Category: Policy

The Policy Element of the Florida Transportation Plan to release on Oct 15

October 11, 2015 | Jim Lane

In Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation is updating the Florida Transportation Plan, the statewide long-range transportation plan for all of Florida and a policy plan identifying policies for planning and implementing Florida’s Strategic Intermodal System, the statewide high-priority network of transportation facilities critical to Florida’s economic competitiveness. The Clean Fuels Coalition advises: “Three elements are contained in the FTP: […]

EPA’s backslide on Renewable Fuel Standard drives down farm income by 26% since 2013, say National Corn Growers and National Farmers Union

October 11, 2015 | Jim Lane

In Washington, the National Corn Growers Association and the National Farmers Union released a white paper highlighting that “net cash income for American farmers and ranchers is forecast to decline by 26 percent in 2015 from peak levels in 2013.” The authors added, “That devastating forecast is worse than originally projected, and it represents the […]

Corn farmers suffering greatly from weak RFS

October 8, 2015 | Meghan Sapp

In Washington, the National Corn Growers Association and National Farmers Union say new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reveals just how much harm the Obama Administration has caused farmers by its lax implementation of the RFS. The USDA announced last month that net cash income for American farmers and ranchers is forecast […]

US Grains Council happy with TPP results for ethanol and corn

October 7, 2015 | Meghan Sapp

In Washington, U.S. Grains Council President and CEO Tom Sleight on completion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks said, “Our priorities in these talks have been focused on the broad goal of securing increased market access for U.S. grains and ethanol and ensuring that existing access remains open. That means lasting tariff relief, sanitary and […]

Malaysia to limit Indonesian palm oil imports

October 6, 2015 | Meghan Sapp

In Malaysia, the country is preparing to limit Indonesian palm oil imports so as to maintain stocks around the 2 million metric ton level, compared to the 2.49 million tons on hand as of August and the estimated 3 million tons stocks would reach if imports weren’t limited. Though implementation of the B10 policy would […]

Senate banking committee votes down RFS gutting amendment 15-7

October 5, 2015 | Meghan Sapp

In Washington, the Senate Banking Committee voted 15-7 against the amendment brought by Sens. Pat Toomey and Dianne Feinstein that would have eliminated the corn ethanol component of the RFS, but it’s not immediately clear what that means. Does the Senate support the RFS? Or was it just that the oil exports bill the amendment […]

G20 Embraces Renewables at Energy Ministers Meeting

October 4, 2015 | Jim Lane

Ministers emphasize importance of renewable energy, adopt IRENA-led toolkit for renewable energy deployment In Turkey, energy ministers from the G20 countries and heads of international organizations affirmed their commitment to renewable energy at the first-ever G20 Energy Ministers Meeting in Istanbul today. The high-level participants endorsed an 11-point Communiqué, including the adoption of a renewable […]

Toomey amendment to doom the US Renewable Fuel Standard rejected in Senate committee vote

October 1, 2015 | Jim Lane

In Washington, an amendment offered by Senator Pat Toomey that would end a key provision of the RFS – the requirement to blend traditional ethanol-based renewable fuels into U.S. gasoline failed in the Senate Committee on Banking, by a 15-7 vote. “Biofuels are a key part of energy independence and energy security,” said Jon Soltz, […]

Former Senator launches Americans for Energy Security and Innovation to support RFS

September 30, 2015 | Meghan Sapp

In Washington, former Senator Jim Talent launched a new group aimed at building and expanding support for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Americans for Energy Security and Innovation (AESI) will focus its efforts on building support for a stronger RFS to reduce our dependence on foreign oil from unfriendly nations and stimulate domestic innovation and […]

Brazil leading country priorities for COP21 with ethanol blending targets for 2030

September 29, 2015 | Meghan Sapp

In France, ahead of the COP21 climate negotiations in December, countries are submitting their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions with countries such as Brazil who is seeking to boost its biofuel consumption level to 18% of the overall national energy mix by 2030. It is part of a wider package of policies to reduce its carbon […]

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