U.S. EIA
Date: 2021-01-18
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) January 2021 Short-Term Energy Outlook, in 2020, fossil fuel production in the U.S. declined by an estimated 6 pct from the 2019 record high of 81.3 quadrillion BTUs. EIA expects U.S. fossil fuels -- crude oil, coal, dry natural gas, and natural gas plant liquids (NGPL) -- production to remain flat in 2021 but to increase in 2022, but lower than the 2019 peak.

The survey notes that from the mid-1980s through 2010, coal was the leading source of U.S. fossil fuel production, but coal production has since been surpassed by dry natural gas (in 2011) and by crude oil (in 2015). In 2020, the U.S. produced twice as much energy from crude oil (24 quadrillion Btu) than coal (11 quadrillion Btu) and three times as much energy from natural gas (35 quadrillion Btu).

According to the EIA forecast U.S. coal production fell by an estimated 24 pct in 2020, but will increase by 12 pct in 2021 and another 4 pct in 2022 -- about 90 pct of which will be used for electric power production. The EIA also forecasts increases in natural gas prices will reduce natural gas consumption for electricity generation, which will result in an increased share for coal, and to a lesser extent, an increased share for renewables in the electricity generation mix.

EIA estimates that U.S. NGPL production increased by 7 pct in 2020. Newly commissioned, more efficient natural gas processing plants supported growth in NGPL production even though natural gas production declined. EIA expects domestic NGPL production to increase by 2 pct in 2021 and by 7 pct in 2022. (Source: US EIA, 15 Jan., 2021) Contact: US EIA January 2021 Short-Term Energy Outlook, www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo

More Low-Carbon Energy News U.S. EIA,  Fossil Fuel,  Coal,  Natural Gas,  

Energy Information Administration
Date: 2021-01-13
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. electric power generators, developers and power plant owners are planning for 39.7 GW of new electric power generating capacity to begin commercial operation in 2021. Of the total, solar will account for 39 pct, followed by wind at 31 pct, natural gas at 16 pct and battery at 11 pct and nuclear about 3 pct of the new capacity.

Solar PV -- Developers and plant owners expect the addition of utility-scale solar capacity to set a new record by adding 15.4 GW of capacity to the grid in 2021. This new capacity will surpass 2020's nearly 12 GW increase, based on reported additions through October (6.0 GW) and scheduled additions for the last two months of 2020 (5.7 GW). More than half of the new utility-scale solar PV capacity is planned for four states -- Texas (28 pct), Nevada (9 pct), California (9 pct), and North Carolina (7 pct) and an additional 4.1 GW of small-scale solar PV capacity to enter service by the end of 2021.

Wind -- Another 12.2 GW of wind capacity is scheduled to come online in 2021. Last year, 21 GW of wind came online, based on reported additions through October (6.0 GW) and planned additions in November and December (14.9 GW). Texas and Oklahoma account for more than half of the 2021 wind capacity additions. The largest wind project coming online in 2021 will be the 999-MW Traverse wind farm in Oklahoma. The 12-MW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind pilot project off the coast of Virginia Beach, is also scheduled to start commercial operation in early 2021.

Natural gas -- For 2021, planned natural gas capacity additions are reported at 6.6 GW. Combined-cycle generators account for 3.9 GW, and combustion-turbine generators account for 2.6 GW. More than 70 pct of these planned additions are in Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Battery storage -- EIA expects the capacity of utility-scale battery storage to more than quadruple; 4.3 GW of battery power capacity additions are slated to come online by the end of 2021. The rapid growth of renewables is a major driver in the expansion of battery capacity because battery storage systems are increasingly paired with renewables. The world's largest solar-powered battery (409 MW) is under construction at Manatee Solar Energy Center in Florida; the battery is scheduled to be operational by late 2021. (Source: US EIA, 11 Jan., 2021)Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

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US Energy Information Administration
Date: 2020-11-25
According to the US Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Electric Power Monthly, in 2019 the Empire State followed only California, Taxas and Washington states in total renewable power generations.

