There are literally thousands of registered lobbyists who regularly walk the halls of the nation’s capitol buttonholing lawmakers to talk up the benefits or detriments of some piece of legislation to their particular organization members. Political insider publication “The Hill” made a list the week of who they consider to be the nation’s most influential association lobbyists – and two …
Ethanol Industry Testifies on Carbon Fuel Standards
Representatives from ethanol organizations and companies testified before the House Agriculture Committee this morning on proposed low carbon fuel standards. The heads of three ethanol trade associations all presented basically the same message when it comes to using indirect land use changes (ILUC) to evaluate the greenhouse gas emissions of renewable fuels – it is unproven theory that should not …
Biodiesel Could Benefit from Higher CAFE Standards
President Barack Obama has proposed that vehicle fuel economy standards be substantially increased to 35.5 miles per gallon by the year 2016… and biodiesel could be a big benefactor of that change. This article from Biodiesel Magazine says auto industry folks, such as Dave Barthmuss, group manager for General Motors Environment and Energy Communications North America, believe the new Corporate …
Imperium Might Re-start Biodiesel Plant… IF…
What a rollercoaster couple of years it has been for Seattle-based Imperium Renewables. Back in August, 2007, I was telling you about how Imperium was opening a 100-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant in the Pacific Northwest, representing 30 percent of all U.S. biodiesel production. A year later, the company was in trouble, canceling long-term contracts, cutting production and laying off almost all …
New Fuel Economy Rules Applauded by Industry
A new National Fuel Efficiency Policy was passed today adding to recent efforts to curb America’s dependence on foreign oil while spurring development in new clean transportation technologies that will help curb greenhouse gas emissions. This new policy, which sets the toughest fuel economy requirements in the country’s history, speeds up, by four years, the fuel economy standards that were …
Alltech Ethanol Project On Hold
A cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Kentucky has been put on hold due to funding concerns. A little more than a year ago, Alltech of Lexington, KY announced plans for a $70 million plant to be partially funded with state and federal grants. “We’ve basically looked at where ethanol is today and decided to put that project on hold,” says project …
Bill Could Renew Biodiesel Credit
The $1-a-gallon tax credit that biodiesel now enjoys… but is set to expire at the end of this year… could have new life if a new piece of legislation makes it through Congress this year. According to the Northwest Arkansas News, Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) has introduced legislation that will promote several renewable energy options, including the biodiesel credit: Lincoln …
House Bill Seeks to Improve Renewable Fuels Standard
The House Agriculture Committee last week introduced a bill to change provisions in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that are “limiting the potential for clean, homegrown renewable biofuels to meet our nation’s energy needs.” The Renewable Fuel Standard Improvement Act (H.R. 2409) was introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) along with …
EPA Responds to Indirect Land Use for Ethanol Issue
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has received a response from the Environmental Protection Agency explaining the decision to include indirect land use change in calculating estimates of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for biofuels, but the senator still believes it should not be a factor in the Renewable Fuels Standard. According to the letter from EPA acting assistant administrator Elizabeth Craig, the …
Alternative Fuel Projects Win EPA Awards
A big rig running on natural gas… a propane-fueled trimmer… gas from a wastewater treatment plant burned to make electricity… these are just some of the projects the Environmental Protection Agency has recognized in its annual Clean Air Excellence Awards Program. For the ninth year, EPA is honoring 15 recipients from across the United States for their environmental achievements in …