In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set biofuel blending mandates for 2022 at 20.63 billion gallons and retroactive volume mandates for 2021 at 18.84 billion gallons and for 2020 at 17.13 billion gallons. It also denied oil refiners’ exemption petitions, but said it would allow extra time for small refiners to meet their […]
In Malaysia, Reuters reports that following pushback from the national biodiesel association, the commodities minister confirmed it will keep biodiesel blending levels where they are, a policy that is contrary to comments made by the palm oil board calling for lower biodiesel blending in response to tight vegetable oil markets, high fuel prices and the […]
In Washington, Reuters reports that although a final decision has not yet been made, sources believe the Biden Administration will choose to increase biofuel blending for 2021 above the 13.32 billion gallons first proposed in December. Ethanol blending for last year was already well above that level at about 13.94 billion gallons. A meeting was […]
In Washington, Energy Wire reports Bracewell launched the Capture Action Project last month to lobby for support of large-scale carbon capture projects while the government prepares to invest $8.2 billion in the growing sector. Previously the firm opposed CCS on behalf of its utility clients but has since made an about face on the issue […]
In France, Strategie Grains has reduced its estimate for European biodiesel consumption this year on the back of biodiesel blending mandate cuts in Czech Republic and Latvia in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Germany’s cap of 2.5% blending of first-generation biofuels are also expected to reduce demand, along with falling diesel demand in […]
In Japan, President Joseph Biden met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and welcomed Japan’s commitment to reduce dependence on imported petroleum by 2030 through doubling demand for bioethanol, including sustainable aviation fuel and on-road fuel. The U.S. Grains Council thanks U.S. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel for his continued support in expanding the potential for ethanol use […]
In the Philippines, the Manila Bulletin newspaper reports that the Department of Energy believes that by boosting coconut biodiesel blending to 5% from the current 2%, fuel prices will increase by 1.5 cents per liter at the pump. Those calculations were done in January/February, however, before Russia invaded Ukraine and sent oil prices soaring around […]
In Washington, a recent, highly publicized report led by Tyler Lark of the University of Wisconsin attacking the Renewable Fuel Standard is “more problematic than what we initially evaluated to be the case,” according to a new review of the work by researchers from the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, Purdue University, the University of […]
In Switzerland, Reuters reports Indonesia’s economic affairs minister said during an interview at Davos that the country has no intention to reduce its 30% biodiesel blending mandate. He said fossil fuel energy costs are now higher than palm oil-based energy, so if biodiesel consumption was reduced, the government would end up having to subsidize fossil […]
In Minnesota, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) unanimously voted they have existing authority to permit the siting of carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines, including the two multi-state pipelines currently in development. This decision addresses the growing regional demand to capture carbon dioxide from ethanol plants and transport via pipeline. Minnesota statutes require pipelines that transport […]
