In Switzerland, at a meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on May 28, WTO members agreed to the establishment of a dispute panel at the request of Malaysia concerning European Union measures on palm oil and oil palm crop-based biofuels. Malaysia submitted its second request for a panel to examine certain measures imposed by […]
In Indonesia, Palm Oil Monitor reports the growing possibility of a ban on all Belgian milk and dairy products entering Indonesia, following Belgian Minister Zakia Khattabi’s announcement to ban Indonesian palm oil biofuels from entering Belgium starting in 2022. The official Indonesian Parliament website carries the comments of Dr. Herman Khaeron, Member of the International […]
In Belgium, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands issued a statement saying it is crucial to ensure that the renewable energy, such as biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin, that is used in transport is without a doubt sustainable. However, recent biodiesel fraud cases have undermined the confidence that citizens, the market and […]
In Washington, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) in introducing the bipartisan RFS Integrity Act of 2021. This legislation would provide more certainty for rural America by bringing transparency and predictability to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) small refinery exemption process. The bill would require small refineries to […]
In Washington, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) introduced legislation to support the biodiesel industry, continue to broaden America’s energy independence. The bipartisan Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Act of 2021 would extend the current federal biodiesel tax credit program through 2025. As former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley led the effort […]
In Belgium, Euractiv reports the head of the European farmers unions COPA-COGECA says the European Commission’s stance on biofuels is “ultra-orthodox”, when it comes to sustainability criteria. He says that by capping the use of crop-based biofuels at 7% has inhibited the development of biofuels in the region rather than helping to boost the agriculture […]
In Iowa, the Iowa Legislature ended its legislative session without taking action on the proposed Iowa Biofuels Standard, a bill introduced by Governor Kim Reynolds to set a minimum standard of biofuels in the state’s fuel supply. Although the bill (HF 859) passed out of several committees and remains active for the next session, the […]
In Washington, Reuters reports that sources say that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to keep biofuel blending levels steady for 2021 and 2022 at similar levels as 2020, but the formal proposals are expected to come this summer. They should have already been proposed last year but were […]
In Washington, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) and Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after introducing the Biodiesel, Renewable Diesel and Alternative Fuels Extension Act of 2021: “I am pleased to introduce legislation to extend tax credits for the production of biodiesel and alternative fuel mixtures,” said Congressman Valadao. “Renewable fuels are an […]
In California, newly-released data from the California Air Resources Board shows that low carbon transportation fuels powering internal combustion engines deliver the state’s biggest reduction in transportation-related sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Biodiesel and renewable diesel fuel are the biggest carbon cutting technologies from the transportation sector, edging out ethanol and beating the benefits […]
