(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, National Biodiesel Board, American Coalition for Ethanol, and National Farmers Union today filed a brief challenging EPA’s August 2019 decision to exempt 31 small refineries from their obligations to comply
oil refineries
Back TO HOMENew Study Links Texas Oil Refineries To Elevated Cancer Risk
by Tsvetana Paraskova (Oilprice.com) People who live close to oil refineries are at increased risk of cancer, a new study from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) has found. Proximity to an oil refinery was associated with an increased risk of multiple cancer
December 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Oil Refineries See Profit in Turning Kitchen Grease into Diesel
by Clifford Krauss (New York Times) Used cooking oil is one of the ingredients in renewable diesel, which generates far less emissions than conventional diesel and allows refineries to take advantage of federal and state incentives. -- ... Companies that
December 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Brazil Nears Key Downstream Sector Approvals in Drive for Cleaner Fuels
by Gareth Chetwynd (Upstream Online) Mines & Energy Ministry expected to sign off next week on raft of new regulations to free up sector -- Brazil’s Mines & Energy Ministry is expected to approve a batch of new regulations next week intended
December 02, 2020 Read Full Article
S&P Global Platts Launches Renewable Diesel Values in United States
(S&P Global Platts/Markets Insider) S&P Global Platts ("Platts"), the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets, today announced the launch of renewable diesel values for the Americas. These daily assessments bring transparency to
December 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Renewable Diesel Set to Grow outside California
by Jessica Dell (Argus Media) New state-level low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) programs and Canada's proposed Clean Fuel Standard will grow the market for renewable diesel and create demand centers out of California, biofuel producers said during Argus Biofuels Live virtual
December 02, 2020 Read Full Article
An Open Letter to the Ethanol Community from Ethanol Producers
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... (T)he overriding objective should be to increase demand, which increases ethanol volume and corn grind. With that in mind, do we continue to fight for what is almost certain to be a reduced
November 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Refineries Are Fighting over Used Cooking Oil and Animal Fat
by Haley Zaremba (OilPrice.com) ... In the absence of gasoline demand, refineries have been casting around for alternate solutions to keep their plants up and running, and it looks like they may have found the answer: biofuels. Early on in
November 30, 2020 Read Full Article
West Coast Company Supports B.C.’s Green Targets by Turning Waste into Biofuel
(BIV.com) West Coast Reduction Ltd. was recycling long before environmental sustainability was a consideration. The company is now instrumental in helping B.C. achieve its greenhouse gas reduction targets by supporting next-generation biofuel production. West Coast Reduction is the largest supplier of liquid renewable
November 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Humber's Renewable Ambitions Make Grand Entrance
(Biobased Diesel Daily) The Phillips 66 Humber Refinery in the U.K. recently welcomed the latest addition to its growing renewable fuels infrastructure―a massive processing unit that will convert used cooking oil (UCO) into low-carbon fuel. "We are pleased to take delivery of
November 24, 2020 Read Full Article
The US Oil Industry Is Flailing Despite a $10 Billion Pandemic Lifeline
by Michael J. Coren (Quartz) The US oil and gas industry has received more than $10 billion from the federal government to cushion losses during the pandemic, according to a recent report analyzing federal financial data. That has offered a temporary reprieve even
November 24, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA: 6 More SRE Petitions Filed, 58 Now Pending
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data on Nov. 19, reporting that six additional SRE petitions have been filed with the agency, including one for Renewable Fuel Standard compliance year 2019 and
November 20, 2020 Read Full Article
OMV Petrom: Investments of EUR ~21 mn at Petrobrazi to Increase the Bio-Blending Capacity
(OMV Petrom) OMV Petrom increased the annual bio-blending capacity at Petrobrazi from 200 kilotons to approximately 350 kilotons in order to supply fuels with increased quantities of bio-components into finished products; The use of fuels with increased bio-content contributes to
November 20, 2020 Read Full Article
UK Refiners Push Back over 2030 Ban on New Fossil Fuel Cars
by Robert Perkins (S&P Global Platts) Refiners call for more biofuels support; Move seen displacing 60,000 b/d of oil demand; Hybrids get reprieve until 2035, EV sales booming -- The UK's refining sector has voiced its opposition to the UK plans to bring
November 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Continental Refining Company Unveils Transformational “AgriTech” Plan for Refinery Plant in Somerset
(Continental Refining Company) New Soybean Crushing Plant and Biodiesel Production Facility would be on the Cutting Edge of Food and Energy Production -- Hemisphere Limited, the parent company of Continental Refining Company (CRC), announced that it is exploring plans to invest
November 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Small Refinery Gets Second Win in Battle for Renewable-Fuel Hardship Exemption
by Sebastien Malo (Reuters/WestLaw) A federal appeals court vacated for the second time on Tuesday a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency denial of small oil refinery Ergon West Virginia Inc's (EWVI) request for an exemption from the country's biofuel regulations after finding
November 18, 2020 Read Full Article
CountryMark, Ceres Solutions and USDA Bring E15 to Rensselaer
(95.3 MNC) Jasper County, Indiana will soon have its first E15 fueling station thanks to efforts from two farmer-owned cooperatives and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ... Ceres Solutions owns the CountryMark-branded station on North McKinley Avenue in Rensselaer, Indiana,
November 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Canola Seen Gaining Ground as Biofuel during COVID-19
by Sean Pratt (Western Producer) A drop in used cooking oil supplies because of the pandemic’s effect on restaurants has opened a door for the oilseed -- COVID-19 is boosting the use of canola oil in the biofuel sector, says
November 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Petrom Wants to Build a Bioethanol Plant, Investment of 1.2 Billion Lei, Partly with European Money - Sources
by Mihai Nicut (Economica.net (Google Translation) OMV Petrom, the largest energy company in Romania, intends to build a bioethanol plant, partially using European money, according to sources close to the situation. Petrom submitted a project worth 1.2 billion lei to the Ministry
November 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuel Production Begins at Preem's Refinery in Lysekil
(Lysekil) For the first time, renewable raw materials are being converted to Swedish Environmental Class 1 diesel at Preem's refinery in Lysekil. The aim is to annually produce up to 950,000 cubic meters of renewable fuel by 2024. This is part of
November 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Petronas Looks to Achieve Net Zero Carbon Emissions Status by 2050
by Sambit Mohanty (S&P Global Platts) Malaysia's state-run Petronas has set a target to achieve net zero carbon emissions status by 2050 as it steps up efforts to embrace cleaner forms of energy, joining a growing list of global oil
