In Washington, Hours before the latest Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiation round in Maui, Hawaii, concludes the Agriculture and manufacturing sectors, in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, called on the US to focus on strong outcomes, “not lowest common denominator” tactics and to “keep weakening carve-outs out of final TPP deal”. The National […]
In Washington, Representatives Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Richard Neal (D-MA) introduced H.R. 3390, which provides renewable chemical producers access to production or investment tax credits currently available to other renewable energy producers. The production tax credit was the subject of a Digest column by Corinne Young and Michelle Jalbert of re:chem earlier this […]
In Washington, The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, hailed language included in the energy reform package released last Wednesday by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that would prioritize research and development of carbon utilization technologies under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fossil Energy program. The Energy Policy Modernization Act […]
In Washington, the Union of Concerned Scientists is hailing the updated “Palm Oil Promise” from cosmetic giant Avon, which said that “Avon recognizes that palm oil is a significant cause of tropical deforestation and peatland depletion, which can result in the loss of natural habitats for endangered species, and also has known human rights issues.” […]
In Washington, representatives from Fuels America and other advocates for “clean, secure, American energy” delivered over 200,000 comments to the EPA in support of a strong final rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard. This show of grassroots support comes on the final day of the comment period, and after widespread grassroots voices have come out […]
By Corinne Young, Chief Advocate and Michele Jalbert, Chief Operating Officer of the Renewable Chemicals and Advanced Materials Alliance (re:chem) Special to The Digest While naysayers contend changing the US tax code is implausible, we at the Renewable Chemical and Advanced Materials Alliance (re:chem), see possibility – in fact, necessity – to ensure US global […]
In Spain, the government has announced a new plan to reach 8.5% blending of biofuels by 2020, short of the EU Renewable Energy Directive’s 10% mandate by that date. Since 2013 the country has blended a minimum of 4.1% in diesel and 3.9% in gasoline. The national renewable energy producers association has called the shift […]
In Washington, the Senate Finance Committee completed mark up of legislation to extend critical tax incentives. The legislation would extend for two years the important Research & Development Tax Credit, the Second Generation Biofuel Producer Tax Credit, the Special Depreciation Allowance for Second Generation Biofuel Plant Property, and the Controlled Foreign Corporation Look-Through Rule. BIO […]
In Washington, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) led a bipartisan group of 36 senators in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase the proposed volumes it set for biodiesel production under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “While the proposal is a positive step for […]
Douglas Schultz, Director of Loan Guarantee Origination at the US Energy Department posted a key update on project eligibility for the Loan Program. He writes: During the latest three solicitations issued by the Department’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) for approximately $24 billion in Title XVII loan guarantees for energy projects (Solicitation No. DE–SOL– 007791, 7154 and 6303), the LPO identified […]
