With Wall Street still not recovered from the economic downturn and banks keeping a tight hold of the credit purses’ drawstrings, the next generation of biofuels producers could have a rough time getting going and staying going. Recently, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)… a group that represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations …
Iowa Legislature Moves Forward Biodiesel Standard
State senators in Iowa have passed a standard that would require all diesel fuel sold in the state contain 5 percent biodiesel. The measure still needs to clear the State House and gain the governor’s signature to become law. If it does, the Hawkeye State would become the eighth state in the nation to have a biodiesel requirement, joining Minnesota, …
CARB to Vote on Low Carbon Fuels Standard
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is set to vote on the Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS) on April 23-24, 2009. This first of its kind bill was designed to reduce the carbon intensity of all transportation fuels in California 10 percent by 2020. Many states, as well as the federal government, are watching the outcome very closely as they consider …
Tesoro’s Lawsuit to Limit Ethanol in California Dismissed
A lawsuit filed by Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) seeking to prevent use of up to 10% ethanol in each gallon of gasoline sold in California will be dismissed with prejudice following the California Superior Court for the County of Sacramento’s rejection of the company’s bid for an injunction against CARB. California passed …
RI Legislature Moves Forward Biodiesel Tax Break
A tax incentive designed to encourage the use of biodiesel has moved forward in the Rhode Island State Legislature. The Providence (RI) Journal reports the state’s Senate Finance Committee gave unanimous approval to Sen. Louis P. DiPalma’s measure that would exempt blended biodiesel fuel from the state’s 30-cents-a-gallon motor fuel tax: Current law generally exempts from the tax only 100 …
Biofuels Policies Do Affect Trade But . . .
Seth Meyer is with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI). He’s also a speaker here at the Farm Foundation’s Transition To A Bio Economy Conference. He talked to us about how biofuels policies are affecting commodity prices and trade but he says there are a lot of other factors affecting export volume. For example, he says that even …
Proposed Green Bank Could Finance Renewable Energy
A proposed federally-owned “green bank” could finance many renewable energy projects, getting the credit markets for alternative energy moving again and spurring the burgeoning green economy. This article from BusinessGreen.com says Congressman Chris Van Hollen’s (D-Maryland) Green Bank Act 2009 would create an organization for lending money to clean energy project owners underwritten by treasury bonds: Under the proposals, the …
Iowa Eyes Biodiesel Mandate
A measure that promises to promote biodiesel gowth in Iowa, create green collar jobs and reduce dependence on foreign oil has passed a key committee in the Iowa legislature. This article from the Des Moines (IA) Register says Sen. Daryl Beall’s (D-Fort Dodge) biodiesel mandate bill cleared the Senate Transportation Committee. And if it passes the full legislature and is …
Oklahoma Moves Forward on Alt Fuel Bills
A pair of bills that will give Oklahomans who choose alternative energy to heat and cool their homes and run their vehicles a break on their taxes continue their way through the state’s legislature. This story from The Daily Oklahoman says House Speaker Chris Benge’s bills are designed to lessen the dependence on foreign oil and could be applied nationally: …
Alt Energy Bills Await MI Gov’s Signature
Bills addressing biodiesel and biomass are on Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s desk, waiting for her signature to help make the state a national leader in alternative fuel production. This story from The Bay City (MI) Times has details about some of the bills: • Dedicating five new Alternative Energy Renaissance Zones for facilities that use cellulosic materials for fuel production, …