(Algae Biomass Organization) The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) submitted comments to the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Energy yesterday calling on Congress to ensure that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) includes timely approval for advanced biofuel pathways as
Legislation-Federal
Back TO HOMENot Broken, Don’t Fix It: Why Congress Should Refrain from RFS Reform
by James C. Greenwood (The Hill/Biotechnology Industry Organization) The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) failure to issue a final 2014 rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and other missteps are being misinterpreted or misconstrued as a sign that the program is
December 10, 2014 Read Full Article
Congress Should Not Fix What Isn’t Broken
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization) The underlying legal constructs of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) remain in working order, despite the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) failure to issue a final 2014 rule and its other regulatory missteps. Over the
December 09, 2014 Read Full Article
Briefing: Cellulosic Ethanol: A Technology Update
by Carole Abourached* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) recently held a briefing on the technologies involved in commercial cellulosic ethanol production. Cellulosic ethanol is produced from agricultural residues such as corn stover and wheat straw
December 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Impasse over RFS Underscores Need for Biofuel Value Chain and Partner Unity
(25 x '25) Federal regulators have stumbled again in following the congressionally approved roadmap for expanding and accelerating biofuel development and use, announcing Friday they will not finalize 2014 blending requirements under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) until sometime next
November 26, 2014 Read Full Article
Ethanol Proponents Anticipating a Fight
by Nicholas Bergin (Lincoln Journal Star) The biofuels industry is gearing up for a fight, a national industry spokesman said Monday. Doug Durante, executive director of Bethesda, Maryland-based Clean Fuels Development Coalition, predicted lawsuits over the Environmental Protection Agency’s
November 25, 2014 Read Full Article
Carbon Fee Bill Would Benefit Algae Industry
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. Senate includes a provision that would encourage carbon utilization technology. The Algae Biomass Organization has spoken out to applaud the bill, which calls for greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations that
November 21, 2014 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Production, Activity Impressive Despite Uncertainty
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Policy uncertainty has adversely impacted the U.S. biodiesel industry, but media reports would have you believe the sector is teetering on collapse. The facts show otherwise. There have been numerous reports in the past several months
November 21, 2014 Read Full Article
House Passes Bill that Would Impact EPA Rulemaking
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On Nov. 19, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that aims to prohibit the U.S. EPA from proposing regulations based on science that is not transparent or not reproducible. The bill, titled “The
November 21, 2014 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels’ Beltway Crusader
by Tim Portz (Biomass Magazine) Mike McAdams discusses work on Capitol Hill, founding of the Advanced Biofuels Association and the importance of engaging in the ongoing public debate about renewable fuels. “We’re the people you hire to protect you from the
November 13, 2014 Read Full Article
Possible Actions on Renewable Energy & Fuels in the 114th Congress
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... In early 2014, (Senator James M.) Inhofe (R-OK) expressed interest in repealing the RFS, and instead focus on expansion of domestic oil and gas drilling. Inhofe wrote that the RFS should be repealed, “allow[ing] ethanol
November 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Will Ethanol Ride the GOP Wave?
by Daniel Looker (Agriculture.com) ... Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, another ethanol group, agrees that “biofuels policy is bipartisan and always has been.” But he also looks for more pressure on ethanol in the Senate – not from new
November 06, 2014 Read Full Article
History of U.S. Biofuel Mandate Provides Opening for Legal Challenge
by Ayesha Rascoe (Reuters) Probable legal challenges to proposed cuts in the 2014 U.S. biofuel mandate could focus on a two-word phrase dropped from the U.S. law establishing the renewable fuel program back in 2005: distribution capacity. Biofuel producers have argued
November 05, 2014 Read Full Article
Conservative Swing! Udall, Hagan Fall as US Republicans Take Control of the US Senate
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The most prominent casualties of the night, in terms of the Advanced Bioeconomy, were Democrats Mark Udall of Colorado and Kay Hagen of North Carolina, whose crucial support in 2012 saved the Navy’s biofuels
November 05, 2014 Read Full Article
History of U.S. Biofuel Mandate Provides Opening for Legal Challenge
by Ayesha Rascoe (Reuters Africa) Probable legal challenges to proposed cuts in the 2014 U.S. biofuel mandate could focus on a two-word phrase dropped from the U.S. law establishing the renewable fuel program back in 2005: distribution capacity. Biofuel producers have
October 31, 2014 Read Full Article
Sen. Whitehouse to Push Carbon Price Bill
by Laura Barron-Lopez (The Hill) Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) is preparing legislation that will put a price on carbon and he plans to introduce it next month. Whitehouse announced the legislation during a conference at New York University on
October 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Fuel Standard Good for US’s Economic Engine
by Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) (The Hill) Imagine a future where America controls its own energy destiny — a future in which we stop spending $1 billion per day on foreign oil and start investing those funds to rebuild our
October 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Reaching out in D.C.