November 06, 2020 Read Full Article
CVR Energy Plans Potential Renewable Diesel Project at Coffeyville
by Laura Sanicola (Reuters) CVR Energy Inc CVI.N plans to pursue a renewable diesel project at its 132,000 barrel per day (bpd) Coffeyville, Kansas, refinery if succeeds in producing the fuel at its Wynnewood, Oklahoma, plant, the refiner said Tuesday. CVR said it
November 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Maire Tecnimont Group's NextChem and Indian Oil Corporation Sign India's First Circular Economy MoU
(NextChem) Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announces that NextChem, the Group’s subsidiary dedicated to green chemistry and technologies for the energy transition, and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IndianOil), today have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of industrial projects using NextChem technologies to foster the industrialization of
November 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Evolve or Die: US Refiners Grasp Renewables Lifeline to Stay Viable
by Janet McGurty (S&P Global Platts) Government incentives drive renewable diesel projects growth; Demand up as regional low carbon regulations increase -- Once the scourge of the US refining industry, some refiners are now looking to renewable fuels to help their bottom
November 05, 2020 Read Full Article
Manta Biofuels Launches Crowd Investment Campaign
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) This week, Manta Biofuels has launched a crowd investment campaign on Republic and began reaching out to colleagues, business associates, mentors and friends, offering them a chance to invest in this growing business. Dedicated to
November 05, 2020 Read Full Article
Marathon Petroleum Corp. Reports Third-Quarter 2020 Results...Starting up Dickinson, N.D. Renewable Fuels Facility
(Marathon Petroleum Corp.) ... "As we navigate these challenges, we remain focused on the aspects of our business within our control. First, we strengthened the competitive position of our assets by advancing our investments in renewables. Our Dickinson renewable fuels
November 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Neste to Acquire Bunge's Refinery Plant in Rotterdam to Increase Raw Material Pretreatment Capacity for the Production of Renewable Products
(Neste) Neste, the world's leading producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel produced from waste and residue raw materials, has agreed to acquire Bunge Loders Croklaan's refinery plant located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands for a purchase price of 258 million
November 04, 2020 Read Full Article
The Energy 202: The Oil Industry Thinks It Can Work with Biden, Despite Call for 'Transition' Away from It
by Dino Grandoni with Alexandra Ellerbeck (Washington Post) Joe Biden said he wanted a “transition” away from the oil industry. But the oil industry itself thinks it can still work with the Democratic nominee should he win the White House
November 03, 2020 Read Full Article
BP to Halt Production at Kwinana Refinery
by Amanda Doyle (The Chemical Engineer) ... BP is also exploring additional options for the site, such as a clean energy hub that could produce and store low carbon fuels. This could include sustainable aviation fuels and renewable diesel. READ
November 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol Looks beyond Trump-Biden Bluster to Biofuel Reset
by Kim Chipman and Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg Green) Presidential, Iowa Senate races put biofuel in spotlight; Renewable Fuel Standard uncertainty clouds ethanol outlook -- ... The winner will oversee a “reset” of the congressional mandate to blend biofuels with gasoline. This
November 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Pandemic Slashes Biofuels Usage across the Board in the UK
(Biofuels International) Transportation biofuels’ usage in the UK fell steeply during the second half of this year mainly due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and its repercussions. The pandemic resulted in global lockdown measures, disrupted economic growth, led to serious job
October 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Joint Statement from Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association on Motion for Partial Summary Judgment in FOIA Lawsuit Regarding Small Refinery Exemption Transparency
(Growth Energy/Renewable Fuels Association) Upon the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) failure to adequately respond to several Freedom of Information Act requests filed by the biofuels industry regarding the small refinery exemption (SRE) program and EPA’s radical escalation in granting SREs in
October 28, 2020 Read Full Article
“Flim Flam” Biofuels Company Wants to Buy the Largest East Coast Oil Refinery
by Steve Horn (The Real News) ... The little-known company has pitched its proposal to convert the site into a biofuels refinery. It is run by a man one mayor has dubbed the “Flim Flam Man,” and the company has never actually opened
October 26, 2020 Read Full Article
RFA: Oil-State Senators Ask EPA to Violate the Law, Ignore the Courts
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association today blasted the latest attempt by oil refiners and their supporters in the Senate to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard. On Wednesday, a small group of oil-state Senators submitted a short letter to EPA Administrator Andrew
October 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Column: There's a Burning Mandate for Change, Green Jobs
by George Miller (Columbus Dispatch) ... From geothermal steam in Nevada to the low-carbon biofuel feedstocks harvested across Ohio, carbon savings are available through the labor and ingenuity of green energy workers in every community. We’ve seen this strategy work in
October 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Alfa Laval Wins SEK 130 Million Renewable Energy Order in the US
(Alfa Laval/PR Newswire) Alfa Laval - a world leader in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling - has won an order to supply a processing line to HollyFrontier Corporation to support the production of renewable diesel in the US. The
October 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Renewable Jet Fuel Tech: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to UOP
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You’ve probably heard of Honeywell UOP, but did you know they are working on making commercial renewable aviation biofuels a reality? At ABLC Digital, they shared this illuminating slide guide on their latest projects, including ones with
October 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Facing Wave of Closures, Oil Refiners Turn to Biofuels
by Ron Bousso and Laura Sanicola (Reuters) European and U.S. oil refineries face a wave of closures due to plateauing fuel demand, tightening environmental rules and overseas competition, prompting some owners to opt for an easier alternative - converting plants to
October 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Neste Sets Ambitious Target for Carbon Neutral Production by 2035
(Biofuels International) Neste has reiterated it is committed to reaching carbon-neutral production by 2035. The commitment complements Neste’s other strategic climate commitment of reducing customers’ greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 million tonnes annually by 2030. “Neste’s purpose is to
October 16, 2020 Read Full Article
The End Of Oil? Battle Lines Drawn As Industry Grapples With Energy's Future
by Camila Domonoske (National Public Radio) Oil is facing an existential crisis. There has never been so much uncertainty about the future of a commodity that keeps the global economic engine running. And it's not just environmental activists calling for the end of
