Category: Policy

2014 Iowa ethanol production peaks at 3.9 billion gallons

2014 Iowa ethanol production peaks at 3.9 billion gallons

January 5, 2015 |

In Iowa, ethanol production totaled 3.9 billion gallons during 2014, up from 3.7 billion gallons the previous three years, according to Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). Iowa continues to be the number one ethanol producing state, and is estimated to account for roughly 27 percent of national ethanol production in 2014.  For the first time, […]

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Oregon’s DEQ commission to vote on low carbon fuel standard on Jan. 7

Oregon’s DEQ commission to vote on low carbon fuel standard on Jan. 7

January 1, 2015 |

In Oregon, the state’s Department of Environmental Quality Commission will vote on Jan. 7 whether to implement a low carbon fuel standard that would also include a carbon credit scheme. The standard is expected to have minimal impact on the price of fuel at the pump but recent volatility in the oil market would make […]

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Argentina’s biodiesel industry may get boost from government…or not

Argentina’s biodiesel industry may get boost from government…or not

December 31, 2014 |

In Argentina, the biodiesel industry is expecting the government to further lower export taxes on biodiesel during the next few months to help counteract falling fossil diesel prices that are making the renewable fuel less competitive. Apart from that policy shift, only lower soy oil prices will make much of a difference. But the government […]

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House oversight and reform committee looks to hit EPA over RFS

House oversight and reform committee looks to hit EPA over RFS

December 30, 2014 |

In Washington, incoming Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz announced this week six new Subcommittees that will be established during the 114th Congress and the Chair selections. The Interior Subcommittee, chaired by Cynthia Lummis (WY), will focus on issues related to the Department of Interior, Department of Energy, EPA, and USDA. Tackling the […]

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Ukraine looking to boost excise taxes on fuels including biodiesel

Ukraine looking to boost excise taxes on fuels including biodiesel

December 29, 2014 |

In Ukraine, a new proposal seeks to boost excise taxes on all fuels, including a 4% increase on biodiesel that would boost the tax to EUR102 per metric ton. By contrast, the new excise taxes on gasoline would be 2% higher to EUR202 and up to 3% higher for diesel at up to EUR134. No […]

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Navy’s NAVAIR completes supersonic ATJ flight with Gevo’s fuel

Navy’s NAVAIR completes supersonic ATJ flight with Gevo’s fuel

December 29, 2014 |

In Colorado, the US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has announced its first successful alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) supersonic flight, fueled by Gevo’s renewable isobutanol. his is the first aviation test program to comprehensively test and evaluate the performance of a 50/50 ATJ blend in supersonic (above Mach 1) afterburner operations – a critical test to […]

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Zimbabwe backing down to E5 following poor cane production

Zimbabwe backing down to E5 following poor cane production

December 25, 2014 |

In Zimbabwe, the government has cut the ethanol blending mandate to 5% following a sugarcane shortage due to heavy rains. Earlier in the year the blend had been boosted to 15% from 10%. When the weather improves and ethanol production can resume again, the higher blend is likely to be restored.

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India looking to expand ethanol bus trial to biodiesel and biogas as well

India looking to expand ethanol bus trial to biodiesel and biogas as well

December 24, 2014 |

In India, beyond the current ethanol bus trial, the city of Nagpur is looking to also trial biodiesel and biogas buses to clean up local public transport.  The state and central government would fund the buses for the trial, while Scania is reportedly exploring development of a biogas plant near Bengaluru in Karnataka.  

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EPA seeks information about records related to RFS under FOIA

EPA seeks information about records related to RFS under FOIA

December 23, 2014 |

In Washington, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has received a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for certain records submitted to EPA under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program between January 1, 2011 and November 2014. These records were submitted to EPA pursuant to the RFS program’s annual reporting, quarterly reporting and transactional […]

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South Korea to implement B2.5 in August

South Korea to implement B2.5 in August

December 22, 2014 |

In South Korea, the government has decided to boost the biodiesel blend to 2.5% in August from 2% currently. Plans are for the mandate to rise to 3% by 2018. The Korea Petroleum Association is complaining that complying with the mandate has cost $77.5 million in 2014, will cost $91.2 million in 2015 and $118.7 […]

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