Category: Policy

Navy plans to acquire advanced biofuels at parity this year

Navy plans to acquire advanced biofuels at parity this year

April 24, 2014 |

In Washington, the Navy plans to set up two solicitations for advanced biofuels this year by way of the Defense Production Act. The Navy believes it will be able to source the fuels at a price competitive with existing fossil fuel supplies, rather than paying several times the current fossil fuel price as it has […]

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EPA cuts 2013 cellulosic blending mandate to under a million gallons

EPA cuts 2013 cellulosic blending mandate to under a million gallons

April 23, 2014 |

In Washington, the EPA at last released its 2013 blending mandate for cellulosic biofuels, cutting to just 810,185 gallons from the 6 million gallons originally expected. Oil companies complained they would have to buy RINs even though there wasn’t actual cellulosic ethanol available to blend. A federal court said last year the EPA must set […]

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US Senator wants DDGs removed from proposed FDA rule

US Senator wants DDGs removed from proposed FDA rule

April 21, 2014 |

In Washington, U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb) wrote Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg urging FDA to exempt raw agricultural commodities, distillers grain and other byproducts from a promised revision of a proposed rule dealing with livestock feed. As first proposed, the rule would add new requirements to producers of distillers grains – […]

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EPA taking comments on ADM’s carbon sequester plan at Illinois ethanol plant

EPA taking comments on ADM’s carbon sequester plan at Illinois ethanol plant

April 17, 2014 |

In Illinois, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting public comment on a proposed permit that would allow Archer Daniels Midland to inject carbon dioxide deep underground at a facility in Decatur, Illinois. This process – known as “carbon sequestration” – is a means of storing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate […]

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DOE announces $4 billion loan guarantee solicitation for renewables: drop-in biofuels targeted

DOE announces $4 billion loan guarantee solicitation for renewables: drop-in biofuels targeted

April 17, 2014 |

In Washington, the Department of Energy issued a draft loan guarantee solicitation for innovative renewable energy and energy efficiency projects located in the U.S. that avoid, reduce, or sequester greenhouse gases. When finalized, the solicitation is expected to make as much as $4 billion in loan guarantees available to help commercialize technologies that may be […]

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NASA signs aviation biofuels agreement with Germany and Canada

NASA signs aviation biofuels agreement with Germany and Canada

April 15, 2014 |

In Washington, NASA has signed separate agreements with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to conduct a series of joint flight tests to study the atmospheric effects of emissions from jet engines burning alternative fuels. The Alternative Fuel Effects on Contrails and Cruise Emissions (ACCESS II) flights are set […]

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UK announces rules for small-scale biodiesel producers

UK announces rules for small-scale biodiesel producers

April 14, 2014 |

In the UK, the Environmental Agency has released rules that will allow an operator to operate a Part A low impact installation for the production of biodiesel at a specified location. Permitted raw materials and wastes are limited to new and waste vegetable oils and rendered animal fat. The total quantity of raw materials and […]

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EPA releases strategic plan to combat climate change

EPA releases strategic plan to combat climate change

April 14, 2014 |

In Washington, the EPA has issued its fiscal year (FY) 2014 to 2018 Strategic Plan today, which provides a blueprint for advancing EPA’s mission to protect public health and the environment across the country.The plan prioritizes environmental justice, continuing to focus on urban, rural, and economically disadvantaged communities, to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, […]

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Indonesian biodiesel producers not suffering from new export tax

Indonesian biodiesel producers not suffering from new export tax

April 9, 2014 |

In Indonesia, most biodiesel exporters say that the new 2% export tax hasn’t had a negative effect on their trade, especially has less than half of the 14 domestic producers export. Apparently the tax was foreseen and already priced into April cargoes, prices that are even $20 per ton cheaper than in March basis FOB. […]

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Minnesota seen delaying B20 implementation until 2018

Minnesota seen delaying B20 implementation until 2018

April 8, 2014 |

In Minnesota, the delay in implementing B10 has also delayed the implementation of B20. B20 was planned for 2015, but B10 will only now be implemented in July this year. Therefore, Rep. Clark Johnson has proposed a bill that would delay B20 until 2018, giving three extra years to get blending facilities and gas stations […]

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