In South Africa, the sugarcane industry is pushing the Parliament to adopt ethanol and co-generation production as value added byproduct of sugarcane processing. For the industry to begin investing, a regulatory framework for both products needs to be in place. Currently mills export about 11MW to the grid but minimal investment would boost that to […]
In India, sugarcane growers in Karnataka are demanding the government allow ethanol to be produced directly from sugarcane juice rather than only from molasses in an effort to reduce sugar production that will in turn boost prices. Farmers also want the government to buy bagasse co-generation electricity at the same price as is paid for […]
In Indonesia, palm oil biodiesel producers have demanded an exemption from the $30 per metric ton export levy meant to fund higher biodiesel blends, saying the policy adds a further burden to the industry. Producers expect they will also have to pay an export tax once the price of CPO returns above $750 per ton, […]
In the US, ethanol exports for March declined 1.6% from February, but still represented the third-highest monthly volume in the last year. Year-to-date exports stood at 237.7 mg – in line with exports during the same period last year, and implying an annualized total of 951 mg for 2015. Brazil (25.1 mg) and Canada (17.3 […]
In Argentina, the government has retroactively cut biodiesel export taxes for March to 5% from 8.9% to help offset losses from lower exports to Europe. As tax rates are decided retroactively, producers say making the decision to export or not is made more difficult. It’s not clear if the cut will remain in effect for […]
In Hawaii, the state’s legislature has voted to end the E10 blend, a bill which is awaiting the governor’s signature. The policy was mean to boost demand for locally-produced ethanol but as no companies are producing it, blended fuel is imported to the islands.
In Washington, a consortium of companies and associations from Abengoa to BIO with POET and the RFA in between have written to President Obama requesting a meeting to discuss the EPA’s upcoming release of blending levels for 2014-2016. With the June 1 release coming up soon, the biofuels industry is pushing hard to ensure the […]
In Oregon, a bill in the state senate would see the requirement to blend biodiesel statewide dropped during the winter months in the region east of the Cascade Mountains due to cold temperatures where biodiesel allegedly causes engine problems. The state has a B5 mandate. The National Biodiesel Board opposes the bill, saying biodiesel works […]
In Washington, the Department of Transportation released a final rule that requires a phase-out or retrofit of all DOT-111 railcars transporting crude oil and ethanol by May, 2023. Bob Dinneen of the Renewable Fuels Association applauded the DOT for recognizing the difference between ethanol and oil and prioritizing oil train retrofits: “Secretary Foxx appears to […]
In the UK, in light of recent EU legislation changes affecting biofuel production, the NFU is urging the Department for Transport to raise the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to restore confidence in markets for farmers and processors and meet the country’s current EU biofuel target. The cap on the volume of crops allowed to be […]