October 16, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA: 2 Additional SRE Petitions Filed for Compliance Year 2019
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data on Oct. 15, reporting two additional SRE petitions have been filed for Renewable Fuel Standard compliance year 2019. No other changes were made to the
October 16, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Drags Feet on Remaining Small Refinery Exemption Requests
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) The EPA recently denied 54 so-called “gap year” small refinery exemption requests, but Renewable Fuels Association CEO Geoff Cooper tells Brownfield the agency is still considering 31 petitions for 2019 and a couple for 2020. “We
October 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Community Voices at the Center of Environmental Justice Now Tour
by Joseph Glandorf (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) In a project called the “Environmental Justice Now Tour,” Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee are holding a series of discussions with community leaders and activists on environmental justice. The tour is
October 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Exclusive: Italian Refiner Saras Plans Cost Cuts, Biofuel Expansion
(Reuters/Today) Italian oil refiner Saras is targeting cost savings of 120 million euro ($141 million) to weather a slow recovery in fuel demand due to coronavirus and plans to boost biofuel output to meet tightening environmental regulations, its CEO
October 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Is There Money for Renewable Fuels? Latest Perspectives on Financing Renewable Fuel Projects
by Mike Newman (Parhelion Underwriting Inc./Biofuels Digest) Connecting people from renewable fuels companies with projects they want to finance to the people who can finance them was a key goal for Parhelion Underwriting’s recent virtual roundtable. The finance panel included Justin Goldstein
October 13, 2020 Read Full Article
PKN ORLEN Aims to Be Emissions-Neutral by 2050
(Biofuels International) PKN ORLEN is the first oil company in central Europe to declare an aspiration towards achieving emission neutrality by 2050. In order to reach this goal by 2030 the company will reduce CO2 emissions from its current refining and petrochemical
October 12, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Oil Refiners Press on Renewable Diesel for Canadian Market: Few Such Projects Seen Moving forward within Canada
by Laura Sanicola, Rod Nickel (AgCanada/Glacier Farm Media/Reuters) U.S. oil refineries are moving aggressively to produce renewable diesel, partly to cash in on Canada’s greener fuel standard before Canadian refiners modify their own plants. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government intends to
October 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Commercial Status of Direct Thermochemical Liquefaction Technologies
(EIA Bioenergy) Direct thermochemical liquefaction (DTL) of biomass is an important pathway to bioenergy and biochemical production in the circular economy. The aim of this report is to highlight how DTL technologies currently have a role to play in mobilising
October 05, 2020 Read Full Article
Total Eyes further HVO Expansion
by Adam Porter (Argus Media) Total said today that it plans to add an additional 300,000 t/yr of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) production capacity in Europe. It is also considering introducing HVO capacity at refineries in Texas and South Korea to
October 01, 2020 Read Full Article
A Rare Bit of Good News for Oil Refiners: ‘Renewable Diesel’
by Tim Treadgold (Forbes) ... Until recently renewable diesel was very much a niche product which failed to attract mainstream investor interest. That could change after a leading investment bank, Morgan Stanley MS -2.4%, took a close look at the opportunities opening up
September 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Preem Withdraws Expansion Plans for Lysekil Refinery
by Nicholas Woodroof (Hydrocarbon Engineering) Preem’s Board has announced that, in the light of new economic circumstances, the Residue Oil Conversion Complex (ROCC) project will be cancelled and the 2016 Environmental Permit Application at Lysekil Refinery, Sweden, will be withdrawn in favour
September 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Pertamina to Use Honeywell UOP Technologies to Produce Advanced Biofuels in Indonesia
(Honeywell UOP) National Oil Company of Indonesia to open green fuels refinery in Plaju and revamp Cilacap refinery for renewable diesel production -- Honeywell today announced PT Pertamina (Persero) will use Honeywell UOP technologies to produce advanced biofuels at its Plaju
September 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Energy Transition: Total Is Investing More than €500 Million to Convert Its Grandpuits Refinery into a Zero-Crude Platform for Biofuels and Bioplastics
(Total) Within the framework of its net zero strategy, Total will convert its Grandpuits refinery (Seine-et-Marne) into a zero-crude platform. By 2024, following an investment totaling more than €500 million, the platform will focus on four new industrial activities: Production of
September 25, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump, Eyeing Farm Country, Starts Working on Ethanol Industry's Year-Old Wishlist
by Stephanie Kelly and Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) President Donald Trump, looking to shore up support in the U.S. Farm Belt during a tight race for re-election, is taking steps to help producers of corn-based ethanol using a list of policy goals
September 24, 2020 Read Full Article
California to Ban Sales of Gas Cars by 2035
(Our Daily Planet) Yesterday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state will phase out sales of all gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. As Governor Newsom said in a separate event with Democratic governors yesterday, people have climate “goal fatigue” and are ready
September 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Our View: Ethanol: Trump, Hagedorn, EPA Leave Farmers behind
(Mankato Free Press) President Donald Trump and his Environmental Protection Agency have about six weeks to keep their promises to farmers on ethanol, which have been broken for the past three years. While farmers have backed Trump in varying degrees since he
September 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Exclusive: Shell Launches Major Cost-Cutting Drive to Prepare for Energy Transition
by Ron Bousso (Reuters) Royal Dutch Shell is looking to slash up to 40% off the cost of producing oil and gas in a major drive to save cash so it can overhaul its business and focus more on renewable energy
September 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Better Catalysts for a Sustainable Bioeconomy
by Brigitte Osterath (The Federal Council Swiss Government/Paul Scherrer Institute) Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and from ETH Zurich want to make so-called zeolites more efficient. Today, these compounds are already indispensable additives in the chemical industry and have been
September 22, 2020 Read Full Article
House Ag Plans Detailed to NFU Pelosi: House Will Bring Up Biofuels Integrity Bill
by Jerry Hagstrom (DTN Progressive Farmer) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Tuesday that the House will take up the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act sponsored by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., just as the House Energy and Commerce
September 17, 2020 Read Full Article
BASF Partner with New Energy for Uptake of Pyrolysis Oil Derived from Waste Tires.