In 2019, New York State generated 39.4 million MWh of renewable electricity for 30 pct of the state's total electric power generation. Hydroelectricity generated 31 million MWh (78 pct) of the state's power followed wind with 4.5 million MWh (11 pct) and solar solar energy at 2.4 million MWh of electricity.

Download the EPA report details HERE. (Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Nov., 2020) Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

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US EIA
Date: 2020-11-13
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is reporting U.S. biodiesel production hit 163 million gallons this past August -- up 1 million gallons when compared to the previous month and up 7 million gallons when compared to the same month of 2019.

Production in August came from 88 biodiesel plants totaling 2.5 billion gpy capacity. Approximately 73 pct of August's production was from plants located in the Midwest. 73 million gallons of August's production was sold as B100 and 96 million gallons was blended with petroleum diesel.

Approximately 1.239 billion pounds of feedstock was used to produce biodiesel in August, including 745 million pounds of soybean oil, 148 million pounds of corn oil, 44 million pounds of tallow, 55 million bounds of white grease, 80 million pounds of yellow grease, and 26 million pounds of other recycled feedstocks. Ending stocks of B100 were at 46 million gallons in August, down from 53 million gallons in July. Ending stocks of B100 were at 45 million gallons in August 2019, according to the EIA report. (Source: US EIA, Website Report, 30 Oct., 2020) Contact: US EIA, www,eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News US EIA,  Biodiesel,  

US EIA
Date: 2020-10-09
According to the just released U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Winter Fuels Outlook and an updated Short-Term Energy Outlook , approximately 1.4 pct -- 1.8 million U.S. households will use cord wood or wood pellets as their primarily residential spacing heating fuel during the 2020 – 2021 winter. The EIA report forecasts that U.S. residential energy consumption will be higher than the 2019 -- 2020 heating season.

In the electric power sector, biomass expected to be used to generate 27.9 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity this year, including 15.6 billion kWh from waste biomass and 12.3 billion kWh from wood biomass. Generation from biomass reached 28.8 billion kWh in 2019, including 15.7 billion kWh from waste biomass and 13 billion kWh from wood biomass. In 2021, generation from biomass is expected to increase to 31.2 billion kWh, including 16.4 kWh from waste biomass and 14.9 billion kWh from wood biomass. The electric power sector is expected to consume 0.233 quadrillion Btu (quad) of waste biomass this year, down from 0.236 quad in 2019, but increasing to 0.244 quad in 2021. The sector consumed 0.211 quad of wood biomass in 2019, with consumption expected to fall to 0.2 quad in 2020, and increase to 0.241 quad in 2021.

In the electric power sector, biomass generating capacity was at 6,672 MW in 2019, including 3,945 MW of waste biomass capacity and 2,727 MW of wood biomass capacity. Capacity by the end of 2020 is expected to fall to 6,628 MW, including 3,902 MW of waste biomass capacity and 2,727 MW of wood biomass capacity. Biomass capacity is expected to reach 6,638 MW by the end of 2021, including 3,912 MW of waste biomass capacity and 2,727 MW of wood biomass capacity.

Download the EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook HERE. (Source: US EIA, PR, Oct., 2020)

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DOE Office of Fossil Energy
Date: 2020-06-19
In Washington, the U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has selected 11 projects to receive approximately $17 million in federal funding for cost-shared research and development projects for carbon utilization. The projects will develop and test technologies that can utilize carbon dioxide (CO2) from power systems or other industrial sources as the primary feedstock. The research goal of DOE's Carbon Utilization Program is to reduce emissions and transform waste carbon streams into value-added products.

"According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the International Energy Agency, fossil fuels will continue to power our world well into the future. Therefore, it is our responsibility to ensure these fuels are utilized as cleanly and efficiently as possible," said Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes. "DOE's Carbon Utilization Program is investing in cutting-edge technologies to allow us to capture carbon oxides, which will reduce emissions, and then recycle them into economically valuable services like enhanced oil recovery or products like plastics and carbon fibers."

