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    Prospects for Jatropha-based Biodiesel in LAC

    Saturday, September 26th, 2009

    From the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA): Jatropha touted as “one of the best alternatives” for biodiesel production in the Americas Argentina, Brazil and Costa Rica discussed the generation of fuels from Jatropha curcas, also known as physic nut or piñoncillo. According to Jamil Macedo, coordinator of a hemispheric agroenergy network, “Despite its […]

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    IDB Updates Its Biofuels Scorecard

    Friday, September 11th, 2009

    From the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB): IDB releases new version of Biofuels Sustainability Scorecard Update incorporates feedback from five regional consultations and addresses concerns regarding food security, indigenous peoples and biodiversity preservation The Inter-American Development Bank has released a new version of its Biofuels Sustainability Scorecard, which will enable users to better anticipate the impacts […]

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    Greenpeace’s Recipe for an Energy Revolution in Chile

    Sunday, August 2nd, 2009

    Greenpeace Chile recently presented to the government the Chilean version of its Energy [R]evolution scenario. To refresh memories, in the past GP [in cooperation with the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC)] released a report, Global Energy [R]evolution, to show, through scenarios (both global and regional), that a global energy revolution is technically and economically feasible […]

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    Time for a New Biodiesel Policy in Brazil?

    Friday, July 17th, 2009

    Luiz Prado says it’s time for Brazil to adopt a “serious” national policy on biodiesel.  I think he has a point. Brazil has had a biodiesel policy — er, make that a biodiesel program — since 2003.  It has a number of elements, but the lynchpins are a blending mandate (currently set at B4), and […]

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    Disappearing Mangroves in Guatemala

    Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

    I read an interesting article from Tierramérica about Guatemala’s disappearing mangroves and a discussion of probable causes and possible impacts.  I’ve mentioned here before on The Temas Blog about the importance of mangroves (here, here, here, here and here) in preventing sediment runoff and filtering out contaminants before they enter the sea, stabilizing coastlines, impeding […]

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    Trends in Clean Energy Investment

    Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

    From the UN Environment Programme (UNEP): Economic Crisis Hits EU and US Clean Energy As Emerging Economy Investments Rise 27% to $36 billion However Renewables Draw More Investment than Fossil-Fueled Energy Technologies in ’08 Geothermal Sees Fastest Growth – Wind Power Tops Overall Investment, Solar Posts Largest Gains $155 billion was invested in 2008 in […]

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    Brazil Invests in International Research Cooperation on Second Generation Biofuels

    Friday, May 29th, 2009

    Brazil will invest R$11.6 million (about US$ million at current exchange rates) in international research cooperation regarding second-generation biofuels with the 27 member states and the many associate states of the European Union (EU).  A request for proposals from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) calls for projects that develop new production […]

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    The Status of Global Renewables

    Saturday, May 16th, 2009

    The Vienna, Austria-based Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) has just released its latest review of the global state of adoption of renewable energy sources — solar (both photovoltaics and passive systems, such as solar water heaters), wind, geothermal, wave, biofuels and small hydro (REN21 excludes large hydropower projects from its review). […]

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    Jamaica Opts for Biofuels

    Thursday, March 12th, 2009

    From the Ministry of Energy: JAMAICA MOVES TO DEVELOP BIOFUELS INDUSTRY Coming on the heels of the successful implementation of E10, the Ministry of Energy is moving to introduce a blend of motorgrade diesel fuel from locally grown plants such as castor beans and jatropha. This is the word from Energy Minister, Clive Mullings who […]

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    Not Always Easy Exporting Ethanol

    Saturday, February 21st, 2009

    To hear some biofuel critics tell it, ethanol from sugarcane is being produced in Brazil without regard to its environmental impacts, and certification requirements in export markets such as Europe do not influence such behavior. Hearing of cases such as the one below gives me doubts about such charges. The sugar and alcohol producers in […]

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