Month: November 2018

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Midwest Trump Voters Losing Faith in His Commitment to Biofuels

The National Biodiesel Board. “Midwest Trump Voters Losing Faith in His Commitment to Biofuels.” Biodiesel Magazine – The Latest News and Data About Biodiesel Production, 4 June 2018, www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/2516380/midwest-trump-voters-losing-faith-in-his-commitment-to-biofuels.

 

Abstract:

This short article discusses the Midwest’s disappointment with the president and and his failure to follow through on a commitment. In Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri, voters overwhelmingly support the growth of renewable energy and biofuels. Two-thirds of republicans and three-fourths of independents say that the US should make efforts to boost the biofuel industry. It is a total of 73% of voters agreeing on this. Trump claimed he would defend and support rural farmers, gaining him number in the polls back in 2016, but now he has failed to support their interest. He has not been a man of his word to the farmers of the midwest.

 

Response:

I can’t say that I don’t have a bias to this as many things that Trump has done when it comes climate change and environmental issues, but this is something great to hear. The people wanted support renewable fuel, and he did not follow through. No matter the political party or issue at hand, when a government official makes a promise to do something for the people, they should do it. When things don’t go as we would like to go in government, it is our duty to speak out for change, especially with regards to climate change. Climate change is real and we must do what we can to slow the process, and if republicans in Iowa want growth in the renewable fuel industry, give them growth.

 

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Biofuel Success Story

“EERE Success Story-From Breakfast to Biocrude: Study Identifies Production Potential across Nation.” Department of Energy, 20 June 2018, www.energy.gov/eere/success-stories/articles/eere-success-story-breakfast-biocrude-study-identifies-production.

 

Abstract:

This article talks about a success story of converting the energy in food waste to usable fuel. Researchers took data all across the nation and found countless places with the capacity to  produce biocrude oil. These places had to have enough food or animal waste that was able to be converted into biocrude to be considered. After compiling the results, they estimated that the United States could produce approximately 5.9 billion gallons of biocrude oil per year from these places. These numbers reveal an opportunity that is not being taken advantage of.

 

Response:

In August alone the US produced 170 million gallons of biofuel, giving a yearly estimate of about 2 billion gallons of biofuel. If this research is sound, and the US really does have the capacity to produce 5.9 billion gallons of biocrude oil, than our biofuel production would increase nearly four-fold. The more biofuel we use, the less fossil fuels we are burning, and ultimately the less carbon dioxide we put into our atmosphere. If this estimated production is accurate, than the world of biofuel in the US will change dramatically. All food waste and left over oil could be converted to fuel which would then go back into producing more food. A potential sustainable cycle.

 

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Monthly Biodiesel Production Report

“Monthly Biodiesel Production Report.” U.S. Energy and Information Administration, 31 Oct.

2018, www.eia.gov/biofuels/biodiesel/production/

 

Abstract:

This report gives an in depth description of all of the production of biofuel that has happened in the US from 2016 to today. All but 13 states have at least one producer of biofuel, whereas some have as many as 11, like California (go us). Production in August 2018 was 169 million gallons of biofuel. This number was 5 million higher than the production of July 2018. 77 million of these gallons were sold as B100, 100% pure biofuel, and the remaining as mixes of biodiesel with some components derived from petroleum.

 

Response:

This article is yet another tell tale sign that we are taking steps in the right direction as a nation. Each month, we produce and sell more and more biofuel to companies that run our economy. If these corporate giants begin to use biofuel frequently, and in higher quantities, than our environment will reap the benefits. It is a difficult switch to make because it is not know and may not be as cost efficient, but it as sure as hell is environmentally friendly and more sustainable. With the national average of biofuel produced and sold each year increasing each year, the vision of a sustainable and low emission US is not too far off.

 

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7 US Biofuel Stocks to Consider

Kay, Amanda. “7 US Biofuel Stocks to Consider.” Investing News Network, 7 Sept. 2018,

www.investingnews.com/daily/tech-investing/cleantech-investing/7-us-biofuel-stocks/

 

Abstract:

This article looks at seven possible biofuel stocks that investors should take a look at when trying to make an investment. Without investigating the detail of each stock, the article implies that each one of these companies is succeeding and growing in the biofuel industry. Each of the seven companies suggested have a market cap in the hundreds of millions. The companies have had success and, with more advertising and breakthroughs, are anticipated to have even more success in the near future.

 

Response:

Knowing the economy of the US, when a company enters the stock market with known success, they are likely to be a target of investors. The more a company is invested in, the more likely they are to have more success. Especially with the industry of biofuel, proper investment is essential to success. We know it is possible to make sustainable fuel, but many people are not convinced it will make them money, so they won’t invest. But if they become sold on the idea of biofuel, than there may be just enough money to continue the growth in the industry that we are seeing. The more investors there are, the more likely the biofuel industry is to succeed, and ultimately the more likely we are to improve our emissions and quality of environment.

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U.S. Bioenergy Statistics

Capehart, Thomas. “U.S. Bioenergy Statistics.” USDA ERS – Food Environment Atlas, 7 Nov.

2018, www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/us-bioenergy-statistics/

 

Abstract:

This article gives an overview of the usage of biofuel in the US, and what materials contribute to the production of biofuel. With many statistics given in the forms of tables, it is apparent that the US has began to use more and more biofuel as time goes on. Most of this production of biofuel comes from corn. Ethanol contributes to approximately ninety percent of all biofuel production in the US. The rest of it is comprised of biodiesel. Similar to ethanol, biodiesel uses plants. But instead of corn, it is made up of vegetable oils. The majority of the oil used is soy oil.