by Gene Lucht (Iowa Farmer Today) .... But, when the Iowans visited Washington recently a few of them also spoke with members of Congress and congressional staffers from non-ag regions in an effort to educate them about agriculture and about
August 08, 2014 Read Full Article
E15 Coming to Missouri
(nacsonline.com) New, non-mandatory rules that go into effect June 1 will allow Missouri gasoline retailers to sell E15, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. With the change, Missouri joins a dozen other states that offer E15. However, not everyone is as pleased with the change. AAA
August 06, 2014 Read Full Article
Here We Go Again: Huelskamp Draws Ire of Ag Groups because of Ethanol
by Jeff Myrick (HutchNews.com) By now, we’re used to it. U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler/Hutchinson, has drawn criticism from Kansans because of his actions in Washington, D.C. And again it involves agriculture, the state’s leading industry and something Huelskamp, a
August 05, 2014 Read Full Article
Kansas GOP Set to Split over Renewable Fuel Standard in Bruising Primary Fight
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Kansas, one of the more interesting political battles of the US 2014 election season will take place on Tuesday August 4, when Republican (and Tea Party-fave) congressman Tim Huelskamp — who has called for
August 04, 2014 Read Full Article
The Boss From Hell? EPA, Congress and Advanced Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Here are 5 Tell-Tale Signs that you have the Boss from Hell. And when it comes to the US federal government and advanced biofuels, all five are kinda pointin’ right at ol’ Uncle Sam. Congress passed
August 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Legislation Would Require Country-of-Origin Labeling for Fuels
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, has introduced legislation that would require fuel suppliers to disclose country-of-origin information for transportation fuels. The bill, titled the “Country of Origin Labeling for Fuels Act,” was introduced July 16
July 22, 2014 Read Full Article
Reassessment of Inter-related Biofuel, GHG and FFV Policies Needed
(25 x '25) Reports out of Washington this week that the Obama administration’s lengthy delay in releasing a final 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) biofuel blending rule due to a White House desire to re-evaluate the blending requirements in context
July 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Oil Lobby Turns Focus to EPA in Ethanol Fight
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) The American Petroleum Institute (API) is focusing on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its fight to reduce the ethanol blending mandate, conceding that there’s little short-term hope in congressional action. Bob Greco, API’s director of downstream
July 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Vietnam Veteran Praises Braley in New Television Ad Broadcast Statewide
(VoteVets.org) A Vietnam Veteran from Des Moines is featured in a new television ad campaign, today, praising Congressman Bruce Braley’s work to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard. The ad, sponsored by the veterans organization VoteVets.org, will air in the coming
July 17, 2014 Read Full Article
In New Twist, RFS Could Boost Electric Vehicles
by Amanda Peterka (E&E Publishing/Greenwire) The federal policy used to build up the nation's ethanol and advanced biofuel capacity could soon be harnessed to spur the development of electric vehicle infrastructure. In a final rule issued last week, U.S. EPA said it
July 09, 2014 Read Full Article
Chicken Council Targets Renewable Fuel Standard
(Capital Press) As the federal government is set to lower the Renewable Fuels Standard for this year, the National Chicken Council asserts that diverting the corn supply to ethanol has resulted in more than $44 billion in higher feed costs to
July 09, 2014 Read Full Article
The Political Problem behind Our Crumbling Highways
by Paul Waldman (The Washington Post) ... The Congressional Budget Office says that starting next year, the fund won’t have enough money to meet its obligations, and keep in mind that means just the projects that are already in progress. New projects would
July 07, 2014 Read Full Article
Lankford Introduces Bill to Repeal RFS Ethanol Mandates
(Representative James Lankford (R-Okla.)) Provides common-sense solution for American-made energy Representative James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chairman of the House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health Care and Entitlements, today introduced H.R. 4849, the Phantom Fuels Elimination Act. The legislation would repeal
June 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Summer Means No E15
by Cindy Zimmerman (Domestic Fuel) ...“The Environmental Protection Agency’s outdated interpretation of Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) regulations is preventing the sale of E15 in most of the country during the busy summer driving season, adding billions to travelers’ fuel costs,”
June 09, 2014 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Producers, Farmers Take to The Hill
by John Davis (domesticfuel.com) Biodiesel producers and farmers who raise the feedstocks for the biodiesel industry took to Capitol Hill this week, joining a group of U.S. Senate Democrats in their calls to end policy uncertainty that is hurting their industry. “The uncertainty
June 02, 2014 Read Full Article
US Senate Completes Mark-Up on Defense Budget, Supports Continuation of Advanced Biofuels Program
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act, following mark-up, is reported to not include any attempts to undermine the Defense Production Act’s Advanced Drop-In Biofuels Production Project, which protects the military’s ability
May 27, 2014 Read Full Article
House Committee Passes Anti-Biofuel Amendments in Markup Session
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On May 7, the House Armed Service Committee held a markup session on H.R. 4435, the fiscal year 2015 national defense authorization bill. During that markup session, committee members voted in favor of three amendments that
May 22, 2014 Read Full Article
Draft Appropriations Bill Aims to Cut Funding for BCAP, REAP
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The House Appropriations Committee has released its fiscal year 2015 agricultural appropriations bill, which aims to reduce funding levels for several Farm Bill Energy Title programs. A markup session on the legislation was held May
May 22, 2014 Read Full Article
Will Obama Help George W. Bush Achieve His 10-Year Goal for Gasoline Consumption?
