Renewable Energy Group, Inc. announced a couple of strategic European investments this week. First, REG will install a state-of-the-art pretreatment facility in Germany, enabling the company to refine some of the lowest carbon intensity, hardest to convert waste fats and oils for bio-based diesel production. The project is located on the North Sea harbor of Emden, Germany at the border …
Iowa Biofuel Production Rebounds
A new study finds Iowa biofuels production rebounded in 2021 to provided a strong boost to the state’s economy. The study, authored by John Urbanchuk of ABF Economics and commissioned by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), found the production of ethanol and biodiesel accounts for over $5 billion in state GDP, supports nearly 46,000 jobs throughout the economy, and …
Senate Committee Hearing Looks at RFS
The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing Wednesday to examine the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) said the committee has not held an oversight hearing on the RFS since 2016. “Since the implementation of the program, we’ve come a long way toward achieving our goals. Economic growth in agricultural communities has expanded …
Clean Fuels Comments on EPA RFS Proposals
Clean Fuels Alliance America submitted comments supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to deny pending small refinery exemptions while asking for certainty regarding proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Volume Standards for 2020, 2021 and 2022. Clean Fuels expressed particular concern with EPA’s triggering “reset” authority and proposals for regulating biointermediates. Kurt Kovarik, Clean Fuels’ Vice President of Federal Affairs, writes …
Clean Fuels in the Age of Decarbonization
Biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel can work together to provide solutions for decarbonization. A panel at the 2022 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo discussed ways the industry can begin to meet the needs of growing and expanding markets when it comes to reducing carbon. One key message was shared by Gary Louis of Seaboard Energy. “We realize, as …
#NBB22 Ponders Future of RFS
Moderated by National Biodiesel Board’s Kurt Kovarik, a group of panelists discussed the history and potential future of the Renewable Fuels Standard at the 2022 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo. Former Senator Byron Dorgan outlined the steps taken over the past nearly 30 years to bring alternative and renewable fuels including biodiesel to where they are today. He said the …
Iowa House Passes Biofuel Access Bill
Iowa moved one step closer this week to higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel statewide as the Iowa State House passed the 2022 Biofuel Access Bill by an overwhelming bipartisan majority. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw says they are urging the state Senate to take the bill up quickly. “We also want to thank Gov. Reynolds for …
EPA to Host Biofuel Greenhouse Gas Modeling Workshop
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting a virtual public workshop on biofuel greenhouse gas (GHG) modeling February 28 – March 1. This workshop seeks to solicit information on the current scientific understanding of greenhouse gas modeling of land-based biofuels and how this information can be applied to a range of current and future actions. EPA is explicitly seeking comment …
MN Soybean Members See Biodiesel Conference
A dozen Minnesota soybean and biodiesel industry leaders had the opportunity to attend the recent National Biodiesel Conference on behalf of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council’s (MSR&PC) See For Yourself (SFY) program. The SFY Program was originally created as an evaluation to ensure checkoff dollars were being used effectively to support the biodiesel industry and to overall help …
Last Ever National Biodiesel Conference Wrap
The 2022 National Biodiesel Conference was the last one that will be held going forward with the official name change for the biodiesel board now being Clean Fuels Alliance America, or just Clean Fuels for short. “Next year for our 20th conference it will be rebranded in keeping with the organization’s new name,” said Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen at …