In Washington, ethanol and agriculture industry groups came together last week to advocate for continued funding of U.S. blender pump initiatives and U.S. export promotion efforts in a letter to the House Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Programs Committee on Appropriations. The letter countered a request led by Representatives Bob Goodlatte, Peter […]
In Washington, following the introduction of S. 889, the Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act, legislation by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), which contains a provision to extend the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to E15, Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, issued the following statement: “We certainly support efforts by Senator […]
In the Czech Republic, the government has recently approved an extension for lower taxes on biofuels that should help boost demand from distributors. The country’s finance minister however owns one of the largest rapeseed processors, which has caused concern regarding conflict of interest considering it was his ministry that prepared the allegedly poorly developed legislation […]
In Belgium, the second triologue negotiation between the European Parliament, European Council and European Commission has yet again failed to reach an agreement on ILUC. The three main areas of disagreement continue to be the cap on first-generation biofuels, whether or not to include an ILUC factor, and a sub-mandate for advanced biofuels. The third […]
In South Dakota, a new law will soon come into force, including a 6 cents per gallon tax increase on ethanol at the pump, that would see the state’s revenues increase by $2.25 million. Other motor fuels will also be subject to the same increase, as well as other various license plate and excise taxes, all […]
In Virginia, Alexandria’s mayor is against Norfolk Southern’s plans to lengthen the trains carrying ethanol through the city. The company also plans to reconfigure its track layout and install stationary product transfer equipment, including spill containment, along with a truck rack. Its rail-to-truck ethanol transfer point will be moved one-quarter mile west. “An industrial facility […]
In Swaziland, a new report estimates that energy produced from bagasse could meet half of the country’s electricity demand. The Swaziland Renewables Readiness Assessment recommends the country undertake various measures to support the implementation of renewable energy including: extending existing tax credits to the sugar industry to incentivize investment in more efficient equipment for bagasse-based […]
In Washington, the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers and the American Petroleum Institute have filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for repeatedly delaying the release of the 2014 and 2015 RFS. The two organizations blame the EPA for “ignoring” its duty to issue blending […]
In Minnesota, legislation introduced in both houses of the state legislature in early February seeks to support cellulosic ethanol production along with renewable chemicals and biomass thermal. The House version of the bill would create an incentive $2.1053 per MMBtu of annual production of cellulosic advanced biofuels with a 20% bonus payment for using perennial […]
In Malaysia, the country announced it will introduce a 4.5% export tax on crude palm oil exports in April, while Indonesia is expected to follow suit. Malaysia dropped the export tax in September, since when exports of CPO have soared 21% while exports of refined oil have fallen 15%. The Rotterdam price for CPO is […]
