The Iowa legislature this week reauthorized the Iowa biofuel tax differentials, helping boost biofuel demand and lower fuel prices, according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. Senate File 2403, which unanimously passed both chambers, extends and modernizes fuel tax differentials for E15 and higher ethanol blends and B11 and higher biodiesel blends, which are set to expire on June 30, …
June is Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska
Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska is normally held in May as a kick-off to the summer driving season. However, due to COVID-19 concerns, Renewable Fuels Month was postponed and is now being celebrated this month. To help promote locally-produced biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts recently declared June as Renewable Fuels Month. Since 2006, the acting …
Biodiesel Board Wants Transparency on “Gap” SRE Petitions
The National Biodiesel Board is asking EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to disclose any small refinery exemption petitions for RFS compliance years preceding 2019 that the Environmental Protection Agency received this year. In a letter to Wheeler, NBB also requests that EPA apply the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit’s ruling in Renewable Fuels Association v. EPA to all …
Governors Ask Congress to Support Ethanol Relief Bills
Members of the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition are urging Congressional leaders to provide relief for the biofuels industry in the latest COVID-19 emergency relief package being considered. Coalition chair and vice chair South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz sent a letter to Senate and House leadership this week urging them to support the Senate’s Renewable Fuel Feedstock …
Higher Blends Infrastructure Program Grant Applications Open
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched an online portal to accept applications for Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) grants. USDA has up to $100 million in competitive grants available to help expand the sale and availability of ethanol and biodiesel fuels with approximately $86 million allocated for higher blends of fuel ethanol, and approximately $14 million for implementation …
Ag and Biofuel Groups Ask Congress for COVID-19 Relief
America’s top biofuel and farm advocates are calling on Congress to ensure the next round of COVID-19 relief includes U.S. ethanol and biodiesel production. A joint letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was signed by the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, the National Biodiesel Board, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Corn Growers …
Commerce Maintains Duties on Argentine Biodiesel
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today a final determination in its “changed circumstances review” of antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on imports of Argentine biodiesel. As a result, the rates on biodiesel imports from Argentina will remain at their current levels. National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is pleased with the decision. Kurt Kovarik, NBB’s VP of Federal …
Biofuels Industry Welcomes USDA Infrastructure Funds
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making up to $100 million in competitive grants available to help expand the availability and sale of renewable fuels. The Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) consist of up to $100 million in funding for competitive grants or sales incentives to eligible entities for activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol …
Bipartisan Bill to Expand Biofuels Infrastructure Introduced
Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) on Tuesday introduced bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by Reps. Angie Craig (D-MN), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Roger Marshall (R-KS), that would provide funding for installing and converting fuel pump infrastructure to deliver higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. The Clean Fuels Deployment Act of 2020 “authorizes $600 million over six years to help retailers offer higher ethanol …
ASA Hires Biofuels & Infrastructure Policy Lead
The American Soybean Association (ASA) has hired Alexa Combelic to lead biofuels and infrastructure policy on its government affairs team starting May 4. Combelic joins ASA as a Director of Government Affairs. Her portfolio will include biofuels and infrastructure, both of which are current priority issues for ASA. In her previous roles, Combelic has worked on a vast array of …