In Virginia, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus is defending again his decision to create a market for renewable jet fuel despite criticism against the high costs associated with the fuels. Critics have said that the Navy should focus on building ships rather than looking for energy alternatives, but Maybus says that’s a “false choice”, saying that […]
In Belgium, the European Commission has published a customs Regulation to harmonize the classification of ethanol/petrol blends that are imported into Europe. From April 3 onwards, all imported ethanol/petrol blends that contain 70% ethanol blended with 30% petrol must be classified by EU customs authorities as denatured ethanol. ePURE, the European Renewable Ethanol Association, welcomed […]
In Zimbabwe, members of the Zanu-PF party are demanding free shares of the Chisumbanje ethanol project under the auspices of “indigenization” which local media reports is threatening the future of the newly launched facility. Allegedly the Zimbabwean project developer who owns 51% of the project, but is white, is being targeted for his shares. Fears […]
In Washington, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-MI, was applauded by Novozymes after she included an extension of the Cellulosic Producer Tax Credit and Accelerated Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuels Plant Property as an amendment to her transportation reauthorization bill, which is currently under debate in the Senate. Said Adam Monroe, president of Novozymes North America, “Long-term, […]
In North Carolina, speaking at the Daimler Trucks North America facility in Mount Holly, President Obama made the following statement: “To cities and towns all across the country, what we’re going to say is, if you make a commitment to buy more advanced vehicles for your community — whether they run on electricity or biofuels […]
In Brazil, the country’s national monetary council CMN has approved $ million in loans at 8.7% interest from the Central Bank and the Planning and Finance ministries to help sugarcane mills pay for long-term storage of ethanol in order to bridge the supply gap during the intra-harvest period. The current benchmark lending rate is 10.5%.
In Brazil, The Institute of Applied Economic Research believes one of the solutions for consolidating the country’s biodiesel program could be the diversification of agricultural outputs, reducing dependence on fiscal incentives and the lowering final production costs. Their new study shows that, of the total installed industrial biodiesel capacity, about 57% is idle. Most biodiesel […]
In Washington, the EPA withdrew the direct final rule to allow camelina, energy cane, napiergrass, and giant reed to meet the RFS2. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said: “EPA published a direct final rule on January 5, 2012 (77 FR 700) to amend the Renewable Fuel Standard program regulations. The amendments would have expanded Table 1 […]
In Tennessee, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack addressed the Commodity Classic on Friday, focusing on strengthening agriculture and rural economies through the 2012 Farm Bill. He closed his address by discussing the role of biofuels in energy and national security. Vilsack asked attendees to spread support for the understanding that biofuels currently reduce prices at […]
In Washington, Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced The Clean Energy Standard Act of 2012, introducing a Clean Energy Standard (CES), requiring a percentage of nation’s electricity to come from renewable sources such as biomass. The bill summary says: “Over the past decade, Congress has […]
