While the EPA delay of issuing a decision on Texas’ request for a waiver from the Renewable Fuel Standard (see Cindy’s story from earlier today) is seen as good news for the ethanol industry, it is also being praised by its biodiesel brethren.
National Biodiesel Board Chief Executive Officer Joe Jobe issued this statement on the decision:
“In considering the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) waiver request by Gov. Perry, it is important to note that all renewable fuels qualify for the current RFS. In fact, if the RFS is waived or cut in half in 2008, then the growth of all biofuels, including ‘advanced biofuels’ such as biodiesel, will be severely hindered.
“As Gov. Perry himself pointed out just last month, alternative fuels such as biodiesel play in an important role in ‘diversifying not only our energy portfolio, but our economic landscape.’*
“Beyond the environmental and energy security benefits provided by biofuels, the opportunity for green jobs and the continued economic development of biodiesel refineries in Texas must be taken into account by the EPA when evaluating whether to waive the RFS. Unfortunately, the goal of bringing biofuels, jobs and energy independence to Texas and the nation, which Gov. Perry praised just last month, will not be realized if the RFS is waived.
Jobe also pointed out that Perry has recently praised biodiesel for “providing a necessary alternative to fossil fuels without negatively impacting our food supply.” Jobe says that was the right thing then… and it’s still the right thing now.
Johnson 
McCain heralded his 
Construction on the Hankinson facility began in August of 2006 and was completed in June. The opening of the plant was delayed due to market volatility. 
US biofuels development company 
The cellulosic plant in Thailand is co-located with a facility that will produce ethanol from sugar-cane derived sucrose, which is widely abundant in the region. Sugar cane bagasse, the biomass residue from the sugar cane plant, will be the primary source of feedstock for the cellulosic facility, which will be converted into ethanol using Verenium’s process technology.
The tax code currently states that Publicly Traded Partnerships are supposed to earn 90-percent of income from the exploration, transportation, storage or marketing of depletable natural resources like oil, gas and coal. The Harkin-Lugar bill would change the tax code so that these Publicly Traded Partnerships can earn qualified income from the transport, storage or marketing of any renewable liquid fuel approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Cincinnati has received a federal grant to help the city’s mass transit system buy some biodiesel buses.
A beef producer that cranks out 22 million pounds of tallow a week will be turning that waste into another alternative to non-renewable petroleum.
Gov. Dave Heineman, who headlined Friday’s groundbreaking ceremony, said he expects Natural Innovative Renewable Energy to help elevate the Cornhusker state’s biodiesel industry to the same level as its corn-based ethanol production, which now ranks No. 2 in the nation.