In France, the Biofuture Platform, a twenty-country, multi-stakeholder initiative, announced on August 12 the launch of a set of voluntary principles. These are intended to offer guidance to governments and policymakers around the world on the need to promote the sustainable bioeconomy in both short-term relief packages and broader post-COVID economic recovery programs. The principles […]
In Brazil, the Folha de Sao Paulo reports Brazilian trade negotiators are willing to drop tariffs on US ethanol imports if in return the US drops import restrictions on Brazilian sugar exports. The US sugar market is extremely tightly controlled with import quotas based on expected domestic production and stocks-to-use ratio. Out of quota sugar […]
In India, the Press Trust of India reports the government is looking at the possibility of blending biogas with natural gas as part of its strategy to decarbonize transport and reduce imports of fossil fuels. The Oil Secretary has called on state governments to help support the biogas drive, especially in order to secure MSW […]
In Washington, U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced the Adopt GREET Act, legislation that would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its greenhouse gas (GHG) modeling for ethanol and biodiesel. Specifically, the bill would require EPA to adopt either the Argonne National Lab’s Greenhouse Gas and Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Model or the 2019 U.S. Department of […]
In Indonesia, the Palm Oil Monitor reports that Indonesia has picked up a number of allies in its battle with the EU over the bloc’s ban of palm oil in its renewable energy scheme. An additional 18 countries have reserved their rights to participate in the proceedings as third parties, including palm producers Malaysia, Thailand, […]
In Nebraska, KFOR radio reports state senator Joni Albrecht has submitted a bill that calls for a study looking into the policies impacting the state’s ethanol industry in order to find ways to streamline and improve the business climate. The study will also compare with policies other states are using to try to find ways […]
In Washington, Reuters reports the Department of Energy recommended to the Environmental Protection Agency that it include partial exemptions from oil refiners seeking to reduce their RIN compliance under the Renewable Fuel Standard through “gap” requests. A total of 58 “gap” requests for small refinery hardship waivers have been submitted and the EPA now has […]
In Washington, the Des Moines Register reports the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security and Trade sent a letter to the US ambassador to Brazil over claims in two Brazilian newspapers that the ambassador has been working to help President Trump win Iowa […]
In the UK, the government has opened a public consultation that seeks to ensure the continued decarbonization of road transport fuels through the supply of renewable fuels under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). Biofuels supported under the RTFO have successfully reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transport over the last 12 years and will […]
In Iowa, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports that after making comments earlier in the week about the ethanol industry needing to beg the agricultural secretary for further COVID-19 funding, Sen. Chuck Grassley has now put a $3 billion price tag on the industry’s needs. The Republican Senate proposal for the now round of supports includes […]
