In Brazil, the government has decided to not renew PIS/Cofins tax breaks at the pump for ethanol following their expiry in December. The effect will be to encourage mills to produce more sugar because ethanol will be less attractive at the pump. The country’s lack of financial strength is the reason for ending the tax […]
In California, the Assembly approved a Senate bill seeking to extend the climate change laws by ensuring a 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2030, compared to current legislation that requires achieving 1990 levels by 2020. The vote came following a hot debate and was only passed with a one-vote margin […]
In India, the prime minister continues to push for increased ethanol blending towards 10% despite the sugar industry’s lack of production capacity to achieve the goal. About 4% blending is expected for 2015/16 through September. The challenge is the $10 billion in investments expected for the oil and gas industry, but the prime minister recognizes […]
In Michigan, a local environmentalist has launched the website www.rethinkethanol.com in an attempt to convince people that the Renewable Fuel Standard is a farce that must be ended. Having made his fortune partly by selling the family business that was the state’s go to point for heavy machinery such as Caterpillar, he is personally funding […]
In Hawaii, the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance is seeking third party professionals to perform sustainability audits and is requesting CVs from qualified auditors. Recognizing the need for objective environmental and sustainability standards within the US Biodiesel Industry, the SBA has created an independent third-party certification process and branding system for the production, distribution and sale of […]
In Washington, a report from the Office of the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency says the agency, Congress and other stakeholders lack key information on biofuel impacts needed to make science-based decisions about Renewable Fuel Standard. In short, the EPA has not met certain statutory requirements to identify environmental impacts of the Renewable […]
In Australia, Queensland’s future as the biofuel hub for the Asia-Pacific has further been advanced with the signing of a high-level agreement between the Palaszczuk Government and the United States Navy. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and United States Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for Management Thomas Hicks today signed a Statement of Cooperation as part […]
In Iowa, Governor Terry Branstad, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Bruce Rastetter, the president of Summit Ag Group, have been appointed to Donald Trump’s agricultural advisory panel. Rastetter denies it is part of a plan to be named Secretary of Agriculture in the event of a Trump presidency while Brandstad had denied being an […]
In Oregon, despite the clean fuels legislation signed into law late last year to promote reduction in carbon intensity in transport fuels and at the same time boost demand for biofuels, only the Pacific Ethanol plant in Boardman in supplying the local gasoline market. The remaining ethanol is imported from the Midwest, which goes against […]
In India, the country’s biodiesel association is requesting the fuel be exempt of Value Added Tax to boost the industry’s viability. It argues that the tax, that can be up to 24% in some states, applied to the 5% portion blended into fossil diesel will kill demand for the blended fuel entirely. The association’s president […]
