by Joel Stone (LEC Partners/Biofuels Digest) Soil Carbon Capture Sequestration (SCCS), low carbon intensity (low CI) scores and the Small Water Cycle are connected through various ecological and hydrological processes that occur within terrestrial ecosystems. SCCS refers to the process of
45Z
Back TO HOMEThe Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to the State of Renewable Natural Gas and Biogas
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In this presentation, we explored the challenges faced by global RNG and biogas producers in shifting energy towards low carbon alternatives — new processes, advances in AD yields, new feedstocks, the role of low carbon standards,the
February 27, 2024 Read Full Article
USDA Investing $25 Million in ACE-led Project to Incentivize, Model, and Monetize Climate-Smart Ag Practices in a 10-State Region
(American Coalition for Ethanol) The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) recently approved a $25 million investment in the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE)-led Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) expansion that builds on the successful South
February 27, 2024 Read Full Article
ACE Announces Project to Unlock Ethanol’s Access to New Markets and Tax Credits
(American Coalition for Ethanol) USDA Investing $25 Million in ACE-led Project to Incentivize, Model, and Monetize Climate-Smart Ag Practices in a 10-State Region -- The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) recently approved a $25 million investment
February 17, 2024 Read Full Article
Biofuels M&A: 2023 Review & Outlook: A Thriving Industry, but Few M&A Deals
by Bruce Comer, Frank Kim, Zak Putlak, and John Panvica (Ocean Park/Biofuels Digest) The US biofuels sector in 2023 registered the flourishing of new technologies and billions in new investments – and an unprecedented low level of M&A activity: only two
February 13, 2024 Read Full Article
Hydrogen Rising: IRS Released Proposed Regulation to Section 45V of Internal Revenue Code Public Comments DEADLINE February 26, 2024 Public Hearing March 25, 2024
by John R. Kirkwood, Virginia M. Speck, Joshua L. Andrews, Aaron L. Szabo, Jason Deppen, Bryan Michael Allen (Biofuels Digest) In connection with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), on December 22, 2023, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released a Proposed Regulation related
January 31, 2024 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Outlines 2024 Federal Policy Priorities
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, published its 2024 federal policy priorities today. Organized into three categories, the agenda offers a roadmap toward a more vibrant, sustainable future characterized by lower fuel costs, lower greenhouse gas (GHG)
January 24, 2024 Read Full Article
As 40B GREET Deadline Looms, RFA Offers Recommendations for SAF Emissions Modeling
(Renewable Fuels Association) In a letter submitted to the Biden administration today, the Renewable Fuels Association laid out recommendations for ensuring that the best available science and data are used in determining eligibility for the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit established in
January 16, 2024 Read Full Article
RFA Welcomes Recognition of GREET Model in SAF Tax Credit Guidance
(Renewable Fuels Association) The U.S. Treasury Department today released guidance regarding the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit. The guidance clarifies that a soon-to-be-updated version of the Department of Energy’s GREET model will be among the methodologies used
December 15, 2023 Read Full Article
Fire! Open Letter to US Treasury, Energy Secretaries on Addressing the Threat of Forest Fire via the Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Which brings us to the forest, because once we have stopped by the commodity exchanges where oilseeds, grains, and waste fats and oils are priced and traded, we discover right away that commodity prices are
December 11, 2023 Read Full Article
Continuum Ag Launches the Billion Bushel Challenge
(Continuum Ag) Empowering Visibility, Control and Rewards with Low Carbon Grain Needed for BioFuel Production -- With an estimated 6 Billion Bushels being used for Ethanol production next year, Continuum Ag has set their sights on helping the industry SCORE (Carbon Intensity Score) over
November 29, 2023 Read Full Article
Biofuels, Renewable Energy Policies on Deck for Delegates
by Timothy Eggert (FarmWeek) Illinois Farm Bureau’s policy book may feature expanded positions on biofuels and renewable energy, after the Resolutions Committee on Nov. 8 advanced a set of proposals for final consideration at Annual Meeting. Topping the list of submittals approved by
November 14, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to the Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IRA, everyone has heard about it — what does it mean? The IRA has been billed as the largest clean energy infrastructure investment in United States history. It allotted $370B to the development and promotion of
November 09, 2023 Read Full Article
Pivoting Ethanol Industry to Stay Relevant
