In Iowa, the state legislature passed legislation that allows E15 infrastructure investments to become eligible for Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure grants. Previously, the infrastructure program funds were only available for blender pumps and dispensers offering E85. However, the new provision allows funds to be used for dispensing equipment upgrades that make registered E15 available to 2001 […]
In Australia, the Queensland government released its discussion paper on ethanol blending with the energy minister saying that drivers will always have access to non-blended gasoline if they want. The Royal Auto Motorclub of Queensland says it would support up to a 2% blend.
In Washington, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has come out fighting on behalf of President Obama, saying that the president hasn’t lost faith in the ethanol industry and continues to support biofuels overall, demonstrated by the recent $100 million fund set up to boost the number of blender pumps available around the country.
In Washington, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced incentives will resume this summer for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners interested in growing and harvesting biomass for renewable energy. The support comes through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. BCAP provides financial assistance to establish and maintain […]
In Finland, new research from the University of Eastern Finland finds that “the EU biofuels regime is a good example of a mode of new governance suitable for governing complex regulatory challenges such as sustainable biofuels, but its regulatory architecture and the particular mechanisms of new governance it deploys endanger the achievement of the underlying […]
In Argentina, the government nearly tripled its export tax on biodiesel for April, shooting up to 13.2% compared to 5% in March. The industry celebrated the lower tax in March that was lower than the 8.9% in February, expecting low taxes to remain a trend to help support the fuel’s competition against falling fossil fuel […]
In Washington, the Surface Transportation Board will hold a public hearing on June 10, 2015, at its offices in Washington, DC, to further examine issues related to the accessibility of rate complaint procedures for grain shippers. In the comments, some shippers argued in favor of an expansive definition of “grain” that includes both grain and […]
In Australia, the “Alliance Against Ethanol Mandates” including many livestock producers from poultry to beef has called the arguments behind proposed ethanol policies such as energy security “spurious at best”, saying 5% is the maximum the country could produce and blend. The group wants the Queensland government to explain why it has proposed an unidentified […]
In Indonesia, the government’s palm oil export levy to finance the subsidies supporting a higher domestic blend is delayed, with implementation seen coming some time in August rather than by the end of May as previously expected. The policy should be ready in the next two weeks.
In Washington, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments today to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressing support for a proposed legal agreement that sets specific deadlines for establishing Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume levels in 2014, 2015 and 2016. In addition, the RFA comments encourage EPA to abandon the unlawful “blend wall” methodology […]
