In Washington, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Foreign Agricultural Service awarded fiscal year 2013 funding to more than 70 U.S. agricultural organizations to help expand commercial export markets for their goods. Under the Market Access Program (MAP), FAS will provide $172.7 million to 70 nonprofit organizations and cooperatives. MAP participants contribute an […]
In New Mexico, the question surrounding the state’s long-standing but never-implemented B5 blending mandate is set to be decided by a task force. The state agriculture department has sent out the first letter to the task force’s members who are set to meet for the first time on Aug. 8. The multi-stakeholder task force will […]
In Switzerland, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the FAO have released a joint study that describes and analyses global intra-industry trade in biofuels arising from environmental legislation that has been developed separately in different markets and jurisdictions, and puts forward proposals and recommendations for addressing some of the environmental impacts resulting […]
In Washington, ethanol giant POET has hired a DC lobbyist as the company gears up for fightin the oil industry. Rob Walther, former deputy director for energy at Third Way, will represent the company as they work to protect the Renewable Fuels Standard. Walther will highlight the value of domestic, renewable biofuel in talks with […]
In Iowa, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association commented on the July 1 enactment of H.F. 640, stating: “Today, new liberties go into effect for Iowa’s fuel retailers. They now have the freedom to offer the fuel options they choose, not what Big Oil dictates,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “These new protections amount to a […]
In Washington, Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) have introduced a renewed version of the Open Fuel Standard Act that failed two years ago. The new version seeks 30% non-petroleum fuels, down from the 50% non-petroleum fuels that failed in 2011. The bill includes options for methanol, flex-fuel, natural gas, hydrogen, ethanol, biodiesel, […]
In Massachusetts, a two-year attempt to transport ethanol by rail through Boston suburbs has come to an end after legislators and the public pushed Global Partners to withdraw its application for permission. Recent legislation passed by the two state houses would prohibit ethanol blending or storage of 5,000 gallons or more per day in an […]
In India, the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Dr. M. Veerappa Moily directed PSU Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), at a meeting of CMDs and Directors (Mktg) of OMCs and ISMA, to make all efforts for expediting delivery of already procured ethanol. He also asked them to expeditiously procure an additional quantity of ethanol through […]
In Washington, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) has introduced legislation that would extend the additional duty on ethanol, further protecting the ethanol market from foreign importers. The current tariff is a 2.5% ad valorem tax on the import of ethanol for use in fuel, based on the percent volume of the fuel at the time of […]
In San Diego, CleanTECH San Diego, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation and the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation have been awarded a Regional Industry Clusters of Opportunity II (RICO II) grant from the California Workforce Investment Board. This $250,000 grant is funded by Assembly Bill 118, Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology […]
