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Advanced Biofuels USA Splits Newsletter into Two Parts: Conference Calendar and Events; and News and Happenings
 To help you find what you need when you need it, we've introduced a new format for the Advanced Biofuels USA monthly newsletter.
The Conference Calendar, a chronological listing of biofuels-related conferences around the world, along with announcements of speaking, presenting and poster opportunities will provide a quick view of events.
This section of the newsletter will also include information about Advanced Biofuels USA's presence at up-coming events.
 The News and Happenings Newsletter (this one) will provide information about advanced biofuels policy development, recent articles about federal legislation, litigation and regulations; and about Advanced Biofuels USA activities, policy papers, press releases, statements and original articles.
New educational resources will also get the spotlight in this section of the newsletter.
 The Conference Calendar and News and Happenings Newsletter will be archived on our website NEWS page, http://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/news/, so you can check back for information at any time.
We hope this will better serve your needs and keep you informed about events, policies, resources and opportunities.
Please let us know what you think about these changes; and suggest others, too. Call 301-644-1395 or send an email to info @ AdvancedBiofuelsUSA.org.
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Old Fuel Feedstock and New Together on an Ohio farm.
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Happenings on Capitol Hill, at the White House and in Federal Agencies
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Latest Federal Legislation Posts
 The current US Congress may be characterized as "do nothing," but every so often someone does introduce legislation. Here are some of our lastest postings.
For more legislative news, click here.
We also follow policy developments in the US, other countries and states. For more information on those topics, click on the name of the country or state that appear on the right margin at www.AdvancedBiofuelsUSA.org.
Energy Bill iIncludes Language Benefiting Bioenergy, Algae
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On July 22, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources introduced a bipartisan energy bill, titled the “Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015.†… A summary of the bill …
Grassley Defends Extending Tax Credits for Renewable Energy
by James Q. Lynch (Iowa Farmer Today) It’s been a big week for renewable fuels, according to Sen. Chuck Grassley after the Senate Finance Committee voted 23-3 to approve extending tax credits for wind energy, …
Sensenbrenner Bill Would Limit Biofuel Blends
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner introduced legislation this week that requires the Environmental Protection Agency to limit the volume of cellulosic biofuel to be blended into the nation’s fuel supply to what is …
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Latest Federal Regulation Posts
The Environmental Protection Agency, the Renewable Fuel Standard and renewable volume obligations are still getting plenty of attention, even though the final rule is not expected until November. Here are some of our latest postings. Others you'll find in our 2016 Campaign coverage.
Shedding Light on U.S. Biofuels: The ‘Food versus Fuel’ Debate
by Stephanie Mercier (Ag Web) The U.S. biofuels sector marks its birth back in 1979, when Congress established a blender’s credit for ethanol as the earliest piece of federal biofuel policy as part of the Energy
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Latest Federal Litigation Posts
 Federal litigation attracted a lot of attention recently. Here are some articles posted on the Advanced Biofuels USA website. Although the MOVES litigation doesn't get highlighted often, as Dave VanderGriend explains, an enormous cascade of consequences depends on the outcome.
Follow the links to the original posts to access the full articles. Find more items about federal litigation on our website here.
EPA’s ‘MOVES’ Could Cripple Higher Ethanol Blends
by Dave VanderGriend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/ICM/Urban Air Initiative) … The RFS is very important to our industry, but focusing on it alone, has caused us to take our eye off the dealer. The down card trumps everything …
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Stefaniya Becking Reports from Montreal on Promising Projects: A Report from BIO’s World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology 2015
More than 1,300 delegates from 45 countries attended this event that was organized by the Biotechnology Industry Organization and took place on July 19-22, 2015. Speakers covered a wide range of topics related to advanced biofuels, bio-based products and genomics research.
 Advanced Biofuels USA correspondent, Stefaniya Becking (center in photo with, to her left, Ignaas Caryn (Director of Innovation at KLM), and Luuk A.M. van der Wielen (Professor at Delft University of Technology)) focused on three presentations related to advanced biofuels and related bioproduct development: the Integrated Seawater Energy and Agriculture System (ISEAS) at Masdar City; Performance BioFilaments' Auto Industry Plastic Reinforcement from Wood Cellulose; and KLM’s Plans for Using Renewable Jet Fuel. Read the complete article, including selected slides, here.
READ MORE
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Osaretin Omorodion Covered Westar Trade Resources Webinar, Prioritizing the Bioeconomy: Observations on USDA’s 9003 Loan Guarantee Program
 Osaretin Omorodion brings her degree and interest in biology and environmental science to serve as an occasional correspondent for Advanced Biofuels USA, most recently covering a webinar about USDA's Loan Guarantee Program.
