In Washington, the Advanced Ethanol Council urged Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R-KS) to include two key tax extensions for advanced and cellulosic ethanol producers. In a letter to the committee leaders, AEC Executive Director Brooke Coleman highlighted four areas in which the Farm Bill could help accelerate […]
In Belgium, two draft regulations would see the European Commission seek data from airlines on the amount of biomass used in their fuels so that they can be counted as zero-emission in greenhouse gas emissions calculations under the emissions trading scheme (EU-ETS). “Under the EU ETS we provide a financial incentive for the use of […]
In China, a result of the country’s decision to reduce corn-based ethanol production for the next five years, it will instead have to boost its imports of animal feed due to a decline in DDGS production. Imports could jump to 6 million tonnes in the next four years, double that of 3.1 million tons imported […]
In Washington, ARPA-E issued a Request For Information focused on accelerating the development of transformative market-ready non-photosynthetic biofuel technologies. ARPA-E’s Electrofuels program has successfully supported several technologies on the lab-scale that allow microorganisms to combine chemical or electrical energy with carbon to create liquid transportation fuels. Now, ARPA-E is seeking input from industry, academia, and […]
In Oklahoma, a House Panel approved HB 2189, which would make commercial production of castor beans a misdemeanor, with a fine of $500 dollars. On one side are concerns that this would be a beneficial crop for biofuels, but because of the ricin they contain, there is a probability of contamination of any nearby food […]
In Hawaii, proposed legislation in the state’s House of Representatives would see the requirement to blend E10 eliminated. The reasons behind the push is an attempt to counteract rising gas prices in the state that have gone up 41 cents a gallon over this time last year in Honolulu and Wailuku and in Hilo. Prices […]
In Washington, the DOE will conduct a webinar documenting the outcomes of a recently held roadmapping workshop on advanced hydrocarbon biofuel production from lignocellulosic materials. The webinar is scheduled for tomorrow, February 9th, 2:30-5pm ET. The new roadmap will highlight research barriers to the commercial development of technologies that are necessary to generate carbohydrate and […]
In Brazil, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) responded to allegations that a pre-existing VAT (value-added tax) on ethanol in the Brazilian state of São Paulo is equivalent to the return of Brazil’s tariff on imported ethanol, which was zeroed in 2010. The statement should be attributed to UNICA President and CEO, Marcos Jank. “Recent media […]
In Washington, the USDA received recommendations from Airlines for America (A4A) and Boeing regarding the commercial deployment of aviation biofuels. The recommendations called for support across the supply chain and at least two successful commercial-scale projects as a precursor to private investment. A4A Vice President John Heimlich indicated these recommendations were directed towards the recently […]
In Indonesia, Trade Minister Gita Wiyawan responded the EPA’s announcement against palm oil, stating, “We will convey our dissenting arguments on February 27 in accordance with the deadline for the filing of objections. We have already met business asociations to formulate our arguments regarding the US policy.” Another official, director general of foreign trade, Deddy […]