by Tom C. Doran (AgriNews) ... Illinois Corn recently hosted a series of meetings and a webinar that addressed “the crossroads of carbon and corn.” The theme focused on the importance of reducing the carbon footprint that would create new market opportunities
October 25, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Hydrogen & Derivatives
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week on the Digest webinar stage, we looked at The Next Chapter for Hydrogen and Derivative; my guests were Muhammed Islam, Clinton Johnson and Blane Vincent, all vice-presidents at S&B. It was, I believe, the
October 17, 2023 Read Full Article
The Policy Push behind Sustainable Aviation Fuel
By Timothy Eggert (FarmWeek Now) ... Attention and advocacy around sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), what (Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom) Vilsack frames as “the next generation” of liquid biofuels, has accelerated since 2016, with policymakers and industry stakeholders presenting it as
October 10, 2023 Read Full Article
Renewable Propane: Regulatory & Refiner Perspectives
(Stillwater Associates) On August 22, 2023 Stillwater President Megan Boutwell presented about regulatory & refiner perspectives at the Renewable Propane Summit hosted by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). Agenda 1. Regulatory environment: Incentivizing carbon reduction a. CO2 reduction regulations for transport b. A couple
September 22, 2023 Read Full Article
CO2 Pipelines: The New Populist Republican Target
by Mike Soraghan (E&E News Energywire) Far-right leaders are often fans of pipelines crossing the country, but when it comes to ones carrying carbon dioxide — forget it. Big pipeline and carbon sequestration projects in the Midwest, which would involve thousands of
September 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Can Push for Carbon Capture Pipelines Also Mean Billions for Conservation-Minded Farming?
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) Builders of carbon capture pipelines stand to reap billions in tax credits. Will farmers also get a share?; Advocates say incentives to adopt less carbon-intensive farming practices also could be part of the equation; Whether
September 21, 2023 Read Full Article
What Is a Carbon Intensity Score?
by Margy Eckelkamp (AgWeb)A provision in the Inflation Reduction Act, Section 45Z, provides biofuel producers (ethanol, biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel) with a tax credit incentive to produce low-emission fuels. Here are the FAQs for farmers who are exploring carbon’s next chapter
August 29, 2023 Read Full Article
MN Bio-Fuels Commends State Leadership for Supporting Agriculture's Role in Reducing Emissions in the Aviation Industry
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels) commends Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen for his leadership advocating for the participation of agriculture and biofuel producers in decarbonizing the aviation sector in a recent letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
August 28, 2023 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Releases New Economic And Job Benefits Data On IRA’s One-Year Anniversary
(Growth Energy) Exclusive new research illustrates tremendous potential of 45Z tax credit, importance of LCA modeling -- Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, marked the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) by releasing new data on the economic,
August 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Protecting the Future of Low-Carbon Aviation
by Emily Skor (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Launched in 2021, the Biden administration’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge aims to produce enough low-carbon jet fuel to slash aviation emissions in half by 2050. Thanks to new incentives created by the Inflation Reduction Act,
August 08, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to the State of RNG and Biogas
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Here’s the State of RNG and Biogas presentation from the ABLC CONNECT series episode. Available supply, conventional feedstocks, prices, current and expected demand,key players — a comprehensive but compact look at the industry in this year of
August 08, 2023 Read Full Article
Carbon Intensity Is Going to Be A Team Sport
by Margy Eckelkamp (AgWeb) “This is an immense opportunity. For the first time, 45Z provides farmers and biofuel manufacturers a scoreboard with a transparent points system and a business model that rewards scoring points," says Mitchell Hora. The Inflation Reduction Act has
July 28, 2023 Read Full Article
Taking a New Crack at the Cellulosic Code: Blue Biofuels Is Trying to Grow
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Blue Biofuels is trying to grow in multiple areas. From its home state of Florida, the aspirant advanced biofuel production company is trying to expand its know-how and commercial readiness with a novel mechano-chemical cellulosic
July 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Tax Credits Jump Start Midwest Carbon Capture Projects — but the Cost Will Be in the Billions