by Maxx Chatsko (The Motley Fool) ... President Bush believed America could reduce gasoline consumption from 142 billion gallons in 2007 to just 114 billion gallons in 2017. The biggest reduction would come from a projected annual production of 35 billion gallons
May 12, 2014 Read Full Article
New TV Ad Exposes Saudi Oil Money Bankrolling RFS Smear Campaign
(Americans United for Change/Biodiesel Magazine) Pro-renewable fuel standard, pro-American jobs groups Americans United for Change and VoteVets.org held a press call April 30 to reveal damaging IRS documents showing that Saudi oil money is clearly helping finance the millions of dollars
May 07, 2014 Read Full Article
Ag Subcommittee Hears Pros and Cons of RFS
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) The food versus fuel debate arose once again in front of Congress. At last week’s U.S. House Ag Subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., opponents and proponents of the Renewable Fuels Standard presented their arguments on the RFS
May 06, 2014 Read Full Article
Following the Money: Energy Dollars Hard at Work on Capitol Hill
by Bill Chameides (Duke University) Is the alternative energy industry losing the influence-peddling war to fossil fuels? Perhaps you caught the editorial in Sunday’s New York Timestaking “the Koch Brothers and their conservative allies” to task for “spending heavily to fight incentives for renewable
May 05, 2014 Read Full Article
Clean Energy Victory Bond Push In Congress Would Generate $150 Billion In Financing, 1 Million Jobs
(PR NewsWire) Updating WWII "War Bond" Model to Spark Job Creation, Energy Security, Clean Energy, and Increased Energy Efficiency Clean energy boosters on Capitol Hill are borrowing a page from World War II "war bonds" by introducing today a new bill
April 16, 2014 Read Full Article
Vilsack Talks about USDA Efforts to Further Advanced Biofuels
by Holly Jessen (Biomass Magazine) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack testified about the farm bill and the rural economy, during a U.S. House of Representatives Committee hearing. As part of that, he talked about the USDA’s work to create markets
April 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Court Hears Oral Arguments in Challenge to 2013 RFS Standard
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On April 7, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia heard oral arguments in a lawsuit challenging the U.S. EPA’s final rule for 2013 renewable fuel standard (RFS). The petitioners are asking
April 14, 2014 Read Full Article
ND Sen. Heidi Heitkamp Finds Identity as a Top Democratic Critic of Obama's Energy Policy
by Henry C. Jackson (Associated Press/The Republic) ... Heitkamp came directly to the Senate from the energy industry, where she worked for 12 years, including as a director of Dakota Gasification Company, a coal and natural gas company. Before that, as
April 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Value of Biofuels Goes Beyond Those With Direct Investment
(25 x '25) Feedstock, Equipment, Conservation, Farm and Energy Groups Tell EPA Not to Compromise Full Potential of Biofuels Concerns over the future of biofuels in a future national energy strategy were aired before some pretty influential parties this week, as
April 11, 2014 Read Full Article
McCarthy Addresses RFS, Biogenic Emissions during Hearing
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA’s policies with regard to bioenergy were among the topics discussed during a recent EPA budget hearing held by the House Committee on Appropriations. During the event, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy addressed
April 09, 2014 Read Full Article
No Logic in Blaming Ethanol for High Gas Prices
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/US News and World Report) Ethanol is less expensive than gas, and consumers will benefit more if it's used. Logic is nowhere to be seen in petroleum analyst Gregg Laskoski’s call to reduce or revise the
April 04, 2014 Read Full Article
Hemp-to-Biofuels Research Gets Green Light
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) A crop that has had an undeserved stigma attached to it could now become a source for biodiesel and ethanol. The recently passed and signed Farm Bill contains a provision that would allow hemp to be grown
April 04, 2014 Read Full Article
New Iowa TV Ad Praises both Braley and Branstad
by Jennifer Jacobs (Des Moines Register) As new negative advertising hits Iowa today skewering Democrat Bruce Braley for insulting farmers, a positive ad thanking the U.S. Senate candidate also goes up today. The pro-veterans political organization VoteVets.org is spending $245,000 on
April 02, 2014 Read Full Article
Reps Ask EPA about Renewable Fuel Challenges
by Timothy Cama (The Hill E2Wire) Four members of the House who want the renewable fuel standard (RFS) to be lowered wrote to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ask what problems the agency has faced in writing regulations for
April 02, 2014 Read Full Article
US Senate Finance Committee Advances Four Key Biofuels Tax Provisions
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Ron Wyden, released his “Chairman’s Mark” of the “Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency Act of 2014″ (EXPIRE Act). The Chairman’s Mark extends all expired advanced biofuels tax provisions 2 years
April 02, 2014 Read Full Article
The Littlest Lobbyist for Ethanol
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Wearing a tie and sporting a “Don’t Mess with the RFS” button, 10-year-old Ethan Fagen was the youngest of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Biofuels Beltway marchers this week on Capitol Hill. Ethan came along with
March 28, 2014 Read Full Article
Biofuel Trade Organizations Ask for Extension of Advanced Biofuel Tax Incentives
(PR NewsWire) A group of biofuel trade organizations today sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) encouraging extension of critical advanced biofuel tax incentives -- the Second Generation Biofuel Producer
March 24, 2014 Read Full Article
A Tax Boost for Advanced Biofuels
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest) ... Fortunately, the Administration’s budget for 2014 contains a proposal for a nearly 10-year extension of the advanced biofuel tax credit, which was first adopted by Congress in 2007. By contrast, the budget proposal
March 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Sen. Collins Introduces Clean Cookstoves Bill That Would Improve Environment, Public Health
(Senator Susan Collins) U.S. Senator Susan Collins today introduced the "Clean Cookstoves Support Act," a bill that would reduce carbon pollution and improve public health by supporting a global market for clean and efficient cookstoves. "Replacing unsafe cookstoves with modern alternatives
March 11, 2014 Read Full Article
BETO Announces Launch of the Bioenergy KDF Legislative Library
(US Department of Energy) The Bioenergy Technologies Office is pleased to announce the release of a new Bioenergy Knowledge Discovery Framework (Bioenergy KDF) resource: the Legislative Library. Using this database, site visitors can track federal legislation relevant to the production and
March 05, 2014 Read Full Article
U.S. Transportation: Driving Down the Same Old (Bumpy) Road or Paving a New Way Forward?
