Biofuel Is Hard at Work Today

Dr. Patrick Gruber, CEO of Gevo, Inc., testified on the topics of Energy and Renewable Energy. His testimony put several salient facts before the Committee on Agriculture for the 2022 Review of the Farm Bill. Dr. Gruber testified that, according to the EPA, roughly 75 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from fossil fuels used for transportation, electricity production, and industry. Roughly 10 percent comes from agriculture. We need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions s across the board, especially by eliminating the fossil energy it’s the biggest contributor to GHG footprint. Dr. Gruber told the committee we need to do two things to make net-zero fuels and chemicals:  First we need to replace the fossil carbon with renewable carbon, and, second, to replace the fossil-based energy with renewable energy in the production processes.  A key point in Dr. Gruber’s testimony was that Gevo intends to set up a business system that financially rewards farmers for using more sustainable ag practices. We think farmers should be paid for the corn and be rewarding for making sustainability improvements. It’s a win all the way around for farmers, us, our customers, and the planet. The Argonne GREET model is the foundation for...

Anytime gas prices rise at the pump, people look for a scapegoat. Usually, there’s one to be found, and almost always that scapegoat is not the cause. We Americans have been experiencing the worst inflation in nearly four decades, making every-day goods and especially fuel more expensive, and, at the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked, unnecessary war on Ukraine. While any significant military conflict is bound to send fuel prices up, one that involves the “Bread Basket of Europe” and the third largest oil producer in the world was inevitably going to cause pain at the pump. Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen several articles and opinion pieces making claims about America’s “energy independence,” while other articles note America is still reliant on imported oil and gas. What is being entirely left out of the conversation is the role plant-based fuels can and should play in our fuel supply. While some have insisted the rise in prices at the pump correlates directly to the Biden Administration’s climate policies, “The Interior Department processed more oil and gas drilling permits during Biden’s first year in office than three of the four years of the Trump administration,” according...

Gevo has begun the process of bringing its wholly owned dairy manure-based renewable natural gas (RNG) project online. Located in northwest Iowa, the project is known as Gevo NW Iowa RNG, LLC  and it is expected to produce approximately 355,000 MMBtu of RNG per year.

VIDEO: Learn about sustainable aviation fuel and solving the problems of travel and GHG emissions. As travel restrictions are relaxed and people get back to flying like they used to, it’s as clear as the bright blue sky: The market for aviation fuel isn’t going anywhere. That was always one of the most compelling reasons why Gevo chose to focus on transportation fuels in our plans for energy transition—it’s a huge business segment that people will always want and need.

Municipal governments can take a leadership role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by partnering with Gevo through a Clean Cities program. The vehicles in service now can help hit emissions targets simply by changing fuel, thanks to our advanced bio-based renewable fuels with net-zero carbon emissions. Watch the webinar to learn more.

Gates shows his understanding of electric vehicles and their limitations, and then suggests that bio-based renewable fuel may play an active role in delivering us to a zero-carbon future.

While Isobutanol has been approved for blending up to 12.5 volume percent under specific conditions for many years, EPA’s recent approval of the additive up to 16 percent by volume have, by the Agency’s own acknowledgment, resulted in “…… the potential for the widespread introduction of isobutanol into commerce……” This potential is, however, limited by a number of outdated and unnecessarily restrictive regulations which can significantly impair the potential for this valuable additive to realize its market value and potential.

The aviation industry faces substantial challenges to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and improve environmental sustainability in the face of rapid growth. The International Air Transport Association expects the number of flights in 2019 to be 40 million worldwide, with growth in jet-fuel demand estimated at 3 billion gallons per year. Simultaneously, the industry has declared a desire to freeze emissions and achieve carbon-neutral growth by 2020. The industry also has announced targets for a 50-percent reduction in carbon emissions (based on 2005 levels) by 2050. The expected growth in flight volume indicates the aviation industry will explore new technologies to help reduce carbon emissions. Sustainable Aviation Fuel provides a reduced carbon footprint while adhering to the strict requirements that all aviation fuel must.