Mexico leading the way for energy change

Mexico’s Climate and Energy Law

Canada and the US should take a closer look at their southern sister nation’s environmental protocols. Last week, Mexico’s senate approved a groundbreaking climate and energy law, becoming the second country in the world to approve strict guidelines for environmental sustainability. Initially passing Mexico’s lower house with a 128-for and 10-against vote, the Senate approved the bill with a unanimous 78-0 vote on April 19th. Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderon, is set to finalize the bill in the near future.

New bill would classify ethanol derived from coal & natural gas as 'renewable resource'

Six members of the House of Representatives introduced a bill on Wednesday that would include ethanol produced by nontraditional means, such as coal- and gas-derived ethanol, in the federal renewable fuels mandate.

Ethanol derived from petroleum-based sources would be competing in a market currently dominated by corn-derived ethanol. Other biofuels have been slow to reach commercial viability, and some of the most promising next-generation fuels have yet to even leave the laboratory, so demand for new sources of ethanol has climbed higher and higher.