In a significant development for the clean fuels sector, Environment and Climate Change Canada has released the Regulatory Design Paper reflecting a year of intensive consultation on the national Clean Fuel Standard.
The U.S. EPA has released updated data on small refinery hardship waivers filed under the RFS, reporting that seven new waivers for the 2018 compliance year and one new petition for the 2017 compliance year were filed between Nov. 10 and Dec.18.
On Dec. 20, President Trump signed the $867 billion 2018 Farm Bill into law. The bill, titled the Agricultural Improvement Act, or H.R. 2, reauthorizes several Energy Title programs, including REAP and BCAP.
The CPUC, CARB, and the CDFA have announced funding for six pilot projects designed to demonstrate the efficient production of biomethane from dairy digesters and its injection into natural gas pipelines. DVO was awarded funding for one project.
The U.S. EPA has published a notice on its website setting the cellulosic waiver credit (CWC) price for 2019 at $1.77. The price is slightly lower than the CWC price for 2018, which was set at $1.96 in December 2017.
Xebec Adsorption Inc., a global provider of clean energy solutions is pleased to announce that it has entered into an arm's length transactional agreement on Dec. 6 to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Compressed Air International Inc.
The U.S. EIA has released the December edition of its Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting that nonhydropower renewables will provide 10 percent of U.S. utility-scale power generation this year, increasing to 11 percent in 2011.
Anaergia Inc. has announced construction is underway at the Rialto Bioenergy Facility in California. When operational in 2020, the facility is expected to be the largest food waste diversion and energy recovery facility in North America.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the $867 billion 2018 Farm Bill by a vote of 369 to 47 on Dec. 12. The legislation will now be sent to President Trump's desk. Trump is expected to sign the bill.
On Dec. 11, a house subcommittee held a hearing on the recently released discussion draft of the 21st Century Transportation Fuels Act, which aims to sunset the RFS and enact a national octane specification.
On Dec. 11, the Senate voted 87 to 13 to pass the 2018 Farm Bill. The vote came one day after House and Senate ag committee leaders released the text of the 2018 Farm Bill conference report. The bill will now be considered by the House.
On Dec. 4, the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority announced it is making $19 million available to accelerate the use of clean energy technologies on farms. Most of that funding will support anaerobic digestion projects.
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization recently announced 21 companies have joined the Industrial & Environmental Section over the past year, including Gevo, Velocys, Virent, and Agrisoma Biosciences.
In late November, Xebec Adsorption Inc. announced orders to supply pressure swing adsorption (PSA) units to a large landfill gas project near Sao Paulo, Brazil, and several biogas projects in France.
In November, the U.S. EPA recognized 30 clean water infrastructure projects for excellence and innovation within the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. Biogas projects were among those recognized.
The U.K. BEIS has published a national bioeconomy strategy for 2018 to 2030. The U.K. REA spoke out in support of the strategy, noting it endorses the use of biobased resources as fundamental to U.K. goals for decarbonization and economic growth.
The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas kicked off its annual conference by recognizing 12 companies for their development roles in eight of the RNG production facilities completed across the U.S. in 2018.
A house subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing Dec. 11 on the recently released discussion draft of the 21st Century Transportation Fuels Act. The bill aims to sunset the Renewable Fuels Standard and enact a national octane specification.
On Nov. 30, the U.S. EPA released a final rule to set 2019 RVOs under the RFS. When compared to the proposed rule, the final rule increases the RVOs for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel.
The USDA is taking action to allow agency administrators additional flexibility to obligate federal funds associated with certain infrastructure projects, including those associated with several of its rural development programs.
Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods Inc. are forming a joint venture called Align Renewable Natural Gas that will capture methane emissions from hog farms and convert them into clean renewable energy for heat and power applications.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, has released a tax and oversight legislative package that includes extensions for several biofuel-related tax credits, including those for renewable diesel and second-generation biofuels.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has spoken out regarding a Nov. 20 Reuters report indicating the U.S. EPA plans to issue a rulemaking in January to “reset� the Renewable Fuel Standard targets, noting the action could further weaken the RFS.
A discussion draft of the 21st Century Transportation Fuels Act was released on Nov. 21. The bill aims to sunset the RFS and enact a national octane specification. Those in the biofuels industry are criticizing the bill for its treatment of the RFS.
GESS International broke ground on two North Carolina biogas plants in November. Both facilities will process swine waste and green biomass and are expected to be operational by the third quarter of 2020.
DuPont's 30 MMgy cellulosic ethanol plant in Nevada, Iowa, is now under new ownership. Verbio North America Corp. completed its purchase of the plant on Nov. 20 and will soon move forward with plans to convert the facility to produce RNG.
The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for October, reporting that nearly 1.68 billion RINs were generated during the month, including 29.5 million cellulosic RINs.
On Nov. 16, the U.S. EPA released updated data on small refinery hardship waivers filed under the Renewable Fuel Standard showing that no new petitions were filed or approved between Oct. 10 and Nov. 10.
On Nov. 15, the U.K. Committee on Climate Change published a report on biomass that has determined sustainably sourced biomass feedstocks can play a fundamental role in decarbonizing the U.K. economy.
Anaergia Inc. has announced a ribbon cutting ceremony was held Nov. 7 to mark the official opening of its combined-heat-and-power (CHP) system at the Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility, in the City of Escondido, California.
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