by John Kirkwood and Jason Deppen and Virginia Speck (FaegreDrinker/Biofuels Digest) … On November 30, 2022 the Internal Revenue Service published Notice 2022-61 (the “Notice”) providing initial guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act’s Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Requirements. Under the Act, taxpayers who satisfy specified prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements
Treasury
(E&E News Energy Wire) Excerpt from E&E News Energy Wire: Many of the world’s largest energy companies and a Bill Gates-led group are joining an industry-led initiative to measure and map the emissions footprint of “clean” hydrogen, underscoring the financial stakes linked to the fuel’s climate profile. The Open Hydrogen Initiative (OHI)
by Emily Skor (Growth Energy) … By any measure, 2022 was a banner year for biofuel advocates in Washington, D.C. We secured new funding for blending infrastructure, critical tax incentives for clean energy, a summer waiver for E15 sales, and a stronger Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Our industry also delivered
by David Iaconangelo (Politico Pro) The Treasury Department is expected to release a framework that could determine whether renewable hydrogen is a successful climate tool or a high-emitting fuel. — The Treasury Department is weighing new requirements for “green” hydrogen producers, creating schisms among energy groups about how to ensure the
(U.S. Internal Revenue Service) The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service today issued a notice regarding the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) credit. This is a new credit created by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. It applies to a qualified fuel mixture containing sustainable aviation fuel for certain sales or uses
(National Business Aviation Association) NBAA recently joined with a coalition of dozens of aviation stakeholders in submitting comments to the IRS on implementation of the upcoming sustainable aviation fuel blenders tax credit (SAF BTC) and clean fuel production credit (CFPC). Effective Jan. 1, 2023, the SAF BTC makes SAF producers eligible
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) A new clean fuel production tax credit created by the Inflation Reduction Act could pave the way for significant growth in biofuels including ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel and biodiesel, if the IRS takes steps to adopt the right greenhouse gas lifecycle emissions model. The new
(Renewable Fuels Association) As federal agencies continue to work on implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Renewable Fuels Association on Saturday filed two sets of comments to the Internal Revenue Service, related to credits for carbon sequestration and clean fuel production. RFA also submitted comments last week to USDA on
(Internal Revenue Service) The Internal Revenue Service today issued three notices asking for comments on different aspects of extensions and enhancements of energy tax benefits in the Inflation Reduction Act. The IRS anticipates that constructive comments from interested parties will aid the agency in drafting the guidance items most reflective
(Renewable Fuels Association) Testimony, Comments Provided to Treasury, IRS, USDA — In separate comments and testimony to the U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Renewable Fuels Association laid out the ethanol industry’s priorities as the agencies prepare to implement the Inflation Reduction Act’s
(Growth Energy) Today, Growth Energy sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury on implementation of Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In her letter, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor calls on regulators to ensure that policies reflect the most updated and accurate science-based lifecycle carbon assessment
by Sam Sutton (Politico Pro) Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Monday said she was exploring how the administration could develop standards for voluntary carbon markets as part of broader efforts to address climate change. “We’re looking into what we might do to promote the development of a strong voluntary carbon trading
by John R. Kirkwood, Jason Deppen, and Christopher B. Berendt (FaegreDrinker/Biofuels Digest) … Section 48(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) as it existed prior to the adoption of the (Inflation Reduction) Act provides an investment tax credit (ITC) for the installation of certain renewable energy property as described in Section
by Bryen Alperin, Gary Blitz, Sarah Grey, Steve Whittaker, John Koenig, John Pierce, and Jason Kuzma (Carbon Capture Magazine) The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 expanded the 45Q tax credit, the most important federal incentive for encouraging private investment in the development and use of carbon capture technologies and facilities.
