How Close Are We to 'Dangerous' Planetary Warming?

"In the wake of the COP 21 UN Climate Summit in Paris (see this recent Huffington Post piece for my take on the agreement), a number of important questions still remain unanswered. Take for example the commitment reached by the 197 participating nations to limit warming below the "dangerous" level of 2C relative to pre-industrial time (neglecting for the time being the aspirational goal of a substantially lower 1.5C limit acknowledged in recognition of the danger posed to low-lying island nations). The question immediately arises: How much time do we have until we reach the danger zone? How close are we to the 2C warming limit?"

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EPA sets 2014, 2015 and 2016 RFS RVOs

“The U.S. EPA has released its long-anticipated final rule setting the 2014, 2015 and 2016 renewable volume requirements (RVOs) under the renewable fuel standard (RFS), along with the 2017 RVO for biomass-based diesel. While the rulemaking increases volume requirements above levels proposed in May and takes a small step in overcoming the E10 blend wall in 2016, the RVOs fall below statutory levels.”

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Is Cellulosic Ethanol the Next Big Thing in Renewable Fuels?

"For a long time it seemed like turning the inedible parts of plants into a commercially viable biofuel, known as cellulosic ethanol, was nothing more than a pipedream. The enzymes needed to release sugars from cellulose — the fiber that forms plant structure — to be fermented into ethanol were inefficient and expensive. And the cellulose found in virtually every plant, flower, tree, grass, and bush is by its very nature evolved to withstand decay." 

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