Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds have joined Sens. Charles Grassley and Tom Harkin, Congressmen Tom Latham, Steve King, Dave Loebsack and Bruce Braley, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey in sending a letter expressing strong opposition to the EPA’s proposal that would negatively lower levels in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to President Barack Obama, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and U.S. Department of Agriculture Sec. Tom Vilsack. The Iowa elected leaders also urged the federal government to host a hearing in Iowa to hear directly from Iowans on the EPA’s proposal, which would have a harmful effect on the agriculture, agri-business and biofuels industries in Iowa.- Highwater Ethanol, LLC, of Lamberton, Minnesota has joined the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). Highwater Ethanol began operation in 2009 employing over 30 local residents. It has a nameplate capacity of 50 million gallons of ethanol a year and produces 160,000 tons of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), some of which goes back to local farmers as wetcake.
- Genscape’s is hosting a webinar on December 18, 2013: The New RFS2 Heating Oil Rule… Demystified. The second in the RIN Webinar Series, Susan Olson and Larry Schafer will discuss the additional downstream use eligibility for certain RFS2 fuels, the impacts this will have on fuel producers and the oil market, and the requirements that must be followed for renewable fuel oil.
- A new partnership between U.S. Bank and Boston Community Capital, Inc. (BCC) will boost development of clean renewable energy in the Boston area, while allowing nine nonprofits and affordable housing communities to reduce their energy costs. Together, U.S. Bank and BCC affiliate BCC Solar Energy Advantage will finance the installation and operation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at 225 Centre in Jamaica Plain; the Boys and Girls Club of Greater New Bedford; Cass House in Roxbury Hills; the Jefferson Housing Development and the Lincoln Way Housing Development in Cambridge; Mill Street in Gardner; The Homes at Old Colony in South Boston; and The Greater Boston Food Bank. Solar installations are taking place now through 2014.
