In Belgium, the European Parliament has adopted an own-initiative report on the European Commission’s 2015 Renewable Energy Progress report. In the transport sector, which is now the single biggest emitter of GHG emissions in Europe, the Parliament notes that the target for 10% renewables by 2020 is “significantly lagging behind, partly owing to the challenges […]
In Thailand, the energy ministry has agreed to subsidize the use of B20 in trucks under a trial program that will pay companies 11 cents per liter of biodiesel consumed for up to 50,000 liters. Biodiesel is currently 7 cents per liter more expensive than fossil diesel. The government will also study the use of […]
In Maine, Governor Paul R. LePage has issued an Executive Order in an effort to better understand the human health risks and effects of emissions produced by the combustion of ethanol containing gasoline and the effect of increasing ethanol blends on emissions. The Executive Order follows federal mandates, which have resulted in increased domestic production […]
In Washington, following a lobbying push by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, 45 congressmen have sent a letter to the EPA administrator voicing concerns about the 2016 blending mandate under the Renewable Fuel Standard and necessity of E15 to comply with the law despite the agency saying that E15 was not appropriate for boats and […]
In Washington, repeated attempts to undermine the national security benefits of advanced biofuels through previous defense spending bills have been unsuccessful. As House lawmakers met last week to debate the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY 2017, National Farmers Union (NFU) is hopeful that a provision exempting the U.S. military from biofuels use will […]
In Canada, Bliss Baker, the President of the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance, called on parties to the climate agreement reached at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to take immediate action to significantly reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector and incorporate increased biofuels blending as part of their national plans. Of the 195 […]
In the EU, ePURE launched its Policy Roadmap for decarbonizing transport to 2030. Ahead of the European Commission’s publication of a Communication to decarbonize transport post- 2020, epure said that the Commission should propose clear, consistent and binding measures that increase the climate performance of transport fuels. Incentives for the deployment of sustainable low carbon […]
In Malaysia, the Malaysian Automotive Association has complained in a letter to the trade ministry that the B10 mandate that came into effect earlier this month is detrimental to low-sulfur vehicles designed for Euro5 standards. They claim levels of biodiesel higher than 7% can thin the motor oil and lead to sludging in the engine. […]
In the Philippines, the government is considering a B5 policy but is concerned about potential negative impacts from high coconut biodiesel prices. The current policy blends 2%. Local biodiesel is about three times higher than fossil diesel prices at around $1,400-1,500/mt ex-refinery basis. The fuel is mainly used in public transport, which could drive up […]
In Australia, Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) and the Australian Oilseeds Federation are seeking to prove that canola producers who currently export up to 90% of their production to the EU, 70% of which goes towards biodiesel, will achieve the Renewable Energy Directive’s 50% GHG reduction minimum by the Jan. 1, 2017 deadline. The […]