by Luke Upton (BioMarket Insights) BASF has signed an uptake supply agreement with the Hungary based New Energy, a technology company specialized in the pyrolysis of waste tires. According to the agreement, New Energy will supply BASF with up to 4,000
September 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Decision Bolstering Ethanol Becomes Campaign Flashpoint
(The Gazette) President Donald Trump has been receiving praise from farm state Republicans for his decision to deny the “gap year” waivers and increase access to E15 corn-based ethanol. But it also was panned by Democrats Wednesday as nothing more than
September 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Eyes at Least $300 Million Aid to Refiners Denied Biofuel Waivers: Sources
by Stephanie Kelly, Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) The Trump administration is considering at least $300 million in cash aid to U.S. oil refiners that are denied exemptions to U.S. biofuel blending laws for the 2019 compliance year, two sources familiar with
September 17, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Denies Gap Year RFS Waiver Requests
by John Herath (Farm Journal Ag/Web) Applications for oil refiners to be exempted from the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) have been a contentious election for President Donald Trump in Iowa. His administration took a step to alleviate those political pressures Monday
September 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Considers Cash Aid for Refineries Denied Biofuel Waivers
by Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Trump administration officials are developing a plan to offset the potential economic damage of denying dozens of refineries waivers from biofuel-usage mandates: giving them financial aid. The approach is actively being discussed by top Environmental Protection Agency officials
September 12, 2020 Read Full Article
PKN ORLEN to Be Emission-Neutral by 2050
(Orlen) PKN ORLEN is the first oil company in Central Europe to declare aspiration to achieve emission neutrality by 2050. In order to reach this goal, by 2030 the company will reduce CO2 emissions from its current refining and petrochemical assets by
September 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Canada Touts Plan to Cut Fuel Carbon Intensity; Refiners Fret about Costs
by Rod Nickel, Steve Scherer, Jeff Lewis (Reuters) The Canadian government says its plan to require reductions in carbon intensity of fuels will boost the economy as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, but oil and chemical companies say they are
September 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Oil Traders Snap Up Tankers in Sign Second-Wave Glut Is Near
by Sheela Tobben and Javier Blas (Bloomberg) ... Some of the world’s biggest oil traders are getting ready for the possible resurgence of a coronavirus-induced glut of crude and fuels, snapping up giant tankers for months-long charters so that they can
September 11, 2020 Read Full Article
RINs Jump 18% on News Trump Wants All Gap Year Requests Denied
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In New York state, Reuters reports that RIN prices skyrocketed a two-year high of 55 cents for D6 credits on the back of its exclusive story that President Trump told the EPA to deny all gap-year
September 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Track the Sudden Conversion to Renewable Fuels
(The Jacobsen Publishing / PR Newswire) The Jacobsen Publishing has launched a hub for tracking the rapidly changing landscape of fuel producers adopting renewables, with a focus on renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuels and co-processing operations. The special coverage includes tracking on:
September 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Massive Refiners Are Turning into Biofuel Plants in the West
by Robert Tuttle (Bloomberg) The latest sign of a worldwide energy transition: Massive oil refineries across the western U.S. are being converted into biofuel plants. Phillips 66 on Wednesday became the latest in a string of U.S. refiners to say it’s converting
September 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Argentine Biodiesel Production Fell to One of the Lowest Levels in the Last 10 Years
by Gabriela Origlia (La Nacion (Google Translation)) The idle capacity of the biodiesel industry is around 60% , the production is the lowest in the last ten years. Meanwhile, in the case of bioethanol, the drop in demand reaches 30%
September 06, 2020 Read Full Article
California Issues 190% More New Oil and Gas Drilling Permits
(Our Daily Planet) While California Governor Gavin Newsom has called his state “a leader in the fight to transition away from fossil fuels,” watchdog groups have been calling out the fact that California is continuing to issue oil and gas extraction permits.
