In Washington state, sales tax management software company Avalara has released a white paper looking at the new tax challenges that arise from biodiesel. With future growth of biodiesel consumption in many ways dependent on tax policy in addition to the quotas set in the RFS, the paper goes over the maze of federal and […]
In India, Nagpur Municipal Corporation has gone ahead and unilaterally approved a number of policies at a recent council meeting without discussion among the general body, including the ethanol bus program and the feasibility study for the project, with opposition claiming anti-democratic processes. The city has already sought federal government permission to buy 55 ethanol […]
In Washington, the Renewable Fuels Association said that the American Motorcyclist Association is engaging in misinformation in calling on motorcycle riders to support legislation that would amend the Renewable Fuel Standard by prohibiting gas stations from selling fuel that contains more than 10 percent ethanol, and requiring those that are already selling higher ethanol blends […]
In Kenya, the Kenya Revenue Authority has announced new regulations for the trade of ethanol will come into force from Sept. 1 with the intention of curbing illegal smuggling. All would be users of ethanol must declare their estimated consumption on a quarterly basis, cargoes will be tracked electronically and all imports by sea must […]
In India, the government has decided to invest $1.53 billion to help support farmers transition into oil palm production. Understanding that a long waiting period until the tree matures enough to produce oil seeds is a turn off for many small farmers, the funding will go towards paying those farmers to wait for the returns […]
In Australia, Rob Katter’s push for a 10% ethanol blending mandate is dividing the agricultural industry yet again, after having drawn the ire of the feedlot industry when he proposed the move in years past. The issue has also divided the US agricultural industry, with grain growers in favor and livestock producers against. Feedlot owners […]
In Germany, the government has lowered the required biodiesel blending volumes, saying that the GHG emissions reductions resulting from the fuels are high enough to lower the actual volume required to meet the GHG targets. Biodiesel producers are protesting the shift in policy, saying it’s paradoxical to reduce the volumes blended when the environmental peformance of […]
In Washington, the National Corn Growers Association has caled on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule on “Waters of the U.S.” The NCGA’s concerns were exacerbated when it became known that the Corps of Engineers, which had been partnering with EPA in the process, expressed significant reservations on the science and legality of the […]
In South Africa, the government has had to adjust its biofuel subsidy plans in light of lower oil prices. The new subsidy plan will now be on a competitive bidding basis, not far from the mechanism for contracting solar power, a move that local project developers are concerned may not work. The idea of a […]
In Washington, U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) wrote to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in support of Illinois’ application for additional federal funding to advance the Illinois biofuels industry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering up to $100 million in competitive grants to states that are testing innovative ways […]