Projects resulting from this FOA will validate the concept, estimate the technology cost, and demonstrate that the carbon life cycle of the products offers a path toward an environmentally sustainable and economically viable product. The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will manage the selected projects.

Additional information, including a full list of the 11 funded projects is HERE. (Source: US DOE , PR, 16 June, 2020) Contact: US DOE Office of Fossil Energy Carbon Utilization Program, www.energy.gov/fe/carbon-utilization

More Low-Carbon Energy News DOE Office of Fossil Energy news,  CCU news,  Carbon Emissions news,  

Minnesota Ethanol,Ethanol
Date: 2020-06-08
In the Badger State, three of the four recently COVID-19 battered and shuttered ethanol plants in Minnesota are reported to have rebooted production -- Guardian Energy 149 million gpy ethanol plant in Janesville, Granite Falls Energy, and the Denco II ethanol plant in Morris. Of the four shuttered plants, only Gevo's facility in Luverne, the state's smallest ethanol plant, remains closed.

Nationwide, roughly 20 pct of all ethanol plants are still idle, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. U.S. ethanol production rose to 765,000 bpd for the week ending May 29, up from a historic low of 537,000 bpd for the week ending April 24, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (Source: MSN, Star Tribune, 4 June, 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ethanol news,  Guardian Energy news,  Gevo news,  Granite Falls news,  

Ethanol,U.S. Energy Information Administration
Date: 2020-05-22
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. ethanol production and use continues to slowly rebound following sharp declines in March and April due to market impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ethanol production for the week ending May 15 was up nearly 8 p ct while weekly ethanol ending stocks fell by more than 2 pct, EIA data shows.

The data shows U.S. ethanol U.S. ethanol production averaged 663,000 bpd the week ending May 15, up from an average of 617,000 barrels per day the previous week. Production was down 409,000 bpd when compared to the same week of last year, and down 416,000 bpd when compared to the volume of ethanol produced during the final week in February, before COVID-19 began to impact U.S. fuel markets. (Source: US Energy Information Administration, 20 May, 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ethanol news,  U.S. Energy Information Administration news,  

Ethanol
Date: 2020-04-17
Further to our 3rd April report, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is reporting U.S. ethanol production fell to 570,000 bpd during the week ending April 10, the lowest daily average since record keeping began in 2010.

Production was 15 pct lower than the 672,000 bpd reported a week earlier, at the time the lowest average daily output on record. (Source: U.S. EIA, Various Media, AG Insider, 15 April, 2020) Contact: Energy Information Administration, www.eia.gov

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EIA
Date: 2020-03-09
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is reporting US ethanol production for the week ending 28 Feb. jumped to the highest in a month while stockpiles were up slightly with an average output of 1.079 million bpd -- the highest level since Jan. 31.

In the U.S. Midwest, by far the biggest-producing region, output of the biofuel jumped to 1.007 million barrels on average, from 977,000 a week earlier. Gulf Coast production increased to 24,000 bpd, on average, from 22,000 bpd seven days earlier. Rocky Mountain output was unchanged at an average of 14,000 bpd. West Coast production declined to 14,000 bpd from 15,000 bpd, and East Coast output fell to an average of 19,000 bpd from 26,000 bpd the previous week.

Stockpiles in the seven days that ended on Feb. 28 came in at 24.964 million barrels, up from 24.718 million a week earlier, according to EIA. (Source: EIA March 8, 2020)Contact: EIA, www.eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News EIA,  Corn,  Ethanol,  

USDA
Date: 2020-02-21
In Washington, as part of a new department-wide sustainability initiative the USDA is reported to have announced a goal for biofuels to make up 30 pct of U.S. transportation fuels by 2050.

