Category: Policy

National Farmers Union launches ad campaign slamming Trump for lack of ethanol support

National Farmers Union launches ad campaign slamming Trump for lack of ethanol support

October 31, 2018 |

In Washington, throughout his campaign for and tenure as president, Donald Trump has consistently pledged to support American-grown biofuels. However, his administration has too often failed to follow through on those promises in a timely fashion. In the most recent of such instances, President Trump announced his intentions to allow the use of E15 gasoline […]

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Jump in Q1-Q3 RFS lobbying spending seen as critical to winning year-round E15

Jump in Q1-Q3 RFS lobbying spending seen as critical to winning year-round E15

October 30, 2018 |

In Washington, Roll Call reports that ethanol lobbying groups increased spending related to the Renewable Fuels Standard during the first three quarters of the year compared to 2017, a move that has paid off as demonstrated by the recent policy shift to allow year-round E15. Growth Energy topped the list of lobbying groups at $1.37 […]

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India’s plans to divert sugar to ethanol thwarted by short-term policy

India’s plans to divert sugar to ethanol thwarted by short-term policy

October 29, 2018 |

In India, rather than divert 2 million metric tons of sugar towards ethanol in response to the government’s deregulation of feedstocks allowing production from ‘B’ heavy molasses and sugarcane juice, mills are only likely to divert a quarter of that volume towards ethanol production. Mills say the reason is because the government only announced prices […]

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EU-funded BioWatch tool helps connect biobased research

EU-funded BioWatch tool helps connect biobased research

October 28, 2018 |

In Greece, the European Union-funded project, BIOWAYS launched their latest online interactive tool in their efforts to raise people’s awareness of bio-based products and their benefits to society, called BioWatch. Through this platform, BIOWAYS aims to help other projects in the bioeconomy sector increase the awareness of their bio-based research findings. BioWatch can be likened […]

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Forbes reviving old food vs fuel debate in light of E15

Forbes reviving old food vs fuel debate in light of E15

October 25, 2018 |

In Washington, Forbes magazine is reviving the food vs. fuel debate by sourcing a 2015 publication by controversial researcher Timothy Searchinger from the World Resources Institute’s website. The paper is quoted several times identifying the use of corn in ethanol as a misguided notion, such its diversion from food for fuel and alluding towards indirect […]

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Thailand looking to B20 to help reduce palm oil surplus

Thailand looking to B20 to help reduce palm oil surplus

October 24, 2018 |

In Thailand, the Bangkok Post reports that the government is looking to follow in Indonesia’s footsteps by introducing B20 fuels for heavy trucks and agricultural machinery and will work with vehicle manufacturers to ensure the higher blends are compatible with light trucks as well. Low oil prices due to bumper palm oil production is provoking […]

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Statistics Indonesia says B20 hasn’t lowered imports yet

Statistics Indonesia says B20 hasn’t lowered imports yet

October 23, 2018 |

In Indonesia, the Jakarta Post reports that the head of Statistics Indonesia is skeptical about the impact the B20 policy in place since September 1 has had on the country’s trade deficit. The agency’s deputy head called out the B20 policy during a press conference, saying it had yet to show results despite the country […]

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EPA says it has the right to allow E15 without Congress

EPA says it has the right to allow E15 without Congress

October 22, 2018 |

In Washington, Reuters reports that the acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency says it has the right to allow year-round E15 sales without having to go through Congress. He voiced his hope that the oil industry would drop its threats of a lawsuit to stop implementation of the policy that the ethanol industry and […]

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Norway government increases renewable energy grants to more than $121M

Norway government increases renewable energy grants to more than $121M

October 21, 2018 |

In Norway, the Norwegian government increased its grants towards renewable energy from NOK 570 million (about $69 million) in 2018 to more than NOK 1 billion ($121.6 million) in 2019. In addition, they are stepping up their support to Norfund’s (Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries) investments in renewable energy. This is in line with […]

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NBB sends letter to EPA seeking end to demand destruction for biodiesel

NBB sends letter to EPA seeking end to demand destruction for biodiesel

October 18, 2018 |

In Washington, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) delivered a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler asking that the agency fully account for small refinery exemptions in the annual Renewable Fuel Standard rules and “end the demand destruction for biodiesel.” The letter also asks EPA to set RFS biomass-based diesel volumes for 2020 […]

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