September 03, 2020 Read Full Article
State Regulators OK Natural Gas, Renewable Diesel Pipeline Projects
by Amy R. Sisk (Bismark Tribune) The North Dakota Public Service Commission approved two pipeline projects Wednesday: one for a new natural gas processing plant in Williams County and another for the Dickinson refinery. ... The PSC has also authorized two pipelines
August 28, 2020 Read Full Article
RFA Urges Immediate EPA Action on ‘Litany’ of Outstanding RFS Issues
(Renewable Fuels Association) Citing the need for more certainty and stability in uncertain times, as well as the legal requirement to meet statutory deadlines, the Renewable Fuels Association today urged EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to immediately address a number of unresolved
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
NBB Launches Ad Campaign Urging President to Reject “Gap” SRE Petitions
(National Biodiesel Board) NBB encourages farmers, biodiesel producers to ask President Trump to keep his promise -- The National Biodiesel Board today launched a radio advertising campaign in six Midwestern states, urging President Donald Trump to keep his promise on the
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
D.C. Circuit Rejects Anonymous Status for Refiner in RFS Waiver Dispute
(Environmental NewsStand) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a sealed case has rejected a small refiner’s bid for anonymity in an apparent legal fight over EPA’s denial of a renewable fuel standard (RFS) economic
August 21, 2020 Read Full Article
US Fuel-Makers Could Face 'Irreparable' Damage from Demand Collapse and the Move to Green Policy
by Josh Siegel (Washington Examiner) ... “Thankfully, I am not invested in refineries,” said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at IHS Markit and founder of Oil Price Information Service. “They are having a pretty miserable year. They don't
August 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Lummus Technology Announces Successful Start-up of CDTaee® Bio-ethers Unit
(Lummus Technology/PR Newswire) - CDTaee part of Lummus' clean fuels technology portfolio in the production of bio-ethers. - Technology helps Hellenic Petroleum meet biofuels requirement in Greece. - Process is part of Lummus' etherification technology portfolio, where the company has a leading position. Lummus
August 19, 2020 Read Full Article
17 Projects with 4 Billion Gallons, 9 Fast Emerging Players: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to California’s Green Rush
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At DigestConnect this past Thursday, we talked about the latest the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard, how the LCFS relates to the Renewable Fuel Standard and energy values, we compared the value stack for 5 popular
August 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Oil Man’ Reflects on Biofuels
by Larry Sullivan (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./Biofuels Digest) ... There is much common ground between Big Oil, Big Soy, and Big Corn. Minnesota Big Iron companies provided computing power to the early days of Big Oil’s seismic surveys, and Iron
August 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Spotlight: Ethanol Plants Part of the Solution for Forthcoming Renewable Diesel Feedstock Problem
by Corey Lavinsky (S&P Global Platts) Distillers corn oil (DCO) is a co-product of corn ethanol production and can be used as renewable diesel feedstock; Greater demand, higher prices seen for DCO from upcoming surge in renewable diesel capacity; RD made from DCO
August 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Oil Refineries Convert into Biofuel
(WOWO Farm Director) Massive oil refineries in the western United States are making an unexpected transition. They’re being converted into biofuel plants. Phillips 66 recently announced it will convert a California oil refinery into a biofuel plant as gas continues
August 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Seen Putting Biofuels Decisions on Hold
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The Trump administration is likely to wait until after Election Day to weigh in on tough ethanol decisions for fear of triggering backlash among farmers or the oil sector. -- ... WAKE ME UP WHEN
August 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Phillips 66 to Build World’s Largest Renewable Diesel, Sustainable Aviation Fuel Plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 800 million gallon monster slated for 2024 opening as P66 says it will convert Rodeo Refinery to renewables -- Phillips 66 will reconfigure its San Francisco Refinery in Rodeo, California, to produce 680 million gallons annually
August 13, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA’s Wheeler Says He Has Questions about SRE Gap Waiver Applications
by Larry Lee (Brownfield Ag News) EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the gap SRE applications have been sent over from the Department of Energy. “They just started sending them to us the week before last, so our guys are just now
August 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Exxon Inks 525 Million Gallon, 5-Year Renewable Diesel Offtake Deal with Global Clean Energy Holdings
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, ExxonMobil has signed an agreement with Global Clean Energy Holdings to purchase 105 million gallons of renewable diesel per year for five years from a converted California refinery starting in 2022. The strike price
August 12, 2020 Read Full Article
CVR Energy Evaluates Renewable Diesel Project at Wynnewood Refinery
by Janet McGurty (S&P Global Platts) Project costs to be recouped by blenders tax credit; Renewable diesel project approval expected in September -- CVR Energy is evaluating a renewable diesel project at its Wynnewood, Oklahoma, refinery -- the latest refiner seeking respite
August 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Pertamina to Scale up Renewable Diesel Production in Indonesia
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Following a successful production trial of 100 percent renewable diesel (RD100), Indonesia’s state-owned oil company Pertamina is ready to scale up its investments in renewable diesel, biobased jet fuel and green gasoline. Pertamina concluded a production trial
August 05, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Energy Department Recommends Granting Partial Retroactive Waivers to Refiners: Sources
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) The U.S. Department of Energy has recommended that some of the oil refiners that applied for retroactive exemptions from the nation’s biofuel blending law be granted partial relief, two sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The
August 05, 2020 Read Full Article
BP Commits To Slashing Its Oil and Gas Operations, A Necessary Step for Climate Action
(Our Daily Planet) As Greentech Media reported, oil and gas giant BP announced yesterday that it will cut its oil and gas output by 40% by 2030 and increase its low-carbon investment tenfold by then as it begins to detail its 2050 net-zero strategy. This
August 05, 2020 Read Full Article
Marathon Petroleum to Close Its Martinez Refinery and Convert it to an oil-storage facility 800 job cuts planned with shutdown plan that also includes a Texas refinery
by Edwin Seba (Retuers/Mercury News) Marathon Petroleum plans to permanently close its oil refineries in Martinez and Gallup, New Mexico, the company said, eliminating 800 jobs in response to lower fuels demand. Marathon said it plans to use the Martinez facility as an
August 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Italy's Saras Eyes HVO, Ethanol Expansion at Sarroch
by Adam Porter (Argus Media) Italian refiner Saras is looking to boost production of biofuels, including hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO), at its 300,000 b/d Sarroch unit on Sardinia. -- Chief executive Dario Scaffardi said the refiner wants to increase co-processed HVO
August 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Why Trump Is Quickly Losing Rural Support
by Patty Judge (The Gazette) Rural voters are growing tired of Donald Trump. Recently, the Iowa Poll put Vice President Biden one point ahead of President Trump and Iowa moved from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican” on the Cook Political Report.