by Marc Heller (E&E News) Thirteen years ago, Congress decided a tax credit for companies that blend biodiesel shouldn’t go to refineries that put just a drop of the alternative fuel’s main ingredient — crops, animal fat and other organic material — into petroleum. The idea, lawmakers said, was to use
by Matthew Choi (Politico’s Morning Energy) The Treasury Department warned multilateral development banks that the U.S. won’t support most future fossil fuel projects unless low-carbon alternatives aren’t feasible. The department issued its opinion in a Friday guidance, which follows Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s meeting with MDB heads last month, where
by Patrick Newkumet (OPIS) Alternative low-carbon fuel producers would receive tax credits for reaching net-zero emissions under a U.S. Senate bill introduced last month, but biofuel industry stakeholders are concerned they will find it difficult to reach that target by 2030 unless the government revises its count of the carbon intensity
by Naomi Jagoda (The Hill) … The White House is also proposing to eliminate tax preferences for fossil fuel companies and expand tax incentives for clean-energy production. Treasury said in the report that its estimates indicate that eliminating subsidies for fossil fuel companies would raise federal revenue by more than
by Sebastian Blanco (Car and Driver) While not targeting gas-powered cars for extinction, the plan intends to bring electric cars fully into the mainstream by spending $174 billion to promote EVs and build charging stations. — … There are a lot of things packed into President Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal,
by Steven Mufson and Juliet Eilperin (Washington Post) The Commodity Futures Trading Commission aims to create a new Climate Risk Unit, joining initiatives at Treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Reserve — A growing number of federal regulators are pushing corporate America to reckon with the cost
by Matthew Choi and Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) The commission is setting up a climate and ESG task force in its enforcement division as the financial industry faces growing pressure to be more proactive on ESG disclosures, particularly regarding climate risk. Goldman Sachs announced Thursday it would offer more
(Bernstein Liebhard/Globe Newswire) Bernstein Liebhard, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, announces that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (“Renewable Energy ” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: REGI) from May 3, 2018, through
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) –President-elect Joe Biden is expected to officially tap Janet Yellen for Treasury secretary, a job with significant climate implications. –And former Secretary of State John Kerry will serve as Biden’s special presidential envoy for climate. … STOCKING UP THE CABINET: President-elect Joe Biden is expected to
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) U.N. special envoy for climate change Mark Carney will tell the Bloomberg New Economy Forum today that central banks can take a more proactive role in defending the financial system from climate change shocks while simultaneously ushering in a greener economy, according to a transcript
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) Green groups are laser-focused on the Treasury secretary position under the Biden administration in hopes of securing climate change victories in the financial arena. … Environmental groups see the Treasury secretary position as a means to secure climate change victories from the Biden administration,
(Climate 21 Project) The Climate 21 Project taps the expertise of more than 150 experts with high-level government experience, including nine former cabinet appointees, to deliver actionable advice for a rapid-start, whole-of-government climate response coordinated by the White House and accountable to the President. The memos below contain the Climate 21 Project’s recommendations for
(U.S. Department of Justice) A Colorado resident was sentenced to 15 months in prison yesterday for his role in a biodiesel tax credit fraud scheme, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2010
(Bailout Watch) The U.S. government’s efforts to stabilize the financial system at the start of the global pandemic last spring have propped up the fossil fuel industry, which entered the year with heavy debt loads and was slammed by the sharp drop in the price of oil after the pandemic
(Growth Energy) Today, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor submitted written comments on the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) proposed regulations under section 45Q, a performance-based tax credit for carbon capture projects. In her letter, Skor called on the agency to offer credit for carbon dioxide captured for food and beverage purposes, which would promote investment in new
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) The IRS on Thursday released proposed rules for an expanded carbon capture and utilization tax credit, ending a more than two-year wait for the regulations. Congress expanded the carbon capture credit in early 2018 as part of a bill that funded the government, but
by Jordan Solomon (Ecostrat Inc./Biofuels Digest) The US has over a billion tons of biomass which can be used as a key lever to drive economic recovery. USDA estimates that 3.4 million jobs and nearly $660 billion of economic benefits would be created by using biomass to manufacture alternative fuels,
by Roxby Hartley (EcoEngineers/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is receiving a lot of traction thanks to two exciting developments in 2018 and 2019: 1) California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard recognized CCS as a viable pathway to reduce emissions from transportation fuels. 2) The United States Congress passed legislation expanding
