(Reuters) * EPA to gather public comment for 30 days * EPA must make decision on ethanol waivers by November * Petitioners must show mandate causing severe economic harm The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday said it has begun weighing requests to
Regulations-Federal
Back TO HOMECourt Ruling Paves Way for E15 Gas Use
by Robert Pore (The Grand Island Independent) Higher ethanol blend could be used by nearly two-thirds of vehicles on road On Friday, the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit sided with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its
August 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Updated Assessment of the Drought's Impacts on Crop Prices and Biofuel Production
by Bruce Babcock (Center for Agricultural and Rural Development) ...The sharply lowered production estimates suggest the preliminary assessment of the impact of the drought on crop prices and biofuel production that I conducted last month needs to be updated. 1 In the
August 17, 2012 Read Full Article
EPA to Approve Sorghum for Cleaner Ethanol; Experts Say Grain Has Less Impact on Food Prices
(The Washington Post/Associated Press) The federal government is on the verge of approving a grain mainly used as livestock feed to make a cleaner version of ethanol, a decision officials say could give farmers a new moneymaking opportunity, boost the
August 16, 2012 Read Full Article
EPA to Propose US Biofuel Fraud Fix by End of 2012
by Ryan Tracy (Hydrocarbon Processing) ...The US Environmental Protection Agency late Tuesday made its first specific promises to address fraud in the alternative fuels market, a signal that months of negotiations with industry representatives are making progress. In a letter to
August 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Plant Closures Cause DDGS Supply Issues
(Drovers Cattle Network) The 2012 drought is not only taking its toll on U.S. Midwest crop and livestock producers. Ethanol plants also are succumbing as high corn prices dry up their operating margins. Suspension of operations, along with reduced production
August 15, 2012 Read Full Article
EPA Should Reject NC Gov’s RFS Waiver Request, Says RFA
(Renewable Fuels Association) Responding to an official waiver request of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) released the following statement: “The Environmental Protection Agency should reject Governor Perdue’s waiver request out
August 15, 2012 Read Full Article
North Carolina, Arkansas, Maryland and Delaware Request Renewable Fuel Standard Waiver
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the governors of North Carolina, Arkansas, Maryland and Delaware made a formal request for a waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard, in response to the 2012 US drought, which has caused a sharp
August 15, 2012 Read Full Article
Lower U.S. Corn Crop Doesn’t Justify Ethanol Waiver, RFA Says
by (Bloomberg) ...Refiners can meet biofuel targets by drawing from ample stockpiles and utilizing excess credits, known as Renewable Identification Numbers, that can be submitted in lieu of physically blending a gallon of ethanol to meet the government’s mandate under
August 10, 2012 Read Full Article
RFS2 Compliance: Little Known Facts Can Have a Big Impact
by Ashley Player (Biodiesel Magazine/Frazier, Barnes & Associates) ...One potential gray area is the treatment of off-spec biodiesel—many facilities simply sell the material without RINs to be reprocessed by other biodiesel plants. A question that might be asked is: does
August 08, 2012 Read Full Article
EPA’s 2017-2025 Light Duty Vehicle Rule Discourages Alternative Fuel Use
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest/BIO) ...While there are a number of obstacles impeding further growth in alternative energy, few are as critical as the joint EPA/NHTSA proposed rules establishing light-duty vehicle GHG and fuel economy standards. The proposed rule eliminates
August 08, 2012 Read Full Article
Industry in High Gear to Secure Critical Federal Policy Decision
by Anne Steckel (National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) ...Starting this year, the RFS calls for a minimum of 1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel (mostly biodiesel) to be used each year in the U.S. fuel supply until 2022. The law gives
July 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Hurdle Cleared for Sale of 15% Ethanol Blends
by Ciindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The Environmental Protection Agency has given its approval for the first retailers to sell 15% ethanol blended fuel. ...EPA announced today (June 15, 2012) the approval of the first Misfueling Mitigation Plans (MMPs) for individual companies after working with
July 17, 2012 Read Full Article
Expect Brutal Fight for RFS and E15
by Greg Martin (AgInfo.net) ...DINEEN: The RFS is under attack in Washington today. I don’t see for a moment that it will be unraveled this year but they will continue to fight next year and they’ll continue to fight in
June 07, 2012 Read Full Article
USDA Deregulates GMO Sugar Beets -- Again
by Mateusz Perkowski (Capital Press) The USDA has decide to again fully deregulate genetically engineered sugar beets that are resistant to glyphosate herbicides. The agency has found that the crop doesn't pose a plant pest risk and thus shouldn't be subject
June 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Will US Federal Fleet Help Alternative Fuel Switch?
