The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to end the “secrecy” surrounding small refiner exemptions requested and issued under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to find out more. “The EPA’s decision to grant upwards of 25 exemptions, with at least one significant waiver in the …
Corn and Ethanol Advocates Tweeting #RFSWorks
Today from 7-10 AM central time agriculture and ethanol advocates will be participating in a Twitter Townhall, prior to the scheduled meeting today at the White House regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The effort grows out of news last week that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, already under fire for getting a sweet condo deal from the wife of an …
ITC Vote Levels Playing Field in Biodiesel Trade Dispute
U.S. biodiesel interests have won the final procedural battle in the case of unfair dumping of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia, clearing the way for final antidumping orders to be issued later this month. The International Trade Commission (ITC) Tuesday voted 4-0 in favor of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) Fair Trade Coalition’s position that the industry has suffered injury …
UF Joins New Center to Create Fuel from Plants
The University of Florida is one of 17 institutions partnering with the University of Illinois in the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) to develop efficient ways to grow, transform and market biofuels. UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences agronomy professor Fredy Altpeter will receive more than $4.2 million for his research during the next five years …
NBB and Cummins Have Some Fun with Biodiesel
National Biodiesel Board Director of Sustainability Don Scott recently joined a group from Cummins Inc. for some high-powered diesel fun. The crew from Cummins was passing through Missouri while road testing a group of vehicles equipped with Cummins’ recently released R2.8 Turbo Diesel engine. Scott invited them to rev their engines and ride through Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge as …
Iowa Blender Pump Program Demand Exceeds Funding
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) is already out of funding for 2018, but many more retailers are interested in offering higher blends in the state. During the third of its four scheduled meetings, the RFIP board awarded funds to 15 projects for retailers around the state to install the necessary equipment to offer higher blends of ethanol and …
Ethanol and Biodiesel Groups Oppose PES Settlement
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) both submitted comments to the Department of Justice yesterday opposing the proposed bankruptcy settlement agreement with Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES). RFA commented that the proposed settlement agreement, which covers the refiner’s Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for January 2016-April 2018, should be rejected “because the terms are patently unfair, unreasonable, …
No 2018 Tax Credit for Biodiesel
The omnibus spending bill agreed to in Congress to fund the government leaves the biodiesel industry in the lurch again by failing to include a reinstatement of the biodiesel tax credit. “The lack of urgency by Congress to extend this expired tax credit continues to frustrate the producers, blenders and marketers of biodiesel,” said Kurt Kovarik, vice president of federal …
Stand Off Over RFS and RIN Prices Continues
The stalemate continues in Washington D.C. over what, if anything, should be done to lower Renewable Identification Number (RIN) prices designed to help oil refiners comply with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Late last week, Midwest Republican senators requested a meeting with President Trump as rumors continued to circulate that the administration might take action to cap RIN prices. And …
REG Announces Board of Directors Changes
Renewable Energy Group has announced the appointment of two new Board members to the company’s Board of Directors. Joining the Board are Ms. Debora (Deb) Frodl, a former GE Executive and Mr. James C. (Jim) Borel, a former DuPont Executive. Both began serving on the Board effective March 14. As a top senior executive at GE, Frodl led Ecomagination, a …