by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, investors were pleasantly shocked when shares in Aemetis traded up 52% last Thursday. What exactly is happening? In a release, Aemetis credited five factors for the jump: January 1, 2016: California LCFS re-adopted as of
tax policy
Back TO HOMEObama Signs Spending Bill, Tax Extenders Legislation
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) On Dec. 18, President Obama signed a $1.1 trillion spending bill and accompanying legislative package of tax extenders into law. The legislation includes two-year extensions of several tax credits that benefit the bioenergy sector. On the
December 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Omnibus Funding and Tax Extenders Legislation Includes Important Extensions for Renewable Energy Projects
by Mark J. Riedy and Heather L. Preston (Kilpatrick Townsend) On December 18, Congress passed and the President signed into law the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016” and the “Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015,” funding the government
December 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Decarbonising Transport Must Take Centre Stage in Europe’s Efforts to Meet Historic COP21 Ambitions
(ePURE) On 12 December, 195 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change agreed to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and strengthen global action to fight climate change. The Paris Agreement includes an objective to limit global warming to
December 21, 2015 Read Full Article
The Crushing Burden of Hidden Taxes on E85 Renewable Fuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s historic news out now — that E85 fuel is available on a wholesale basis for less than 85 cents per gallon. The Anderson’s in Denison, Iowa are wholesaling E85 for $0.84, and Little Sioux
December 18, 2015 Read Full Article
Australian Biofuel Use to Plummet Despite Queensland Ethanol Mandate
by Christine Forster (Platts) A decision by the Queensland government to mandate the use of ethanol in regular unleaded gasoline sold in the state may provide a small uptick in demand for the blendstock. But it will not put a
December 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Consumers Go ‘Green.’ Are We Leveraging This Trend Enough?
by Sebastian Søderberg (Novozymes/Biofuels Digest) ... I believe consumers are becoming increasingly aware and concerned about the damage their consumption can cause to the planet. With this awareness, comes a growing focus on products that reduce GHG emissions and maximize resource efficiency.
December 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Meet the New Climate Villain: Cheap Oil
by Charles Komanoff (Carbon Tax Center) ... The average price of gas sold in the U.S. over the past ten months is 25 percent below last year’s price — the steepest drop in at least 70 years. Americans are responding by
December 16, 2015 Read Full Article
2015: A Missed Opportunity for Biofuels
by Michael McAdams (Advanced Biofuels Association/Biomass Magazine) To say that 2015 was an overall disappointment for the biofuels industry would be an understatement. With the price of oil hovering from the high $30s to the mid-$50s all year long, the
November 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Rubio Commits to Supporting RFS through 2022
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, Sen. Marco Rubio speaking about the Renewable Fuel Standard in Council Bluffs Iowa, said “Whether you like it or not, it isn’t fair to yank away something in the middle of it, after
November 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Leaders Press Congress on Reformed Tax Credit
(National Biodiesel Board) Critical Incentive Has Remained Expired All Year -- Nearly 100 biodiesel leaders from across the country will press lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday to reinstate the biodiesel tax incentive as a domestic production credit in line with
November 17, 2015 Read Full Article
BIO Applauds Renewable Chemicals Act Bill
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Coon (D-DE) and Al Franken have introduced a new bill, S. 2271 the Renewable Chemicals Act of 2015. If passed, the legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to
November 13, 2015 Read Full Article
No Rich White Guy Left Behind: The Selling of Electric Cars as Zero Emission Vehicles
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Electric cars and their $1600 cost per ton for CO2 reduction. And, yep, you’re paying for it. Electric cars have environmental benefits, no doubt about it, and anyone who drives one is making a contribution to
October 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Feedstock Tax Barrier Removed by India Government Allowing Rapid Expansion of Biodiesel
(Aemetis) Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX), an advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals company, announced that the Government of India Revenue Department removed an important tax barrier to expanding biodiesel production in India, issuing an exemption on excise tax for feedstock. Biodiesel is
October 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Support, Opposition Grow Over Proposed Changes to Biodiesel Tax Credit
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On October 21, the Advanced Biofuels Association, along with the Petroleum Marketers Association and other retail fuel groups, expressed opposition to changing the biodiesel and renewable diesel blenders' tax credit. In July, the Senate Finance