Under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) refineries are presently required to blend 20.09 billion gallons of biofuel in 2020 – roughly 10 pct of projected crude oil production, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Source: KLO, Various Media, Reuters, 20 Feb., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News USDA news,  RFS news,  Ethanol news,  Ethanol Blend news,  

Energy Information Administration
Date: 2020-02-05
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which previously predicted natural gas energy would dominate the country's energy market through 2050, now says renewable energy will soon surpass natural gas in the U.S. electric power mix.

In its annual energy outlook report, the EIA notes renewables are now growing faster as a source of power generation through 2050 as lower costs make them economically more competitive. (Source: Energy Information Administration, Feb., 2020) Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Information Administration,  Renewables,  Renewable Energy,  Natural Gas,  

US EIA
Date: 2020-01-03
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is reporting utility-scale hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass accounted for 23 pct of the U.S. energy mix, while coal was only 20 pct in April, 2019. The EIA report noted that although generation output from large coal, gas and nuclear plants is typically lower during April and other demand lull periods, renewable capacity has been growing and coal-fired power falling in recent years.

Each renewable resource set record high generation outputs sometime during 2018. Wind power generated 30.2 million MWh in April, a new monthly high, while a combination of utility-scale solar photovoltaics and solar thermal made history in June with 7.8 million MWh, the EIA report shows. (Source: US EIA, Power Eng., Jan., 2020) Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,  US EIA,  Coal,  

US EIA, Wind
Date: 2019-12-13
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, cumulative U.S. installed onshore wind capacity exceeded 100 GW on a nameplate capacity basis as of the end of September 2019. More than half of that amount has been installed since the beginning of 2012.

The inventory notes that as of Q3, 2019, 41 states had at least one installed wind turbine. Texas had the most capacity installed, at 26.9 GW, followed by Iowa at 8.9 GW, Oklahoma at 8.1 GW, and Kansas at 6.2 GW.

The agency projects another 14.3 GW of wind capacity will come online in 2020, bringing U.S. capacity to 122 GW. (Source: US EIA, Dec., 2019) Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News US EIA,  Wind,  Onshore Wind,  

International Center for Sustainable Technology
Date: 2019-09-30
The Lakewood, Colorado-based not-for-profit International Center for Sustainable Technology (ICAST) is reporting completion of energy-efficiency upgrades to nearly 1,000 multifamily buildings, for a reported savings of 7.4 million kWh, 850,000 therms, and nearly $2 million in utility cost savings.

The 3 year work contract , which was funded by the U.S. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Building Technologies Office (BTO), was intended to spur the growth of energy efficiency in the small and medium commercial building sector -- less than 100,000 square feet in gross floor area -- but accounts for over half of the energy used in the commercial sector, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey.

At the start of the project, ICAST operated in two states, improving energy in about 100 multifamily buildings per year. ICAST has eight affiliates providing energy-efficiency services to the multifamily sector in four states and seven cities. (Source: US DOE EERE, ICAST, PR, 30 Sept., 2019) Contact: US DOE EERE, www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/zero-energy-ready-home; ICAST, 866.590.4377, info@icastusa.org, www.icastusa.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News DOE EERE,  International Center for Sustainable Technology,  Energy Efficiency,  

US EIA
Date: 2019-09-30
According to the recently released U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook 2019 -- Projections to 2050 report, despite renewable energy investment more than tripling globally during the current decade compared to the last 10-year period, most of the power delivered to the world's electric grids during the recent decade was from coal -- still the world's largest source of electricity, providing 38 pct of world electrical generation in 2018, about the same as 1997.

The world spent about $2.6 trillion on renewable energy projects during the decade, over three times the amount spent from 2000 to 2009. Solar PV investments totaled around $1.3 trillion, and onshore and offshore wind investment totaled around $1 trillion. Globally, solar energy capacity increased by 638 GW between 2009 and 2019, while coal-fired capacity increased by 529 GW, wind capacity increased 487 GW, and natural gas capacity increased 436 GW. In 2018, $41 billion was invested in coal worldwide.

