Here’s an update on recent news items and other public policy developments relating to biofuel policies at the federal and state levels in the U.S.
Federal Legislative Developments
Farm Bill Passage. As has widely been reported in the trade press and lay press, in late January Congress passed, and President Obama signed, a new Farm Bill to replace the Farm Bill of 2007 that had expired at the end of 2012. The bill restored mandatory funding for the Energy Titles of the bill, an also extended eligibility of these programs to processes for production of renewable chemicals. The bill, which was widely heralded as a rare example of bipartisanship in the U.S. Congress, is also viewed as a victory for the biofuels and industrial biotechnology industry.
Biodiesel tax incentive extension. On February 12, 2014, Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced a bill to extend the expired biodiesel tax incentive for three years. This incentive would apply to biodiesel, renewable diesel and renewable aviation fuel. The bill, S. 2021, would extend the tax incentive until 2017. However, the tax code overhaul bill more recently introduced by Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., would repeal and not reinstate any of the expired biofuel incentives or credits. Prospects for passage of the Camp overhaul bill in the current Congressional session are generally considered to be dim.
Bill filed to assist fuel retailers invest in alternative fuels. Representative Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) has introduced the Renewable Fuel Utilization, Expansion and Leadership, also known as the Re-FUEL-Act. This bill, H.R. 4051, would create a competitive grant program to provide funds for fuel retailers to use to make investments in renewable and alternative fuel and energy sources. It is meant to address the need for infrastructure changes at the retail level to allow improved consumer access to renewable fuels such as biodiesel and higher ethanol blends.
State Legislative and Policy Developments
New Hampshire legislation introduced. A bill has been introduced in the New Hampshire State Legislature, HB 1220, that would prohibit the blending of more than 10% corn-based ethanol in gasoline in the state. A hearing on the bill was held by the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee on February 11, 2014, at which several proponents of ethanol, including the Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Advanced Ethanol Coalition, testified against the bill.
Missouri ethanol blending policy. In Missouri, on February 6, 2014, a State Senate committee debated whether to block a proposal that would allow ethanol/gasoline blends of up to 15% (E15) be sold in the state. The state’s Agriculture Department issued a rule in 2013 that would have allowed the sale of E15, but that rule was blocked by a legislative committee, due to concerns touted by business groups, car manufacturers and the petroleum industry that E15 blends might damage engines. Permanently blocking the rule would require approval by early March 2014 of both branches of the Missouri legislature and the signature of the governor, who is on record as supportive of E15.
Low Carbon Fuel Standard News
California Low Carbon Fuel Standard. In February 2014, The California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued an update to its scoping plan which indicated that it intends to extend the requirements of the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard through 2030. CARB did not provide further details of its plans, except to say that it plans during 2014 to propose “more aggressive targets for 2030”.
Oregon Low Carbon Fuel Standard. On February 13, 2014, Oregon’s governor John Kitzhaber announced his intention to use executive authority to extend Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program beyond its scheduled December 2015 expiration. Legislative efforts to extend the program past this “sunset” date failed last year and have not sufficiently progressed so far this year, and so Gov. Kitzhaber said he would direct the Department of Environmental Quality to move to the second phase of the program, under which fuel distributors would be required to meet targets for low-emission motor vehicles fuels.
D. Glass Associates, Inc. is a consulting company specializing in government and regulatory support for renewable fuels and industrial biotechnology. David Glass, Ph.D. is a veteran of over thirty years in the biotechnology industry, with expertise in industrial biotechnology regulatory affairs, U.S. and international renewable fuels regulation, patents, technology licensing, and market and technology assessments. More information on D. Glass Associates’ government and regulatory consulting capabilities, and copies of some of Dr. Glass’s prior presentations on biofuels and biotechnology regulation, are available at www.slideshare.net/djglass99 and at www.dglassassociates.com. The views expressed in this blog are those of Dr. Glass and D. Glass Associates and do not represent the views of any other organization with which Dr. Glass is affiliated. Please visit our other blog, Advanced Biotechnology for Biofuels.
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