July 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels Vision 2020 Announces Ad Blitz on EPA Threat to Biofuels
(Biofuels Vision 2020/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In the run up to the November election, Biofuels Vision 2020 is launching a new ad campaign raising the alarm over a major regulatory threat to the economic recovery in Iowa. The new sizable, five-figure digital ad
July 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Tailors Exaggerations and False Claims to Election Battlegrounds
by Linda Qiu (New York Times) ... Likewise, Mr. Trump has sought to curry favor with corn farmers in Iowa and the Midwest by claiming to have “kept our promise on ethanol” and falsely charging Democrats with wanting to “wipe out,
July 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Top Renewable Diesel Projects and Pathways: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Renewable Diesel Now
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you missed last week’s DigestConnect webinar, have no fear, the full deck is here! From 11 pathways on who’s doing what, how and with what, 21 projects and who’s running them and where, 13
July 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Q&A: A Model for Low-Carbon Fuels in the Global Energy Transition
by Alan P. Mammoser (Biodiesel Magazine) Biofuels will likely play an important role in a hoped-for transformation to a low-carbon economy. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, they will need to play a large role in the direct application of
July 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Indonesia to Test Palm Oil in 'Green' Jet Fuel by Year-End
by Bernadette Christian Munthe and Fathin Ungku (Reuters) ... The new jet fuel will be made in Pertamina’s existing facilities in Cilacap by “co-processing” crude oil with 3% refined, bleached and deodorised palm oil (RBDO), she said. Like Pertamina’s D100, Indonesia plans
July 24, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Now Considering 58 Gap-Year SRE Requests
(DTN's Washington Insider) At least 58 retroactive small refinery exemption (SRE) requests have been received by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to the latest update from the agency. The push by refiners for the retroactive “gap-year” exemptions stems from a 10th
July 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Reliance to Replace Auto Fuels with Electricity, Hydrogen; Targets Carbon-Zero co by 2035
(India Times/Economic Times) The oil-telecom-to-retail conglomerate, which has pivoted away from energy to the new economy in recent years, will use technology to convert carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals and other material building blocks. -- Reliance Industries, operator of the world's
July 17, 2020 Read Full Article
World Biggest Oil Majors Set Collective Goal to Cut Carbon Emissions
by Charles Kennedy (OilPrice.com) Some of the biggest oil companies in the world set their first joint target to cut their collective carbon emissions from upstream operations in a move that saw Saudi Aramco and ExxonMobil joining European majors in pledging
July 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Indonesia Produces Maiden Batch of Biodiesel Made of 100% Palm
by Wilda Asmarini and Fathin Ungku (Reuters) Indonesia’s state oil company PT Pertamina produced its first successful batch of biodiesel made up of 100% palm oil (D100) in its Dumai refinery last week and is set to produce 1,000 barrels per
July 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Brazil's Petrobras Develops a Greener Diesel than Biodiesel
(La Opinion de Murcia) Company claims it emits less gas and improves engine performance -- Brazilian oil company Petrobras announced on Tuesday that it has successfully completed the tests of the results of a diesel that it developed from vegetable
July 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Energy Companies Begin Turning to Renewables to Power Oil and Gas Operations, New IHS Markit Research Shows
(IHS Markit) “Striking pace of growth” in renewable projects powering oil and gas field operations -- Oil and gas field operations are beginning to be fueled by a surprising source—renewable energy, according to new research by IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO), a
July 13, 2020 Read Full Article
5 Ways to Reduce Costs in Integrated Biorefineries: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Enabling Lower-Cost Biofuels
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) just released a new report that outlines five specific, yet broadly applicable, areas of focus to reduce costs in an integrated biorefinery. This analysis builds upon ongoing R&D strategies to lower
July 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Takeaways: 10 Big Bioeconomy Trendlines at ABLC for Fuels, Chemicals, Materials, Food and Feed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Here are the Top 10 Trendlines we saw and heard from the 8000+ delegates and viewers at ABLC 2020. 1. The thundering herd. One informed firm that does extensive amounts of technology scouting, due diligence and market price
July 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Top 10 ESG Trends in Energy
by Brandon Johnson & Uday Turaga (ADI Analytics) Investors and consumers are pressuring companies to seriously incorporate Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices into their culture and operations. ESG has gone from a nice-to-have feature to a must-have pre-requisite as
July 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Swedish Industry Representatives Outline Key Credibility Principles for New Sector Sustainability Standard
(Sekab) ISO developing a global mass balance standard for the industry; New standard to help drive shift towards recycled and renewable materials; Call to include traceability and transparency for credibility -- The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), has started work to
July 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Sen. Cruz to EPA: No Relief for Refinery Workers, No Consent for EPA Nominee
(Office of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)) U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement on the nomination of Doug Benevento to be Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "The price of RINs has more than quadrupled since
July 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Petrobras Set for New Gasoline Specs, Will Test Renewable Diesel Production at REPAR
by Robert Brelsford (Oil & Gas Journal) ... Lara (Anelise Lara, Petrobras’s director of refining and natural gas) also said that, starting in July, Petrobras will begin carrying out production tests for renewable diesel at its 208,000-b/d Presidente Getúlio Vargas (REPAR)
June 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Clean Fuels for All: A Potential Pathway to Climate Neutrality by 2050
(FuelsEurope) The ambition of the European Union is to be climate neutral by 2050. The European refining industry supports the same ambition. Our industry is transforming, and we have developed a comprehensive potential pathway of how we, together with our partners, can
June 25, 2020 Read Full Article
Refiners Start to Add Renewable Diesel Capacity, Seen as Cost-Cutting Move
by Laura Sanicola and Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) Refiners such as HollyFrontier Corp and CVR Energy are exploring opportunities to produce renewable diesel to save money on less profitable refineries and offset compliance costs associated with U.S. blending laws. The product, however, currently only
June 25, 2020 Read Full Article
Aegion Corporation Awarded Groundbreaking Renewable Diesel Project at a California Refinery
(Wall Street Online/Globe Newswire) Aegion Corporation (NASDAQ: AEGN) today announced that a subsidiary of the Energy Services segment, Schultz Industrial Services (“Schultz”), has been awarded the mechanical construction services contract for a groundbreaking renewable diesel project at a California refinery.