October 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels Producers Oppose Grassley Tax Credit Change: Amendment Could Hurt Consumers
(Advanced Biofuels Association) During the Senate Finance Committee’s July markup, Senator Charles Grassley offered an amendment, co-sponsored by Senator Maria Cantwell, which would extend the biodiesel and renewable diesel tax credit for two years. However, starting in 2016 it would
October 23, 2015 Read Full Article
White Paper: The Rise of Biodiesel: New Alternative Fuel, New Taxation Challenges
(Avalara) ... The fuel industry is subject to one of the most complex tax structures in the U.S. and there’s little chance of that changing in the foreseeable future. Federal excise taxes are relatively straightforward. But on top of federal taxes,
August 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Grassley Defends Extending Tax Credits for Renewable Energy
by James Q. Lynch (Iowa Farmer Today) It’s been a big week for renewable fuels, according to Sen. Chuck Grassley after the Senate Finance Committee voted 23-3 to approve extending tax credits for wind energy, biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol. He called
August 03, 2015 Read Full Article
“The Time Is Ripe” for a Renewable Chemical Production Tax Credit
by Corinne Young and Michele Jalbert (Biofuels Digest/Renewable Chemicals and Advanced Materials Alliance (re:chem)) ... Buoyed in wake of our successful Farm Bill expansion of USDA 9003 loan guarantees to renewable chemicals/bioproduct manufacturing and progress toward bipartisan TSCA reform, re:chem remains
July 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Jobs at Barnawartha Biofuel Plant Saved
by Nigel McNay (The Border Mail) Several dozen jobs have been saved at Barnawartha’s biofuel plant. That follows the amendment of federal legislation last week to change the excise rules for biodiesel. ARfuels managing director Andrew White said 12 months of
July 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Brazil Changes Tax Policy for Imported Ethanol
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane association, has announced the country has made changes to its tax policy on imported ethanol. According to a statement issued by Elizabeth Farina, president of UNICA, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff
July 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Rand Paul: Farmers Need Less EPA, Lower Taxes
by William Petroski (Des Moines Register) ... (Rand) Paul said the federal government is needed to provide national defense, build some roads, and do some other things. But many other matters can be handled at the state and local government level, the
July 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Washington Should Help Capitalize Green Banks
by Mark Muro and Reed Hundt (The Brookings Institution) ... While the federal government has not been able to lead on the design of modern clean energy and infrastructure finance entities, it now has the opportunity, with its billions of underutilized
July 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Hawaii Gov. David Ige Plans to Veto Ethanol Tax Credit Bill
by Duane Shimogawa (Pacific Business News) Hawaii Gov. David Ige said that he intends to veto a bill passed by the State Legislature that would repeal the ethanol facility tax credit and establish a renewable fuels production tax credit. ... Ige reasoned
June 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Washington Update: Carbon And Tax Policy
By Bob Cleaves (Biomass Magazine) Biomass Power Association President Bob Cleaves discusses ongoing policy and regulatory discussions affecting the industry. ... In late March, we testified at the EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board meeting to review the Framework for Assessing Biogenic CO2
May 05, 2015 Read Full Article
VietNam Considers Raising Export Tariff on Cassava, Ethanol to Support E5 Production
(VietNamNet Bridge) The Ministry of Finance (MOF) is planning to raise the tariff on cassava and ethanol exports in an effort to retain materials for domestic biofuel production. Cassava and ethanol bear an export tariff of zero percent. ... Cassava, the major
May 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Capturing the Full and Unrealized Value of Biofuels -- Market Mechanisms are Needed
by Ghasideh Pourhashem (Forbes) During the past decade, production of biofuels has gained momentum largely due to policies and mandates aimed at addressing energy security and climate change. ... But if the right kinds of policies are in place, biofuel-generating facilities will
May 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Ending International Aviation’s $65 Billion Fuel Tax Exemption an Essential Step towards Decarbonisation
by Andrew Murphy (Transport & Environment (T&E)/GreenAirOnline) ... The airline industry predicts a massive increase in the use of alternative fuels, although most experts predict an uptake of only a few percentage points in the coming years. More optimistic projections remain purely
April 24, 2015 Read Full Article
American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Ups Biofuels Presence at Policy Forum
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Over the past year, the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) increased its work with the biofuels sector of renewable energy, upped its presence and activity at biofuels-related conferences and events, and got into
