by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA has published renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for November, reporting that both D3 cellulosic biofuel and D7 cellulosic diesel RINs were generated during the month. According to the EPA, 59,119 D3
RINs (Renewable Identification Numbers)
Back TO HOMEU.S. Invalidates 33.5 Million Renewable Credits After Fraud (1)
by Mark Drajem (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it has invalidated 33.5 million renewable-fuel credits sold by an Indiana company for biofuel it didn’t produce, the fourth time the agency has alleged fraud in the program. The filing
December 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Dinneen: RFS Not for Big Oil’s Convenience
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) The case for keeping the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as-is is being made today at an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hearing in Arlington, Va. Our friends from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) have shown up in
December 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Nightmare Scenario: Renewable Fuels’ Defenders Pull out the Stops to Persuade EPA to Continue the War on Imported Oil
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today, the EPA has scheduled a day of testimony on its proposed 2014 Renewable Fuel volume targets — and a proposed 40 percent slash in the advanced biofuels category to 2.2 billion (ethanol equivalent) gallons,
December 05, 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
INSIGHT-Lord of the RINs? Vitol's Ethanol Credit Bonanza
by Cezary Podkul (Reuters) Swiss trading company Vitol SA is among the biggest beneficiaries of an opaque U.S.-government-mandated trading scheme established to help boost the share of ethanol in the nation's fuel supply, market sources say. As refiners scrambled this year
November 08, 2013 Read Full Article
RIN Market Is Working Well To Enforce Biofuel Mandates, According To CARD Economists
(Center For Agricultural And Rural Development/PR NewsWire/Yahoo!Finance) A new analysis by Iowa State University economists Bruce A. Babcock and Sebastien Pouliot of the EPA's ethanol market system finds that it works effectively and as intended in tracking compliance with the
November 07, 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
Journey to the Center of the Renewable Fuel Standard
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pressure has risen to 30 atmospheres and the temperatures are rising into the hundreds of degrees. You think: “I’m in a dream, on a journey to the center of the earth.” But, in fact,
October 30, 2013 Read Full Article
U.S. Farm State Lawmakers Urge CFTC to Examine Volatile RINs Market
by Cezary Podkul (Reuters) Thirteen U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday urged the derivatives market regulator to examine fraud and manipulation in the cash market for ethanol blending credits known as RINs, as political scrutiny of the market intensifies following an unprecedented
October 23, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Proposes Slashed Market for America’s Cleanest Fuel as Observers Ask “Why?”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For industry observers, there is much that is mystifying in the EPA’s draft 2014 production targets for the US 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard. But nothing more mystifying than the biomass-based diesel numbers. ... If there’s any
October 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Total to Hike Texas Plant Fuel Exports Amid Costly Ethanol Credits
by Cezary Podkul (Reuters) ... "The increase in (RIN) price is indeed translated into an additional cost for the company (around $100 million) and as a consequence, Total plans to increase exports and jet (fuel) production" because they are not subject
October 15, 2013 Read Full Article
From RINs to Supply to Demand to Seasonality…Why Gasoline is Heading Lower
by Matt Smith (Fuel Fix) Let’s end at the beginning: retail gasoline prices are going to continue to head lower, and this post simply presents the case as to why, through some simple visuals. But before we do that, here are
October 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuel Blending Rules Won't Raise Gas Prices | Commentary
by Brent Erickson (Roll Call/Biotechnology Industry Organization) ... What’s really behind this year’s rapid rise in the price of RINs? And will their cost be passed to consumers at the pump? A simple exercise in following the money shows that it’s the
October 02, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Expands Heating Oil Definition to Allow RINs
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expanding the definition of heating oil as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. This means that renewable heating oil, such as bioheat, a mixture of biodiesel and heating
September 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Grassley Asks EPA if Ethanol Credit Market Is Being Controlled by Wall Street
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) As controversy swells over the cost of special credits tied to ethanol, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley asked the agency charged with overseeing the country’s renewable policy for details on what is being done
September 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Chairwoman Stabenow Calls on CFTC to Review Possible Manipulation of Renewable Fuels Market
by Greg Akagi (KansasAgNetwork) Michigan Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today called on the Commodities Future Trading Commission to review recent allegations about possible manipulation of the markets for
September 25, 2013 Read Full Article
EIA: E85 Fuel Becoming Price-Competitive with Gasoline in US Midwest
by Conglin Xu (Oil & Gas Journal) E85 motor fuel—gasoline blended with as much as 85% ethanol and commonly used by flexible-fuel vehicles (FFV) in the US and Europe—is becoming increasingly price-competitive with gasoline in several Midwestern states on an energy-content basis,
September 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blend Wall? What Blend Wall?
