South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden last week signed a law which prohibits eminent domain for a pipeline that carries carbon oxide, which would be the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline that ethanol producers are hoping will lower their carbon score. “It’s very unfortunate that, despite our approvals in Iowa, North Dakota, and Minnesota, South Dakota changed the rules in the middle …
OAL Rejects Portions of CARB LCFS Amendments
California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) last week notified the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that recently adopted amendments to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) were being rejected, preventing the changes from taking effect. According to CARB, the rejection was due to “inconsistencies of specific regulatory amendment provisions with the clarity standard.” CARB has 120 days to revise …
CARB Exec Defends State’s Strict Clean Air Rules
During remarks to the 2025 Clean Fuels Conference Tuesday, the executive officer of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) made it clear the state is willing to fight to defend its clean air regulations against expected challenges under the new Trump administration. “I don’t want to be adversarial,” said Dr. Steven Cliff, who was appointed to head CARB in September …
Annual Awards Honor Champions of Clean Fuels
Two of the Clean Fuels industry annual awards were presented Tuesday at the Clean Fuels Conference in San Diego. Floyd Vergara was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his transformative contributions to the clean fuels industry and environmental policy. As one of the chief architects of California’s groundbreaking Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), Vergara played a pivotal role …
Ethanol Groups Provide 45Z Tax Credit Input
In response to a request from the House Ways and Means Committee, ethanol groups last week provided input on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit, which was authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act and is scheduled to go into effect next year. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper told the committee that, with the right implementation, 45Z …
Summit Carbon Wins Permits in MN and ND
Summit Carbon Solutions announced permits granted in Minnesota and North Dakota on Thursday. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) granted a permit for the company’s 28-mile pipeline route through Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties. In North Dakota, the company received three Class VI sequestration permits from the North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC), marking a critical step forward in the Midwest …
Summit Carbon Has a Good Month
Summit Carbon Solutions has continued to move forward with its CO2 pipeline project this month, racking up a few wins after the South Dakota referendum loss on election day. First, the North Dakota Public Service Commission granted the project a Route Permit, which was secured after the company implemented changes to the proposed pipeline route incorporating feedback from local landowners …
CARB Passes Amendments to California LCFS
Most of the rest of the country was asleep Friday night when the California Air Resources Board (CARB) wrapped up a 12 hour public meeting at midnight local time on amendments to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The updates include increasing the target to reduce carbon emissions of transportation fuels 30%, instead of 20, by the year 2030, …
Summit Carbon Vows to Move Forward Despite SD Loss
South Dakota voters said no to Referred Law 21, which was a referendum on a law passed by the state legislature that would have helped the state’s carbon pipeline construction project headed by Summit Carbon Solutions. RL 21 would have implemented a list of protections for landowners and counties impacted by the construction of the pipeline but would not have …
Western Plains Energy Adds Whitefox ICE XL Solution
In its effort to become a net-zero emissions producer, Kansas-based Western Plains Energy has upgraded their bioethanol facility with a fully integrated Whitefox® membrane solution. According to Whitefox, this is the first installation in the United States of the new ICE® XL membrane solution, which will enable Western Plains to achieve 50% reduction in natural gas and steam, 25% increase …