China's spending on renewable electricity was the highest in the world at $758 billion from 2000 to the first half of 2019. The US was second with $356 billion, followed by Japan at $202 billion. The European nations spent around $698 billion on wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources, with Germany and the UK spending the most. It is expected that 330 GW of new wind power capacity will come online over the next five years, driven primarily by onshore wind power projects in the US and China. Investments in renewable power capacity in 2018, however, dropped 38 pct in China and by 6 pct in the US, while rising 45 pct in Europe.

The report predicts that electric power demand for coal will fall to 17 pct of total generation by 2050. Moody's Investors Service predicts coal will represent 11 pct of total U.S. power generation by 2030 -- down from 27 pct in 2018. The over 50 pct drop in coal demand from utilities by 2030 implies that coal demand would decline by about 7 pct per year on average over the next 10 years.

Download the US EIA Annual Energy Outlook 2019 -- Projections to 2050 report HERE. (Source: US EIA, Sept., 2019) Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

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U.S. Energy Information Administration
Date: 2019-09-16
On September 13, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its first annual U.S. Biodiesel Plant Production Capacity Report. The report includes the total biodiesel production capacity for all operating plants in both million gallons per year (gal/y) and barrels per day (b/d) as of January 1, 2019. The names of the reporting plants are organized by Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts (PADD). Like the Ethanol Plant Production Capacity Report, EIA plans to update the report annually.

The 2019 U.S. Biodiesel Plant Production Capacity Report shows 102 operating biodiesel plants with 2.6 billion gpy in biodiesel production capacity, or 167,000 bpd. More than half of the nation's biodiesel production capacity is in the Midwest region, led by Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. Of the top 15 biodiesel-producing states, 9 are located in the Midwest.

U.S.biodiesel production topped 1.8 billion gallons (119,000 bpd) in 2018, implying a 72 pct utilization rate based on the nameplate capacity level recorded at the beginning of 2018.

In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), EIA forecasts that U.S. production of biodiesel will reach about 2.0 billion gallons (128,000 bpd) in 2019, resulting in 77 pct utilization of reported nameplate capacity as of January 1, 2019.

Respondents report the biodiesel production capacity data to EIA on Form EIA-22M, Monthly Biodiesel Production Survey, and EIA publishes the data in the Monthly Biodiesel Production Report. All entities that produce biodiesel that meets ASTM D 6751-07B specifications and is used for commercial purposes within the United States submit Form EIA-22M. Additional data collected on Form EIA-22M include production, sales, stock changes, and feed stock inputs to production. (Source: US EIA Release, Sept., 2019) Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov/petroleum/ethanolcapacity

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biodiesel,  U.S. Energy Information Administration,  

Heartland Institute
Date: 2019-08-02
The Heartland Institute is reporting Maine State Gov. Janet Mills has signed into law several energy measures as part of her commitment to fight "purported" human-caused climate change by reducing fossil fuel use.

Among the slate of bills Mills signed is one requiring Maine's electric power providers, who are currently required to obtain 40 pct of their electricity from renewable sources, to provide 80 pct from such sources by 2030 and 100 pct by 2050. Presently, Maine has the 11th highest average electricity cost in the U.S..

Another climate-related bill Mills signed establishes a Maine Climate Council charged with developing plans to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 45 pct by 2030 and 80 pct by 2050. Mills also signed legislation creating new incentives to install energy efficient heating systems and to increase the number and size of solar power projects in the state.

A study by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago shows seven years after a state imposes a renewable energy mandate (REM) a 1.8 pct increase in renewable energy generation results in an 11 pct increase in electricity prices, and after 12 years a 4.2 pct increase in renewable power produces a 17 pct rise in the cost of electricity. The link between REMs and higher prices is confirmed by U.S. Energy Information Administration data showing electric power prices in the 29 states with REMs are 26 pct higher than in states without REMs.