by Ned Stowe (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The oil industry has formally petitioned the EPA to reduce the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements for 2014, arguing that the ethanol market is saturated. But now that corn and ethanol
September 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Clearing Up A Few Myths About Brazilian Biofuels Trade
by Leticia Phillips (The Energy Collective/UNICA) ... Let’s turn to the facts to debunk two leading myths circulating around Washington, D.C. about Brazilian sugarcane ethanol. Myth #1: Brazil can’t supply sufficient sugarcane ethanol to meet America’s needs. Reality: Brazilian sugarcane ethanol is on
September 20, 2013 Read Full Article
$100M Biodiesel Fraud in Indiana? E-Biofuels Ring Nabbed by Feds
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Indiana, federal officials are saying that a group of biodiesel operators associated with E-Biofuels stole nearly $100 million in a fraud scheme, and seven have been arrested in what has been described as the
September 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuel Pays off for Some Oil Refiners
by Jennifer A. Dlouhy (Fuel Fix) ... The rising cost of RINs turned out to be good economic news for some oil companies, especially those who are producing biofuels and have blending capacity, so they could capitalize on the credits tacked
September 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Seeking Delta: Biofuels, Algae, Natgas, CO2 and the Finding of True Value
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... “What you really are in the business of,” Aemetis CEO Eric McAfee reflects, “is capturing the arbitrage between the commodity price of your most expensive feedstock — and the price of your finished molecule plus
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
Renewable Fuels Are Wave of the Future
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Pottstown Mercury) I am writing in response to Senator Pat Toomey’s Op-Ed that ran in The Mercury entitled “Federal regulations threaten Pa. refineries.” The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is not threatening refiners across the United States because
September 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Aemetis Announces EPA Approval as the First Converted Corn Ethanol Plant to Produce D5 Advanced Biofuels Using Sorghum/Biogas/CHP
(Fort Mill Times) Aemetis California Plant Approved for Same Low-Carbon Biofuels Category as Brazilian Ethanol Aemetis, Inc. (OTCQB: AMTX), an advanced fuels and renewable chemicals company, announced today that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted Aemetis approval to produce
September 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Is Ethanol’s Number Up?
by Steve Everly (Kansas City Star) ... Ethanol has so far reduced the need for petroleum in gasoline by about 7 percent, which no other alternative fuel has come close to doing. But a shift is already in the works. ... In practice it
September 03, 2013 Read Full Article
Bad Ethanol Policy Is a Job Killer
by Patrick Meehan and Pat Eiding (The Wall Street Journal) The price of EPA compliance rose 3,625% since the end of 2012. ... As a display of regulatory failure at its finest, current regulations place the compliance obligation on refiners rather than on
September 03, 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
US RINs Prices Continue Slump Despite Looming Blend Wall
(Platts) US RINs prices continued to slide Wednesday, reflecting a widespread morning market selloff and despite a later bounce after US gasoline stocks data was released. All current-year RINs assessments fell for the sixth time in the last seven sessions. ... Current-year ethanol
August 29, 2013 Read Full Article
The Texas Whale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Too many oil companies bet on risky strategies for compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard. Now, they turn to the US government for a bail-out on their obligations. Judging that the government will cave in rather
August 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Who Will Buy Syntroleum?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A month ago this week, Syntroleum (owner of a half interest in Dynamic Fuels, the renewable diesel technology) announced that it was “evaluating strategic alternatives” — and just a few days later revealed that it
August 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Mandates Creating an Economic Car-Wreck
by Charles Lane (The Washington Post) There are two iron laws of energy policy in the United States. Iron Law No. 1: A higher federal excise tax on fuel would efficiently reduce gasoline consumption and its negative side effects (air pollution,
August 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Is 2014 the Year of E85?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As a Perfect Storm of price problems ends, will E85 finally find its market and help end a divisive debate over ethanol distribution? 2014 is the year of E85, if there ever was one. Or will
August 16, 2013 Read Full Article
How E85 Can Break the Blend Wall
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The “ethanol blend wall” can be overcome and Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requirements can be met in 2014 and beyond through increased use of attractively-priced E85, according to a new economic analysis by the Center for Agricultural
August 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Can Solve the Ethanol Debate, Supporters Say
by Zain Shauk (Fuel Fix) Amid the oil industry’s all-out blitz to kill a government mandate for corn-based ethanol, biodiesel producers say they have a solution that could help everyone involved. It goes like this: Buy more biodiesel. That proposal may not be so
July 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Refiners Backed Against E10 Blendwall
(American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers/PR NewsWire) The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) highlight the testimony of Valero Energy Corporation Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer William R. Klesse who testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
July 16, 2013 Read Full Article
ANALYSIS-New EPA Rules Could Cripple Brazil-U.S. Ethanol Trading
by Cezary Podkul (Reuters/CNBC) Importing cheap Brazilian ethanol into the United States could become much less profitable next year if a proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency to expand tough documentation and transportation rules to non-U.S. producers takes effect. The proposal,
July 15, 2013 Read Full Article
U.S. Ethanol RINs Reach Record Highs on Consumption Targets
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Renewable Identification Numbers for ethanol rose to record levels on concern the U.S. won’t adjust consumption targets. RINs, the credits that help the Environmental Protection Agency track whether refiners are meeting federal biofuel-use mandates, jumped 10 cents
July 11, 2013 Read Full Article
COLUMN-Biodiesel Could Ease U.S. "Blend Wall": Wynn
by Gerard Wynn (Reuters) Biodiesel could in future ease so-called ethanol "blend wall" concerns facing the U.S. transportation fuel industry, whose capacity to blend corn ethanol in gasoline is nearing its physical limit. The biodiesel industry has ample production capacity and