by John Kemp (Reuters COLUMN) Widespread use of alternative motor fuels has been hampered by lack of fuel distribution infrastructure, despite strongly favourable economics for alternatives to gasoline and diesel, and a range of financial incentives offered by U.S. federal
May 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Paper Evaluates Consequences of Dueling CAFE, RFS Policies
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Increasing fuel efficiency standards are expected to shrink U.S. gasoline demand over the coming years while, at the same time, the renewable fuel standard (RFS) will require increasing amounts of alternative fuels to be
April 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Is Kansas Ready to Bump to E15 at the Pump?
by Steve Everly (Kansas City Star) Ethanol industry pushes for the state to step up from the E10 blend now offered. But automakers warn of engine damage, voided warranties. ...E10 will still be available, and selling E15 won’t be mandatory, but
March 29, 2012 Read Full Article
No Farm Bill, No Tier 3—Not until after the Election; Sundrop Fuels Presents an Alternative
By Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) At the March 21 Bioenergy Day on Capitol Hill, discussion focused on the need for a continued Renewable Fuels Standard, reviews of the history of biofuels, assessment of current questioning of biofuels as viable
March 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Indonesia and Malaysia Launch Palm Oil Offensive against U.S. Ruling
(FreshFruitPortal.com) Indonesia and Malaysia have questioned a U.S. decision that their palm oil fails to meet regulatory greenhouse gas reduction standards, website Antaranews.com reported. They disagreed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ruling that biofuels from Indonesia and Malaysia cut only 17%
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
The Palms Of Controversy
by Joelle Brink (Biofuels Digest Asia) Palms are said to be a symbol of peace and prosperity, but you can’t prove it by the past few weeks of heated debate over palm biofuel. Last week, we looked at the discrepancy between
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
US Group Files Suit against Federal Cellulosic Ethanol Mandate
A US energy industry group on Monday said it has filed suit to challenge the federal government’s mandate for US cellulosic ethanol consumption, charging that it is unrealistic and constitutes an illegitimate tax. The American Petroleum Institute (API) said that it filed a petition for review in
March 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Oil Prices, Gas Prices and Domestic Production
(US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources) Jeff Bingaman, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, has a well-deserved reputation for focusing on facts. He worries about the many myths surrounding gasoline prices, oil prices and domestic production. Today, on
March 08, 2012 Read Full Article
Lawmakers Urge Administration to Support Biodiesel
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Dozens of lawmakers have sent letters to the White House calling for an increase in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2013. A bipartisan group of 60 members of Congress on both the Senate side and the House signed letters urging
March 07, 2012 Read Full Article
Automakers Press for Some Changes to Fuel Rules
by David Shephardson (Detroit News) Automakers asked the Obama administration Monday to make modest changes to a proposed boost in fuel efficiency standards for the 2017-2025 model years and to allow the use of some credits to meet requirements as
February 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Retailers Want Liability Protection before Considering E15
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Liability issues surrounding the use of E15 remain a major concern for many retailers when considering offering the fuel to customers driving 2001 and newer vehicles. The U.S. EPA recently approved required health effects
February 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Republicans to Investigate EPA Handling of Renewable-Fuel Rules
by Mark Drajem (Bloomberg) The House Energy and Commerce Committee said it will investigate the actions of the Environmental Protection Agency in combating fraud in the renewable-fuels program. The EPA discovered that fuel credits, which can be traded, are being fraudulently
February 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Senate Energy Outlook Hearing Focuses on Fossils First
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Witnesses projected strong growth for renewable fuels use in both the power generation and transportation sectors over the next 20 years during a Senate energy committee held Jan. 31, but committee members, many of
February 03, 2012 Read Full Article
Words from the Wise: A Study by a Group of Forest Scientists Confirms Forest-Derived Bioenergy Results in No Net Carbon Release
by Anna Austin (Biomass Power and Thermal Magazine) A recently released study authored by nine scientists from multiple organizations and universities, including the U.S. Forest Service, may be poised to clear up some confusion. With no motive other than to
