Category: Policy

Trade groups write Trump expressing concerns over Commerce’s changed views on biodiesel imports

November 28, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Washington, three trade groups wrote President Donald Trump to express concern that the U.S. Department of Commerce has initiated ‘changed circumstances’ reviews of U.S. trade duties on Argentine biodiesel companies. The National Biodiesel Board, the American Soybean Association, and the National Renderers Association urged the president to ensure that Commerce undertake a rigorous, comprehensive […]

House Ways & Means chair proposes extension of biodiesel tax credits

November 27, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Washington, Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, released a proposal to make technical corrections to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (PL 115-97) and to extend several expired tax credits, including the biodiesel and renewable diesel tax incentive. NBB welcomed the proposal for a multi-year extension of this […]

RFA says hardship waivers led to $2.3 billion in industry losses between February and August

November 26, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Washington, the Renewable Fuels Association estimates that demand destruction for ethanol resulting from hardship waivers granted by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2017 led to a loss of $2.3 billion in revenues for the ethanol industry between February and August 2018. RFA analysis shows that following a peak blending rate of 10.8% in January, […]

Malaysia moves B7 to B10 mandate up to Dec. 1

November 25, 2018 | admin

In Malaysia, the government moved up the start date for the new biodiesel fuel mandate to December 1st instead of the expected February start date because the cabinet has approved the use of B10, allowing the date to be moved up earlier than expected. With lowered demand from Europe for palm oil, the move is […]

Congressmen propose bill that would drop RFS and focus on octane instead

November 22, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Washington, Congressman John Shimkus (Illinois-15) and Congressman Bill Flores (Texas-17) released a discussion draft of the 21st Century Transportation Fuels Act. “I’ve been engaged in the biofuel debate my entire career in Congress,” said Shimkus, whose district includes significant corn and soybean producers as well as major ethanol and oil refiners. “In this Congress – […]

Biodiesel tax extenders may not make in lame duck session but likely in 2019

November 21, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Washington, Politico reports that there is a strong likelihood biodiesel tax credits could be made retroactive for 2018 and apply to 2019 with the new Congress when Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley takes over as the chair of the Senate finance committee. He is pushing for it as part of a tax extenders package during […]

EPA looking to slash biofuel blending for 2022

November 20, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Washington, Reuters reports that in the run up to negotiations for the next Renewable Fuel Standard following the current one that expires in 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency plans to publish in January proposed blending mandates for through 2022. Though sources said the agency had yet to settle on a number for 2022, it […]

ICCT report says strong evidence Malaysian and Indonesian palm oil have high ILUC risk

November 19, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Germany, a new working paper by the International Council for Clean Transportation says it found strong evidence that 40-53% of oil palm expansion in Indonesia and Malaysia has occurred on high carbon stock land in recent decades, including forest, wetlands, and shrubland. ICCT researchers say there is some evidence that significant expansion of soy […]

Argentina responds to EBB’s claim of distorted prices and tariffs

November 18, 2018 | admin

In Argentina, the Cámara Argentina de Biocombustibles, CARBIO, is fighting back in response to the European Biodiesel Commission which claims Argentina is distorting the export prices of its biodiesel by imposing a higher export tariffs on soybeans and soybean oil than on biodiesel. CARBIO president Luis Zubizarreta told Clarin, “The European Commission is aware that […]

“Producers United” takes EPA to task over hardship waivers in US Appellate Court

November 15, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Washington, Reuters reports that an unidentified group of biofuel producers referred to just as “Producers United” has asked a federal judge to keep the Environmental Protection Agency from continuing to issue hardship waivers to smaller oil refineries. The complaint filed in US Appellate Court alleges that the EPA’s decision to retroactively grant waivers to […]

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