(Source: Heartland Institute, 1 May, 2019) Contact: Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME): www.maine.gov/governor/mills/home, www.maine.gov/governor/mills/contact; Heartland Institute, www.heartland.org

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US EIA
Date: 2019-06-17
In its just released June Short Term Energy Outlook, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is predicting non-hydropower renewables will provide 11 pct of U.S. power generation in 2019, increasing to 13 pct in 2020.

Non-hydropower renewables provided 10 pct of electricity generation in 2018. Of that total, woody biomass is expected to generate 113,000 MWh per day of electricity this year, increasing to 115,000 MWh per day in 2020. Waste biomass is expected to be used to generate 57,000 MWh per day of electricity in both 2019 and 2020.

In the electric power sector, waste biomass is expected to be used to generate 48,000 MWh per day in both 2019 and 2020. Generation from wood biomass is expected to reach 37,000 MWh per day this year, increasing to 39,000 MWh per day in 2020. Across other sectors, waste biomass is expected to be used to generate 76,000 MWh per day in both 2019 and 2020, with wood biomass used to generate 9,000 MWh per day in both years.

The electric power sector is expected to consume 0.269 quadrillion Btu (quad) of waste biomass this year, increasing to 0.27 quad next year. The sector is also expected to consume 0.221 quad of wood biomass in 2019, increasing to 0.232 quad in 2020. The industrial sector is expected to consume 0.169 quad of waste biomass in both 2019 and 2020, along with 1.439 quad of wood biomass in 2019 and 1.401 quad of wood biomass in 2020. The commercial sector is expected to consume 0.044 quad of waste biomass and 0.084 quad of wood biomass in both 2019 and 2020, while the residential sector is expected to consume 0.492 quad of wood biomass this year, falling to 0.488 quad next year.

Across all sectors, waste biomass consumption is expected to reach 0.482 quad in 2019 and remain at that level into 2020. The consumption of wood biomass is expected to reach 2.238 quad this year, falling to 2.205 quad next year. Biomass capacity in the electric power sector is expected to reach 7,071 MW by the end of this year, including 4,141 MW of waste biomass capacity and 2,930 MW of wood biomass capacity, falling to 7,052 MW by the end of 2020, including 4,080 MW of waste biomass capacity and 2,972 MW of wood biomass capacity. Biomass capacity across other sectors is expected to reach 6,657 MW by the end of 2019, including 866 MW of waste biomass capacity and 5,791 MW of wood biomass capacity. Capacity is expected to fall slightly to 6,649 MW by the end of 2020, including 866 MW of waste biomass capacity and 5,784 MW of wood biomass capacity. (Source: US EIA, June, 2019)Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News US EIA,  Biomass,  Woody Biomass,  

US EIA
Date: 2019-05-10
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the share of total soybean oil consumed as a biodiesel feedstock doubled from the current 15 pct to 30 pct as the total U.S. soybean oil supply grew from about 22.5 billion pounds to nearly 26.0 billion pounds between marketing year 2010-2011 and 2017-2018.

Soybean oil is the most commonly used vegetable oil for biodiesel production, and inputs reached 7.1 billion pounds during the latest soybean oil marketing year which ran from Oct. 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2018. Between marketing year 2010-2011 and marketing year 2017-2018, U.S. domestic biodiesel production grew from 700 million gpy to 1.8 billion gpy. The production increase was largely driven by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) biofuel blending mandate. (Source: US EIA, Xinhua, 8 May, 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News US EIA,  Soybean,  Soybean Oil,  BiodieselBiofuel,  

Archer Daniels Midland
Date: 2019-04-29

Last Friday, Chicago-headquartered biofuel pioneer Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) reported it may spin off three large dry mill ethanol plants after the unsuccessful search for a buyer came up empty. ADM's move is being seen as a sign of the industry's troubles with U.S. President Trump's punitive tariffs and trade wars, thin margins, overproduction, and the motoring public's growing love affair with electric vehicles and fuel efficient vehicles, all of which is forcing the biofuels industry to seek new markets -- such as China -- for their overproduction.

