In Washxington, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue unveiled a re-organization, and announced the creation of a USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs as part of a broader reorganization of the department. As part of a reorganization of USDA, Perdue also announced the standing up of a newly-named Farm Production and Conservation […]
In Washington, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), called on the heads of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to investigate […]
In India, the Prime Minister told those participating in a review of renewable energy programs and policies that he wants implementation of advanced biofuel production ramped up in order to achieve goals for 22.5% ethanol blending faster. Last week, Praj commissioned its first advanced biofuels plant in Gujarat while Indian Oil announced it is moving […]
In Washington, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) on Friday determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value. As a result of the […]
In Washington, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Democrat Ron Wyden (Ore.) and colleagues introduced a clean energy tax reform package that includes a proposal for a technology neutral tax credit designed to encourage the development and production of advanced and cellulosic biofuels. Advanced Biofuels Business Council (ABBC) Executive Director Brooke Coleman said: “The Council and its […]
In Washington, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) joined the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) in submitting comments in response to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Discussion Paper on a Federal Clean Fuel Standard (CFS). Representatives of the three organizations just completed a visit to Canada to discuss that country’s newest environmental initiative […]
In Brazil, northeastern sugar millers are concerned that the Ministry of Finance will work in favor of foreign ethanol imports from the US rather than protecting their domestic industry when the proposed reinstatement of an import tariff on ethanol comes up for a vote at the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. The agriculture ministry […]
In Vietnam, ethanol distilleries are running into technical troubles, which are putting into doubt the E5 blending mandate postponed until January 1, 2018. Currently, Tung Lam Co is the only ethanol producer nationally, with a capacity of 150,000 metric tons per year, far from enough to supply the national mandate. What’s more, its southern location […]
In Brazil, the country’s agriculture minister is seeking up to a 20% import tariff on US ethanol following a surge in imports of 720 million liters during the first quarter of the year, five times higher than the same period last year. Sugar mills have favored sugar over ethanol during the past season as world […]
In South Dakota, the American Coalition for Ethanol submitted a public comment focused on its ethanol priorities soon after EPA formally began seeking input on existing regulations to be reviewed by its newly established Regulatory Reform Task Force. The Task Force was formed in response to Executive Order 13777 to evaluate existing regulations and make […]