July 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Largest Green Diesel Plant Completed in US, Diamond Green Diesel: Can It Make Money?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A now-complete 142 million gallon green diesel monster project will easily deliver big on renewable energy targets and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. But it also offers a material path to profits for its parents, Valero Energy
July 01, 2013 Read Full Article
RIN Amounts Indicate Positive Trend for Biodiesel
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) figures for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) shows in 2.5 billion 2012 RINs across the biodiesel (D4), advanced (D5), and renewable (D6) categories. Of this total, just over 2 billion D6 RINs were
June 27, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA to Issue Ethanol Use Targets This Summer
by Ayesha Rascoe (Reuters) The Environmental Protection Agency plans to announce targets for U.S. ethanol use in 2013 and 2014 this summer, an EPA official told lawmakers on Wednesday, even as critics of the program warned of a brewing fuel
June 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Absolute Energy Launches Direct E85 Distribution to Retailers at $1.93 per Gallon
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, Absolute Energy, a 115 million gallon per year ethanol plant near the Iowa-Minnesota border, is now offering E85, a fuel blend containing 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, directly to retailers and
May 27, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Announces Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: RFS Pathways II and Technical Amendments to the RFS2 Standards
(Environmental Protection Agency) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a proposed rulemaking for modifications to the Renewable Fuel Standard program, E15 misfueling mitigation regulations, ultra low sulfur diesel survey requirements as well as other technical amendments. Elements of this Notice EPA is
May 23, 2013 Read Full Article
FEATURE: Biojet Backers See US RINs Eligibility as Vital to Long-Term Viability
by Herman Wang and Matthew Kolhman (Platts) Aviation biofuel's newly minted ability to generate tradable US renewables credits, known as RINs, may be key to the industry's economics, according to market watchers. "The availability of RINs is a critical bridge to commercial
May 07, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol Outpaced by Gasoline on Concern Blend Wall to Cap Demand
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) ...“The only thing that worries me is the gasoline demand category,” said Jason Ward, an analyst at Northstar Commodity Investments Inc. in Minneapolis. “It’s key because if you start fading on gasoline demand, you will be capped. You
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
CME, ICE Rivalry Enters Biofuel Arena
(Reuters/Chicago Tribune) The battle between CME Group Inc. and the IntercontinentalExchange moves to the market for biofuel credits next month. CME will launch contracts to trade renewable identification numbers (RINs) on May 13, two weeks after the ICE debuts its RIN
April 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Ethanol RINs Market Explodes
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Lack of transparency makes market analysis difficult. ...The ethanol producer's role in RIN generation is basic: produce the physical gallons and fill in the required information to generate the RINs in the automated EMTS system.
April 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Institute for Energy Research’s Response to Politico Op-Ed Smells Like a Skunk
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association) ... (Robert) Murphy simply regurgitates Big Oil’s false argument that the RFS is driving up fuel costs. There’s not a shred of evidence to support that notion, but that’s never stopped these folks before. Murphy
April 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Fuels Battle Heats up as Congress Mulls Law Change
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) The battle between U.S. ethanol producers and oil companies has reached a turning point, with the winners poised to gain an advantage over the future of the country’s energy mix and the losers forced
April 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Differing RINs Estimates Creates Confusion, Market Spikes
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Confusion remains over how to interpret and compare various estimates of renewable identification number (RIN) availability, said Nick Paulson, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois.
April 23, 2013 Read Full Article
ICE to Launch D4, D5, D6 RIN Futures Contracts
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) IntercontinentalExchange (ICE), an operator of global markets and clearing house, has announced the introduction of new North American environmental futures contracts for three categories of renewable energy numbers (RINs), including biomass-based diesel D4 RINs,
April 23, 2013 Read Full Article
AFPM Welcomes EPA Move to Address Biodiesel Fraud but Greater Fix is Needed
(Wall Street Journal/The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers) The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) and American Petroleum Institute (API) filed comments in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed biofuel Quality Assurance Program. "EPA's proposal is a welcome attempt
April 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Who Killed $2.18 Gasoline?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) An explosive report from Bloomberg alleges that a pathway to $2.18 per gallon gasoline was developed at Chevron-Weyerhaeuser owned Catchlight Energy. Yet, the project was sidelined. Why? Was the project really saddled with a threshold
April 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Freeze It - A Proposal for Implementing RFS2 through 2015
by Scott Irwin and Darrel Good (FarmDocDaily) ...Here, we present a proposal for implementing the RFS2 through 2015 that recognizes the constraints implied by the E10 blend wall and will avert the impact of the issues identified in the previous
April 11, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest’s 3-Minute Guide to the EIA Energy Outlook
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Eager to understand the bio investor impact from the EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook – but not crazy about reading 46 pages of dense text and graphics? Our 3-Minute Guide can help. ...We see four key trends. 1. Retail
April 10, 2013 Read Full Article
CME Plans to Introduce Ethanol RINs Contract by End of May
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) CME Group Inc. (CME), owner of the world’s largest futures exchange, plans to start a contract for ethanol Renewable Identification Numbers by the end of May amid concern that higher RINs costs will boost gasoline prices. The
April 09, 2013 Read Full Article
RFA to House Energy & Commerce Committee: Let RFS Work and Solutions to Blend Wall Will Be Found!
