Category: Policy

CropEnergies calls on EU to implement biofuel blending mandates post-2020

CropEnergies calls on EU to implement biofuel blending mandates post-2020

July 7, 2016 |

In the UK, as CropEnergies prepares to re-open its ethanol production facility in Wilton, it has called on the European Union to update its biofuels policy to ensure clarity in the market for both prices and policy support with specific targets for biofuel blending post-2020. Currently there are no targets for biofuels when the current […]

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Ubrabio joins Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials

Ubrabio joins Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials

July 6, 2016 |

In Switzerland, Brazilian Biodiesel and Biojetfuel Union has joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials and RSB is also now a member of Ubrabio. Ubrabio is based in Brazil and will be part of RSB’s Chamber 7: Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), governments, and research/academic institutions. As members, Ubrabio and RSB will be engaging in discussions and decision-making […]

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India aiming for E22.5 and B15 with new non-conventional feedstocks policy

India aiming for E22.5 and B15 with new non-conventional feedstocks policy

July 5, 2016 |

In India, the government is preparing to release its new policy to support biofuel production from non-conventional feedstocks in an effort to boost ethanol blending above 22% and biodiesel to 15%.  Anticipated feedstocks include bamboo, rice straw, wheat straw and cotton straw whereas ethanol is currently produced from molasses. Already the government announced in December […]

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Argentina wants EU to play nice on biodiesel to finalize Mercosur trade deal

Argentina wants EU to play nice on biodiesel to finalize Mercosur trade deal

July 4, 2016 |

In Belgium, Argentina’s president in meeting with the European Commission this week has said that breaking the impasse on anti-dumping duties lodged against the country’s biodiesel exports was a way to move forward the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur countries. A first offer on trade concessions was made in May 2015 but now […]

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Pacific Biodiesel drops Maui prices as county scraps proposed tax hike 

Pacific Biodiesel drops Maui prices as county scraps proposed tax hike 

July 3, 2016 |

In Hawaii, Pacific Biodiesel rolled back the retail price of its Maui pump station biodiesel by 9 cents per gallon – the amount of the on-road biodiesel fuel tax exempted by Maui County in its fiscal year 2017 budget, which also took effect today. Previously Maui County had increased the County Road Tax on biodiesel by 9 cents per gallon and […]

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Finnish economy minister says advanced biofuels key to achieving climate goals

Finnish economy minister says advanced biofuels key to achieving climate goals

June 30, 2016 |

In Finland, the country’s economic affairs minister and former European Commissioner Olli Rehn says that liquid biofuels for transport and especially second-generation biofuels are vital in order to achieve the country’s energy and environmental goals for 2030. They are seen as a main way to cut vehicle emissions in line with the aim to end […]

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City of Austin investigating possible “boondoggle” over biomass power plant

City of Austin investigating possible “boondoggle” over biomass power plant

June 29, 2016 |

In Texas, the City of Austin is looking into the waste wood-burning plant at Nacogdoches Operating Facility in East Texas operated by Austin Energy and Southern Power that is costing the utility’s customers $54 million per year but has produced hardly energy in the past four years. Lawyers have been contracted to investigate the contract […]

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Australian Renewable Energy Agency gives A$2.4 million grant for biorefinery project

Australian Renewable Energy Agency gives A$2.4 million grant for biorefinery project

June 28, 2016 |

In Australia, the country’s first biorefinery capable of producing renewable diesel and jet fuels from plant material could become a reality in Queensland with support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. ARENA is providing A$2.4 million in funding support for Southern Oil Refining to develop and construct a state-of-the-art biocrude and biofuel laboratory in Yarwun, near […]

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UCO biodiesel trial picking up speed in Guatemalan capital

UCO biodiesel trial picking up speed in Guatemalan capital

June 27, 2016 |

In Guatemala, after a slow start, the capital city’s UCO collection program and biodiesel production trial has grown significantly, now with six collection units working to source the feedstock and more municipal departments requesting their vehicles to be part of the program. Now the Unidad de Innovación Ambiental is set to build a more commercial-scale […]

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39 US Senators calls for robust Renewable Fuel Standard as EPA finalizes 2017 volumes

39 US Senators calls for robust Renewable Fuel Standard as EPA finalizes 2017 volumes

June 26, 2016 |

In Washington, 39 senators sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, urging EPA to ensure the final 2017 Renewable Fuel Standard rule “promotes growth in the U.S. biofuel sector and capture economic opportunity rather than drive investment overseas.” The 2017 proposal calls on refiners to blend 14.8 billion gallons of conventional biofuels in 2017, […]

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