The National Biodiesel Board has filed the opening brief in a lawsuit objecting to the methodology EPA used for establishing the 2018 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS). NBB has three specific disputes with EPA’s final RFS rule for 2018, arguing: – EPA must account for all small refinery exemptions in the annual percentage standard; – The agency acted arbitrarily when it …
#SubEnvironment Holds Hearing on RINs
The House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment took a deep dive into the complex world of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) during a hearing on Wednesday. The committee, chaired by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), heard from a panel of independent witnesses to provide background on RINs and how the market for them works. The panel included: Brent Yacobucci – Energy …
Biodiesel Producers Ask EPA to Raise RFS Volumes
Representatives of the biodiesel industry testified today at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Public Hearing for Proposed Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) for 2019 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2020. Executives from the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and its member companies are asking EPA to set the 2020 Biomass-based Diesel volume at 2.8 billion gallons, based on the agency’s own analysis …
Scott Pruitt Resigns From EPA
Well, here’s news that probably won’t upset too many people I know. I’m actually amazed that this didn’t happen much sooner. Of course this had to happen during a pretty much vacation week for the ZimmComm Team and many, many other folks. Here’s some industry reaction on the announcement. I think you can sum it up that everyone is pretty …
EPA Releases 2019 Biofuel Proposal
The Environmental Protection Agency released its proposal for 2019 biofuel obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Tuesday, maintaining the statutory level for corn ethanol while increasing advanced biofuels, but failing to address the small refinery exemptions that have decimated demand and effectively lowered the required amount of biofuels to be blended. Under the proposed rule, conventional renewable fuel volumes …
Groups Support Biodiesel Tax Credit
A diverse group of trade associations are presenting a united front to Congress in support of maintaining and extending the current biodiesel blenders tax credit. Eight organizations joined the National Biodiesel Board in a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), House …
House Subcommittee Hearing on Advanced Biofuels
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment held its fourth hearing this year aimed at addressing issues related to fuels and vehicles, this time focusing on advanced biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Among those who testified at the hearing on Friday were Advanced Biofuels Association president Mike McAdams, National Association of Truck Stop Operators representative Robin Puthusseril, …
Biodiesel Board Hires Two to Communications Positions
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) last week announced new Director of Communications Kaleb Little and Director of Public Affairs and Federal Communications Paul Winters. Little has worked in various communications roles at the organization for more than eight years while Winters comes from fellow biofuels trade association Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). His most recent role at NBB was Senior Communications …
Midwest Voters Want Trump to Protect RFS
A new poll, funded by the National Biodiesel Board, shows that voters across three Midwestern states overwhelmingly say they support federal policies to encourage growth in biodiesel and renewable fuels use. In a survey of voters in Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota, respondents’ support cut across party lines, with more than two-thirds of Republicans and nearly three-quarters of Independents saying they …
Farm and Biofuel Groups Sue EPA Over Lost Gallons
A coalition of biofuel and agriculture groups have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to change its regulations to “account for lost volumes of renewable fuel resulting from the unprecedented number of retroactive small refinery exemptions from Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) obligations recently granted by EPA.” The petitioners are the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Growth …