Category: Policy

Regulations and policy changes signal murky year ahead for biofuels

Regulations and policy changes signal murky year ahead for biofuels

December 31, 2017 |

In the United Kingdom, ICIS reports that changes in antidumping regulations in the biodiesel market globally in the past year have left the outlook for European biodiesel murky for 2018, with concerns raised about a possible drop in production in the region as a result of the new antidumping landscape. ICIS also reports that Europe’s […]

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President Temer signs RenovaBio into law

President Temer signs RenovaBio into law

December 27, 2017 |

In Brazil, O Globo newspaper reports that President Michel Temer has signed the law creating the National Biofuels Policy (RenovaBio), according to a publication in the Official Gazette on Wednesday. In mid-December, the Senate concluded the vote on the matter, which should boost the sector in the country and at the same time collaborate on […]

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Norway achieves 20% blending mandate more than 2% early

Norway achieves 20% blending mandate more than 2% early

December 26, 2017 |

In Norway, the government’s 20% biofuel by 2020 policy was already reached in 2017, well ahead of the 8% planned for 2017 and 10% for 2018. As of the end of September, 21% of fuel sold was biofuel. Last year also saw the target far beyond the expected levels, reaching 14% against the 5.5% mandated. […]

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CARB working to comply with court demands over NOx emissions

CARB working to comply with court demands over NOx emissions

December 25, 2017 |

In California, Platts reports that the state’s Air Resources Board told the Fresno County Superior Court it is working to develop the required documentation showing compliance with the court’s ruling on NOx emissions that would lift the court-imposed freeze on carbon intensity of diesel at 98.44 CI. The court’s ruling has kept the state from […]

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EPA publishes proposed rulemaking for sorghum oil pathways

EPA publishes proposed rulemaking for sorghum oil pathways

December 22, 2017 |

In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published their notice of proposed rulemaking for sorghum oil pathways which allows an opportunity to comment on the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with biofuels that are produced from grain sorghum oil extracted at dry mill ethanol plants. The notice says that the “EPA’s evaluation of […]

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NITI Aayog to present plan for methanol policy rollout by year’s end

NITI Aayog to present plan for methanol policy rollout by year’s end

December 22, 2017 |

In India, the National Institution for Transforming India known as NITI Aayog plans to release by year’s end a roadmap to achieve up to 30% reduction in fossil fuel imports through the blending of methanol. The roadmap could be implemented as early as January. The institute believes the government’s forthcoming methanol policy is congruent with […]

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Indonesia set to introduce E2 at last but three years late

Indonesia set to introduce E2 at last but three years late

December 20, 2017 |

In Indonesia, building on the government’s biodiesel blending policy, it is looking to begin a 2% ethanol blending policy. There aren’t sufficient supplies domestically to begin with a 5% blend as had originally been planned, so for now the policy with be just 2% until production increases to allow for the higher blend. The E2 […]

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Biofuels industry sends letter to President Trump offering solutions on RIN costs

Biofuels industry sends letter to President Trump offering solutions on RIN costs

December 19, 2017 |

In Washington, 90 organizations and companies signed onto a letter sent to President Trump letter to offer solutions to addressing RIN costs that also do not harm the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. Specifically, the group proposed curing inequity in the U.S. tax code between biofuels and oil, improving transparency in RIN trading markets to […]

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99% of US farms still family-owned: USDA report

99% of US farms still family-owned: USDA report

December 18, 2017 |

In Washington, the USDA’s new America’s Diverse Family Farms – 2017 Edition finds that 99 percent of U.S. farms are family farms, and they accounted for 90 percent of farm production in 2016. Farming is still overwhelmingly comprised of family businesses, said USDA.  More than a third of farms have multiple operators, and larger farms are more […]

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Senator Cruz wants RIN prices capped at 10 cents

Senator Cruz wants RIN prices capped at 10 cents

December 18, 2017 |

In Washington, Reuters reports that Texas Senator Ted Cruz has proposed reforms to the Renewable Fuel Standard including capping RIN prices at a flat 10 cents across the board for all compliance requirements rather than different prices set by the market for different types of fuel like advanced biofuel or biomass diesel. RIN prices fell […]

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