February 01, 2012 Read Full Article
EPA Issues Notice of Data Availability Concerning Renewable Fuels Produced from Palm Oil Under the RFS Program
(US Environmental Protection Agency) he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a Notice of Data Availability (NODA) to release its lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) analysis of palm oil used as a feedstock to produce biodiesel and renewable diesel under the Renewable
January 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Policies for Bioenergy in an Era of Austerity
By Douglas L. Faulkner (Biofuels Digest) What should be the priorities for federal government support for bioenergy, in an era of fiscal austerity and a broken consensus on energy policy? My goal is develop interactively with you, bioenergy thought leaders, a
January 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol’s Octane Provides Proactive Opportunity
by Brian Jennings (Ethanol Producer Magazine/American Coalition for Ethanol) ... The new CAFE standards apply to light-duty vehicles beginning in model year 2017, requiring a nationwide average of 54.5 miles per gallon by model year 2025. While the automakers agreed to
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
EPA Releases First GHG Emissions Data Reporting Results
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Power plants were found to be the largest stationary source of direct emissions, producing a combined total of more than 2,300 million metric tons of CO2e from 1,555 facilities in 2010. Petroleum refineries were
January 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Deepwater Horizon's Missed Lessons
by Richard G. Steiner (Los Angeles Times) OpEd: Not two years after the Deepwater Horizon debacle, the U.S. is proceeding with plans to expand oil drilling instead of pushing alternatives. ...And after making only modest reforms, many of which were cosmetic (e.g.
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Plants Add to Pollution
by Cody Winchester and Megan Luther (Argus Leader) Industry tops in state for toxic emissions ...For the past five years in South Dakota, ethanol plants have been the leading emitters of carcinogens — toxins thought or known to cause cancer — having
December 27, 2011 Read Full Article
On Electric-Vehicle Incentives, Diesel Defenders Cry Foul
by Paul Stenquist (New York Times) The U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars, a Washington-based advocacy group whose members include Bosch, Honeywell and BorgWarner, all major automotive suppliers, released a white paper on Monday to make the case for technology-neutral policy-making
December 27, 2011 Read Full Article
Battery-Car Future Undercut by Europe, Improvements in ICE Technology
by Neil Winton (Detroit News) Investment bank Morgan Stanley came up with a nasty surprise for Nissan-Renault and other cheer-leaders for battery powered cars when it cut its electric vehicle sales forecast by nearly 50 per cent for 2025. Europe’s economic
December 19, 2011 Read Full Article
Reaching the E15 Summit: Getting the Waiver Was Easy, Compared to the Work Required to Fulfill Requirements for E15 Implementation
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...The industry believed it had the scientific backing to support the use of higher ethanol blends in all vehicles and said allowing higher blends into the market would create jobs, lessen dependence on foreign
December 14, 2011 Read Full Article
Analyzing Concerns of EPA Regulatory Overreach
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is under persistent pressure from lawsuits and the threat of legislation that could either repeal its authority to regulate air and water pollution, or defund its programs. Therefore, EESI set about
December 08, 2011 Read Full Article
SIGMA Joins Coaltion for E85
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA) has officially joined the Coalition for E85 in the effort to have 85 percent ethanol designated as an alternative fuel under the tax code. … “E85 as an alternative fuel is defined everywhere
November 18, 2011 Read Full Article
Companies Cited by EPA for Fake Biofuel Credits
by Ayesha Rascoe (Reuters) ...The EPA has issued 24 notices of violation to more than a dozen companies, including units of Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil and Morgan Stanley, for the use of invalid renewable identification numbers, or RINs, according
November 16, 2011 Read Full Article
Independent Petroleum Marketers Group Joins E85 Coalition
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producers Magazine) Just more than a week after announcing the formation of the Coalition for E85 the group said Oct. 21 that it had a new member. The Petroleum Marketers Association of America, which represents 8,000 independent
November 04, 2011 Read Full Article
E15: Cracking the RVP Nut
by Jeremy P. Greenhouse (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Greenhouse & Gram) New blend won’t qualify for One Pound Waiver, presenting huge hurdle When the U.S. EPA granted Clean Air Act fuel waivers allowing gasoline containing 10 to 15 percent by volume of ethanol
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Gauging 2012 Volumes: Will RINs Prove that the RFS Needs Modifying?