April 24, 2015 Read Full Article
The Unrecognized Value of Bio-Energy
by Chad Smith (Midwest Producer) "We threw a whole bunch of stuff up on the wall to see if anything sticks." Dave VanderGriend quoted a Kansas state legislator describing House Bill (HB) 2401, a proposal to add a 4.5-cent per gallon
April 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Export Incentive Viable Option For Producers
by Donna Funk (Ethanol Producer Magazine/K-Coe Isom) Ethanol producers exporting product may want to look into the Interest Charge-Domestic International Sales Corp. export incentive, which could qualify them for a 20 percent lower tax rate, writes Donna Funk of
January 15, 2015 Read Full Article
The Chamber of Commerce Conveniently Forgets Its Attacks on Obama
by Dana Milbank (The Washington Post) Tom Donohue, the longtime president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sounded ebullient as he gave his annual report on the health of American business Wednesday. ... “It seems to be hard to make the case
January 15, 2015 Read Full Article
With Oil Prices Low, Now’s the Perfect Time for Congress to Raise the Gas Tax
by Editorial Board (The Washington Post) THE PRICE of crude oil dipped below $50 a barrel on Monday. National gasoline prices average a little over $2 a gallon. On principle and on politics, now is the best time Washington has
January 07, 2015 Read Full Article
Five Myths about Gas Taxes
by Paul Bledsoe (The Washington Post) A dramatic 40 percent drop in oil prices since June has prompted new discussion aboutraising the long-static federal gasoline tax and has many states considering gas tax hikes as well. At the federal level, Congress
December 22, 2014 Read Full Article
U.S. Senate Passes Bill Temporarily Renewing Tax Breaks
by Kevin Drawbaugh (Reuters) Dozens of temporary tax breaks, including big ones for business research, wind power and foreign profits, were renewed by the U.S. Senate late on Tuesday, putting to rest worries that further delays in dealing with the
December 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Government Gives Tax Relief for Biodiesel Production
(Correio do Brasil) The Official Gazette published on Friday normative instruction suspending the incidence of PIS / Pasep and Contribution to Social Security Financing (COFINS) in the acquisition of raw materials for the production of biodiesel. The goal, said the IRS
November 25, 2014 Read Full Article
Senate Finance Committee Holds Hearing on Energy Tax Incentives
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Senate is once again addressing energy tax incentives. On Sept. 17, the Senate Committee on Finance held a hearing, titled “Reforming America’s Outdated Energy Tax Code,” to discuss possible paths forward to
September 18, 2014 Read Full Article
House Tax Proposal Would Alter Biofuel, Bioenergy Tax Credits
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Feb. 26, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman David Camp, R-Mich., released draft legislation to reform federal tax code. The draft, titled the “Tax Reform Act of 2014,” would alter, and in some
February 28, 2014 Read Full Article
Sen. Baucus Launches Major Senate Energy Tax Reform
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A new, technology-neutral tax credit for the domestic production of clean transportation fuel? Read on. In Washington, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) unveiled the latest package in a series of proposals to overhaul America’s
December 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Stakeholders Urge Congress to Extend Biofuel Tax Policies
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) Tax provisions critical to the biofuel and biopower industries are set to expire at the end of the month—including the federal renewable energy production tax credit and cellulosic biofuel producer , biodiesel and renewable diesel
December 10, 2013 Read Full Article
Time to Reconsider a Carbon Tax?
by Wallace E. Tyner (PennEnergy/Purdue University) ... First, with the new IPCC report it is abundantly clear that global warming and climate change represent a clear and present danger not only to the US but for the entire planet. The only
November 21, 2013 Read Full Article
Fossil Fuel Subsidies 'Reckless Use of Public Funds
by Matt McGrath (BBC News) The world is spending half a trillion dollars on fossil fuel subsidies every year, according to a new report. The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) says rich countries are spending seven times more supporting coal, oil and gas
November 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Producer Brands Tax Idea Short-Sighted
by Tamara Timothy (Guernsey News) ...Treasury and Resources announced in their Budget that they are going to investigate putting excise duty on biodiesel. ...Peter Mac Gill said: "It does produce a useful service for the island because what we do, every
October 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Infrastructure, Energy and Natural Resources: Senate Finance Committee Staff Tax Reform Options for Discussion
(US Senate Finance Committee) This document is the fourth in a series of papers compiling tax reform options that Finance Committee members may wish to consider as they work towards reforming our nation’s tax system. This compilation is a joint product