The $1-a-gallon federal biodiesel tax credit set to expire on December 31, 2008 will be renewed for another year, if the U.S. Senate’s version of the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 gains final passage. It still faces a vote in the U.S. House and needs the President’s signature to become law.
The bill has gained the praise of soybean growers, one of the main suppliers of a primary feedstock for the green fuel:
“The American Soybean Association greatly appreciates the work of the Senate to extend the biodiesel tax credit,” said ASA President John Hoffman, a soybean producer from Waterloo, Iowa. “Passage of this legislation to extend the biodiesel tax credit enhances the viability of the U.S. biodiesel industry, which is an important market for U.S. soybean farmers. ASA now urges House members to swiftly pass the measure and send it to the President to be signed into law.”
The bill, which extends a variety of renewable energy tax provisions, also includes language that denies the biodiesel tax credit to fuel produced outside of the U.S. for consumption outside of the U.S. This is intended to shut down the abusive “splash and dash” practice that currently allows foreign produced fuel to enter the U.S, claim the biodiesel tax incentive, and be shipped to a third country for end use.
“ASA strongly supports ending the abusive practice of splash and dash, as it provided no energy or economic justification,” Hoffman said.
A United Nations forum on Millennium Development Goals this week featured a discussion on energy and biofuels that allowed the CEO of world’s largest ethanol producing company a chance to share ideas on how ethanol can help address both poverty and energy dependence in developing nations.
“With a billion acres of idled cropland across the globe and the price of agricultural commodities above the cost of production for the first time in decades there is an unbelievable opportunity for underdeveloped countries to simultaneously lift people out of poverty and solve their crippling addiction to energy imports,” Broin said. 
The research was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Kenneth Cassman with the 
“We are glad to partner with the Governor’s Biofuels Coalition (GBC) and Western Convenience who are working to expand E85 throughout the state. “Together, we are making a difference for Colorado’s air quality and for consumers who support renewable fuel,” said Mark Sponsler, CEO of Colorado Corn. “Western Convenience, GBC, and auto industry leaders like GM have been outstanding partners in this effort.” 
Things could be looking up for renewal of renewable energy incentives as the U.S. Senate has approved $17 billion in tax credits for wind, solar, geothermal and ocean energy systems.
The 14-week road trip to this season’s biggest college football games offers unique promotional opportunities for EPIC, according to marketing specialist Jennifer Powell.
Answering the question of renewable fuels, McCain responded in part that, “solving our energy crisis requires an “all of the above” approach. It will require aggressive development of alternative energies like wind, solar, tidal and biofuels.”
Rhode Island is looking to literally map out its wind energy future.