Sweden currently landfills less than 1 percent of their total solid waste. That is not a typo and yes, you did read that statistic right! Using a combination of recycling, energy recovery and biological treatment Sweden is able to successfully manage over 99 percent of their waste resources for productive use. This impressive statistic and others were revealed at a recent seminar on Sustainable Transportation held at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. Continue reading »
Cellulosic ethanol from corn residue worse than Gasoline? NOT…SO…FAST…
April 22, 2014 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Brendan Jordan
A new academic paper on biofuels was released this week, and some media outlets have reached sweeping conclusions. “Fuels from corn waste not better than gas,” claimed the AP. The Daily Caller one-upped them with “Study: Corn Ethanol is Nature’s Enemy”. A careful reading of the paper doesn’t in any way support these conclusions. Continue reading »
Taking Recycling Efforts to the Next Level
April 9, 2014 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Amanda Bilek
Many cities across the U.S.—even large cities like New York City—are stepping up recycling efforts by offering curbside collection of source separated organics, or food scraps and nonrecyclable papers. City and county governments are looking to collect household and institutional organic waste to boost recycling efforts. Continue reading »
Amanda Bilek Recognized by Biomass Magazine as a ‘Biogas Bolsterer’
April 1, 2014 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Rolf Nordstrom
GPI congratulates our own Amanda Bilek, who manages GPI’s government affairs and has a deep background in bioenergy, for being recognized as a ‘Biogas Bolsterer’ by Biomass Magazine. The magazine has recognized four exceptional business leaders who have made notable contributions to the evolving biogas industry. Continue reading »
Bioeconomy Bill Introduced in the Minnesota Legislature
March 5, 2014 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Brendan Jordan
Senator Tom Saxhaug, and Representative Jeanne Poppe have introduced a bill in the Minnesota legislature to help establish an advanced biofuel and renewable chemicals industry in Minnesota. The Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota, a multi-stakeholder partnership, is strongly supportive and will be working closely with Sen. Saxhaug and Rep. Poppe to advance the bill during the 2014 legislative session.Biogas Projects Can Help Establish Energy Crop Supply
January 25, 2014 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Amanda Bilek
The U.S. biogas sector has done an outstanding job developing projects using livestock manure, landfill gas and municipal biosolids to generate clean energy. Although there is still a large amount of untapped potential to use these three feedstock sources, the use of crop residues and energy crops are completely underutilized in the U.S. biogas market. International biogas project development experience has demonstrated that the use of crop residues and energy crops are valuable feedstocks to produce increased levels of biogas and project stability.Biogas a Combined Heat and Power Opportunity
November 16, 2013 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Amanda Bilek
In previous columns, I have focused on the use of biogas as a transportation fuel, which holds enormous, untapped potential. However, my introduction to biogas energy systems was through projects that use biogas to produce electricity and then capture thermal energy from the generator for a useful purpose. This process is better known as combined heat and power (CHP) or cogeneration. Continue reading »
Infrastructure Critical to Biogas as Transportation Fuel
October 7, 2013 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Amanda Bilek
While many of you are familiar with the use of biogas as a means for powering or heating our homes and businesses, I believe that the use of biogas as a transportation fuel is the least well-known and understood application for this versatile and greenhouse gas reducing resource. For this reason, my previous columns have focused on the vast potential of biogas as fuel for our vehicles. If this potential is to be reached, however, a critical component of the plan needs to be addressed first: infrastructure.Biogas as Transportation Fuel: A Strong Start
July 22, 2013 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Amanda Bilek
In my last Biomass Magazine column, I wrote about the enormous potential of biogas in meeting our transportation needs and as a component of a diverse fuel mix. New projects and data are demonstrating that biogas as a transportation fuel is no longer a vision, but a market reality. Under both the federal renewable fuel standard 2 (RFS2) and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, biogas is an emerging contributor to a diverse, low-carbon fuel mix. While progress is encouraging, there is still a large amount of untapped potential, leaving plenty of room for expansion and opportunity for innovative project models.Biogas Contributes to a Diverse Renewable Fuel Mix
May 21, 2013 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Amanda Bilek
Biogas energy systems have typically been considered a source of renewable electricity and/or combined heat and power, but several projects across the U.S. are demonstrating the suitability of biogas as a transportation fuel. Using biogas as a supply source of lower-carbon, domestic, renewable fuel is an exciting prospect, even in the face of abundant natural gas supplies and low prices. Continue reading »