by Bill Chameides (Duke University) While the Highway Trust Fund did a fine job of funding infrastructure maintenance for decades, it now is sorely lacking. The taxes collected are nowhere near enough to fund what is needed. Last year the federal
March 05, 2014 Read Full Article
Budget Proposal Extends Biofuel Tax Credit, Cuts Oil Subsidies
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget proposal released March 4, calls for extending a tax credit for cellulosic biofuels and puts forward the idea of cutting billions in fossil fuel subsidies. ... The tax credit for cellulosic biofuels
March 05, 2014 Read Full Article
Obama Signs Farm Bill, Announces Made in Rural America Initiative
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) ... Regarding the new Made in Rural American initiative, Obama said the program will help more rural business expand, and hire, and sell more products that are made in the U.S.A. to the rest of the
March 04, 2014 Read Full Article
CEO Todd Becker Has Faith in the Future of Ethanol Producer Green Plains
by John Lppert and Mario Parker (The Washington Post/Bloomberg) ... Political challenges are piling up, too. Big Oil lists minimum ethanol requirements as its top policy concern for 2014 and wants to eliminate them. Government officials are already backtracking. A week
March 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Vilsack Renews Endorsement of Ethanol in Phoenix
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack left no one in doubt regarding his commitment to the ethanol industry in Phoenix on Thursday, Feb. 27. The ethanol producers, farmers and industry representatives at Growth Energy's annual
February 28, 2014 Read Full Article
Levin Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Encourage Production and Use of Alternative Fuel Vehicles
(Senator Carl Levin) Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., today teamed with Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., to introduce a bill that would provide regulatory incentives for companies to produce alternative fuel vehicles and establish benefits for consumers who buy them. “Increasing the number
February 28, 2014 Read Full Article
Super-Sized Hogwash: Examining the Chain Restaurants’ Rhetoric about the RFS and Food Prices
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) It has been reported that chain restaurant executives and franchise owners are on Capitol Hill this week pushing for the repeal of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Despite the fact that wholesale food and
February 28, 2014 Read Full Article
House Tax Proposal Would Alter Biofuel, Bioenergy Tax Credits
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
February 28, 2014 Read Full Article
Mark Dayton and Terry Branstad: Don’t Mess with the RFS
by Mark Dayton and Terry Branstad (Winona Daily News) We are governors from neighboring states and different political parties. We don’t agree on everything, but we stand united in our belief that our nation needs a robust Renewable Fuel Standard
February 24, 2014 Read Full Article
2014 Farm Bill Provides New and Expanded Funding for Section 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program
by Chris Groobey and Taite McDonald (Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati) ... Since the changes surrounding the Section 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program of Title IX (9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program or the program) are the most substantive and have been the most difficult for industry
February 24, 2014 Read Full Article
US EPA to Finalize 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard by June 20: Official
by Herman Wang (Platts) The US Environmental Protection Agency will finalize the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard in about four months, a top official said Wednesday. "Our goal was to finalize [the rule] by spring," said Chris Grundler, who heads the EPA's
February 20, 2014 Read Full Article
Some Good News for a Change: Why The Farm Bill Is a Big Win for Biofuels and Biorefineries
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest) ... The true good news is that the Senate conferees prevailed in getting $881 million in mandatory funding over the next ten years to renewable energy and biofuels initiatives and extending incentives for the
February 20, 2014 Read Full Article
American Ingenuity Will Help Meet Climate Goals
by Adam Monroe (Novozymes/The Hill) ...In our view, the fuels of the future are biofuels and they are already here. There’s only one problem: The very institution that set the wheels in motion to create the biofuels industry is now
February 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Loebsack Introduces Legislation to Utilize and Expand Renewable Fuel Infrastructure
(Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) ) Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that he introduced legislation that would establish a grant program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to invest in renewable and alternative fuel infrastructure. The Renewable Fuel Utilization, Expansion and
February 13, 2014 Read Full Article
Senators Introduce Bill to Reinstate Biodiesel Tax Incentive
(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
February 13, 2014 Read Full Article
Farm Bill Biofuel Benefits
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ... “Renewable chemicals are now defined in the farm bill, an important and long overdue change,” said Matt Carr, BIO Industrial and Environmental Director about that inclusion in the Biorefinery Assistance Program and Biomass Research and Development
February 13, 2014 Read Full Article
US Senate Approves Farm Bill – Heads to Obama for OK
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Following House passage, the five-year Farm Bill and its Energy Title head to the White House for assent. In Washington, the U.S. Senate voted 68-32 to approve the bipartisan Farm Bill coauthored by Sen. Debbie
February 06, 2014 Read Full Article
Sen. Amy Klobuchar: Renewable Fuel Standard Is Working, So Why Change It?
