Two former senators who played key roles in developing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) are calling on Congress to investigate the EPA’s recent waivers to major refiners and failure to follow the law. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Jim Talent (R-MO) say EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s granting of multiple small refinery hardship waivers skirts the law and threatens to undermine the …
HERO BX Partners With Iowa Renewable Energy for Biodiesel
Lake Erie Biofuels, doing business as HERO BX, has announced a partnership to manufacture and market biodiesel from the Iowa Renewable Energy plant in Washington, Iowa. HERO BX Founder & CEO Samuel P. “Pat” Black, III, said, “It has been my ambition to expand the biodiesel expertise harvested from our flagship plant in Erie, PA, nationwide much like has already …
Program Can Help Biodiesel Industry Meet FSMA Requirements
Glycerin is a byproduct of biodiesel production that is often sold to be used as an animal food ingredient. As such, it must comply with the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) guidelines that go into effect this September, so the Iowa Biodiesel Board has developed a biodiesel Food Safety Program to help producers get into compliance with the new …
Student Biodiesel Leader Joins World Energy Council Program
A former co-chair of the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel has been selected to participate in the World Energy Council’s Future Energy Leaders (NGSB) program. Deval Pandya, who is a Data Scientist in Advanced Analytics at Shell, will participate in the program designed to help shape, inspire and grow the energy leaders of tomorrow. Pandya said he believes serving as …
Biodiesel Board Wants EPA Records
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to end the “secrecy” surrounding small refiner exemptions requested and issued under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to find out more. “The EPA’s decision to grant upwards of 25 exemptions, with at least one significant waiver in the …
Corn and Ethanol Advocates Tweeting #RFSWorks
Today from 7-10 AM central time agriculture and ethanol advocates will be participating in a Twitter Townhall, prior to the scheduled meeting today at the White House regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The effort grows out of news last week that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, already under fire for getting a sweet condo deal from the wife of an …
ITC Vote Levels Playing Field in Biodiesel Trade Dispute
U.S. biodiesel interests have won the final procedural battle in the case of unfair dumping of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia, clearing the way for final antidumping orders to be issued later this month. The International Trade Commission (ITC) Tuesday voted 4-0 in favor of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) Fair Trade Coalition’s position that the industry has suffered injury …
UF Joins New Center to Create Fuel from Plants
The University of Florida is one of 17 institutions partnering with the University of Illinois in the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) to develop efficient ways to grow, transform and market biofuels. UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences agronomy professor Fredy Altpeter will receive more than $4.2 million for his research during the next five years …
NBB and Cummins Have Some Fun with Biodiesel
National Biodiesel Board Director of Sustainability Don Scott recently joined a group from Cummins Inc. for some high-powered diesel fun. The crew from Cummins was passing through Missouri while road testing a group of vehicles equipped with Cummins’ recently released R2.8 Turbo Diesel engine. Scott invited them to rev their engines and ride through Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge as …
Iowa Blender Pump Program Demand Exceeds Funding
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) is already out of funding for 2018, but many more retailers are interested in offering higher blends in the state. During the third of its four scheduled meetings, the RFIP board awarded funds to 15 projects for retailers around the state to install the necessary equipment to offer higher blends of ethanol and …