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...By Nov. 30, the U.S. EPA will issue its renewable fuel standard (RFS) volumes for the upcoming year and, once again, it will dramatically ratchet down the cellulosic biofuels category. ...No matter what end of
November 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Ammo for Defending the RFS
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Interesting article turned up this week from Australia, showing just what could happen with no RFS or mandate. The Courier-Mail reported “Queensland motorists dudded as fuel retailers pull ethanol blend petrol from service stations.” Coles
November 01, 2011 Read Full Article
EPA Approves Canadian Renewable Biomass for RFS2
by Luke Geiver (Biodiesel Magazine) After roughly seven months of thorough consideration and review, the U.S. EPA has approved a petition put forth by the government of Canada to allow renewable biomass grown in Canada to comply with the Renewable
October 05, 2011 Read Full Article
A Call for Statutory Clarity
by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) ...Today, in an industry that’s working to produce high-performance, fungible, drop-in molecules, some on the cusp of commercialization, many involved in the biorefining sector contend that the current regulatory regime needs to be altered
October 03, 2011 Read Full Article
EPA Mandate Waivers Create New Uncertainties in Biodiesel Markets
by Seth Meyer and Wyatt Thompson (FarmDocDaily/University of Illinois) ...Biofuel mandates are directly relevant for biofuel producers, and indirectly important to feedstock markets. Biofuel refiners sell outputs that serve fuel blenders in two ways. The biofuel can be mixed
September 27, 2011 Read Full Article
Some Clean-Energy Firms Found U.S. Loan-Guarantee Program a Bad Bet
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
September 27, 2011 Read Full Article
EPA Releases Draft Policy for Ensuring Scientific Integrity / Agency seeking public comment
(US Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency August 5, 2011, is releasing its draft Scientific Integrity Policy for public comment. The draft policy reflects the Obama Administration’s commitment to the ethical standards and transparency necessary for ensuring the
August 15, 2011 Read Full Article
Diesel Power Ready to Meet Challenge To Achieve Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Increased Fuel Efficiency in Trucks & Buses
(Diesel Technology Forum) Diesel engines – which power more than 95 percent of America’s commercial trucks and 85 percent of its buses – will play a central role of the United States’ new effort to reduce fuel consumption and lower
August 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Mandate Emerges as Ethanol’s Sacred Cow
by Amy Harder (National Journal) ...By year's end, the congressional “super committee” charged with reducing the federal deficit likely will topple the $6 billion in annual ethanol industry tax credits and a corresponding government tariff on imported ethanol. But another prong
August 11, 2011 Read Full Article
President Obama Announces New Fuel Economy Standards
(The White House) President Obama today announced the next phase in the Administration’s program to increase fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States. These new standards will cover cars
July 29, 2011 Read Full Article
The Work at Hand for E15 Market Expansion
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Back in October, I wrote on the RFA blog, “The E-Xchange,” about the steps that would be necessary to make E15 the standard fuel available in the United States, in much the
July 25, 2011 Read Full Article
Study: Regulatory Hurdles Hinder Biofuels Market
by Phil Ciciora (University of Illinois) Regulatory hurdles abound for the successful commercialization of emerging liquid biofuels, which hold the promise of enhancing U.S. energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and serving as a driver for rural economic development, according
July 22, 2011 Read Full Article
AMA Wants Motorcycles Included in Study of Ethanol-Blended Fuel
(American Motorcycle Association) The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is asking a key U.S. House panel to include motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in any future study of ethanol-blended gasoline. In a letter sent July 11 to the House Energy and Environment
July 14, 2011 Read Full Article
E-15 Gasoline Won't Be Sold for at Least a Year, Watchdog says
by Neil Roland (Automotive News) Gasoline with up to 15 percent ethanol probably won't be sold at the pump for at least another year because of health, safety, cost and environmental concerns, a government watchdog said. ...The report makes clear that
July 13, 2011 Read Full Article
EPA Defers Application of CO2 Emissions Rules to Biomass
