The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said today it is finally taking action to protect people from asbestos exposure by releasing a proposed rule to prohibit ongoing uses of the only known form of asbestos currently imported into the U.S. This proposed rule is the first-ever risk management rule issued under the new process for evaluating and addressing the safety of existing chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that was enacted in 2016.
The proposed rule would ban chrysotile asbestos, the only known form of asbestos that’s currently imported into the U.S., which is found in products such as asbestos diaphragms, sheet gaskets, brake blocks, aftermarket automotive brakes/linings, other vehicle friction products, and other gaskets also imported into the U.S. Most consumer products that historically contained chrysotile asbestos have been discontinued. Continue reading
Porsche Buys into eFuels via HIF Global
A pilot plant is being built north of Punta Arenas in Chile’s Patagonia. It is expected to make ~130,000 liters of eFuels in 2022. It will then be expanded in two stages to ~55 million liters by 2024, and ~550 million liters by 2026.
Porsche is taking a $75 million piece of HIF Global LLC or ~12.5% of the holding company HIF Global, which is internationally active as project developers of eFuel* production facilities. Porsche is investing in the development of eFuel operations in Chile, USA and Australia. Electricity-based synthetic fuels – eFuels – let combustion engines operate – potentially – in an almost CO₂-neutral manner, depending on how they are produced, and if you do a life-cycle analysis.
The sports car and SUV manufacturer initially plans to use the eFuel from Chile in motorsport projects. In the future, it is also conceivable that they will be used to fuel the company’s own vehicles with combustion engines during initial fueling at the factory, and at Porsche Experience Centers. Continue reading →