Last December, U.S. District Judge Lawrence O’Neill ruled California’s Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS) unconstitutional. However, a stay was issued allowing implementation of the law until a federal appeals court hears arguments in the case. This is set to take place this week. The Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is lobbying for the end of the LCFS. Executive Vice President Michael …
PTC Stalls, Wind Energy Workers Laid Off
As the Production Tax Credit (PTC) remains stalled in Congress, worker layoffs in the wind energy industry are rising. The Iowa Wind Energy Association has been forewarning legislators that if the PTC is not extended, thousands of Americans could lose their jobs. Proof: Siemen’s has laid off more than 400 workers in its Fort Madison wind turbine blade plant. Other companies that …
Wind Tax Credit Extension Critical
The Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy, an information network for local chambers of commerce, is calling for Congress to extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for the wind industry. There are 240 chamber of commerce members from 47 states supporting PTC and in a letter explained that the expiration of the PTC would hurt local economies, send jobs elsewhere …
Iowa Groups Call for Renewal of PTC
Nearly 65 entities in Iowa have come together from all walks including agriculture, education, labor, business, public health, and the environment, in a call to Iowa’s congressional delegation to extend the wind production tax credit (PTC) for wind. A letter was sent to the legislators highlighting the wide reach of the wind industry from manufacturing jobs to income for farmers …
DF Cast: Debating the RFS Waiver
The EPA has just started the 30-day comment period for a proposed waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). And just as the comments started, the National Corn Growers Association has asked for even more time for comments to come in. But there’s no lack of viewpoints already out there. In this edition of the Domestic Fuel Cast, we’ll hear …
FuelCell Energy Calls for Support of Infrastructure
FuelCell Energy is calling for support of a bill that would improve the infrastructure for fuel cells and hydrogen. The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Infrastructure for America Act was introduced by U.S. Congressman John B. Larson and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. The goal of the legislation is to accelerate the adoption of stationary fuel cell power and generation and hydrogen …
Solar Energy Industry Gets Legislative Win in NY
The solar industry in New York state got a legislative win when Governor Andrew Cuomo approved several bills that give tax exemptions to solar projects in the state. Earlier this month the Governor announced $30 million in funding for 16 PV projects through an NY-Sun sub-program as well as $107 million in funding for customer-sited solar photovoltaic (PV) projects larger …
IRFA Irked Over Blender Pumps Exclusion in Farm Bill
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw is calling out the U.S. House after the latest version of the Farm Bill attempts to modify the existing Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to specifically exclude blender pumps from eligibility: “It was very disappointing to see the blender pump exclusion maintained in the House Ag Committee Farm Bill. IRFA’s …
Renewable Energy in House Farm Bill
The U.S. House Agriculture Committee has passed its version of the Farm Bill… better known as the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act or FARRM Act… but the measure doesn’t seem to give much love to renewable energy… and by love, we mean FUNDING! Because of the lack of funding, most proposed amendments were withdrawn. One that did pass …
Renewable Fuels Backers, Others Testify Before House
The U.S. House Energy and Power Subcommittee hearing today attracted several advocates of renewable fuels, as well as those who are also in the conventional fuels business. Among those giving testimony today was Joseph Petrowski, CEO of Cumberland Gulf Group; Jack Gerard, President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute; Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association; …