Last week, U.S. ethanol production hit 1.05 million bpd, highest in at least five years seasonally, and inventories climbed to 22.75 million barrels, not far from the record of 24.45 million hit in March, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Source: ADM, Reuters, Grainews, 26 April, 2019) Contact: ADM, Juan Luciano, Pres., CEO, (312) 634-8100, Collin Benson, VP Bioactives, Jackie Anderson, ADM Media, (217) 424-5413, www.adm.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Archer Daniels Midland ,  Ethanol,  Biofuel,  

Duke Energy
Date: 2019-03-20
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) latest data, North Carolina's annual solar power production jumped 36 pct in 2018, firmly placing the Tar Heel State as the nation's 2nd larget solar power producer behind California. By way of comparison, California's annual solar production rose 15 pct and Arizona's and Nevada's outputs each grew 10 pct in 2018. (Source: US EIA, Duke Energy, Compelo, 18 Mar., 2019) Contact: Duke Energy North Carolina, Stephen De May, Pres., www.duke-energy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  Duke Energy North Carolina,  

Energy Information Administration
Date: 2019-03-11
Carbon emissions from the energy sector have been on the decline nationwide, according to a report last week from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. According to the report, Arkansas invested in coal and produced more energy-related carbon emissions but a downward trend in emissions in the state has begun as those investments have shifted to renewable energy and natural gas along with the rest of the nation. Other states had little carbon emissions from electricity generation and had more from the burning of petroleum in manufacturing and from fossil fuels used to heat and cool buildings.

A pending legal settlement in federal court could trigger the closure of the state's two largest coal-fired plants, principally owned and operated by Entergy Arkansas. The utility has opened solar arrays and announced plans for more in recent years, and would be required under the proposed settlement to invest in hundreds more megawatts of renewable energy in coming years. That settlement is being challenged before the Arkansas Public Service Commission.

The EIA ranked Arkansas 17th in the country in the production per capita of carbon dioxide -- about 20 metric tons per person. At its highest point, Arkansas' carbon emissions from energy sources was at 69 million metric tons. That was 2014, a year before the state's use of coal-fired plants declined sharply. (Source: US EIA, Arkansas OnLine, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 3 Mar., 2019)Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov; Entergy Arkansas, www.entergy-arkansas.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Information Administration,  Carbon Emissions,  

ASP
Date: 2019-03-04
In the sun-drenched southwest, Arizona's largest utility, APS, reports it plans to add 850 MW of battery storage and at least 100 MW of new solar generation by 2025. The additional storage capacity will be equivalent to about 3 million solar panels. APS plans to install six battery systems at existing solar plants in Maricopa County and Yuma by 2020.

Arizona ranks second to California in terms of the size of batteries being used and for generating solar energy, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, for generating solar energy. (Source: APS, Payson Roundup, 4 Mar., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News APS news,  Battery Energy Storage news,  

California ARB
Date: 2018-11-16
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is reporting that in an effort to meet the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), California has increased its net supply of renewable "green" diesel, reaching 100 million gallons during Q2, 2018 -- 10.1 pct of the total diesel supplied to California during the quarter.

Administered by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), LCFS aims to incrementally decrease the carbon intensity of gasoline and diesel fuel by at least 10 pct by 2020 relative to a 2010 baseline.

Under the state's LCFS, petroleum refiners, gasoline and diesel importers, and transportation fuel wholesales are required to either produce low carbon fuels or purchase credits to demonstrate compliance. But while under the RFS, both biodiesel and renewable diesel meet a 50 pct GHG reduction threshold (and are eligible to generate biomass-based diesel RINs), LCFS uses a measurement called carbon intensity (CI).