June 25, 2020 Read Full Article
52 Petitions Filed by Refineries Seeking RFS Exemptions
(Renewable Fuels Association/National Biodiesel Board/Farm Progress) Renewable Fuels Association, National Biodiesel Board critical of these petitions, say refiners are trying to circumvent court ruling. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today disclosed that 52 new petitions have been received from small
June 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuel and Oil Seek Federal Help to Deal with Sharp Decline In Production and Prices
(RFD TV) ... Both the oil and ethanol sectors are asking the federal government to step in as each one sees a sharp decline in prices and production. Oil groups say that the pandemic pushed the industry over the edge,
June 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Date Set for Oral Arguments in Small Refinery Exemption RFS Case
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on Sept. 25 in a case that could determine whether EPA must deeply curtail its program of exemptions from the RFS. The case mirrors
June 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Court Backs Refinery Expansion in Challenge to Sweden's Emissions Aims
by Johan Ahlander (Reuters) ... Preem has said the extra capacity at the plant, on Sweden’s west coast, would be used to make biodiesel and would not mean more crude oil being processed at the plant. READ MORE
June 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Post-Coronavirus: What’s Next in the Environmental Commodity Markets – 23 Key Takeaways
by Mike Newman (Parhelion Underwriting Inc./Biofuels Digest) ... The focus was on renewable fuels in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RINs) and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS credits). Stakeholders came from all corners of the market, from the refining industry,
June 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Small Refiners Have Petitioned EPA to Grant Them Economic Hardship Status Dating Back to 2013
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) REFINERS LATEST ETHANOL BLENDING BID: Small oil refiners — still reeling from the pandemic-driven collapse in fuel demand — have petitioned EPA to grant them economic hardship status dating back to 2013 in an apparent
June 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Renewable Diesel Expanding with Petroleum-to-Renewable Refinery Conversions
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) But there is a huge transformation happening with growth in the conversion of petroleum refineries to renewable diesel. Just look at how renewable diesel went from 78MMGY in 2010 to 397MMGY in 2018 and Fuels
June 15, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Biofuel Group in Talks with Biden, Trump Campaigns to Boost Industry
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) A leading U.S. biofuel trade group said on Thursday it had started conversations with the campaigns of both Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and incumbent Donald Trump to discuss potential policy fixes for the ailing industry. The discussions
June 12, 2020 Read Full Article
15 Hot Tech Case Studies: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to The Digest’s #BetterWithBiology Top 15
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everything’s better with biology, so here’s The Digest’s newly released Top 15 case studies of today’s hottest technology and new markets for traditional oil and gas refiners. What are our top picks? Spoiler Alert: The top 15
June 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Farm, Biofuel Groups Press EPA on Exemptions
(Agri-Pulse/Governors' Biofuels Coalition) Biofuel advocates are asking EPA today to provide more information on requests for retroactive exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard. Citing an appeals court ruling, the Renewable Fuels Association and several other organizations argue in a letter that
June 09, 2020 Read Full Article
The Bankrupt Philly Refinery Is off the Hook for Millions Owed in Renewable Fuel Obligations
by Andrew Maykuth (Philadelphia Inquirer) The U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Wednesday approved a settlement allowing Philadelphia Energy Solutions to pay a small portion of the millions of dollars it owes in unpaid renewable energy obligations, clearing a major obstacle facing
June 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Orion Energy, GCM Grosvenor and Voya Close a $365 Million Strategic Capital Partnership with Bakersfield Renewable Fuels, a Global Clean Energy Holdings Subsidiary
(Orion Energy, GCM Grosvenor, Voya/Global Clean Energy/CISION/PR Newswire) Orion Energy Partners, L.P. ("Orion Energy"), GCM Grosvenor and Voya Investment Management ("Voya") are pleased to announce a capital partnership with Bakersfield Renewable Fuels ("BKRF"). BKRF is a special purpose vehicle wholly
June 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Senate Hearing Addresses Wood Stoves, RFS and Biomass Neutrality
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA’s proposed rule to extend the sales deadline for Step 1 wood heaters, rulemaking to classify biomass as carbon neutral and issues associated with the Renewable Fuel Standard and small refinery exemptions (SREs) were
June 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Old U.S. Oil Refinery to Pursue New Green Life After Crude Crash
by Jennifer A Dlouhy and Jeffrey Bair (Bloomberg Green) HollyFrontier’s Cheyenne refinery will no longer use crude oil; Company expects to lose EPA exemption for small refiners -- In a sign of changing times, a U.S. oil refining company is converting
June 02, 2020 Read Full Article
FEATURE: Surging RVO Cost Negligible for US Fuel Producers, Importers Amid Pandemic
by Joshua Brown, Margaret Rogers, Ellie Valencia, Maha Cristina Husseini (S&P Global/Platts) RVO cost highest since March 2018; USGC WTI MEH margin down $6.45/b on year; US fuel exports fall to two-year low -- Fallout from the coronavirus has so disrupted normal refined
June 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Oral Comments for Fuels Regulatory Streamlining Rule Public Hearing
by Trevor Hinz (Urban Air Initiative) Good morning, my name is Trevor Hinz, and I am the Director of Urban Air Initiative, Inc., a non-profit focused on developing cleaner fuels to reduce harmful gasoline-related air pollution. I would like to start by
May 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Q&A on Cellulosic Ethanol with Clariant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DigestConnect hosted a wildly popular webinar in late April with Clariant’s Head of Business Line, Biofuels & Derivatives at Clariant but there were so many fantastic audience questions we didn’t to, that we decided to follow
May 28, 2020 Read Full Article
RFA Calls on EPA to Deny Secretive “Gap Year” Refinery Waiver Requests
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association on Friday urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to deny new petitions submitted by refiners for past-year waivers from their renewable volume obligations. In a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, RFA President and
