A new study released this week by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) shows switching to biodiesel results in significant health benefits such as decreased cancer risk, fewer premature deaths and reduced asthma attacks. The study, conducted by Trinity Consultants, used well established EPA air dispersion modeling tools coupled with health risk assessments and benefit valuations to assess the public health …
NBB Discusses 2021 Policy Priorities for Biodiesel Industry
National Biodiesel Board (NBB) CEO Donnell Rehagen and Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik hosted a videoconference briefing with reporters to discuss the industry’s policy priorities for the coming year. Moderating is Paul Winters, Director of Public Affairs and Federal Communications, NBB. The U.S. market for biodiesel, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and bioheat® grew to 3 billion gallons …
Broad Coalition Supports Minnesota Clean Fuels Standard
A broad coalition representing automakers, biofuel producers, farmers, electric vehicles, and conservation advocates is endorsing new legislation that would implement a clean fuels standard statewide in Minnesota, which would be the first for a Midwestern state. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) are both members of the coalition, which is facilitated by the Great …
Senators Question EPA Nominee on RFS and WOTUS
The Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and the Renewable Fuel Standard were two topics Environmental Protection Agency nominee Michael Regan addressed during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday. Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) called WOTUS the “one that everyone ought to be concerned about because that’s the number one issue.” Regan, who …
Tom Vilsack Senate Ag Confirmation Hearing
Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee Tuesday questioned former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about his goals if confirmed to return to his old job as the new Secretary of Agriculture. (4:36) Vilsack discussed his plans for the biofuels industry in response to a question from Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). (1:37) Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) asked Vilsack how he will support …
Iowa Governor Supports Higher Biofuels Blends
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds once again addressed the annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit this week, something she has done every year as governor, as well as multiple years prior as lieutenant governor, but the first time in a virtual format. Gov. Reynolds said she was looking forward to working with the new Biden Administration to grow demand for biofuels around …
ZimmCast 664 – Beltwide & Biodiesel Conferences
Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. In this week’s program we’ll hear interviews from the Beltwide Cotton Conferences and the National Biodiesel Conference and Expo starting with Dr. Gary Adams, National Cotton Council President and CEO, as Cindy talks with him about how the virtual Beltwide event went. Next up, I talk with Chad Stone, Renewable Energy Group VP and …
2021 Virtual National Biodiesel Conference & Expo
The 2021 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo is being held in a virtual format January 18-21 with a full agenda on-line to allow participation from anywhere. The theme of this year’s conference is “Rise” and the conference grand opening on Tuesday will focus on the Dawn of a New Era for Low-Carbon Fuels, with National Biodiesel Board (NBB) CEO Donnell …
Study Finds Gas Car Ban Would Hurt Agriculture
The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) has released a study on the impacts of increased electric vehicle penetration on U.S. biofuels, agriculture and the economy. Proposals to ban internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 and 2050 served as the economic models for the study, along with a base case provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook. The study …
EPA Reviewing RFS Gap Year Waiver Requests
During a visit to Wisconsin this week, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler was once again questioned about the status of so-called “gap year” waiver requests from refineries asking for relief from their Renewable Fuel Standard obligations from previous years. Because the petitions go back as much as eight years, Wheeler said he is not sure how long it will …
EPA Administrator Gives Update on Retroactive SREs
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said Wednesday that the agency will not be making an announcement on proposed 2021 Renewable Volume Obligations this week. Last year the 2020 RVO proposal was announced on July 5. Wheeler also provided an update on the status of the 52 requests for retroactive waivers from blending obligations in previous years during a press call July …
Farmers, Biofuel Producers Urge Trump to Support RFS
Farmer leaders and biofuel producers from the Midwest today expressed their concerns about news that the Trump administration has reversed course and decided to side with oil companies in their court battle against biofuels. The debate centers around a unanimous court decision that would halt the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) abuse of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel …
Partnership Testing 100 Percent Biodiesel in Fleet Trucks
A new partnership is conducting a year-long test project to demonstrate viability of 100 percent biodiesel (B100) in high-mileage fleet applications. Under this partnership, five trucks owned by ADM will be outfitted with Optimus Technologies’ Vector fuel system, an innovative technology that enables diesel engines to run almost entirely on sustainable biodiesel. The trucks will be used in daily fleet …
ZimmCast 635 – Biodiesel Blogging & Virtual Newsrooms
In this week’s program you’ll hear from the National Biodiesel Conference and some of the content we produced for the Biodiesel Conference Blog – our 15th year as the biodiesel bloggers! Among those featured are National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell Rehagen; NBB Chairman Chad Stone, REG; American Soybean Association CEO Ryan Findlay; Illinois soybean farmer Rob Shaffer; and Tom Slunecka, …
ZimmCast 634 – Questions About Growing Hemp
This week’s program includes several interviews from the inaugural Heart of American Agricultural Hemp Classic in Independence, MO. The event was organized by the Missouri Hemp Association. Farmers have a lot of questions about hemp and in the interviews you will hear from presenters and farmers who have some answers. You can find a lot more in our virtual ag …