In Washington, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson released a statement on Friday indicating that gasoline refiners must use 1.28 billion gallons of biodiesel in 2013. The mandate represents a 28% increase over this years requirement of 1 billion gallons. Said Jackson, the action “is another step that strengthens America’s energy security by reducing dependence on foreign […]
In Germany, The Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP e.V.) applauded the European Commission’s positive decision in the evidentiary procedure for the opening of anti-dumping proceedings against biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia. UFOP said that “the export practices of these countries have led to ruinous competitive distortions for the European biodiesel industry […]
In Washington, House Republicans have sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson admonishing her for putting place regulations for blender pumps that require a purchase of a minimum of 4 gallons, with the hope being to avoid filling up small engines like lawn equipment that shouldn’t use higher ethanol blends. Representatives from the Science, […]
In Costa Rica, the country will at last start blending 10% ethanol in 2013 after several false starts to get the policy in place. Local oil company Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (Recope), who made the announcement, also made the announcement last year and then it didn’t come about so it may still be too early […]
In Brussels, the European Union plans to limit the use of crop-based biofuels following concerns over food competition and lower environmental benefits than previously thought. Conceding to considerable pressure, the EU’s draft policy changes also aim to end all public subsidies for crop-based biofuels after the current legislation expires in 2020.
In North Carolina, President Obama mentioned the importance of biofuels to the economy as he gave his nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. Mentioning the one million barrel per day drop in oil importation, the president described his expectations for the future: “we’re offering a better path, a future where we keep investing […]
In Canada, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance released its annual Green House Gas (GHG) Reduction Forecast. The GRFA is forecasting global ethanol production to reduce GHG emissions by 100 million tonnes in 2012. (S&T)2 Consultants Inc., an internationally renowned energy and environmental consulting firm, has produced data demonstrating the positive impact global ethanol production continues […]
In Sweden, Nestle’s CEO is again attacking first generation biofuels, calling them an “aberration”, and pushing for the US and EU to support advanced biofuels that don’t use food crops as feedstocks. He claims that as a major food company, they have a voice in the debate and they’re using that voice in Washington and […]
In California, Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law a bill that eliminates all funding to corn-based ethanol producers after July 2013, which comes to roughly $6 million. That money will be re-directed into other renewable energy, including ethanol but that won’t use corn as a feedstock.
In Brazil, regulations published last week putting planning control for ethanol plants under the control of the country’s energy regulator ANP including regulation of construction and expansion of ethanol mills as well as ethanol fuel production.