Senator Amy Kolbuchar (D-MN) (Post Bulletin) ... Unfortunately, a recent proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency to lower the biofuel targets for 2014 threatens the progress we have made. The EPA's proposed Renewable Fuel Standard rule would, for the first time, allow
January 06, 2014 Read Full Article
Ethanol Loses Friends and Influence as Reform Movement Grows
by Javier E. David (CNBC) Ethanol requirements for U.S. gasoline appear to be losing friends and influencing the wrong people, with calls growing to reform or scrap the government mandates altogether. The Environmental Protection Agency in November proposed reducing the amount
December 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Bills to Extend Tax Credits Benefiting Biofuels Introduced
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Dec. 12, Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., introduced two bills that would benefit the biofuels industry. One, H.R., 3758, aims to extend the second generation biofuel producer credit and the special allowance for second
December 23, 2013 Read Full Article
False Alarms vs Hard Data: the Renewable Fuel Standard, the Results, and the Critics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) All those worries about the impact of biofuels on food prices, deforestation, Gulf hypoxia? ... RFS2 fuels have been described as “fantasy fuels”, “government fuels”, derided as “farmer fuels”. Biofuels in general have been, for
December 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Senators Push for Clean Energy Tax Credit Extensions
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A group of 24 senators, led by Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., issued a letter to leaders of the Senate Committee on Finance on Dec. 16 calling for support of programs that spur investment in
December 20, 2013 Read Full Article
$50B a Year in Budget ‘Savings’ Will Come from Expired Tax Breaks
By Jacqueline Klimas (The Washington Times) ... More than 50 tax incentives will expire on New Year's Eve — ranging from breaks on energy-efficient appliances to biofuel production to investments in businesses that serve low-income communities. Chuck Marr, director of federal tax policy at the Center on
December 16, 2013 Read Full Article
A Tale of Two Californians
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As Senator Barbara Boxer nixes action on Renewable Fuel Standard reform legislation through the Environment and Public Works committee, Senator Dianne Feinstein co-sponsors a bill to strip corn ethanol out of the RFS altogether. Just
December 13, 2013 Read Full Article
Senators Could Dethrone King Corn in Ethanol Standards
by Clare Foran (National Journal) Senators are working on separate bills to aggressively reduce the amount of corn-based ethanol required under the renewable-fuel standard. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee ranking member David Vitter, R-La., touted legislation
December 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Senate Hearing Addresses 2014 RFS Proposal
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works held a hearing Dec. 11 on the U.S. EPA’s proposed rule to set 2014 volume requirements under the renewable fuel standard (RFS). The hearing, titled
December 12, 2013 Read Full Article
The Bio-Buzz: Heard on the Floor at Bio Pac Rim
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... “Support in Washington for the bioeconomy tends to be more bipartisan than some other issues we work on,” reflected (San Diego Congressman Scott ) Peters. “The impact is felt all over the country — technology
December 10, 2013 Read Full Article
Dem Lawmaker Welch Rides Anti-Ethanol Bike
by Julian Hattem (The Hill RegWatch) Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) took to Washington’s streets on Thursday to push for the reform of a government biofuel program. ... On Thursday, he posted a picture of himself on Twitter riding a pedal-powered vehicle with
December 06, 2013 Read Full Article
USDA Announces Notice of Funding Availability for Value-Added Producer Grants
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of nearly $10.5 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants to help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities designed to give them a competitive business edge. "U.S. agriculture
December 05, 2013 Read Full Article
New Financing Option Within Reach
by Mary Rosenthal (Biomass Magazine/Algae Biomass Organization) Algae Biomass Organization Executive Director Mary Rosenthal discusses what Master Limited Partnerships would mean for the algae and other renewable energy sectors. ... In October, I sat on a roundtable discussion at the launch of
December 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Another Battle Looms in the Endless Ethanol War
by Clare Foran (National Journal) The debate over the renewable-fuel standard flared up again this week ahead of a hearing the Environmental Protection Agency will hold on Thursday to solicit feedback on a proposal to lower the 2014 production mandate.
December 05, 2013 Read Full Article
House Bill Seeks to Increase Gas Tax by 15 Cents per Gallon
by Ashley Halsey III (The Washington Post) With Congress facing a major shortfall in transportation funding next year, a House bill introduced Wednesday would raise the federal gasoline tax by 15 cents per gallon to close the gap. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)
December 05, 2013 Read Full Article
White House Revisits ‘Social Cost of Carbon’
by Ben Geman (The Hill E2Wire) The White House will seek new public comment on the “social cost of carbon" (SCC), a metric that helps regulators estimate the benefits of rules that cut greenhouse gas emissions. The Office of Management and
November 26, 2013 Read Full Article
And the 2013 Environmental Turkey Goes to …The American Legislative Exchange Council, better known as ALEC.
by Bill Chameides (Duke University The Green Grok) OK, folks, Thanksgiving approaches. For most of you it’s the beginning of the holiday season — family, parties, and presents. For us at TheGreenGrok it means it’s time for selecting the biggest turkey
November 25, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Ethanol Decision Pushes Farm Bill toward Finish Line
by Erik Wasson (The Hill) The Environmental Protection Agency’s preliminary decision to reduce renewable fuels blending requirements has increased momentum to get a farm bill done this year, the top House negotiator on the measure said Tuesday. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) argued
November 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Growing Support for Renewable Packaging and Green Chemistry | Commentary
by Jim Greenwood (Roll Call/Biotechnology Industry Organization) During a time when partisan politics rule the day, it is sometimes hard for pragmatic bipartisan efforts to cut through the clutter and get the attention they deserve. American workers in the emerging
November 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Obama Messes with the RFS
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the EPA released its 2014 proposed standards and volumes for renewable fuels. The volumes, as widely expected, include substantial reductions from the statutory standards in the original Energy Independence & Security Act. The announced proposed volumes
November 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol, Once the Way of the Future, Is Off to a Delayed, Boisterous Start
by Steven Mufson (The Washington Post) The “now hiring” sign is up online for Emmetsburg, Iowa, where the nation’s largest maker of ethanol used for motor fuel is putting the final touches on a manufacturing plant that will rely not
November 13, 2013 Read Full Article
Iowa Governor Makes Case to Washington on Ethanol Requirements
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad made an aggressive push last week to defend the country’s ethanol policy during three calls with members of the Obama administration as the White House considers making changes to the
November 07, 2013 Read Full Article
Stakeholders Tell Congressional Leaders To Reauthorize and Fully Fund Farm Bill Energy Title That Supports American Ag, Benefits Entire Nation
(25 x'25) The 25x'25 Alliance has joined more than 130 other national, regional and state stakeholder groups devoted to farm, ranch and forest-based energy solutions in a letter to congressional agricultural leaders urging them to quickly adopted a five-year farm
November 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuel Groups Seek to Intervene in Latest Legal Challenge to RFS
(Agri-Pulse) The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the Biotechnology Industry Organization filed Friday a motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to intervene in a lawsuit filed by the oil industry in September challenging
November 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Farm Bill Conferees Urge Energy Funding
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The Senate version of the farm bill includes $800 million in mandatory funding for energy programs while the House version contains zero – one of the relatively minor differences in the two bills that could get
November 01, 2013 Read Full Article
Legislation to Eliminate Corn Ethanol A “Killer”
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Senator Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Coburn (R-OK) are introducing legislation to eliminate conventional biofuels from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). According to a story first published by Greenwire, the impending bill would leave the advanced biofuel targets
October 31, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Refutes AAA Claims
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The American Automobile Association (AAA) is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to “lower the amount of ethanol required to be blended into gasoline for 2014″ in order to “protect drivers by preventing a possible surge in gas
October 29, 2013 Read Full Article
Is the Renewable Fuel Standard Helping Bring the Next Generation of Biofuels to Market?