She reports that the program emphasized that investing in biorefineries and manufacturing facilities will add jobs and improve the economy of rural America and help farmers match the consumer demands in urban and suburban areas. Additionally, they focused on how USDA intends loan guarantees to diversify the national economy. READ MORE
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More Educational Resources
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Online and In-Person--University of Vermont Expands BioEnergy – Biomass to Biofuels Courses — September 18-December 9, 2015
This unique course is open to degree and non-degree seeking students (any background or department), farmers, budding entrepreneurs, teachers (interested in developing curriculum, or projects at school or college levels) and others.
UVM’s Bioenergy Professional Certificate is a great opportunity to understand our current energy issues, as well as explore new clean-energy solutions to improve the health of our environment.
The mission of this program is to provide hands-on instruction in all possible bioenergy areas outlined below, support generation of related skilled workforce and stimulate bioenergy production :
* LIQUID BIOFUELS (transportation fuels; home-heating oil; biodiesel from oil seeds & waste vegetable oil; ethanol; algae-biofuel);
* SOLID BIOFUELS (woody biomass; grass energy);
* BIOGAS & BIO-ELETCRICITY(the farm-based energy)
* BIOHEAT (heat capture from biomass e.g. compost)
* BIOFUELS RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL ISSUES
* OTHER wide-range of Biofuels related science & technology topics, background & literature. READ MORE and MORE and MORE
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US Department of Energy Publishes Coloring and Activity Book
 The Coloring and Activity Book was developed by Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) as part of its OPERATION BioenergizeME initiative. It is designed for children as a fun learning tool to inform them about bioenergy and raise their awareness of alternative fuel sources and renewable energy. BioenergizeME is an education and workforce development base camp for students and educators and anyone seeking to better understand the promises and challenges in developing a thriving bioeconomy.
The National Science Teachers Association featured it in their summer newsletters as part of the Science Teacher’s Grab Bag! Download your copy today in English or Spanish.
beto_coloring_activity_book.pdf
beto_coloring_activity_book_spanish_version.pdf
READ MORE
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Suggestions from Dustin Homan, Program Director for the 4-H Youth Development at Ohio State's Extension Office, for 4-H and FFA Students
 At a recent OBIC meeting, Dustin Homan described his work iwth 4-H. Below are some links he provided that have educational materials for 4-H and FFA audiences related to biofuels and bioproducts. These activities are free and available for download.
 A new curriculum was created to strengthen Ohio State's 4-H STEM effort. This new web-based resource was designed to help the next generation of leaders develop an awareness and appreciation for a sustainable energy future. It is leader-directed curriculum, targeting 4-H Cloverbuds (K-2) and youth through 5th grade. It was created through Ohio’s 4-H Youth Development program and the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center (OBIC). The material consists of three bioenergy curriculum pieces in the content areas of 1) bioenergy sources, 2) bioenergy conversion, and 3) bioproducts.
 Each curriculum piece contains about nine educational activities. Ohio State University Extension’s 4-H Cloverbud program is designed to meet the developmentally appropriate needs of children ages 5 to 8, or in kindergarten through the second grade. However, this curriculum is recommended for youth through fifth grade. The Cloverbud youth development program emphasizes overall well-being by empowering young children with successful learning and positive social interaction through cooperative learning in non-competitive environments.
 The curriculum was developed with support from the Northeast Regional Sun Grant Initiative, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation: US DOT Assistance #DTOS59-07-G-00052.
Advanced Biofuels USA welcomes more examples of educational resources related to biofuels and advanced biofuels. Check out what we have so far in our Educational Resources pages, categories and tags. Here's a start. For Teachers page
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Let’s Talk About It: Biofuels — 2015 Summer Mondays: July 27 and August 31 — Frederick, MD
Advanced Biofuels USA executive director, Joanne Ivancic, will present a 3-part discussion series based on selected scholarly readings, at the Frederick County Public Library in Frederick, Maryland. If you missed part one in June, don't worry. A quick review will start the July and August sessions.
Open to the public, and part of the library's "Let's Talk about It" series, the guided discussion will cover questions like: What are Biofuels? How do we make them? How do we use them? Are they a good idea? Will they really help us transition to renewables from fossil fuels? What about sustainability?
They will explore feedstock options, learn about conversion technologies and discuss current local, regional, federal and international policy initiatives.
Ivancic will include information about various STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, Math) jobs and careers available to those interested in renewable fuels. Her presentation, along with the outline and suggested readings, is available online in the Biofuels Basics section of the Advanced Biofuels USA website. READ MORE
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 Advanced Biofuels USA relies on Individual Contributions, Corporate Donations, In-Kind Donations and the Work of Many Volunteers to enable this organization to promote the understanding, development and use of advanced biofuels and to inspire action.
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