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today (April 5, 2013) responded to the questions posed by the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Energy and Commerce in a white paper entitled, “Examining ‘Blend Wall’ Challenges”. The Committee is
April 08, 2013 Read Full Article
7 Steps to Meeting US Renewable Fuels Targets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We go through the renewable fuels math — and find that the nattering nabobs of negativism might have crowed too soon. ...Lately, the nattering nabobs appear to have landed at the American Petroleum Institute — which
April 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Bio-diesel Fuel Company Owner Sentenced to 188 Months in Federal Prison for Crimes Connected to Illegal Fuels Scheme / Jeffrey Gunselman also fined $175,000 and ordered to pay nearly $55 million in restitution
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Jeffrey David Gunselman, 30, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 188 months in federal prison, fined $175,000 and ordered to pay more than $54.9 million in restitution, following his guilty plea
March 29, 2013 Read Full Article
11 Reasons Why You Should Invest in the Biodiesel Industry
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine/MarketWire) Below is breakdown of the latest, sourced information as to why investment in biodiesel is a sound decision written by Ron Kotrba, Editor of Biodiesel Magazine. 1. Jump in on a growing market: The U.S. biodiesel industry
March 29, 2013 Read Full Article
US Refiners May Boost Renewables Spending if RFS Targets Not Lowered: Moody's
by Beth Evans (Platts) Ratings agency Moody's expects US refiners to increase investments in renewables blending and infrastructure if federal renewables targets are not lowered. "In the absence of any EPA waivers to meeting the renewable fuel requirements, we expect refiners
March 28, 2013 Read Full Article
RFS: #1 on Big Oil Hitlist for a Reason
by Brooke Coleman (National Journal/Advanced Ethanol Council) First, let's assess what we know to be true ... RFS2 is just five years old. We are about one-third of the way through a 15-year commitment to diversify the liquid fuels marketplace with
March 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Industry Poised to Help Fill Advanced Biofuel Requirement
by Anne Steckel (Biodiesel Magazine/National Biodiesel Board) The National Biodiesel Board recently welcomed the proposed rule from the U.S. EPA establishing the 2013 advanced biofuels requirements under the renewable fuel standard (RFS) at 2.75 billion RINs. The U.S. biodiesel industry
March 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Stop the RINsanity: Fact-Checking Big Oil’s Claims on RIN Price Effects
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) Oil companies have suggested that increased prices for conventional ethanol RINs (Renewable Identification Numbers) are leading to higher gasoline prices at the pump. Some have even deceptively claimed RINs are adding as much as
March 13, 2013 Read Full Article
Des Moines Company Keeps Tabs on Biofuel Production, Sales
by Dan Piller (Des Moines Register) EcoEngineers tapped by EPA to help audit RFS compliance. In a small office in the East Village of Des Moines, a handful of engineers and statisticians are hard at work keeping score on how much
March 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Debate Rages over Who Is to Blame for Rising RIN Prices
(Platts) Prices for renewable fuel credits cracked the $1 barrier Friday and RBOB prices settled sharply higher as the war of words over who is to blame for skyrocketing credits prices also escalated. ...RINs have shown "an incredible spike" in a
March 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Big Oil’s Self-Inflicted Blend Wall and Its Impact on RIN Pricing
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association) Prices for conventional renewable fuel RINs (Renewable Identification Number)[1]have increased significantly in recent weeks. Oil companies and various media outlets have suggested the increase in RIN prices is due to the arrival of the
March 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Bloomberg Report Outlines 2013 Issues to Watch
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Bloomberg New Energy Finance has published a white paper outlining eight issues is has identified as being central to the biofuels industry in 2013. The report, titled “US biofuels in 2013: stories to watch,”
March 07, 2013 Read Full Article
Hot Sauce! 5 Lessons Louisiana Can Teach Us about Advanced Bayoufuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Louisiana — hot as cayenne pepper in biofuels capacity development, but some cautionary tales there in the sauce. When it comes to the first generation of ethanol and biodiesel-based biofuels, Louisiana didn’t figure much into the
March 07, 2013 Read Full Article
Skyrocketing RIN Prices Signal Ethanol Blend Wall Imminent
(Platts) Prices of renewable fuel credits, needed by refiners to comply with the nation's Renewable Fuel Standard, have skyrocketed over the past few months, an indication to some that the dreaded "blend wall" is close. The price for the traded Renewable
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Stoel Rives Publishes White Paper on RIN Program Change Proposal
(Stoel Rives/Biodiesel Magazine) Stoel Rives LLP, a national energy and biofuels law firm, has published a white paper that provides a comprehensive overview of proposed regulatory changes to the renewable fuel standard (RFS) program, specifically the renewable identification number (RIN)
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Arundo Donax Safe from Noxious Weed Designation in North Carolina
(SFN Today) At the North Carolina Board of Agriculture’s meeting on Tuesday, whether or not to classify Arundo donax as a noxious weed in the state was at the top of the agenda. Vernon Cox, Division Director of the Plant
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Can the US Still Meet Its 2022 Biofuels Targets?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As cellulosic biofuels technologies start to deploy — critics and friends ask, 36 billion gallons by 2022, can it still be done? Yep, there’s a pathway. In Washington, the US Energy Information Administration released a map
February 28, 2013 Read Full Article
U.S. Refiners May Use RINs to Meet Requirement on Biofuel Use