(Bloomberg Law) Scheme to defraud EPA renewable fuel program; Criminal cases made damages easy to calculate e-Biofuels LLC and other defendants face a $70 million liability for violating the False Claims Act by engaging in a scheme to defraud the EPA’s renewable fuel program, an Indiana federal court said. Alexander Chepurko’s
by Saleha Mohsin, Ari Natter and Jennifer A. Dlouhy (Bloomberg/RigZone) The Trump administration may announce as soon as Thursday a plan to offer loans to the ailing oil industry possibly in exchange for a financial stake, according to two people familiar with the matter. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Energy Secretary
“It’s worth remembering that Wall Street can make money even when the businesses that they are funding don’t make money,” explained Saudi America author Bethany McLean in this Strand Book Store discussion talking about financing of the shale oil and fracking industries and whether this business model’s economics work —
(U.S. Department of Justice) A Colorado resident was sentenced to 83 months in prison on Friday for his role in a biodiesel tax credit fraud scheme, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. According to court documents and statements made in court, Matthew
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) Almost two years after Congress initially expanded a tax incentive for carbon capture and sequestration projects as part of its 2018 budget bill, the IRS on Wednesday released its initial guidance on how exactly industries can take advantage of the tax credit. The IRS issued guidance describing
by Cácia Pimentel* (Advanced Biofuels USA) On February 15th the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) Carbon Management Research Initiative and the Women in Energy program hosted a panel of experts to discuss carbon capture policies and technologies, especially Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS). CCUS are methods and technologies to remove
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The Internal Revenue Service published guidance Jan. 15 for companies seeking to claim the biodiesel and renewable diesel tax credit for 2018 and 2019. The $1 per gallon tax credit expired Jan. 1, 2018, and remained expired until Dec. 20, 2019, when President Trump signed spending legislation into
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez called on the IRS’ watchdog to open an investigation into potentially fraudulent claims for the tax credit to capture carbon, known as 45Q. In a letter dated Nov. 19 to Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration J. Russell George,
(Wisconsin Ag Connection/USAgNet) A Bloomfield, Mich., biodiesel fuel dealer pleaded guilty today to filing a false income tax return, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan. According to plea documents, Chandra
(Internal Revenue Service/Federal Register) … The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The IRS is
by Erin Voegele (Etanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA posted a notice to its websites Sept. 4 announcing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Internal Revenue Service under which the agencies have agreed to share information in an effort to identify and respond to fraud related to renewable fuels. Under
by Clayton Coleman and Emma Dietz (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) A recent analysis published in Nature Energy found that continuing current fossil fuel subsidies would make it profitable to extract half of all domestic oil reserves. This could increase U.S. oil production by 17 billion barrels over the next few decades and emit
by Mark Riedy and Eddie Wang (Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP/Biofuels Digest) The recently-established Opportunity Zone Program offers developers, including start-up technology companies attempting to develop and commercialize new technologies in the energy, chemical, and infrastructure industries, an exciting, new opportunity to attract private placement investment funds into company-level business operations and
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Under new size specifications for the 45Q tax credit, almost all ethanol plants are eligible, said Jamey Cline, in business development for Christianson PLLP. With revenues trending downward since 2018 and falling below operating expenses, diversification of revenue streams is crucial, he added. Cline was
(Hunton Andrews Kurth) The Department of Treasury (“Treasury”) and Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) have released Notice 2019-32 (the “Notice”) seeking comment on key issues to be interpreted in the Section 45Q carbon oxide sequestration tax credit. Congress significantly enhanced the Section 45Q tax credit in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018
(U.S. Department of Justice) Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and United States Attorney William M. McSwain for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal jury in Reading, Pennsylvania, convicted David M. Dunham Jr. of the following
(U.S. Department of Justice) Following a 14-day jury trial in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Ben T. Wootton, of Enola, Pennsylvania, and Race A. Miner, of Buena Vista, Colorado, were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to make false statements to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), six counts of making false statements to
(U.S. Department of Justice) A Colorado resident pleaded guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado to conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. Matthew
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) The Trump administration is developing guidance to help companies qualify for a built-out tax credit for carbon capture, utilization and storage — a welcome addition for industry officials and lawmakers who have complained the IRS is moving too slowly to implement the increased credit,
by Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Strategy cheered by economists who served last six presidents; Endorsement could give boost to carbon tax-and-dividend plan — An all-star lineup of economists, from Alan Greenspan to Paul Volcker, is endorsing a plan to combat climate change by slapping a tax on greenhouse gas emissions and then distributing the
