Legislation introduced last week in the House would extend expiring tax incentives important to the development of next generation biofuels. Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) introduced the “Second Generation Biofuels Extension Act of 2013” (H.R. 3758) which would extend for one year the Second Generation Biofuel Producer Credit and the Special Allowance for Second Generation Biofuel Plant Property. Four fellow Democrats …
USDA, DOE Fund $8M for Bioenergy Feedstocks
The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) today announced $8 million in research grants to develop non-food feedstocks that can be used for bioenergy. USDA said the grants are part of a broader effort by the Obama administration to develop domestic renewable energy and advanced biofuels, providing a more secure future for America’s energy needs and enhancing rural …
USDA, DOD Announce Farm-to-Fleet Program
U.S. Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus have announced a joint “Farm-to-Fleet” venture to make biofuel blends part of regular, operational fuel purchases and use by the military. The announcement incorporates the acquisition of biofuel blends into regular Department of Defense (DOD) domestic solicitations for jet engine and marine diesel fuels. The Navy will …
Standard Ethanol Selects Greenbelt Technology
Greenbelt Resources Corporation has been selected by Australia-based Standard Ethanol Pty. Ltd to design and deliver an end-to-end commercial-scale advanced biofuel system for converting wheat feedstock to ethanol and organic fertilizer. The module is designed to enable beverage producers and agri-businesses to locally recycle organic wastes into usable products. The customized modular system for Standard Ethanol will include proprietary distillation …
Sapphire & Phillips 66 Embark on Algae Partnership
Algae-based Sapphire Energy and Phillips 66 have announced a joint development agreement with the goal of taking production of algae crude oil to commercial scale production. The companies will work together to collect and analyze data from co-processing of algae and conventional crude oil into fuels. The goal is to complete fuel certifications to ready Sapphire Energy’s renewable crude oil, …
Biofuel Industry: Need to Extend Current Tax Policies
A letter has been submitted to the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees and signed by more than 60 advanced biofuel companies and four trade associations encouraging Congress to extend tax provisions set to expire at the end of December 2013. The Advanced Ethanol Council, Advanced Biofuel Association, Algae Biomass Organization and Biotechnology Industry Organization delivered the letter …
U.S. Breaks Commitment to Biofuels Industry
Staurt Lamb, president and CEO of Stuart, Florida-based Viesel Fuel LLC, embarked on the journey to revolutionize the way biodiesel is made about one-and-a-half years ago. The company is focused on “junk oils and greases” as its feedstock. Using a process of enzymes and resins, Lamb believes they can produce biodiesel cheaper than anyone in the country and also believes …
Reaction to RFS Strong at EPA Hearing
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA hearing yesterday drew more than a hundred people from across the country that spoke on behalf of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). There is alarm among the biofuels and agricultural industry with EPA’s proposed RFS rule to lower the renewable fuel volumes in 2014 from 2013. These volumes are even lower when compared to the …
What Does Wall Street Think of the RFS?
So what does Wall Street think of the EPA’s 2014 proposed rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). This question was asked during a media call hosted by the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA) in anticipation for the EPA public hearing on December 5th regarding their proposed rule. And the answer was given by Pavel Molchanov, SVP and Equity Research Analyst, …
UNICA Weighs In On EPA’s 2014 Proposed Rules
UNICA will be weighing in today during the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) public hearing on their 2014 proposed rules for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Leticia Phillips, the North American representative for the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA), notes that the organization believes the proposed renewable fuels volumes “pulls the rug from underneath the advanced biofuels industry.” Phillips says UNICA …