by Louise Downing (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) ...“The biofuels sector faces difficult choices”, said Alejandro Zamorano Cadavid, U.S. analyst for biofuels at New Energy Finance. “Corn ethanol use has expanded rapidly in the U.S. as an oxygenate in gasoline. But this year,
February 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Rodney Hailey Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Selling $9 Million in Fraudulent Renewable Fuel Credits
(Environmental Protection Agency) Owner of “Clean Green Fuel” falsely claimed his company produced 23 million gallons of renewable fuel U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Rodney R. Hailey, of Perry Hall, Md., today to nearly 12 years and six
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
The Biorefinery Project of the Future — Today
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... As we highlighted this week in the Digest, Chromatin and Pacific Ethanol announced that they have entered into a multi-year agreement to produce, deliver and use locally grown sorghum in the production of ethanol. The
February 21, 2013 Read Full Article
US EPA's Byron Bunker Deciphers Biodiesel RIN QAP Proposed Rule
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) After U.S. EPA’s much-anticipated renewable identification number (RIN) quality assurance program (QAP) proposed rule was released last week, biodiesel producers and industry stakeholders at the 2013 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Las Vegas eagerly
February 13, 2013 Read Full Article
2013 a Pivotal Year for the Renewable Fuel Standard
by Paul Winter (Biotechnology Industry Organization) Less than a decade ago, the nation’s energy experts projected imports of oil to continue to grow throughout the first third of the century. Both Congress and the President recognized that this was a
February 02, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Proposes Rules for Voluntary RIN Integrity Program
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Jan. 31 the U.S. EPA published a proposed rule that creates a structured process for buyers of renewable identification numbers (RINs) to verify their validity. Under the proposal, the EPA said that
February 02, 2013 Read Full Article
RIN Management Strategies: Prepping for New EPA RIN Quality Rules
by Jeff Hove (RINAlliance/Biodiesel Magazine) ...Managing RIN transactions and completing EPA reports has become slightly easier under RFS2 and EMTS rules. RIN marketing, however, has become increasingly difficult in a market that has been rocked with fraud and belligerent acts
January 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Aemetis Idles California Ethanol Plant, Plans Sorghum Shift
by Andrew Herndon (Bloomberg) Aemetis Inc., a U.S. ethanol producer, idled production at its plant in Keyes, California, citing “unfavorable market conditions for corn ethanol” and will upgrade the facility to also produce fuel from grain sorghum. The company shut down
January 18, 2013 Read Full Article
RIN Management and RIN Marketing Strategies: Prepping for New EPA RIN Quality Rules
by Jeff Hove (RINAlliance/EcoEngineers) RINAlliance was established in 2007 to assist petroleum marketers and renewable fuel blenders with EPA blending compliance requirements. Today, RINAlliance serves 130 blenders with EPA reporting and RIN marketing. They currently manage more than 2 million RINs
January 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Sugar Rush: Sweetwater, Front Range Ink $100M Cellulosic Biofuels Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Front Range becomes third ethanol plant in 3 weeks to head for cost reductions, RIN opportunities with advanced feedstocks, technology. ...In New York, Sweetwater Energy announced a 15-year commercial agreement with Colorado-based Front Range Energy, to
January 16, 2013 Read Full Article
U.S. Biodiesel Producers Gain from Tax Reinstatement , RIN Integrity Programs
by Janet McGurty (Biofuels Digest) ...Larger producers of biodiesel like Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland get a higher price for their RINs than the producers with smaller balance sheets. For producers outside of the largest, integrated tier, RINs can fetch
January 11, 2013 Read Full Article
CARD Analysis Considers Outlook for RINs in 2013, 2014
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development recently published a policy brief on the outlook for ethanol and conventional biofuel renewable identification numbers (RINs) through 2014. The brief was written by economics
January 07, 2013 Read Full Article
Program Launched to Authenticate Feedstock as 'Renewable Biomass'
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) ...While the biodiesel industry is working with EPA, obligated parties under the renewable fuel standard (RFS) and third-party verifiers to ensure valid generation of renewable identification numbers (RINs)—credits generated with biofuel that can be bought,
December 19, 2012 Read Full Article
15 Burning Questions (and Answers) for Biofuels in 2013
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Policy, finance, technology, feedstocks, markets, prices, opposition. Here’s what’s on your mind, as the critical 2013 deployment year for biofuels looms. So here are 15 burning questions as suggested by various Digesterati — divided for convenience
December 14, 2012 Read Full Article
FAPRI: RIN Prices Could Be on the Rise
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) There could be big money in store for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs)… or not. A new report from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri(FAPRI-MU) says that the ethanol blend wall could
December 12, 2012 Read Full Article
EPA Releases Draft QAP Requirements for RIN Validation
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The U.S. EPA has released its draft quality assurance plan requirements as part of its work to restructure the renewable fuel standard program to ensure renewable identification number (RIN) credits generated are valid before entering the marketplace. These
November 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Going Ugly Turns Bush Plan Into Obama Test
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) U.S. ethanol production is headed for the first decline in 16 years, jeopardizing the nation’s drive to boost alternative fuels, as higher costs and lower demand close plants. Shrinking distilling margins have resulted in a 14
November 08, 2012 Read Full Article
The Biofuels Era - A Changing of the Guard?
