February 23, 2021
BY Erin Krueger
Tom Vilsack is once again leading the USDA. The U.S. Senate on Feb. 23 voted 92 to seven to confirm him as secretary of agriculture. Vilsack, a former two-term governor of Iowa, served as ag secretary during all eight years of the Obama administration.
The National Biodiesel Board issued a statement congratulating Vilsack on his confirmation. “On behalf of NBB's members, I want to congratulate Secretary Vilsack and thank him for his commitments to the Renewable Fuel Standard and to continuing to build infrastructure for higher blends of biodiesel,” said Kurt Kovarik, vice president of federal affairs at the NBB. “The biodiesel industry very much looks forward to working with him to ensure that biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels continue to be key components of the nation's efforts to meet climate goals while also growing rural economies."
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CountryMark on July 22 celebrated the completion of more than $100 million in upgrades at its refinery in Indiana, including those related to soybean oil storage. The facility produces renewable diesel via coprocessing technology.
ATOBA Energy and Air Moana are partnering to implement scalable solutions for the supply of SAF. The collaboration aims to ensure long-term SAF availability while supporting local initiatives to develop sustainable fuel production in Tahiti.
While final IRS guidance is still pending, the foundation of the 45Z program is well defined. Clean fuel producers should no longer be waiting; they can now move forward with critical planning and preparation, according to EcoEngineers.
Neste Corp. on July 24 released second quarter results, reporting record quarterly renewable product sales volumes despite weaker margins. SAF sales were up nearly 80% when compared to the first quarter of 2025.
Valero Energy Corp. on July 24 released second quarter results, reporting a profitable three-month period for its ethanol segment. The renewable diesel segment posted a loss, but the company’s new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) unit operated well.