The president of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is calling a bill approved by a House subcommittee Tuesday yet another stall tactic to the use of higher ethanol blends in fuel. RFA’s Bob Dinneen says the legislation sponsored by Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) injects “parochial politics into the scientifically established process of approving new fuels.” “In approving E15, the Department …
Legislation Would Delay E15
Legislation sponsored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) could delay getting 15% ethanol blended fuel in the marketplace by requiring even more testing by the Environmental Protection Agency. The bill out of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s Energy and Environment Subcommittee has the backing of numerous anti-ethanol organizations, including the including petroleum, livestock, environmental and food industry groups. It would …
Reaction to State of the Union
Reaction to President Obama’s call for an “all-of-the-above energy strategy” in Tuesday’s State of the Union address was met with applause by many renewable energy interests, who at the same time hope his words will be backed with actions. “We applaud the President’s announcement that he is going to push for homemade, U.S.-energy after 40 years of being addicted to …
Wind Energy Industry Worries About Job Losses
President Obama put a face on the wind energy industry during his State of the Union address on Tuesday. It was the face of Bryan Ritterby who “found work at Energetx, a wind turbine manufacturer in Michigan” after being laid off from a job making furniture and is “proud to be working in the industry of the future.” However, the …
How to Turn Oil into Salt
The idea of turning oil into salt may sound like something that should be done in a science lab but Dr. Gal Luft says it’s something that Congress can do with a simple piece of legislation. Luft, who is executive director of the Institute for Analysis of Global Security, explained his analogy between oil and salt at the 6th Annual …
Obama Calls for End to Oil Subsidies
In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Obama voiced strong support for renewable energy and an end to oil subsidies. “We have subsidized oil companies for a century. That’s long enough,” the president said. “It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that’s rarely been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that’s …
Domestic Alternative Fuels Act Introduced
U.S. Congressman Pete Olson (R-TX) has introduced a bill in the House that would allow ethanol “produced from domestic fossil fuels other than petroleum” to qualify under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2). The Domestic Alternative Fuels Act would amend the Renewable Fuel Program of the Clean Air Act “to allow domestic alternative fuel to be used to satisfy a portion …
Pacific Biodiesel Continues Growth
During a visit to highlight renewable energy use by the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also spotlighted the Hawaii-based biodiesel producer that supplies much of the fuel used there. Pacific Biodiesel “is the oldest biodiesel producer and refinery in the country, started in 1996,” said Vilsack during his remarks on Tuesday at the memorial, noting that …
NBB Comments on EPA’s Approval of Camelina Oil
The EPA has published a final rule approving camelina oil as a feedstock under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2). Today, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) released the following statement in support of the ruling. “Biodiesel’s evolving feedstock diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and we’re pleased to see the EPA recognizing camelina as yet another feedstock that meets the …
Corn Growers Pleased with Ruling on California LCFS
Corn growers are pleased with the ruling last week by a Federal District Court judge in Fresno, California that the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution and is therefore unconstitutional. The ruling is in response to a suit filed in December 2009 by the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy asserting that …