by Darrel Good and Scott Irwin (FarmDocDaily/University of Illinois) ...We begin our analysis by tracing out the implications for biofuels consumption over the next three years based on one potential scenario involving all of the listed factors. This scenario represents
November 08, 2012 Read Full Article
Integration of Biodiesel RIN Verification in the BQ-9000 Program
by Pete Moss (Biodiesel Magazine) BQ-9000 is the gold standard for quality control in the biodiesel industry. The accreditation program was developed by the National Biodiesel Board to ensure better quality in a rapidly growing market. A study completed in
October 26, 2012 Read Full Article
EcoEngineers RIN Program Manages 300 MMgy of Biodiesel Capacity
by Jim Baker (EcoEngineeers/Biodiesel Magazine) Last October, EcoEngineers unveiled its RIN Quality Assurance Program to address RIN fraud that was destabilizing biodiesel RIN markets. At that time, the idea of a RIN QAP was unheard of, and many in the
October 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Demand, Profitability Sink
by Dan Piller (Des Moines Register) So much biodiesel has been made and sold this year that the federal mandate for use of the biofuel has largely been met, resulting in a sudden loss of demand for the product and
October 25, 2012 Read Full Article
Aviation Biofuel: Technology-Ready, Needs Capex Infusion, RIN Reforms
by Marsha W. Johnston (Renewable Energy World) By all rights, many believe aviation biofuel producers should be attracting deep-pocketed investors ambitious enough to build the infrastructure necessary to meet a clearly burgeoning industrial-sized demand. At the Aviation Biofuels Development Conference, representatives
October 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Integration of Biodiesel RIN Verification in the BQ-9000 Program
by Pete Moss (Biodiesel Magazine) BQ-9000 is the gold standard for quality control in the biodiesel industry. The accreditation program was developed by the National Biodiesel Board to ensure better quality in a rapidly growing market. A study completed in
October 03, 2012 Read Full Article
US EPA Direct Final, Proposed Rules Amend Heating Oil Definition
by Ashley Player (Biodiesel Magazine) You may or may not have noticed that the U.S. EPA released a direct final rule and proposed rule on Sept.17 modifying the definition of heating oil in the renewable fuel standard (RFS2). ... If a
September 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Reps. Olson, Blackburn Introduce 'Stop RIN Fraud Act of 2012'
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) U.S. Reps. Pete Olson, R-Texas, and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., introduced the Stop RIN Fraud Act of 2012 (H.R. 6444) Sept. 20 to shore up weaknesses in the U.S. EPA’s renewable identification number (RIN) program. The RIN program
September 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Analysis: Brazil Ethanol Returns to US as Biofuel Rules Pave Way
by Reese Ewing (Reuters) Brazilian ethanol is rushing back into the United States after a three-year ebb, drawn less by the severe drought that has inflated corn costs than by biofuel regulations that could more than triple next year's shipments. Even
September 21, 2012 Read Full Article
Renewable Biogas: Next RFS Darling or Marginal Fuel?
by Mackinnon Lawrence (Biofuels Digest/Pike Research) ...The Toilet Bike, though, brings to light questions around the broader potential for biogas as a renewable transportation fuel, an application that has been gaining increased attention in recent years. Still, biogas fuel’s broader market
September 12, 2012 Read Full Article
Platts Unveils Comprehensive Biofuels News and Pricing Service
(Platts/PR NewsWire) Consolidates News, Analysis and Pricing in Three Biofuels-Specific Products A comprehensive array of news, market analysis and pricing is now available to the burgeoning biofuels sector through three new products from Platts, a leading global energy, petrochemicals and metals
September 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Minn. Biodiesel Plant First to Pass RIN Integrity Network Audit
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Minnesota Soybean Processors is the first biodiesel plant to pass Genscape’s RIN Integrity Network audit. ... The passing of its audit gives MnSP the first green icon on Genscape’s dashboard map of biodiesel producers, making it easy
August 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol RINs Slide on Waiver Fears
by Janet McGurty (Reuters) Renewable fuel credit prices fell across the board on Tuesday as fears of an ethanol waiver roiled the Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) market. Benchmark E12 RINS, referring to RINs created in 2012, traded at 3.60 cents a
August 22, 2012 Read Full Article
Drought Sparks Intense Fight over RFS Waiver
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ...Talk of a possible renewable fuel standard (RFS) waiver request became a reality in mid-August, when the U.S. EPA was officially petitioned. The clock starts on a 90-day deadline and a public comment period
August 20, 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 Credits May Ease Pressure on U.S. Corn, IEA Says
by Nariman Gizitdinov (Bloomberg) Ethanol credits held by U.S. refiners may help reduce demand for the blending fuel and ease pressure on rising prices of corn, from which ethanol is made, the International Energy Agency said. The credits, known as Renewable Identification
August 13, 2012 Read Full Article
US Drought to Hit Ethanol Exports, Not Gas Prices - EIA
(Reuters) ...But gasoline prices should be spared despite the loss of ethanol output, the EIA said on Wednesday. "The impact of the forecasted decline in domestic ethanol production should be primarily reflected in reduced ethanol exports," the EIA said. The United
August 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Petroleum Refiners Get out the Old Fear-Mongering Playbook for Attack on Renewable Fuel Standard
by Brent Erickson (BIO/Biofuels Digest) Despite oil industry claims of “$10 million in fines for non-existent fuels” – they paid exactly $19,010.16 for cellulosic ethanol waivers in 2010, costing US consumers 14 millionths of one penny per gallon. So why
August 02, 2012 Read Full Article
RINtrust Program Formed as RFS2 Engineering Review Deadline Nears
by Frazier Barnes & Associates (Biodiesel Magazine) RIN fraud and RIN verification have emerged as key factors in a biodiesel plant’s viability as evidenced by the recent lawsuits for invalid RINs. As a result of a few bad apples, all