by Ned Stowe (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) For many supporters of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), a key goal was to stimulate the development and use of low-carbon, next generation biofuels – to help reduce both U.S. petroleum dependence
October 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Biomass Organizations Write Support Letter for Bioenergy Programs
by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A group of 30 biomass companies and organizations recently wrote to four congressmen supporting mandatory funding for Farm Bill Energy Title programs. Addressed to Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.; Rep. Frank Lucas,
October 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Energy Security Council Calls on Lawmakers to Open Transportation Fuel Market
by Laura Barron-Lopez (The Hill E2Wire) The surge in domestic oil production and the rise in vehicle fuel economy is not enough to stabilize the effect of global oil prices on the U.S., according to a new report by the
October 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Bipartisan Group of Legislators Introduce RFS Reform Act
(Office of Representative Jim Costa (D-CA 16th)) Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Steve Womack (R-AR), and Peter Welch (D-VT) released the following statement today regarding the introduction of the RFS Reform Act in the U.S. House of Representatives: “The
October 22, 2013 Read Full Article
King, Loebsack Tout Need for Level Playing Field for Ethanol against Oil Industry
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) Iowa Rep. Steve King said ending the controversial ethanol mandate would lead to higher gasoline prices for consumers and drive down the price of corn, hurting farmers in rural America. “If (the oil industry) should
October 10, 2013 Read Full Article
Groups Say Upton Will Wait For EPA's 2014 RFS Plan Before Moving Bill
(Inside EPA's Clean Energy Report) Biofuel groups that met with Capitol Hill staff last week say House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) is delaying plans to attach legislation reforming the renewable fuel standard (RFS) to a bill
October 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Rural Energy Efforts Run Low on Fuel as Farm Bill Expires
By Amanda Peterka (Midwest Energy News/Environment & Energy Daily) ...But USDA’s ability to carry out projects like the installation of solar panels was left to dangle Monday night with the expiration of the farm bill. Without a new bill
October 03, 2013 Read Full Article
Coalition Letter Opposing the Renewable Fuel Standard
(Frontiers of Freedom) It has come to our attention that Congress is considering legislation this fall to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). We, collectively and individually, believe the only reform to this failed government mandate should be to repeal
October 02, 2013 Read Full Article
BIO, Member Companies Urge Congress to Pass Five-Year Farm Bill, Maintain Crucial Language for Renewable Chemicals
(BusinessWire/Biotechnology Industry Organization) The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and a group of renewable chemical companies and state advocacy organizations today wrote to the chairpersons and ranking members of the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture, urging passage of a five-year
October 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Maintain Renewable Fuel Standards
by Tim Burrack (Chicago Tribune) Letter to Editor: ... As family farmers for more than 40 years, we have had our share of ups and downs. The RFS gave farmers like us a new market for our corn, helped bring corn prices
October 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Sen. Harkin Introduces Bill Encouraging Ethanol Pumps
(Renewable Fuels Association) Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, introduced a bill Monday that would create a grant program for ethanol-pump installations, establish a loan-guarantee program for renewable-fuel pipelines and require new Department of Energy regulations to encourage owners of fueling stations
October 02, 2013 Read Full Article
RFS Hasn't Hurt the Poultry Industry
by Gary Pestoriou (The Hill's Congress Blog) I followed with interest the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearings concerning the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). I became very skeptical of the statements by those representing the livestock and poultry sectors
September 26, 2013 Read Full Article
BIO Urges EPA to Reject Petroleum Industry’s RFS Waiver Petition
(Biotechnology Industry Organization) The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today wrote to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy, asking her to reject the recent petition from American Petroleum Institute and American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers for a waiver of the
September 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Congressional Efforts Needed to Secure Future
by Brian Kuehl (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Two tax provisions are critical to continued development of the U.S. cellulosic industry. First, the tax code currently provides a Second Generation Production Tax Credit that gives ethanol plants a tax credit of
September 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Big News: No More Requirement to Use Ethanol in Gasoline!