Renewable diesel generates a large number of credits relative to other fuels because it has some of the largest lifecycle GHG reduction compared to other fuels. The total volume of renewable diesel LCFS credits exceeded ethanol credits for the first time this year, reaching about 870,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent during the second quarter. (Source: US EIA, Agri-Pulse, 14 Nov., 2018) Contact: CARB, Melanie Turner, Information Officer, (916) 322-2990, melanie.turner@arb.ca.gov, www.arb.ca.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Low Carbon Fuel Standard,  California Air Resources Board,  .Biofuel,  Renewable Fiesel ,  

U.S. Energy Information Administration
Date: 2018-09-17
According to the US EIA's recently released Monthly Densified Biomass Fuel Report, U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 680,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in May, with sales reaching 610,000 tons.

The EIA data was collected from 85 densified biofuel manufacturers but does not include data from facilities with annual production capacities of less than 10,000 tons. The 85 manufacturers have a combined production capacity of 11.82 million metric tpy. Production included 132,432 tons of heating pellets and 549,031 tons of utility pellets. Domestic sales of densified biomass fuel reached 90,000 million tons in May, with an average price of $141.72 per ton. Exports in May reached 520,000 tons, at an average price of $144.48 per ton, according to the report. (Source: EIA, Biomass Mag, Other Media, Sept., 2018)Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News U.S. Energy Information Administration,  

US EIA
Date: 2018-08-17
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana and South Dakota in that order produced 72 pct of the country's total fuel ethanol in 2016 -- 265 million barrels of the total U.S. production amount of 367 million barrels. The top six states are also among the top 10 U.S. producers of corn, the primary feedstock for ethanol production, according to the USDA.

Between 2006 and 2016, fuel ethanol production more than doubled after the Energy Policy Act of 2005 created the Renewable Fuel Standard. By 2010, most of the gasoline sold in the U.S. was blended with 10 pct ethanol.

Among the top six ethanol producing states, Iowa can produce more than 102 million bpy of fuel ethanol for about 19 pct of total U.S. ethanol production. Nebraska's production capacity of more than 50 million barrels of fuel ethanol is the second-highest, followed by Illinois at up to 40 million bpy. Minnesota has an ethanol production capacity of 28 million bpy followed by Indiana and South Dakota at 27 million bpy of ethanol annually. (Source: US EIA, Tax, Business & Politics, 15 Aug., 2018) Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Ethanol,  Corn Ethanol,  EIA,  

Coal, US EIA
Date: 2018-08-06
In its Friday daily brief, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) noted that the U.S. power sector consumed 661 million short tons of coal last in 2017, the lowest level since 1983 and the fourth straight year for a decline, the brief stated. The report noted "Electric power sector coal consumption in 2017 was 36 pct lower than in 2008, when U.S. coal production reached its highest level." the report read.

Coal accounts for about 30 pct of total energy used globally and about 40 pct of total electric power generation, the report said. (Source: US EIA, Inforsurhoy, 5 Aug., 2018)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Coal,  US EIA,  

Energy Information Administration
Date: 2018-06-29
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently released Monthly (June) Densified Biomass Fuel Report, U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 650,000 tons of densified biomass fuel from 1.27 million tons of raw biomass feedstock in March, with sales reaching 600,000 tons during the month. Production included 147,226 tons of heating pellets and 498,864 tons of utility pellets.

For the report, the EIA collected data from 86 operating manufacturers of densified biomass fuel. The report does not include data from facilities with annual capacities of less than 10,000 tons, which report data annually rather than monthly. The 86 manufacturers that submitted data in February have a combined annual production capacity of 11.79 million tpy.

Domestic sales reached 122,727 tons and averaged $149.22 per ton. Exports in March reached 381,319 tons an averaged $174.32 per ton. Inventories of premium/standard wood pellets reached 225,990 tons in March, up from 217,859 tons in February. Inventories of utility pellets reached 345,615 tons in March, up from 255,172 tons in February. (Source: US EIA, June, 2018) Contact: US EIA, www.eia.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Information Administration,  Biomass,