July 25, 2012 Read Full Article
Former Absolute Fuels CEO Arrested, Criminal Proceedings Begin
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Criminal proceedings are underway against Jeffrey David Gunselman, former CEO of Texas-based Absolute Fuels, in U.S. District Court as Judge Sam Cummings filed an official complaint last week authorizing Gunselman’s arrest. ...Absolute Fuels LLC out of
July 25, 2012 Read Full Article
BIO Says Petroleum Refining Organizations Lying to Congress in Anti-Renewable Fuel Standard Campaign
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, Brent Erickson, executive vice president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO) Industrial & Environmental Section, said, “Petroleum refining industry organizations are engaging in a misguided and misleading anti-Renewable Fuel Standard campaign, going so
July 23, 2012 Read Full Article
EM Biofuels Announces Rollout of RINPlus(TM)
(MarketWatch) A Proprietary Renewable Identification Number (RIN) Assurance Program EM Biofuels, LLC announced today the rollout of RINPlus(TM), a proprietary, web-enabled platform that tracks the origin of each Renewable Identification Number (RIN). RINPlus(TM)( www.RINPLUS.com ) will give Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2)
July 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance, Renewable Fuels Association Release Ethanol, Drought Myth-Busting Reports
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance published a note “to once again clear up a few myths about ethanol and ethanol production in America.” ...In Washington, the Renewable Fuel Association’s Geoff Cooper noted that “The
July 19, 2012 Read Full Article
Fraud Cases Leave Biodiesel Industry Reeling
by Timothy B. Wheeler (The Baltimore Sun) Biodiesel producers told a congressional panel Wednesday that they're struggling to stay afloat in the aftermath of fraud cases uncovered in Baltimore and Texas, and a spokesman for petroleum refiners faulted the Environmental Protection
July 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Blue Sugars Claims First Cellulosic RIN, Extends Petrobras Deal
By Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Blue Sugars Corp., formerly KL Energy Corp., can lay claim to a first in the world of cellulosic ethanol technology developers. “It was surprising to us when EPA confirmed [we got] the first RIN [renewable
July 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Maryland Man Convicted in Biodiesel Scam
by Ann E. Marimow (The Washington Post) A Maryland man was convicted Monday of selling phony biodiesel credits in a fraud case that has raised concerns about oversight of a renewable fuels program run by the Environmental Protection Agency. Rodney Hailey’s company, Clean
June 28, 2012 Read Full Article
RIN Programs Merge to Stabilize Biodiesel Market
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) An agreement has been struck between Genscape Inc. and Lee Enterprises Consulting to merge Lee Enterprises’ renewable identification number (RIN) verification program, RIN 9000, into Genscape’s trademarked RIN Integrity Network. Supported by the National Biodiesel Board
June 14, 2012 Read Full Article
FBI Raids Park Ridge Renewable Energy Company
by Hugh R. Morley and Linh Tat (NorthJersey.com) FBI and local law enforcement officers raided a Montvale home and a Park Ridge building that houses several renewable energy companies Thursday in connection with a probe into fraud in the bio-diesel industry, a company executive
June 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Makers Hope New Audit Program Thaws RIN Market
(Argus Media) Small biodiesel makers hope an outside firm brought in to authenticate fuel production will thaw a renewable identification number (RIN) market chilled by two years of fraud. Genscape's RIN Integrity program – set to launch by the end of
May 21, 2012 Read Full Article
Case No. 3: EPA Issues Green Diesel Violation for 60M Bad RINs
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The U.S. EPA issued a Notice of Violation to Houston-based Green Diesel LLC April 30 for generating more than 60 million invalid biomass-based diesel (D-Code 4) renewable identification numbers (RINs) under the federal renewable fuel
May 02, 2012 Read Full Article
EPA Levies Administrative Fines for Invalid Biodiesel RINs
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) The U.S. EPA has announced the amount of administrative settlements levied against 30 obligated parties and renewable fuel exporters due to the purchase of invalid biodiesel renewable identification numbers (RINs) used by EPA to track
April 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Trading Firm Sues US EPA over Biofuel Credit Scam
by Ayesha Rascoe (Reuters) * Company registered with EPA sold fake credits * Exxon, Shell, others cited for using invalid credits * Trading firm says EPA did not do due diligence A trading company ensnared in the fallout from massive fraud uncovered in
April 24, 2012 Read Full Article
EcoEngineers Announces the Launch of New RIN Indices
(EcoEngineers) EcoEngineers expands into the business of providing RIN pricing data and forms EcoEngineers Indexing Services LLC to better serve biofuel markets. EcoEngineers Indexing Services LLC is an independent, highly-focused indexing company concentrating solely on providing the biofuels sector with reliable
April 20, 2012 Read Full Article
National Biodiesel Board Introduces First Phase of RIN Solution
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The first phase of the National Biodiesel Board’s measures to help restore integrity to the renewable identification number (RIN) credit market was established yesterday after NBB held a town hall meeting with its members to
March 14, 2012 Read Full Article
National Conference Pinpoints Latest Industry Issues
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Upholding RFS2, RIN integrity and expanding mandate lead discussions The National Biodiesel Conference & Expo took place Feb. 5-8 in Orlando, Fla., where the industry’s latest challenges were laid out: defending the renewable fuel standard (RFS2); restoring
March 02, 2012 Read Full Article
Biodiesel RIN Task Force Set, First Meeting Scheduled for Feb. 28
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Earlier this month, at the National Biodiesel Conference in Orlando, Fla., National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe said he and NBB chairman Gary Haer were establishing a task force, comprised of representatives from the U.S.
