Subscribe to our blog:

F2M Market Watch

 

In This Issue

Quick Links

 






By Suz-Anne Kinney

Hard on the heels of a Eurostat report that listed the United Kingdom as in danger of not meeting its renewable energy targets by 2020, the U.K government announced it would stop issuing Climate Change Levy Exemption Certificates (LEC) beginning August 1, 2015. Alasdair Cameron, senior economics campaigner with Friends of the Earth, likened the reversal to "making apple juice pay an alcohol tax," as it will require electricity generators to pay a climate change tax on renewable electricity that significantly reduces climate change impacts.

 

Continue reading → ...�




By John Greene

Last month, we reported on the continued evolution of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) at both the political and practical levels. While Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently disclosed proposed renewable fuels volumes through 2016, some feel that the numbers will not be sufficient to drive long-term growth in the renewables sector. However, the USDA recently announced changes to the 2014 Farm Bill that will create new growth opportunities for organizations involved in renewable resources by expanding the BioPreferred� program. The agency also issued a detailed report and accompanying news release that illustrate the monetary benefit the larger biobased products industry has on the American economy, and the numbers are quite compelling.

 

Continue reading → ...�



The Carbon Neutrality of Forest Biomass

By John Greene

The world of environmental science, for better or for worse, can be construed as being a relatively subjective field. And because of this fact, environmental policies that flow from Washington are oftentimes ill-conceived and shortsighted. The White House's recent policy statement rejecting HR 2822-a resolution that would label forest biomass fuels as carbon neutral, renewable resources-is a prime example of this disconnect.

 

Continue reading → ...�



Progress Report: EU on Track to Meet 2020 Renewable Energy Targets

By John Greene

We provided a synopsis last month via the Forest2Market blog of the announcement that three European Union (EU) member countries had already exceeded their 2020 renewable energy goals, which is five years ahead of schedule. In the coverage (based on 2013 data), we noted that Sweden, Estonia and Bulgaria had exceeded their goals, four other countries were very close to meeting their goals, and yet another four countries were lagging behind in efforts towards meeting their individual objectives. On the heels of this data, the European Commission recently published a progress report illustrating that the EU as a whole is on track to meet its 2020 renewable energy targets.

 

Continue reading → ...�



Questions for Renewables

By John Greene

"It's time for America, and the world, to act on climate change." So said President Barrack Obama in a recent Twitter video announcement, fittingly displaying his social media shrewdness as he continues to connect with younger generations alarmed by climate change and emboldened by a responsibility for solving it. While his plan will have a number of broad implications at home, the President has preferred to lead by example when seeking to affect global social and political changes. To that end, his latest announcement is clearly an effort to build international cooperation towards solving the complex issues involving climate change ahead of the UN Paris Climate Change Conference in November.

 

Continue reading → ...�



$250 Million Loan Guarantees

By John Greene

We recently covered the USDA report detailing the economic impact in both jobs and revenue that the larger biobased products industry supports, and the numbers are significant: using 2013 data, this sector was responsible for sustaining 4 million total jobs and creating a $369 billion value-added contribution to the US economy. With this news, USDA announced changes to the 2014 Farm Bill that will create new growth opportunities for organizations involved in renewable resources by expanding the BioPreferred program.

 

Continue reading → ...�



Penalizing Sustainable Forest Management

By John Greene

Last month, we reported on The White House's recent policy statement rejecting HR 2822-a resolution that would label forest biomass fuels as carbon-neutral renewable resources-and we provided a thorough rebuttal to the administration's dismissal of biomass as such. This month, two Members of Congress have renewed focus on the issue by forwarding a convincing letter to US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy, Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
 
Continue reading ...�
Forest2Market�
15720 Brixham Hill Ave., Suite 550
Charlotte, NC 28277-2845
Phone: (704) 540-1440
Fax: (704) 540-6301