In Washington, Malaysian officials recently agreed to permanently exempt imports of U.S. distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and corn gluten meal (CGM) from that nation’s new, more stringent sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and inspection regulations for agricultural commodities. The decision makes permanent a temporary exemption, granted in May, for the period from July 31 […]
In North Carolina, North Carolina Petroleum and Convenience Marketers Association (NCPCM) is reporting the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina in New Bern has upheld the North Carolina law designed to expand ethanol blending opportunities for marketers. The North Carolina law was challenged by the American Petroleum Institute and the National […]
In South Dakota, the American Coalition for Ethanol has recently elected three new representatives to serve on the group’s Board: • Chris Wilson, Marshall, Missouri representing Mid-Missouri Energy, LLC • David Kolsrud, Brandon, South Dakota representing Badger State Ethanol • Greg Krissek, Wichita, Kansas representing Kansas Corn Growers Association Also reelected were: • Bob Sather, […]
In Botswana, the country aims to approve a national energy policy by 2015 that will include a large renewable energy component, including biofuels. The government has been working with the Japanese to develop varieties of jatropha that will be tolerant to the extreme weather shifts experienced in the country. The energy minister admitted that a […]
In Spain, Abengoa’s CEO says the lack of policy support for biofuels in the European Union has led to unsustainably low ethanol prices. Platts reports strong blending economics during the first half of 2014 with the discount to Eurobob gasoline hitting a four-year low of $180.61/cu m on July 8. The EU has been unable […]
In Iowa, hosting a U.S. Trade Representative on his family farm outside Des Moines, Grant Kimberley, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, took the opportunity to discuss trade issues relevant to biodiesel. This included the threat imported biodiesel poses to the domestic market and to the success of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard. Ambassador […]
In Washington, Fuels America has launched a new campaign highlighting what would happen without the RFS. It’s list of 10 impacts include more oil imports, more profits for big oil execs, dirtier air and sending advanced biofuels overseas to countries like Brazil and China.
In Guatemala, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Government of Guatemala’s Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) program have signed an MOU for a pilot project to form a Technical Unit on Biofuels. The pilot plan establishes the use of biofuels to assess their environmental and mechanical performance using a sample of 20 […]
In Brazil, the House of Representatives has approved the increase of ethanol blending to 27.5% as well raising the biodiesel blend to 7% by Nov. 1. The measure now moves on to the Senate for final approval. The president has also said that the government may consider additional tax incentives for the ethanol industry.
In Iowa, Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Rand Paul (Ky.) are touring the state this week ahead of possible campaigns for the US presidency, but their less-than-supportive stances regarding ethanol may hurt both of their chances in the first Republican primary. Cruz has put forward a bill eliminating the RFS while Paul says the policy […]