by Jeff Hove (Biodiesel Magazine) Jeff Hove, vice president of NATSO’s Alternative Fuels Council, provides perspective on current political, regulatory and market events relating to biodiesel blending, and how a myriad of potential changes will affect downstream operators. — … But renewable identification number (RIN) value volatility—driven by political rumor, speculation and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A wide array of federal incentives supports the development and deployment of alternatives to conventional fuels and engines in transportation. These incentives include tax deductions and credits for vehicle purchases and the installation of refueling systems, federal grants for conversion of older vehicles to newer technologies,
(U.S. Department of Justice) A Harrisburg, Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to one count of conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood of the Justice
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) The Alternative Fuels Council, a subsidiary of NATSO Inc., a national association representing the travel plaza and truckstop industry, has launched a new service designed to help fuel retailers that blend and sell renewable fuels to more efficiently participate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and
(U.S. Department of Justice) A federal grand jury for the District of Colorado has returned an indictment, which was unsealed today, charging two Colorado business owners with conspiring to defraud the United States and to commit money laundering, money laundering and filing false claims, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard
(Department of Justice) Andre Bernard, of Mount Kisco, New York, pleaded guilty today for his participation in a multi-state scheme to defraud biodiesel buyers and U.S. taxpayers by fraudulently selling biodiesel credits and fraudulently claiming tax credits, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood of the Justice Department’s Environment
(U.S. Department of Justice) Thomas Davanzo, of Estero, Florida, and Robert Fedyna, of Naples, Florida, pleaded guilty today for their participation in a multi-state scheme to defraud biodiesel buyers and U.S. taxpayers by fraudulently selling biodiesel credits and fraudulently claiming tax credits, announced Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden of
by Nate Carlisle and Brian Maffly (The Salt Lake Tribune) Federal agents raided offices of Washakie and Kingstons amid claims the company hasn’t actually manufactured its own biofuels. — The storage tanks Washakie Renewable Energy was planning to build while Amanda Brown worked there weren’t for biofuel Washakie actually made,
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Coon (D-DE) and Al Franken have introduced a new bill, S. 2271 the Renewable Chemicals Act of 2015. If passed, the legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide credits for the production of renewable chemicals and investments
(Avalara) … The fuel industry is subject to one of the most complex tax structures in the U.S. and there’s little chance of that changing in the foreseeable future. Federal excise taxes are relatively straightforward. But on top of federal taxes, states, counties and local jurisidications levy their own set of
by Megan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the IRS has published a notice that informs claimants about the federal income tax treatment of credits under § 6426(c) and (d) of the Internal Revenue Code that are paid in cash under the one-time claim submission process of section 160(e) of the
by Mark Muro and Reed Hundt (The Brookings Institution) … While the federal government has not been able to lead on the design of modern clean energy and infrastructure finance entities, it now has the opportunity, with its billions of underutilized dollars already allocated for the kind of market-making activities being
(Department of Justice) Chad Ducey, 39, of Fishers, Indiana, pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in a multi-state scheme to defraud biodiesel buyers and U.S. taxpayers by fraudulently selling biodiesel incentives. His two brothers, Chris Ducey, 48, of North Webster, Indiana, and Craig Ducey, 44, of Fishers, pleaded guilty last
by Kevin Drawbaugh (Reuters) Dozens of temporary tax breaks, including big ones for business research, wind power and foreign profits, were renewed by the U.S. Senate late on Tuesday, putting to rest worries that further delays in dealing with the so-called tax extenders might foul up the approaching tax-filing season.
by Hugh R. Morley (The Record/NorthJersey.com) … A Ridgewood businesswoman has pleaded guilty to a charge that she took part in a $100 million biofuel fraud as a top executive of two Bergen County alternative-energy companies that authorities say carried out the scam. Evelyn Katirina Pattison, who is also known
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Feb. 26, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman David Camp, R-Mich., released draft legislation to reform federal tax code. The draft, titled the “Tax Reform Act of 2014,” would alter, and in some cases repeal, tax incentives for biofuels and bioenergy. Documentation released
(4-Traders/National Biodiesel Board) National Biodiesel Board : Senators Introduce Bill to Reinstate Biodiesel Tax Incentive — Tax Cut Expired Dec. 31 for Third Time in Five Years The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) called on Congress to move swiftly on tax legislation after Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) …Biodiesel emerged on the U.S. alternative fuels radar in the early 1990s, and for the next decade it slowly gained recognition as a real-world, here-and-now replacement for diesel fuel before its first ASTM specification, D6751, was published in 2001-‘02. Since then, the tale of U.S.