by Douglas Durante (The Hill Congress Blog) ... the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 included a prescribed formula for reformulated gasoline that included an oxygen content, which ethanol provides. Oxygenated fuels promote more complete combustion and reduce carbon monoxide, particulates,
September 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Peoria County Corn/Soy Promoters Offers Multiple Blends of Fuel to Consumers
by Steve Tarter (Peoria Journal Star) ... The FS station in Kickapoo, the first station to offer biodiesel over a decade ago, now features a pump that allows drivers to select various grades of ethanol-blended gasoline, from E10 to E85. It’s also
September 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Illinois Ethanol Workers Write to Protect RFS
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The employees of Illinois River Energy and GTL Resources Biorefining sent a letter to their Congressional delegation this week urging support of the Renewable Fuel Standard. “We are the 60 hard working employees of an independently owned and operated corn bio-refinery
September 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Requirements Good, Not Bad, for America's Economy, Energy Security
by Pam Johnson (Fox News) Opinion: ...That critique has been around for years. But it doesn't jibe with the facts. Indeed, Big Oil's call to loosen the nation's ethanol requirements is misguided. Corn-based fuel has proven to be a clean-burning
September 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Accusing RFS of Driving Food Prices is a Whopper
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The National Council of Chain Restaurants (NCCR), the lobbying arm for the fast food industry, is returning to the Hill today to continue its anti-RFS (Renewable Fuel Standard) campaign. Food preparation is a tough job. With rising
September 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Rep. Enyart Calls for Energy Independence, Growing Agriculture Economy With New Bill
(Congressman Bill Enyart (D-IL)) Legislation Would Support Research & Development for Biofuels in U.S. Air Force Surrounded by agriculture leaders at a farm near Scott Air Force Base, Congressman Bill Enyart (D-IL) today announced a major push to power the nation’s
September 19, 2013 Read Full Article
API Releases More of the Same Old, Disproven Misinformation
(Growth Energy) Following the American Petroleum Institutes’ recent release of skewed data used to advance their flawed agenda to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), Tom Buis CEO of Growth Energy released the following statement: “Once again, API has held another
September 19, 2013 Read Full Article
‘Blend Wall’ Closes in, and Lobbies Spar over Impact
by Javier E. David (CNBC) ..."They act as if they didn't see this coming," said Adam Monroe, president of Novozymes North America, a biotechnoloy company that makes enzymes used in biofuel production. Given the onset of the 2008 recession
September 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Wall St. Exploits Ethanol Credits, and Prices Spike
by Gretchen Morgenson and Robert Gebeloff (The New York Times) ...But a little known market in ethanol credits has also become a hot new game on Wall Street. ...But many people believe that is what happened this year when the price
September 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Leveling That Old Playing Field: As Biofuels Rise, What about Biobased Chemicals?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... (B)iobased chemical producers have been mentioning for some time that, ahem, there’s no Renewable Chemical Standard, no tax incentive, no RINs for them – and they help reduce carbon, too. It becomes especially complex when
September 13, 2013 Read Full Article
How Big Poultry Sided with Big Oil
By Reid Detchon (The Baltimore Sun) Our ability to break our dependence on foreign oil is threatened by the effort to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard Oil is essential to our economic and national security because our transportation system runs on
September 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Targeting Ethanol Mandates Seen Hurting Cellulosic Growth
by Alan Bjerga & Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Efforts to roll back rules that nurtured the corn-based ethanol industry threaten to stunt other promising biofuels, according to a developer working on one of the nation’s first commercial plants that won’t use
September 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Run, Rufus, Run: Congress, 2013 and the Renewable Fuel Standard
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Today, we look at 2013-14, should Congress elect not to act — but leave the EPA and the markets to govern implementation of the existing law. 2014 Mandate The EPA will ultimately determine the annual mandate, but
September 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Fixing Rufus: Congress, 2013 and the Renewable Fuel Standard
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Based on our industry sources, here’s an outline for a “change the RFS” outcome – what that might look like. We see four key elements — ethanol, drop-ins, biodiesel and the RIN system for smoothing
September 05, 2013 Read Full Article
RFS at a Crossroads
by Anne Steckel (Biodiesel Magazine/National Biodiesel Board) ...Our industry is exceeding its volume requirements and producing enough fuel to fill the vast majority of the advanced biofuel pool. We are an EPA-designated advanced biofuel that’s doing just what the RFS
August 29, 2013 Read Full Article
GOP May Attach Ethanol Mandate Reform to Debt Ceiling Package
by Michael Bastasch (The Daily Caller) House Majority Leader Eric Cantor may attach legislation to reform the ethanol mandate to a debt ceiling package, the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) reports. ...“The Majority Leader listed a number of options to fix
August 29, 2013 Read Full Article
Corn Growers Place Policy Priorities On Legislators' Desks
by Janell Baum (Farm Futures) National Corn Growers President Pam Johnson says NCGA membership ready to move forward on the farm bill; reinforces stance on Renewable Fuel Standard It's a common refrain at the 2013 Farm Progress Show – what will
August 29, 2013 Read Full Article
Farm Bureau: RFS Bendable, Just Don’t Break It
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) Farm Bureau officials are making the case that the Renewable Fuels Standard has some flexibility… but just don’t break it. In this story on its newsline, American Farm Bureau energy economist Matt Erickson makes the case that
August 27, 2013 Read Full Article
The Need for the Renewable Fuel Standard
by Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) ...The state of Iowa is proving that our farmers can simultaneously produce the food, feed, fuel and fiber that our country needs. During the past 30 years, we’ve witnessed tremendous growth in the renewable biofuel industry.
