In Washington, the American Petroleum Institute has launched a new ad campaign using TV, radio and internet to try to convince Congress to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard as soon as this year. The campaign features a mechanic explaining why he thinks biofuels are bad news, including impacts on food prices and lower gas mileage. […]
In the EU, Parliament members set a 5.5% cap for fuels made from food crops, and decided to include emissions arising from indirect land use change in measurement. This cap, set by the Environment Committee, is designed to accelerate the development of second-generation biofuels. Original propositions had the cap at 5%, but was raised after […]
In Belgium, the European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted to raise the Fuel Quality Directive’s requirement for fuel producers to reduce the carbon intensity of their fuels by 9% by the end of 2025, up from 6% by 2020, the current requirement. The Committee also voted for a 5.5% ceiling on the use of food-based biofuels […]
In Washington, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Foreign Agricultural Service awarded fiscal year 2013 funding to more than 70 U.S. agricultural organizations to help expand commercial export markets for their goods. Under the Market Access Program (MAP), FAS will provide $172.7 million to 70 nonprofit organizations and cooperatives. MAP participants contribute an […]
In New Mexico, the question surrounding the state’s long-standing but never-implemented B5 blending mandate is set to be decided by a task force. The state agriculture department has sent out the first letter to the task force’s members who are set to meet for the first time on Aug. 8. The multi-stakeholder task force will […]
In Switzerland, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the FAO have released a joint study that describes and analyses global intra-industry trade in biofuels arising from environmental legislation that has been developed separately in different markets and jurisdictions, and puts forward proposals and recommendations for addressing some of the environmental impacts resulting […]
In Washington, ethanol giant POET has hired a DC lobbyist as the company gears up for fightin the oil industry. Rob Walther, former deputy director for energy at Third Way, will represent the company as they work to protect the Renewable Fuels Standard. Walther will highlight the value of domestic, renewable biofuel in talks with […]
In Iowa, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association commented on the July 1 enactment of H.F. 640, stating: “Today, new liberties go into effect for Iowa’s fuel retailers. They now have the freedom to offer the fuel options they choose, not what Big Oil dictates,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “These new protections amount to a […]
In Washington, Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) have introduced a renewed version of the Open Fuel Standard Act that failed two years ago. The new version seeks 30% non-petroleum fuels, down from the 50% non-petroleum fuels that failed in 2011. The bill includes options for methanol, flex-fuel, natural gas, hydrogen, ethanol, biodiesel, […]
In Massachusetts, a two-year attempt to transport ethanol by rail through Boston suburbs has come to an end after legislators and the public pushed Global Partners to withdraw its application for permission. Recent legislation passed by the two state houses would prohibit ethanol blending or storage of 5,000 gallons or more per day in an […]