(US Senate Finance Committee) This document is the fourth in a series of papers compiling tax reform options that Finance Committee members may wish to consider as they work towards reforming our nation’s tax system. This compilation is a joint product of the majority and minority staffs of the Finance Committee
by Nick Juliano (MidWest Energy News) A proposal to allow renewable energy developers to take advantage of a tax structure that has long been popular among fossil fuel companies is gaining traction among lawmakers tasked with overhauling the tax code. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), who is leading a working group
(Internal Revenue Service) The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-240) retroactively extends certain fuel tax credits that expired on Dec. 31, 2011. The retroactively extended fuel tax credits are the biodiesel mixture credit, biodiesel credit, alternative fuel credit, and the alternative fuel mixture credit. These credits are
(Algae Industry Magazine) The U.S. Departments of Energy and the Treasury have announced the availability of $150 million in Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits for clean energy and energy efficiency manufacturing projects across the United States. The Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit was established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment
by Robert E. Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) A bill to establish a US Treasury funding mechanism that would finance “clean energy” projects has been introduced as part of a renewable electrical energy bill (HR 6275) in the US House of Representatives. The Clean Energy Bond is included in a very
by Diane Wagner (Rome News Tribune) The Floyd County Commission is expected to decide at its May 8 meeting if it will allow local farmers to make a limited amount of ethanol onsite, for use as fuel for their equipment. No opposition surfaced during the hearing that was required by law
(SustainableBusiness.com) Over the past two years, The Climate Bonds Initiative has been creating a new class of bonds that can finance a rapid transition globally to a low-carbon economy. …Most of the bonds will be bought by institutional investors, but there are plans to make them available to retail investors too. The Climate
by Steven Mufson and Carol D. Leonnig (The Washington Post) …The Obama administration’s vaunted initiative to catalyze the U.S. clean-energy industry — under attack for betting half a billion dollars on the solar-panel manufacturer Solyndra, which closed last month — has become a case study of what can go wrong when a
by Mary Kissel (Orange County Register) …Mr. Pope is the chief executive officer of Smithfield Foods Inc., the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer by volume. He doesn’t mince words when it comes to rapidly rising food prices. The 56-year-old accountant by training has been in the business for
by Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) …The paper industry — which in 2009 raked in billions of dollars in federal subsidiesoriginally intended to promote alternative highway fuels — is now using a different biofuel tax credit to cut its tax bills for 2010 and beyond by hundreds of millions of dollars
This remains here for historical purposes. See updated and expanded version: https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/advanced-biofuels-usa-publishes-updated-whats-the-difference-between-biodiesel-and-renewable-green-diesel/ editor’s note: We have observed confusion in conversations about biodiesel and renewable diesel. Just as many people ask for a “Kleenex” when they have a cold, many people say “biodiesel” for any kind of diesel derived in part
by Jeffrey Leonard (Washington Monthly) Why ending all government subsidies for fuel production will lead to a cleaner energy future—and why Obama has a rare chance to make it happen. …If President Obama wants to set us on a path to a sustainable energy future—and a green one, too—he should propose a
by Nick Carey and Deepa Seetharaman (Reuters) The American auto industry will change more in the next dozen years than it has during the past 50, said the U.S. Treasury official charged with overseeing the government’s investment in the auto industry. In 12 years, vehicles will be more fuel efficient
RFA to Treasury: Success of SAF Tax Credit Depends on Fair, Science-Based Lifecycle Analysis
(Renewable Fuels Association) The use of science-based, consistent and transparent lifecycle analysis methods will be crucially important in implementing the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Renewable Fuels Association said in comments submitted Friday to the Department of Treasury. RFA’s comments were in response to