In Washington, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined their colleagues from the Midwest, Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler urging him to avoid making any decisions on small refinery […]
In Malaysia, Scandasia reports that the Malaysian government plans to file a lawsuit against the European Union on the trade bloc’s policy to phase out palm oil-based biofuels imports to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by 2030. “Datuk Dr. Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister said at a press conference at the […]
In Washington, Reuters reports the Environmental Protection Agency said it won’t decide on the nearly 40 small refinery exemption applications that have been submitted for 2019 but that it will instead look to extend the compliance period for 2019 through to November 30, 2021. At the same time, it would seek to also extend the […]
In Washington, the US federal government formed the Fuels of the Future Advisory Board, which will have three subcommittees on biofuels, hydrogen and methane hydrates. At the same time, the government terminated the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee (BR&D TAC); Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee (MHAC); and Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee […]
In Washington, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) are calling on the incoming Biden administration to take bold action immediately following the inauguration to support farmers and rural communities by restoring integrity to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Richard J. Durbin […]
In Washington, Reuters reports the Environmental Protection Agency could announce 2019 small refinery exemption approvals this week. Currently, the agency’s website shows there are 32 applications pending for 2019. The Renewable Fuels Association says there is no legal precedent to approve any SREs from 2019 due to the 10th Circuit court ruling, which the Supreme […]
In Washington, Reuters reports the Supreme Court has agreed to review the 10th Circuit Court’s January 2020 ruling on how the Environmental Protection Agency approves small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The court ruling has sent the industry and RIN markets on their heads with the EPA forced to rework how SREs are […]
In Washington, D.C., a coalition of the nation’s largest biofuels and agricultural trade groups including Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, National Biodiesel Board, and others, filed its reply in support of its motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia, and reasserts that EPA’s delays in remedying the improper waiver are […]
In Malaysia, Bernama reports that much like Indonesia, Malaysia is being forced to postpone increasing its biodiesel mandate due to focus on battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than completing the nationwide 20% mandate in mid-2021, the full roll out has been postponed until early 2022 while Indonesia’s B40 mandate could be delayed to late 2022 […]
In India, the Press Trust of India reports that the government’s push to expand feedstocks allowed for ethanol production has capture the imagination of some states, with Bihar, for example, celebrating the move it has been pushing from since 2005. Though the state produces some sugarcane, maize and crop wastes provide a much larger feedstock […]