February 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Petroleum Representatives Candidly Express Contempt for RFS2
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) A panel of petroleum trade association representatives gathered together for the National Biodiesel Conference’s opening general session on Feb. 6. While the group consisted of five oil association representatives, several of whom are outspokenly partial
February 08, 2012 Read Full Article
Oil Refiners and Biofuels: 2012 to Feature Fight over RFS, Cooperation on RIN Fraud
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In Florida, the National Biodiesel Conference — biodiesel’s grandest show — opened with exuberance over 2011 results, and resolve to meet the industry’s two major issues in 2012, defense of the Renewable Fuel Standard, and
February 07, 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
Lee Enterprises Consulting Launches New RIN Verification Program
by Wayne Lee (Biodiesel Magazine/Lee Enterprises Consulting) Lee Enterprises Consulting announced a first-of-its-kind RIN verification program on Jan. 31, known as RIN 9000, to assist biodiesel blenders, producers and obligated parties in verifying the validity of RINs being sold or
February 01, 2012 Read Full Article
Golden Possibilities: Corn Oil Forges a Link between Ethanol and Biodiesel Production
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol producers are adding corn oil extraction to their technology arsenal in increasing numbers, providing an ideal opportunity for the ethanol and biodiesel industries to cooperate or even co-locate. On the cooperation side, the
January 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Identification of Additional Qualifying Renewable Fuel Pathways Under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program
(US Environmental Protection Agency) EPA is issuing a direct final rule identifying additional fuel pathways that EPA has determined meet the biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel or cellulosic biofuel lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction requirements specified in Clean Air Act section
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
News You Can Use: 5 Biofuels Reports Worth Getting Now
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...1. The USDA’s crop land report. What: An in-depth analysis of U.S. land use patterns released this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows total cropland decreased by 34 million acres from 2002 to 2007,
December 23, 2011 Read Full Article
2100 CAAFI General Meeting Presentations Available Online
Presentations delivered by the various panel members are available on the CAAFI Expo website. READ MORE Business Team RIN Compliance and D-Code Pathway Definitions (PDF) - Luce Business Team Panel Discussion Elements of Alternative Fuels - Business Case Analysis (PDF)- John Rau Biofuels Financing
December 22, 2011 Read Full Article
Hart Energy Report Suggests Blend Wall Could Drive up RIN Prices
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The anticipated saturation of the U.S. ethanol market could have interesting implications for the future renewable identification numbers (RINs) market, according to a report recently released by Hart Energy. The report, which offers advice
December 22, 2011 Read Full Article
Firm Says it Was Sold Phony Fuel Credits
(Courthouse News Service) A fuel distributor claims two companies sold it millions of "fraudulently created, and thus invalid" renewable fuel identification numbers. RIN numbers are part of the U.S. EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard program, to encourage use of renewable fuels. ...Vinmar
November 17, 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
Biofuel Flights Signal Demand From U.S. Airlines
by Graham Warwick (Aviation Week) As airlines launch the first commercial biofuel flights in the U.S., the government is working with industry to scale up production of biomass-derived jet fuel to commercial quantities beginning in 2012. Following the lead set by
November 14, 2011 Read Full Article
USDA ERS Report Offers RIN Price Outlook for Coming Decade
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA Economic Research Service has released a 24-page report offering an overview of renewable identification numbers (RINs) and outlining how the RIN market works in relation to the renewable fuel standard (RFS). The report’s
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
EPA May Deem More Biodiesel RINs as Invalid over Alleged Fraud: Lawyer
(Platts) The US Environmental Protection Agency may end up deeming more biodiesel renewable identification numbers (RINs) as invalid following federal investigations into two companies that allegedly sold RINS without producing the appropriate volumes of biodiesel, a lawyer familiar with the
November 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Closed Bio-Fuel Firm Tried, Failed at Making Own Product
by Walt Nett (Avalanche-Journal/LubbockOnline) Absolute Fuels tried twice to make biodiesel, but lost money the first time around and couldn’t produce usable fuel the next time, according to information in federal affidavits filed in connection with search and seizure warrants
November 03, 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
What’s the Buzz? The 10 hottest topics in biofuels right now.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... But here are 10 themes that are shaping up to be the Buzz of the conference. 1. RFS. Hold or Fold? 2. Can Obama find the $510 million? 3. Elections. 4. Fuels, or chems, or something else? 5.
November 02, 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
Maryland Man Charged with Fraud in Renewable Fuel Scheme
(GreenMuck.com) A criminal information was filed today charging Rodney R. Hailey, age 33, of Perry Hall, Maryland, with wire fraud, money laundering and a violation of the Clean Air Act, in connection with a scheme in which he allegedly sold $9
October 04, 2011 Read Full Article
New 100 mgy Renewable Diesel, Jet Project: Imperium Renewables CEO John Plaza
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...(Imperium CEO John) Plaza said that the company would remain committed to its biodiesel business, which has been profitable since Q4 2009 and is running at near-capacity, but was unlikely to expand because of the
October 04, 2011 Read Full Article
EcoEngineers Warns Against RINs Fraud and Proposes Best Management Practices
(EcoEngineers) The EPA is out to prosecute cases of RIN fraud. They have launched a national initiative to investigate irregularities in RIN generation, separation or transfers. Of particular interest are cross border trade in fuel and feedstock, tracing fuel in
September 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Fulcrum Bioenergy’s $115M IPO: The 10-Minute Version
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The first zero-cost feedstock biofuels company comes to the public markets with its IPO. ...Fulcrum becomes the 12th company to file for an IPO in the industrial biotech boom, which began with a successful listing on