In California, Chevron Corporation’s CEO, John Watson, predicts that refiners may increase gasoline exports as a way to circumvent the Renewable Fuels Standard’s (RFS) ethanol mandate, causing gasoline prices to rise. Refiners complain that E15 adds to their costs and can only be used by 5% of U.S. cars, citing a November 2012 AAA automobile […]
In Washington, the United States Senate passed the Farm Bill, known formally as the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act, by a vote of 66-27. The bill was hailed by its sponsors as a model of bipartisanship and cost-cutting, but maintaining a focus on critical programs for food, nutrition, renewable energy and rural economic development. The […]
In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee are competing over control of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The Energy and Natural Resources Committee has primary jurisdiction over energy and fuel-related issues, whereas the Environment and Public Works Committee has oversight of the Environmental Protection […]
In Washington, the Agriculture Energy Coalition expressed support for legislation introduced by Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) to provide robust mandatory funding and extend eligibility to renewable chemicals in Farm Bill Energy Title programs. AgEC also thanked the legislation’s original co-sponsors, including Reps. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), Donna Christensen (D-V.I.), […]
In Washington, Operation Free co-founder Michael Breen responded to passage of a series of amendments to the House’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act that constrains the Department of Defense (DoD) from investing in energy security initiatives. The amendments from Rep. Conaway of Texas were: 1) A repeat of the Senate amendment from last […]
In Washington, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health Care and Entitlements, held a hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the blend wall. Witnesses were called from the Energy Policy Research Foundation, the Turkey Federation, the American Petroleum Institute, the EPA, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. […]
In Washington, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today said that the Federal government must increase collaboration with producers, researchers and industry to develop the next generation of solutions that will help agriculture mitigate and adapt to modern climate challenges. “Our farmers, ranchers and forest landowners are the most innovative on earth, and they’re up to the […]
In Massachusetts, activists have successfully added an amendment to the state budget proposal to block the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection plan to allow ethanol facilities to use rail transport in densely populated communities. The original plan was initiated by Global Partners LP who hoped to transport ethanol from its storage terminal in Revere using […]
In the UK, the House of Commons Select Committee on International Development is urging the government to revise its Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) to exclude agriculturally-produced biofuels and push the European Union to limit the use of unsustainable food-based biofuels. The committee cited concerns over indirect land use change (ILUC) and first-generation biofuels such […]
In South Africa, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has agreed on a global approach to reduce carbon emissions in the airline industry. The breakthrough resolution was endorsed by the 240-member airlines at its annual general meeting, and will help governments establish procedures for a single market-based carbon-offsetting measure.
