Algae – There’s more to that green stuff than we think
One of the latest hot green fuels is algae oil also referred to as algae fuel. Algae fuel is a biofuel which is derived from algae. The movement is in its infancy but does show some promise and seems to have less of an environmental impact than corn.
Here are four companies that are at the forefront of the algae fuel movement.
What do you think of the use of algae as a biofuel?
EPA Announces Nation’s Top 50 Green Power Organizations
On August 2, 2010, the EPA announced the Top 50 Green Power Organizations in the United States.
Today, the EPA announced its 2011 proposal on renewable fuel standards.
CONTACT:
Cathy
Milbourn
202-564-7849
202-564-4355
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13,
2010
EPA Sets Thresholds for
Greenhouse Gas Permitting Requirements
Small businesses and farms
will be shielded
WASHINGTON – The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a final rule to
address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the largest stationary
sources, while shielding millions of small sources of GHGs from Clean
Air Act permitting requirements. The phased-in, common-sense approach
will address facilities like power plants and oil refineries that are
responsible for 70 percent of the greenhouse gases from stationary
sources that
threaten American’s health and welfare.
“After extensive study, debate and hundreds of thousands of
public comments, EPA has set common-sense thresholds for greenhouse
gases that will spark clean technology innovation and protect small
businesses and farms,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “There is
no
denying our responsibility to protect the planet for our children and
grandchildren. It’s long past time we unleashed our American ingenuity
and started building the efficient, prosperous clean energy economy of
the future.”
EPA’s
phased-in approach will start in January 2011, when Clean Air Act
permitting requirements for GHGs will kick in for large facilities that
are already obtaining Clean Air Act permits for other pollutants. Those
facilities will be required to include GHGs in their permit if they
increase these emissions by at least
75,000 tons per year (tpy).
In July
2011, Clean Air Act permitting requirements will expand to cover all new
facilities with GHG emissions of at least 100,000 tpy and modifications
at existing facilities that would increase GHG emissions by at least
75,000 tpy. These permits must demonstrate the use of best available
control technologies to minimize GHG emission increases when facilities
are constructed or significantly
modified.
Under the
new emissions thresholds for GHGs that begin in July 2011, EPA estimates
approximately 900 additional permitting actions covering new sources
and modifications to existing sources would be subject to review each
year. In addition, 550 sources will need to obtain operating permits for
the first time because of their GHG emissions.
The final rule addresses a group of
six greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous
oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and
sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).
EPA issued a
proposed rule in October 2009 and held a 60-day public comment period.
The agency received about 450,000 comments, which were carefully
reviewed and considered during the development of this final rule.
More
information: http://www.epa.gov/nsr/
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CONTACT:
Enesta Jones
202-564-7873
202-564-4355
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2010
EPA Challenges Manufacturing Industry to Improve Energy Efficiency
10 percent savings within 5 years set as industry goal; several facilities show early results
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today recognized the first group of manufacturing sites that have met the Energy Star Challenge for Industry and reduced their energy intensity by 10 percent within 5 years or less. The U.S. manufacturing industry is responsible for nearly 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and spends almost $100 billion annually on energy. Under the umbrella of the Energy Star Challenge for Industry, EPA is working with individual manufacturing sites and their parent companies to fight climate change and save money through improvements in energy efficiency.
The first manufacturing facilities owned by Energy Star partners to meet or exceed the 10 percent reduction goal within 5 years or less under the Energy Star Challenge for Industry are:
Kodak's Manitou site in Rochester, N.Y.: 25 percent reduction (2007-2009)
Kodak’s GCG Columbus manufacturing site in Columbus, Ga.: 10 percent reduction (2007-2008)
Shearer's Foods, Inc.’s Lubbock, Texas plant: 15 percent reduction (2009-2010)
Detroit Diesel’s Redford Component Manufacturing Center in Detroit, Mich.: 17 percent reduction (2008-2009)
John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.’s Elgin Headquarters facility in Elgin, Ill.: 17 percent reduction (2008-2009)
John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.’s Selma, Texas facility: 26 percent reduction (2008-2009)
John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.’s Garysburg, N.C. facility: 23 percent reduction (2008-2009)
FetterGroup’s Headquarters Facility in Louisville, Ky.: 23 percent reduction (2007-2009)
Total annual energy savings for these companies are equal to the energy to power all the homes on the island of Nantucket for a year. Annual carbon dioxide savings are nearly 34,000 metric tons – equal to the emissions from nearly 6,500 cars.
Under the Energy Star Challenge for Industry, manufacturing sites establish an energy intensity baseline, set a 10 percent reduction goal, implement energy efficiency projects, track energy use and verify their savings. Any U.S. manufacturing site may participate in the Energy Star Challenge for Industry. Trade associations and regional energy efficiency programs can also join with EPA to promote the Energy Star Challenge for Industry. The International Dairy Foods Association, Energy Trust of Oregon and the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund have signed up to promote the Energy Star Challenge for Industry to their members and partners.
Manufacturing accounts for 30 percent of energy use in the United States. If the energy efficiency of industrial facilities improved by 10 percent, EPA estimates that Americans would save nearly $10 billion and reduce greenhouse gases emissions equal to about 12 million vehicles. Hundreds of industrial companies across nearly a dozen manufacturing industries are working with EPA’s Energy Star program to develop strong energy management programs, earn the Energy Star for their facilities and achieve breakthrough improvements in energy efficiency.
Learn more about the Energy Star Challenge for Industry: http://www.energystar.gov/
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