August 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Congressional Leadership Moving Towards Position on Renewable Fuel Standard Advocated by the Domestic Fuel Solutions Group
(PR NewsWire/Digital Journal/Domestic Fuel Solutions Group) From Day One the Domestic Fuel Solutions Group (DFSG) has been advocating for reasonable RFS reform. Congress is taking notice. At the end of two days of recent House Energy & Commerce Committee hearings on
August 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Who's Blocking 'Good' Ethanol?
by Craig Giammona (CNN Money/Fortune) Ethanol made from corn waste should be commercially available in 2014, but a fight in Congress threatens the market for cellulosic biofuels. When Royal DSM opens a $250 million facility in Emmetsburg, Iowa in a few
August 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Growing First and Second Generation Renewable Fuels
by Anna Rath and Adam Monroe (The Hill Congress Blog) While there is a lot of back-and-forth in Washington about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), there is just one fundamental choice at the heart of the debate: do we want
July 29, 2013 Read Full Article
EWG Has No Love for Corn Ethanol
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) During the recent Subcommittee on Energy and Power’s hearing to review the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) as well as during a recent RFS briefing sponsored by the Advanced Biofuels Association last week in D.C., the Environmental Working Group (EWG) made it very
July 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Washington Heading for Another Round of Devastating Cuts to Energy Innovation
by Matthew Stepp (The Energy Collective) Both the left and the right use inspiring and lofty rhetoric about elevating U.S. international competitiveness, stimulating economic growth, and spurring innovation. But this messaging often fails to translate into deliberate policy action. This
July 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Corn-Based Ethanol RINs Drop on Speculation Law May Be Adjusted
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) The value of certificates that track compliance with a U.S. law to use corn-based ethanol dropped the most since March on speculation Congress will adjust biofuel consumption targets. Renewable Identification Numbers, or RINs, for ethanol made from
July 26, 2013 Read Full Article
House Moves to Block DOD Buying Biofuels
by Alex Guillen (Politico) The House late last night approved by voice vote a measure to block the Defense Department from buying most biofuels. The measure was an amendment to the chamber’s defense spending bill offered up by Rep. Steve
July 26, 2013 Read Full Article
$2.86/gal Algal Bofuel Now Possible
(National Algae Association/PRLog) The National Algae Association congratulates the National Alliance for Advancement of Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts for their research efforts. We are anxiously waiting to see the new Department of Energy Peer review to be released this summer.
July 26, 2013 Read Full Article
The US Renewable Fuel Standard and Repeal, Reform: The Digest’s 5 Minute-Guide
by Isabel Lane (Biofuels Digest) Yesterday in DC, the House Energy & Commerce committee convened a major hearing on the US Renewable Fuel Standard — primarily on the short-term impacts of the ethanol blend wall and the impact on RIN
July 24, 2013 Read Full Article
New Ad Campaign Reminds Congress, Public There Is a Fuel Choice
(Fuels America/Biodiesel Magazine) Fuels America coalition members announced the launch of a new ad campaign. The ads highlight the fact that there is a choice when it comes to our energy future: we do not have to be beholden to oil’s
July 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Mandate to be Debated for Two Days Before House Panel
by Amy Harder (National Journal) After a year battling over the airwaves and strategizing behind closed doors, the legions of lobbyists fighting over a federal biofuels mandate will finally get the chance to present their arguments to Congress during a
July 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels and Biomass Lose Favor: Investors Beware!
by Rachel Smolker (Huffington Post/BiofuelWatch) Having spent the past eight years or so of my life fighting back against large-scale commercial and industrial bioenergy, it feels good to finally see the tides turning, albeit slowly, maybe not always for the right
July 23, 2013 Read Full Article
For Farm Bill Clean Energy Programs, Mandatory Funding Is Crucial
by Lloyd Ritter and Ryan Stroschein (Agriculture Energy Coalition/Biofuels Digest) Now that both the U.S. House and Senate are moving toward a conference on the Farm Bill, it’s time to emphasize to both chambers the need for robust mandatory funding for
July 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuel Groups Swing Back at Oil Industry, Defend Federal Blending Mandate
by Zack Colman (The Hill E2Wire) Biofuel groups are swinging back at oil industry attacks on a federal biofuel-blending mandate with an ad campaign targeting lawmakers and viewers inside the Beltway. Fuels America, a coalition of biofuel organizations, launched a campaign
July 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Biodiesel CEO Highlights Advanced Biofuel Success
(National Biodiesel Board) Cites Consumer Benefits, Job Creation at House RFS Hearing National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe told Congress Tuesday that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is helping consumers by stimulating the production of advanced biofuels like biodiesel. Jobe emphasized that
July 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Oil Companies Break with Trade Group on Renewable Fuel Mandate
by Jennifer A. Dlouhy (Fuel Fix) The oil and gas industry’s top trade groups doggedly insist that Congress must completely scrap a federal mandate that forces gasoline makers to blend in ethanol and other renewable fuels. But not all oil companies
July 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Corn Ethanol Use in Gasoline under Review
by Jim Landers (Dallas News) ...If many refiners had their way, the law would disappear. Ethanol is the primary octane booster for gasoline, but that market is worth only about 4 billion gallons a year. ... Heather White of the Environmental Working
July 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Prominent Dem Prepares Climate Bill as Others Seek Business Support for Carbon Tax
by Evan Lehmann (E&E Publishing) Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) is crafting a climate bill that would cap greenhouse gases on upstream emitters while providing payments to the U.S. public, a design that's meant to deflate attacks about its effect on