Freshman Democrat Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer of Iowa this week introduced the Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Act, a two-year extension of the biodiesel tax credit. Congress had previously extended the tax credit retroactively for 2017 but left it expired for 2018 and beyond. Producers and businesses at every stage of the biodiesel production and consumption process rely on these tax credits …
Sen. Grassley Honored for Lifetime Achievement in Bioenergy
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was honored at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC) in Washington DC this week with the Holmberg Award for Lifetime Achievement in Bioenergy. Accepting the award, Grassley said he was honored, but noted that his “work’s not done yet.” The Iowa senator, who has been a champion of renewable energy for decades, gave a fiery address …
Biodiesel Interests Testify at EPA Hearing
At a hearing in Michigan on Friday, representatives from the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and its member companies weighed in on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal related to sales of 15 percent ethanol fuel (E15) and changes to the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) compliance system. Biodiesel interests also commented on the need to stop granting Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs). …
Biodiesel Industry Asks Congress to Extend Tax Incentive
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB), joined more than 70 member companies and stakeholder organizations this week in a letter urging leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives to immediately address a multiyear extension of the biodiesel and renewable diesel tax incentive. Last year, Congress retroactively extended the tax incentive for 2017, leaving it expired for 2018 and beyond. The letter …
Study Shows Biofuels are 3 Percent of Iowa GDP
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has released a new study that shows biofuels are responsible for over $5 billion of Iowa’s GDP, or roughly three percent. The study, authored by John Urbanchuk of ABF Economics and commissioned by IRFA, also found that biofuels account for over 48,000 Iowa jobs and more than $2.5 billion in Iowa household income. “The …
Celebrate Biodiesel Day
Wear that St. Patrick’s Day green another day today and celebrate the green fuel that is biodiesel. National Biodiesel Day is celebrated on March 18 because it is the birthday of Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the Diesel engine, which he originally ran using peanut oil. Biodiesel today is made from a diverse mix of feedstocks including recycled cooking oil, soybean …
Biofuels Groups Rip EPA for More Small Refinery Waivers
Much to the dismay of biofuels organizations, yesterday the Environmental Protection Agency approved five more 2017 Small Refinery Exemptions to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and noted that two more petitions have been received for 2018 exemptions, bringing the total to 39. “It’s extremely disappointing and outrageous to see EPA once again allow oil refiners to undermine the RFS and …
Washington State Clean Fuels Standard Moves Forward
The Washington State House has passed a Clean Fuels Standard (H.B. 1110) that would institute a low carbon fuel program by 2020, similar to those already successfully underway in British Columbia, California, and Oregon. The program is designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation fuels 10 percent below 2017 levels by 2028 and 20 percent below those same …
NBB Urges Lawmakers to Extend Biodiesel Tax Credit
“Temporary Policy in the Internal Revenue Code” was the title of a House Ways and Means Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee hearing this week where the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) submitted written testimony urging lawmakers to immediately extend the biodiesel and renewable diesel tax incentive to end uncertainty. Kurt Kovarik, NBB Vice President of Federal Affairs for the National Biodiesel Board …
Biodiesel Drives the Work Truck Industry
New research from NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry confirms that fleets across the country are increasingly relying on the power and performance of biodiesel in their existing and new diesel vehicles. For the third time in four years, surveyed fleets named biodiesel as their top alternative fuel choice both for current use and future interest. Each …