a world where regulatory officials face
increasing pressure to guarantee global food security. Along with the many
possibilities associated with genetic engineering, however, there are great
concerns about the environmental, health, and ethical implications of it.
Webinar panelists will discuss many of these possibilities and concerns.
Other News
| ■ |
Live Kindly, “Edible Vegan
Seaweed Pods Are the New Soda Bottles” |
| ■ |
Nikkei Asian Review, “Trapping CO2
into Concrete to Be Cheaper” |
| ■ |
Reuters, “Trump Promises
Ethanol-related ‘Giant Package’ to Please Farmers” |
| ■ |
ZME Science, “This
Fashionable Ski Jacket Is Made from Spider Silk Grown by Bacteria” |
| ■ |
Composites Manufacturing Magazine, “Lessons in
Sustainability” |
| ■ |
Hellenic Shipping News, “Oil Industry
Urges Trump Administration to Dismiss Biofuel Industry Wish List” |
| ■ | Oil Review, “Chemical Firms to Explore Electrical Cracking to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions” |
Biobased and Renewable
Products Advocacy Group
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Suite 100W
Washington, D.C. 20037
(202) 833-6580
www.braginfo.org