Category: Policy

EPA says still studying appeals court ruling before deciding on SRE reform

EPA says still studying appeals court ruling before deciding on SRE reform

February 27, 2020 |

In Washington, although Bloomberg reported earlier this week that the Trump Administration was going to revamp how refinery hardship waivers are awarded, Reuters reports that the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency says the agency is still reviewing last month’s ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit that is forcing the […]

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Trump Administration to pare down SREs following appeals court ruling

Trump Administration to pare down SREs following appeals court ruling

February 26, 2020 |

In Washington, Bloomberg reports that on the back of a 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling last month that kicked three decisions on small refinery hardship waivers back to the Environmental Protection Agency for reevaluation, a ruling that biofuel proponents expected could dramatically change the way waivers are handed out, the Trump Administration has already […]

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Nebraska governor writes to American automakers asking them to design vehicles that run on higher ethanol blends

Nebraska governor writes to American automakers asking them to design vehicles that run on higher ethanol blends

February 25, 2020 |

In Nebraska, Governor Pete Ricketts sent a letter to American automakers Fiat Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, urging them to increase production of passenger vehicles designed to run on higher ethanol blends, such as E20, E30, E40, and E85. “If leading U.S. automobile companies take the bold action to design cars to run on higher […]

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Ernst and Grassley call on IRS to hurry up biodiesel tax credit claims processing

Ernst and Grassley call on IRS to hurry up biodiesel tax credit claims processing

February 24, 2020 |

In Washington, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and her colleague Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), fought hard to include the biodiesel tax credit in the year-end funding package last year. Now, the two Iowa senators are calling on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to promptly process 2018-2019 biodiesel tax credit claims. In a letter to IRS […]

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Indonesia prepares for battle in Switzerland over RED and palm oil

Indonesia prepares for battle in Switzerland over RED and palm oil

February 23, 2020 |

In Switzerland, Indonesia and the EU met in Geneva last week for a WTO consultation over the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED). The Palm Oil Monitor reports that the meeting is the culmination of a months-long public battle of words over the introduction of the measure and that the WTO consultations, are where the action […]

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USDA announces innovation agenda with eye on 30% biofuels for 2050

USDA announces innovation agenda with eye on 30% biofuels for 2050

February 20, 2020 |

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the Agriculture Innovation Agenda, a department-wide initiative to align resources, programs, and research to position American agriculture to better meet future global demands. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will stimulate innovation so that American agriculture can achieve the goal of increasing production by 40 […]

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Push to tie up India-US trade deal including DDGS access ahead of Trump visit

Push to tie up India-US trade deal including DDGS access ahead of Trump visit

February 19, 2020 |

In India, Bloomberg reports that ahead of US President Trump’s official state visit to New Delhi next week, the two countries are trying to tie up a long-delayed trade agreement that looks to include lowering of duties on Indian imports of some agricultural products, among them dried distillers grains and solubles. The two sides tried […]

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China pulls back tariffs on US-origin ethanol imports from March 2

China pulls back tariffs on US-origin ethanol imports from March 2

February 18, 2020 |

In China, Platts reports that as part of its efforts to ease trade tensions with the US, it is pulling back tariffs on close to 700 products, including denatured ethanol, which is meant to significantly help the US ethanol industry who has been suffering due to high tariffs that made exports to that key market […]

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FedDev Ontario contributes $11.3M to Bioindustrial Innovation Canada

FedDev Ontario contributes $11.3M to Bioindustrial Innovation Canada

February 17, 2020 |

In Canada, Minister Mélanie Joly announced 600 new jobs for Bioindustrial Innovation Canada. FedDev Ontario’s C$15 million  (about $11.3 million) financial contribution will promote new sustainable innovations and bring business support network to Eastern Ontario. Through this project, 150 businesses and organizations will be assisted and 700 jobs will be created and maintained in southern Ontario. […]

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Biofuel waivers being discussed with White House before EPA makes decision

Biofuel waivers being discussed with White House before EPA makes decision

February 15, 2020 |

In Washington, D.C., Reuters reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is looking to the White House for guidance on the biofuel waiver program’s future after a court ruling cast doubt over its legitimacy. The EPA aims to announce a decision by early next month, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday. […]

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