In Washington, Reuters reports that five Senators wrote a letter to President Trump calling for an end to hardship waivers for oil refiners that allow them to skirt around their ethanol blending or RIN compliance requirements until a more transparent process for their approval can be developed. They say the raft of waivers being issued […]
In Minnesota, effective May 1, all diesel sold in Minnesota must contain at least 20 percent biodiesel as the state officially implements the B-20 mandate passed in 2008. Once implemented, the B-20 mandate will be in effect during the state’s “summer months” of April through September. October through March, the biodiesel requirement will remain at […]
In Brazil, environmentalists and the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, UNICA, are protesting the Brazilian Senate’s consideration of lifting a ban on sugarcane production for ethanol fuel in the Amazon. UNICA is worried that if the bill is adopted, it would have a negative impact on the industry’s image, according to Euractiv. “By changing the zoning […]
In Washington, on the back of concerns about hardship waivers granted to at least 25 refiners by the Environmental Protection Agency that lets them out of their ethanol blending or RIN obligation and has sent RIN prices crashing as a result, the White House will meet on Monday with staff from the EPA and the […]
In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on any aspect of the use of isobutanol in gasoline. Butamax Advanced Biofuels, has submitted an application pursuant to the regulations titled “Registration of Fuels and Fuel Additives” for the registration of isobutanol as a gasoline additive at up to 16 volume percent. Butamax has […]
In Kentucky, the Associated Press reports that Senator Mitch McConnell will support hemp legalization legislation, removing the crop from the controlled substances list and introducing it as an agricultural commodity. The state is a leading hemp producer with more than 12,000 acres licensed to grow the crop and 57 processors producing a wide range of […]
In Indonesia, a UCA news agency reports that the Prevention Bureau of the Corruption Eradication Commission wants 90% of the $2.1 billion in revenues generated from a levy on palm oil exports to go towards improving the livelihoods of smallholder oil palm farmers rather than subsidizing oil companies like Pertamina for blending biodiesel. The Commission […]
In Washington, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Justice on the proposed Consent Decree and Environmental Settlement Agreement with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in the case of Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining and Marketing LLC and PES Holdings LLC. Brent Erickson, executive vice president of […]
In Australia, massive economic, social and environmental benefits that can be delivered to Australians through the creation of a strong bioenergy industry could be lost without clear government strategies. Increased use of 10 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (E10) in Australia could create more than 8600 direct & indirect jobs, attract A$1.56 billion in investment and […]
In Washington, Platts reports that consultants the Brattle Group believe if Philadelphia Energy Solutions is allowed to forego half of its RIN buy for 2016 and 2017 as part of a proposed settlement with the Department of Justice, as much as 2% of the ethanol blending mandate would shrink and RIN prices would fall accordingly […]
