In Washington, the Algae Biomass Organization’s annual survey of the algae industry shows that the industry that is growing, from increased production of biomass and oils, to increased hiring, to a wider variety of end products. As in the previous two annual surveys, respondents this year continued their optimism that algae-derived fuels are likely to […]
In Washington, Finance Chairman Ron Wyden hopes to put forward a markup on Wednesday that would extend tax breaks for renewable energy, potentially for two years, but it was unclear what would happen with the tax breaks related to biofuels. The biofuels industry as well as a dozen democratic Senators have seen the chairman letters […]
In Hawaii, the state’s House Committee on Agriculture and House Judicial Committee have both voted unanimously on a bill that would give the University of Hawaii permission to establish a two-year research program looking at hemp for both phytoremediation and for biofuel production. The bill already passed the Senate so is awaiting the vote from […]
In California, the state Assembly’s transportation committee overwhelmingly approved a bill that would combat the increasing amount of yellow grease theft. The bill would seek to give law enforcement the tools needed to defer the theft by increasing the penalties for theft, creating stricter rules for grease haulers and granting police the right to impound […]
In Washington, a group of biofuel trade organizations have sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) encouraging extension of critical advanced biofuel tax incentives — the Second Generation Biofuel Producer Tax Credit, the Special Depreciation Allowance for Second Generation Biofuel Plant Property, the Biodiesel and […]
In Washington, the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy are petitioning the Supreme Court to make a final determination regarding California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which the plaintiffs claim is constitutionally flawed, as it discriminates against out-of-state commerce and seeks to regulate conduct in other states. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently reversed the […]
In Switzerland, a proposed law would require biofuel producers to prove that the biofuel they produce did not have a negative impact on the feedstock’s country of origin’s food security, nor that land rights were inhibited or that unsustainable forestry practices were used.
In Minnesota, a state Senate committee knocked down a proposal that would have delayed a 2008 law requiring blending of 10% biodiesel from soybean oil. The law is set to come into force on July 1 but the senator who put forward the bill claimed cars and trucks could only handle B5, not B10. Currently, […]
In Malaysia, the B5 blending policy is expected to finally be fully implemented by July 1, with all 3,877 gas stations selling the palm oil-based fuel. Implementation of the policy will boost domestic consumption to 500,000 metric tons annually. The blend was implemented in the Central Region and then Southern Region over the course of […]
In Minnesota, state legislators proposed H.F. 2456 and S.F. 2101 that would create a loan program for capital equipment for renewable chemicals and advanced biofuel as well as provide incentives for the production of those fuels and chemicals. The loan program would fall under the remit of the state agricultural commissioner. At least 80% of […]
