The USDA announced on May 22 it is making available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet working capital needs during the pandemic. Biofuel producers who meet eligibility requirements are among those who can apply.
The Biogenic CO2 Coalition released a video on May 27 highlighting the need for a rulemaking to clarify the de minimis character of biogenic carbon emissions from the processing of annual agricultural crops.
As Iowa's elected leaders prepare to return to the state capitol and wrap up the 2020 legislative session, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association members urge legislators to take action on key biofuel legislation.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on May 18 announced it has submitted detailed information to Gov. Kate Brown on how it plans to carry out her March 10 executive order that set a new goal for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction.
The Renewable Fuels Association on May 22 sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler urging the agency to deny new petitions submitted by refiners for past-year waivers from their renewable volume obligations.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on May 20 passed the Bioeconomy Research and Development Act of 2020. The bill, S. 3734, aims to strengthen and broaden engineering biology.
Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, sent a letter to the FDC on May 26 urging the agency to clarify its temporary policy for the manufacture of alcohol-based hand sanitizer products during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service and Rural Utilities Service on May 18 published a final rule for the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Manufacturing Assistance Program in the Federal Register.
Experts agree that achieving the EU Green Deal will require a massive increase in bioenergy, so it is important that we rely on renewable energy sources that are sustainable, preserving Europe's biodiversity and protecting its food security.
The U.S. EPA on May 21 released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data, reporting that two additional SRE petitions have been filed with the agency; one for compliance year 2019 and one for compliance year 2020.
A group of 15 republican senators sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on May 19 urging the agency to grant petitions filed by six state governors last month that seek a waiver of 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements.
Legislation was introduced May 19 in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Chuck Grassley and Amy Klobuchar, which would provide assistance to biofuel producers adversely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and the economic fallout from the health crisis.
The RFS, SREs and EPA rulemakings to classify biomass as carbon neutral were among the topics discussed during a May 20 hearing held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works focused on oversight of the U.S. EPA.
In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Renewable Fuels Association will host two webinars this month to help fuel retailers and others understand the new Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, or HBIIP.
The Urban Air Initiative sent a letter to the COVID-19 Review Panel within the EPA's Science Advisory Board asking them to look at the research that shows the impact gasoline additives have on tailpipe emissions and air pollution.
The EPA has released a proposed rule that aims to establish consistent requirements and procedures for the issuance of guidance documents. The agency said the rule will increase transparency and improve its process for managing guidance documents.
The American Coalition for Ethanol is pleased to announce its 33rd annual conference will be held in conjunction with the rescheduled International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo hosted by BBI International on Aug. 25, in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Supreme Court on May 18 announced it has denied a petition filed by Valero Energy Corp. asking the court to determine whether the U.S. EPA is required to consider petitions to change the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
The U.S. House of Representatives on May 15 voted 208 to 199 to pass a fourth COVID-19 stimulus package. The bill, known as the HEROES Act, would provide dedicated relief for biofuel producers by establishing the Renewable Fuel Reimbursement Program.
In a letter to the U.S. EPA's Science Advisory Board, Growth Energy urged members of a new COVID-19 Review Panel to examine the impact of toxic gasoline additives on respiratory health, as well as the potential benefits offered by ethanol.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on May 11 requesting that the agency exercise its waiver authority to reduce Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements.
The U.S. EPA has delivered its proposed rule to set 2021 renewable volume requirements (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard and the 2022 RVO for biomass-based diesel to the White House Office of Management and Budget.
The RFA on May 15 held a media call to discuss market impacts of COVID-19, recent polling results that show strong support for biofuels, the need for federal relief for biofuel producers, and barriers to hand sanitizer production.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky on May 15 announced that the USDA has launched an online portal to begin accepting applications for Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program grants.
Attorneys for a broad alliance of ethanol, agriculture and clean fuel organizations filed their opening brief arguing that EPA regulatory barriers that prevent ethanol from competing for greater market share are illegal, according to the UAI.
Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is making a lot of traction. California's LCFS has recognized CCS as a viable pathway to reduce emissions from transportation fuels and Congress has expanded the 45Q tax credit for carbon capture projects.
BBI International and Biodiesel Magazine are pleased to announce that the agenda for the Biodiesel Production Technology Summit, set to take place Aug. 24-26, 2020, in Omaha, Nebraska, has been released and is now available online.
The U.S. EPA on May 14 officially opened the public comment period on its recently announced proposed rule to streamline and modernize its existing fuels regulations. Comments must be received by June 29.
SCS Global Services is now approved by CARB as a verification body for the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. CARB recently added third-party verification requirements to the LCFS to ensure data completeness, accuracy, and conformance with the regulation.
A fourth COVID-19 stimulus package known as the HEROES Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 12. The bill includes dedicated relief for biofuels producers by establishing the Renewable Fuel Reimbursement Program.
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