Category: Policy

7 biofuels groups aim to extend “critical advanced biofuel tax incentives”

7 biofuels groups aim to extend “critical advanced biofuel tax incentives”

July 19, 2015 |

In Washington, a group of biofuel trade organizations sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) encouraging extension of critical advanced biofuel tax incentives — the Second Generation Biofuel Producer Tax Credit, the Special Depreciation Allowance for Second Generation Biofuel Plant Property, the Biodiesel and Renewable […]

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Corn ethanol supporters head to the Hill to push for higher blending mandate

Corn ethanol supporters head to the Hill to push for higher blending mandate

July 16, 2015 |

In Washington, more than 300 people took to the Hill in a corn ethanol fly-in to push the Environmental Protection Agency to increase the blending mandate for conventional ethanol. Among them was the Illinois Farm Bureau who attacked the EPA for its use of the term “ambitious” when setting out the blending mandate for 2015 […]

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DC Court throws out E30 suit against EPA but says ethanol proponents in the right

DC Court throws out E30 suit against EPA but says ethanol proponents in the right

July 15, 2015 |

In Washington, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has thrown out a case against the Environmental Protection Agency for not approving tests of E30, saying that it had no choice in doing so because it is not a commercial fuel. Yet the court said many of the EPA’s arguments in the case were wrong, instead […]

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EU ministers approve ILUC policy changes

EU ministers approve ILUC policy changes

July 14, 2015 |

In Belgium, EU Ministers have officially rubber-stamped new rules to address indirect land use change (ILUC) impacts associated with biofuels. The new rules, which have been discussed by the EU institutions for 3 years, must now be transposed and implemented quickly to ensure Europe meets its climate and energy targets for transport, says the European […]

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UK’s automobile club wants to stop E10 in its tracks

UK’s automobile club wants to stop E10 in its tracks

July 13, 2015 |

In the UK, the Automobile Association says blending more ethanol to reach European Union goals of 10% renewables in transport under the Renewable Energy Directive by 2020 will cost drivers $124 more per year due to lower energy intensity of E10 versus gasoline. The AA says 8.6 million vehicles older than 2000 models aren’t compatible […]

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Farm Bureau urges Congress: Bless, caress, but don’t suppress the RFS 

Farm Bureau urges Congress: Bless, caress, but don’t suppress the RFS 

July 12, 2015 |

In Washington, Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation wrote to members of the House of Representatives urging them to reject efforts to de-fund implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard, as contained in a potential amendment to a House appropriations bill proposed by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.). “As the House prepares to debate the Fiscal […]

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Two dozen companies and groups ask Representatives to not mess with the RFS

Two dozen companies and groups ask Representatives to not mess with the RFS

July 9, 2015 |

In Washington, a group of more than 20 companies and trade associations wrote a letter to US Representatives along similar lines of a letter sent last week by the American Farm Bureau urging them to not mess with the RFS. Legislation has been proposed that would repeal, amend or defund the RFS and in turn […]

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Japan looking to commercial aviation biofuel use by Tokyo 2020

Japan looking to commercial aviation biofuel use by Tokyo 2020

July 8, 2015 |

In Japan, the government wants to see aviation biofuel used during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and as such as launched its first public private panel to look at opportunities and challenges. Beyond just seeing commercial flights running on biofuel by the start of the Games, the country also has ambitions to produce its own […]

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Jamaica wants to boost ethanol blend to 20% and focus on domestic production

Jamaica wants to boost ethanol blend to 20% and focus on domestic production

July 7, 2015 |

In Jamaica, the government wants to boost its ethanol blend to 20% from the 10% it has had in place since 2008. Most of the ethanol currently blended is imported from Brazil, with some also coming in from the US, but the country wants to move towards producing its own ethanol despite the local industry […]

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Illinois’ ag director calls on EPA to boost RFS for ethanol

Illinois’ ag director calls on EPA to boost RFS for ethanol

July 6, 2015 |

In Illinois, the state’s agriculture director Philip Nelson is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to reconsider the proposed Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) volume obligations that were laid out earlier this spring.  This action comes as several partner states, such as Iowa and Missouri, testified recently in opposition of the proposal at the […]

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