May 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Oil Exec: It Would Be a Mistake for the US Government to Bail Us out
by Dan K. Eberhart (CNN Business Perspectives) ... President Trump indicated that some sort of financial bailout for the US oil industry -- and the millions of jobs it supports -- could be in the works. ... "We will never let the
May 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Oil Firms See Relief from Stimulus Tax Provision
by James Osborne (Houston Chronicle) Oil and gas companies that have struggled for years under low crude prices are reaping hundreds of millions of dollars in tax refunds under a provision of the $2 trillion stimulus package passed by Congress
May 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuel Bolsters Economy and Environment - Humber LEP Responds to E10 Consultation
by David Laister (Business Live) Department for Transport gets response from home of UK's largest bioethanol plant -- ... Biofuels are being explored as Net Zero commitments loom large, with the Humber home to the UK’s largest bioethanol plant, mothballed
May 19, 2020 Read Full Article
This Is Not the Green Stimulus You're Looking for
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) House Democrats unveiled a $3 trillion package on Tuesday to respond to the coronavirus crisis that they're planning to vote on at the end of the week. The 1,815-page measure is largely a messaging bill with
May 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Alon Bakersfield Refinery Converting to Renewable Diesel Production
by Matthew Mercure (NGT News)... Alon Bakersfield Refinery is an existing oil refinery located in Bakersfield, Calif. Historically, the refinery has produced diesel from crude oil. GCEH will immediately commence retooling the refinery to produce renewable diesel from organic feedstocks such
May 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol and Biodiesel Industry Groups Commend 24 Senators’ RFS Letter to President
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, D.C., two biofuels groups, Iowa Biodiesel Board and Renewable Fuels Assocation, both released notes of thanks to 24 Senators that signed the bipartisan letter to President Trump urging him to uphold the
May 11, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Offers Bankrupt Refiner $10 Million Cap on Biofuel Obligation: Filing
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) The Trump administration has offered to place a $10 million cap on Philadelphia Energy Solutions’ biofuel blending obligations, effectively slashing the bankrupt refiner’s regulatory liability by more than 70%, according to a proposed settlement between the
May 11, 2020 Read Full Article
CVR Energy to Explore Converting Refining Units for Renewable Diesel Production
by Laura Sanicola (Reuters) CVR Energy Inc is looking to convert certain units in its refineries to renewable diesel production to reduce its exposure to the cost of renewable fuel credits (RINs), the company said on Thursday. The project, which would involve using
May 08, 2020 Read Full Article
Big Oil Overreaches on COVID-19 Bailout
by Jim Talent (The Gazette) ... Oil companies have requested special access to a $600 billion lending facility at the Federal Reserve, and the administration seems keen to deliver. The president just announced that the Secretary of Energy and Secretary
May 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Coalition Opposes API Petition on 2020 RFS Obligations
(Renewable Fuels Association) A coalition of ethanol and farm groups today sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency opposing the American Petroleum Institute’s recent petition requesting reconsideration of the 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) final rule. API claims reconsideration of the
May 01, 2020 Read Full Article
With Oil Reeling under Pandemic, Clean Energy Looks to Capitalize
by James Osborne (Houston Chronicle) As a sudden drop in demand decimates the oil industry, international efforts are underway to ride the lull in fossil fuel consumption to expedite the clean up of the world’s energy sector. Even as the coronavirus
May 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Vilsack Warns Administration Continues to Ignore Biofuels
by Jacqui Fatka (Feedstuffs) ... (Former Agriculture Secretary Tom) Vilsack said the biofuel industry hasn’t been invited to the White House like the airline or oil industries have to discuss ways to help cover their losses. A number of conservative
April 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Tax Groups, Think Tanks Want RFS Waiver: Letter Cites Diversion of Hand Sanitizer Production as Reason for Request
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Pressure is mounting on President Donald Trump to change the Renewable Fuel Standard in light of the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19. A number of tax, environmental and political think tanks sent a letter
April 29, 2020 Read Full Article
The Great Texas Oil Shutdown Has Begun
by James Osborne, Sergio Chapa and Erin Douglas (Houston Chronicle) ... The mass shutdown of Texas oil fields has begun after an unprecedented crash that last week drove crude prices into negative territory for the first time in history. From
April 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Oil Prices Have Fallen below $0 a Barrel. What Does It Mean for the Climate? This Could Be an Opportunity to Reshape Our Energy System. But It Could Also Simply Lead to a Bailout of Oil Companies.
by Adele Peters (Fast Company) ... Fracking companies have lost billions over the past decade. Some investors may be even more reluctant to invest in the sector now. “I think on the financial side, I would think twice as a
April 24, 2020 Read Full Article
An Economic Rebound Will Need Ethanol
by Doug Durante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Biofuels Digest) ... I want build on the theme that now, when we’ve been knocked down and are on the mat is when we need support, but from an additional angle—to preserve some sense of energy
April 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Economist Expects "Battle Royal" over RFS in Washington
by Larry Lee (Brownfield Ag News) An ag economist expects Washington lawmakers will be revisiting the Renewable Fuel Standard. Scott Irwin with the University of Illinois says, “I think we’re going to see the mother of all political battles over the RFS
April 22, 2020 Read Full Article
As Price of Oil Drops, Trump Orders Plan to Help U.S. Energy Companies: Energy Secretary Says Funds from Fed’s Main Street Loan Program Might Be Needed to Help Oil Companies
by Will Englund (Washington Post) President Trump said Tuesday he has ordered his administration to come up with a plan to provide federal assistance to the oil and gas industry in the United States, which has been staggered by the
April 22, 2020 Read Full Article
New RFA Analysis: Ethanol Industry Could See $10 Billion in Losses Due to COVID-19
(Renewable Fuels Association) As the COVID-19 pandemic and crude oil glut continue to ravage world fuel markets, U.S. ethanol sales in 2020 could fall by more than $10 billion and the industry’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) could drop by