Category: Policy

Maine court opens the path for Fiberight to get its community MSW project sorted

Maine court opens the path for Fiberight to get its community MSW project sorted

March 15, 2017 |

In Maine, a superior court judge has ruled against Fiberight’s competitors who sought to have the company’s environmental permits for a planned MSW-to-biofuel plant revoked, instead affirming the permits and opening the path for the company to move forward with its proposed project. The committee that manages the MSW for more than 100 communities in […]

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National Farmers Union calls for higher blends through E30

National Farmers Union calls for higher blends through E30

March 14, 2017 |

In California, National Farmers Union called for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to open the market to higher blends of ethanol in a landmark resolution passed during the National Farmers Union annual meeting held in San Diego last week. The resolution brought forward by the South Dakota Farmers Union delegation to the convention promotes the […]

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European Parliament’s ENVI committee calls for palm oil biodiesel phaseout by 2020

European Parliament’s ENVI committee calls for palm oil biodiesel phaseout by 2020

March 13, 2017 |

In Belgium, the European Parliament’s committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety voted in favor of a report that says the European Union should phase out the use of palm oil in biofuels by 2020 because industry has not yet been able to definitively prove that the oils it uses have not led to […]

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RVP waiver extension is focus of Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act

RVP waiver extension is focus of Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act

March 12, 2017 |

In South Dakota, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) sent letters to the House and Senate thanking Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and David Loebsack (D-Iowa) for their leadership and support by introducing the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act (S. 517, H.R. 1311). […]

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Norway may nix E20 plans due to high cost and alleged increased GHG emissions

Norway may nix E20 plans due to high cost and alleged increased GHG emissions

March 9, 2017 |

In Norway, the E20 by 2020 plan that was agreed after months of haggling by the government’s different parties is now under fire due to the expected $307.6 million per year increase that drivers will have to pay due to the 512 million liters of biofuels required are more expensive than fossil fuels. In addition, […]

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Indonesia looks to spread biodiesel subsidy further in light of falling prices

Indonesia looks to spread biodiesel subsidy further in light of falling prices

March 8, 2017 |

In Indonesia, the government is looking to reduce the amount of subsidy it pays to state-owned oil company Pertamina for blending biodiesel in an effort to spread the total subsidy amount across a larger volume, allowing it to boost the blending mandate without boosting the required budget. Palm oil prices have fallen 7% since the […]

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Branstad assures no backroom RFS deal going on

Branstad assures no backroom RFS deal going on

March 7, 2017 |

In Iowa, Governor Terry Branstad denied rumors that an backroom deal to change the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard or a waiver to allow for E15 blending year round was in the works. His son who works inside the Trump Administration confirmed to him that the deal was not going on. The […]

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Congressmen reintroduce bill to allow year-round E15

Congressmen reintroduce bill to allow year-round E15

March 6, 2017 |

In Washington, Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) reintroduced legislation to broaden fuel choices for retailers and consumers by expanding the existing waiver of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations related to the Reid Vapor Pressure of motor vehicle fuel, which E10 received in 1990, to include E15. “By restricting retailers’ ability to […]

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Trump Administration faced with sticky wicket on RFS PoO

Trump Administration faced with sticky wicket on RFS PoO

March 2, 2017 |

In Washington, despite the White House’s denial that no executive order is in the works to shift the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard, Bloomberg reports that a flurry of meetings between the Trump Administration, members of Fuels America, the American Petroleum Institute and others have been held on the issue over the […]

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House Republicans look to reform RFS with eye on eliminating it all together

House Republicans look to reform RFS with eye on eliminating it all together

March 1, 2017 |

In Washington, the new chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee said Republicans are looking to push legislation through this year that would amend the Renewable Fuel Standard as a key priority, along with rules to make pipeline project approvals easier. The head of the committee’s subcommittee on environment said the goal is really […]

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