by Erin Jordan (The Gazette) and Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco (Harvest Public Media) (NPR)... Carbon tax credits are a “challenge to industry that says ‘if you can do this thing that makes sense for the climate, the U.S. government will pay you potentially tens,
July 11, 2023 Read Full Article
Growth Energy to IRS: Ethanol Ready for SAF Spotlight
(Growth Energy) In a letter submitted today, Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, urged the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to include the U.S. ethanol industry in its effort to reach the Biden administration’s goals for the expanded use of sustainable
July 09, 2023 Read Full Article
Comparative Economics of Carbon Sequestration for Iowa Ethanol Plants
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Decision Innovation Solutions) Iowa currently has 42 ethanol plants with listed annual capacity of 4.669 billion gallons per year. Iowa’s ethanol plants produced an estimated 4.5 billion gallons of ethanol in 2022. There are several wet mill
June 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Tax Incentives 2023: Optimizing Post-IRA Opportunities --- October 4-5, 2023 --- Houston, TX
Get Up to Speed on Optimizing the Use of Tax Incentives From the Most Conequential Clean Energy Finance Legislation in U.S. History -- The enactment of the IRA radically expands the range of projects able to seek tax equity, traditionally fundamental
June 16, 2023 Read Full Article
FEW General Session Panelists Discuss the Future of Ethanol; Awards Presented
by Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Representatives of the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the American Coalition for Ethanol on June 13 discussed the future of the U.S. ethanol industry during a general session panel at the 39th annual International Fuel
June 14, 2023 Read Full Article
Carbon’s Next Chapter on the Farm
by Margy Eckelkamp (AgWeb) A yet-to-be-realized provision in the Inflation Reduction Act could be the key for farmers to engage in measuring the carbon intensity (CI) of their grain. The Section 45Z tax credit provides biofuel producers (ethanol, biodiesel and sustainable
May 18, 2023 Read Full Article
Carbon’s Next Chapter on the Farm
by Margy Eckelkamp (Farm Journal AgWeb) ... The Section 45Z tax credit provides biofuel producers (ethanol, biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel) with an incentive to produce low-emission fuels. What makes this different than carbon offset programs is it could provide a
May 11, 2023 Read Full Article
Is Green Methanol an Alternative to CO2 Pipelines?
by Erin Jordan (The Gazette) Several Iowa farmers are optimistic CapCO2 could ‘solve the pipeline issue’ -- Some renewable fuels advocates say carbon dioxide pipelines are the only way to save Iowa’s ethanol industry, but Jeff Reints doesn’t buy it. Especially not
March 28, 2023 Read Full Article
A Team Built for Near-Site CCS
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With carbon capture and sequestration taking ethanol towards net-zero, a rising CCS developer is focused on working with producers that are uniquely positioned to sequester near their plant. Vault 44.01 is a company named for
March 20, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Green Plains
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Plains is rapidly transforming into the biorefinery platform of the future, harnessing a potential based on the company’s extensive resources, technology and people. The transformation includes deploying patented, world-class mechanical and process technology at
March 10, 2023 Read Full Article
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
February 21, 2023 Read Full Article
Ethanol Executive: Carbon Capture Might Be ‘Life or Death’ for Producers
by Jared Strong (Iowa Capital Dispatch) An increasing demand for low-carbon fuels will imperil ethanol producers unless there is widespread adoption of equipment to capture emissions from ethanol plants, the executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association said Tuesday. “I honestly
February 08, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to the IRA’s Impact on Low Carbon Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As you wait for the clock countdown to 2023 this week, check out this slide guide from Mike McCurdy, Managing Director of Fuels & Power at ICF on how low carbon fuels are being driven
December 30, 2022 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blog: Biofuels Groups Ask IRS to Get Carbon Scoring Right in Implementing Clean Fuel Tax Credit
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
December 07, 2022 Read Full Article
RFA Provides Input on IRA’s Clean Fuel Production and CCUS Credits, Biofuels Infrastructure Grants
(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
December 06, 2022 Read Full Article
Proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2023, 2024, and 2025 Public Comments Due February 10, 2023
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) On December 1, 2022, EPA announces a proposed rule to establish required Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes and percentage standards for 2023, 2024, and 2025, as well as to propose a series of important modifications to strengthen