Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Jefferson City, Missouri yesterday to announce $1 billion in partnerships to support America’s climate-smart farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. The new Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity will finance pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse …
#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 …
Iowa Governor Prioritizes Biofuels for 2022
During her 2022 Condition of the State speech this week, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds highlighted biofuels and her commitment to expand consumer access to E15 and B20 as one of her top priorities for this legislative session. “I am introducing new legislation that will improve access to E15 and B20 and upgrade Iowa’s fuel infrastructure to offer higher blends,” said …
CARB Urged to Recognize Climate-Smart Farming in LCFS
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), along with the Great Plains Institute, Low Carbon Fuels Coalition, the National Biodiesel Board, and Canadian Oilseed Processors Association, this week sent a letter to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) urging them to recognize the climate benefits of farming practices in California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). . The letter cites principles for …
Hearing Explores Impact of EV Adoption on Agriculture
As President Biden has pledged that half of all new cars will be electric by 2030, some are raising concerns about the impact such a rapid change would have on agriculture and rural America. The House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to examine that issue Wednesday and heard from several stakeholders who stand to be impacted, one being convenience store …
Iowa VERBIO BioRefinery Starts RNG Production
The first U.S. industrial scale renewable natural gas facility using agricultural residues as its feedstock began production Tuesday in Nevada, Iowa. VERBIO AG, the German parent company, purchased the former DuPont Cellulosic ethanol plant in late 2018. With the commissioning of the Nevada plant, VERBIO will produce seven million ethanol gallons equivalent (EGE) of RNG with the completion of Phase …
EPA Proposes Volume Standards and Waiver Rejections
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed a package of actions setting biofuels volumes for years 2022, 2021, and 2020, and introducing regulatory changes intended to enhance the program’s objectives. In addition, EPA is seeking public comment on a proposed decision to deny petitions to exempt small refineries from their obligations under the RFS on the grounds that petitioners failed …
Vilsack Expects RVOs and COVID Payments Soon
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Pennsylvania Friday to announce $633 million in investments to reduce the impacts of climate change on rural communities. Vilsack highlighted 791 investments that USDA is making in five programs specifically designed to help people and businesses in rural areas, including the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. Vilsack also answered questions from reporters, several focused …