(Troutman Sanders) The EPA on July 1, 2011 issued a final rule deferring for three years application of the Clean Air Act’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) and Title V permitting requirements to carbon dioxide (“CO2”) emissions from biogenic stationary
July 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Ford, Toyota Criticize EPA Ethanol-Blend Fuel Proposal
(Bloomberg) Automakers including Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. criticized an Environmental Protection Agency proposal to allow gasoline containing up to 15 percent ethanol in all cars and trucks in the U.S., saying its use may
July 05, 2011 Read Full Article
FEW: 'Feed is Food' Cautions Panel
by Ron Kotrba (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Food Safety Modernization Act is changing how ethanol producers do business, and it’s shifting focus on just being fuel producers that incidentally make a feed coproduct, to being fuel—and food—producers. “Feed is food,”
July 05, 2011 Read Full Article
Next Generation Fuel Economy Labels Arm Consumers with Information They Can Use
by Ray LaHood (Department of Transportation) ...Because of President Obama's efforts and automakers' innovations, Americans today have many more options for fuel-efficient vehicles than ever before. And the new labels will help us make sense of those options and take
May 25, 2011 Read Full Article
U.S. Scraps Letter Grades for Cars
by Josh Mitchell and Stephen Power (Wall Street Journal) The Obama administration has scrapped a proposal to assign new passenger cars a letter grade from A to D based on their fuel efficiency, according to people familiar with the
May 20, 2011 Read Full Article
Shell Oil President Odum Calls For Biofuel Incentives
by Ryan Tracy (Dow Jones NewsWires/NASDAQ.com) Shell Oil Co. President Marvin Odum gave a bullish outlook for biofuels Tuesday, saying that during the next 20 years, biofuels will likely be "the most practical solution" for reducing carbon emissions from transportation
April 27, 2011 Read Full Article
Indirect Land Use Change: A Second-Best Solution to a First-Class Problem
by David Zilberman, Gal Hochman, and Deepak Rajagopal (AgBioForum) Concern about the possible effects of biofuels on deforestation have led to assigning biofuel producers with the responsibility for the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the indirect land-use changes (ILUC) associated
April 05, 2011 Read Full Article
Development of Measurements and Standards for Biofuels
(National Institute of Standards and Technology) With concerns over the limited supply of non-renewable forms of energy, there is growing interest in renewable sources of energy such as biofuels. The change to renewable energy, however, presents new questions as combustion
February 21, 2011 Read Full Article
2 Studies Target Sticking Points, Gaps in Life-Cycle Calculations of Biofuels
by Jenny Mandel (New York Times/Greenwire) Conducting in-depth life-cycle assessments of the environmental impacts of biofuels is complicated, and new research suggests some questions in comparing biofuels to alternatives like petroleum-based fuels will never be answered. Furthermore, one study argues, consumer
February 18, 2011 Read Full Article
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Reduce the Potential for Misfueling
(EPA) EPA is concurrently proposing a regulatory program to promote the successful introduction of E15 into commerce by ensuring that E15 is used in approved motor vehicles and reducing the potential for the misfueling of E15 into vehicles and engines for
October 20, 2010 Read Full Article
The Health Benefits of Ethanol
(Ethanol Across America) C. Boyden Gray, one of the architects of the historic 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments that established the nation's reformulated gasoline program, called for increased regulation of air toxics by the Environmental Protection Agency and in so
October 06, 2010 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuel Standards -- RFS2
by B.A. (Ben) Thorp and Masood Akhtar (Ahead of the Curve, TAPPI) ...The first question to ask is, why do I need to know any of this? Reasons can range from increasing one's knowledge to helping guide personal investment to evaluating
May 14, 2010 Read Full Article
Texas Loses “Food vs. Fuel” Biofuel Feud
by Angela Neville (Power Mag) ... In April, the Texas governor jumped into the middle of this debate. Responding to what some observers thought was strong pressure from TSCRA, Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) submitted a formal request to the Environmental
October 17, 2008 Read Full Article
Maryland’s Biofuels Industry Needs More Incentives to Spur In-State Production And Use
(Task Force on Renewable Alternative Fuels Final Report) The Task Force on Renewable Alternative Fuels (Chapter 540 of 2007), chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Roger Richardson and staffed by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), consisted of two legislative members, the