 

Response:

To look at numbers as the ones in this article is a something that gives hope. With a country like the US, there is massive amounts of carbon and non-sustainable waste produced each day. But with numbers showing a gradual increase in the use of biofuel is very good sign. Not only is the US trying to make sustainable and useful fuels, but they are succeeding. If this patterns continues, than the US may be able to support itself on sustainable fuels someday. This is something everyone hopes for, but it cannot come unless the process continues and people continue to work for that goal.

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HoR Science Panel Gets Fresh Start

MervisNov, J. (2018, November 13). With Democrats in control of U.S. House, science panel gets fresh start. Retrieved from https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/11/democrats-control-us-house-science-panel-gets-fresh-start

As the Democrats gained a majority in the house of representatives after the midterm elections, there is solid speculation that Democrats will be able to have a positive impact on United States environmental policy. With an added check and balance of the House, Democrats can now approve or disapprove initiatives related to the environment before they are passed. The policy examined here would include things like the budget for the Environmental Protection Agency, which has routinely been cut in past years.

Even as a nonpartisan citizen, I am encouraged by the fact that Democrats now have control of the house of representatives on the basis of climate and environmental policy. In recent years, the democratic party has been much more active in the role of progressive climate initiatives. I think that this will have an overall positive effect on the environment because not only can there now be higher quality and quantity of initiatives proposed,  but there is also another level of verification for things like environmental policy rollbacks and other movements of that nature.

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Regulation Rollbacks

Appleby, J. (2018, November 12). High stakes, entrenched interests and the Trump rollback of environmental regulations. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Health/high-stakes-entrenched-interests-trump-rollback-environmental-regulations/story?id=59142295

Since his presidential campaign, President Donald Trump has promised to roll back environmental regulations and make other similar changes such as pulling out of the Paris climate agreement, and he has been moving towards these things. Due to this, there are a number of lawsuits coming from states and private organizations alike. Much of this regulation loss is based off the rationale that it will create lots of jobs.

I am in support of most of those posing lawsuits against the Trump administration here because I think that there is a poor allocation of priorities coming from where it is most important, the federal government. On the topic of creating more jobs, I think the jobs could still be created but they would be different. Instead of revamping jobs in coal and oil industries, we could instead place those workers in more efficient industries such as solar or wind power. The longer that we lay low on regulation and the like, the worse the climate gets and the more harmful chemicals are released into the atmosphere. Rather than spending money on these lawsuits, the money could be better spend moving forward and progressing towards a better future.

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Trump be Trippin

Withers, R. (2018, November 10). Trump responds to the worst fires in California’s history by threatening to withhold federal aid. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/11/10/18082282/trump-blames-california-wildfires-forest-management-climate-change

President Donald Trump released statements about recent California wildfires blaming poor forest management as the reason. His rationale was that there was “Billions and Billions” given by the Federal Government and it is being allocated poorly within the state. The article states that this is a common pattern of the president placing blame on the state for its fires.

For the comments released by the President, I am somewhat unsure how I should feel. At some level, I think that the fires are due in part to the management strategies of the state. The placement of homes, lack of defensible space, extreme density of forests, and more all played a part in the intensity and how devastating the fires have been. That being said, there are a number of very important factors that played significant parts that are not the fault of the state, such as California’s lack of water, recent El Nino rainfall levels followed by very dry periods, and of course, a hotter than ever climate. Wildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem, so the goal is to allow these fires to burn without threatening lives and property.

 

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Project to Turn Wastewater into Drinking Water to Begin Construction in Spring 2019

Bravo, C., & Ojeda, A. (2018, November 16). Project to Turn Wastewater into Drinking Water to Begin Construction in Spring 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2018, from https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Pure-Water-San-Diego-Transform-Wastewater-Drinking-Construction-Contracts-Phase-1-500705201.html

The San Diego City Council approved the Pure Water San Diego Project, an initiative to purify wastewater into drinkable water. It plans to provide one-third of San Diego’s water by 2035. The project requires construction of pipelines to transport wastewater to the purification plant, then to the Lake Miramar Reservoir for storage, and out to citizens. The program is slated to start in 2021 in Miramar, and will produce up to 30 million gallons of potable water a day. More treatment facilities are planned to open in Central San Diego and South Bay, expected to produce an additional 53 million gallons per day. This water will replace imported water from the Colorado River and the Northern California Bay Delta, which is becoming increasingly expensive,

I think that this project is admirable, and should be followed by other major cities in California, especially in Southern California. As this article notes, San Diego and other Southern Californian cities rely on water from up north. This requires great amounts of energy and use of pipelines, and arguably takes away from citizens and farmers who need the water in Northern California. This recycled water system benefits both Northern and Southern California, as demand for imported water is alleviated. Water is a necessary component of life, but is also under strain with the persistent drought conditions throughout the state. The more cities can become self-sufficient with their water supply the better.

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Anaergia Celebrates Opening Of California CHP System

Anaergia Inc. (2018, November 14). Anaergia Celebrates Opening Of California CHP System. Retrieved November 17, 2018, from http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/15750/anaergia-celebrates-opening-of-california-chp-system

Anaergia Inc. officially opened its combined-heat-and-power (CHP) system at the Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility (HARRF) in Escondido, California. This system generates renewable power for the facility using the gas produced by the anaerobic digesters, which are an integral part of the wastewater treatment process. The facility is being celebrated for the implementation of the system, as its use of renewable, clean energy is beneficial to both the local community and the environment.

Given that wastewater treatment is a necessary process for any city, it is important to continuously improve wastewater treatment plants. It is great that this facility is now completely self-sufficient on clean, renewable energy. Since the facility is using the biogas and sludge that are natural byproducts of the wastewater treatment process to fuel itself, the facility could be considered zero-waste. This self-contained system is efficient, reduces costs, and is environmentally friendly, and should be applied to wastewater treatment plants everywhere.