July 19, 2017
BY Ron Kotrba
With a bipartisan, two-thirds supermajority vote, California legislators passed AB 398, extending the cap-and-trade and low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) programs from their initial end date in 2020 through 2030.
Renewable Energy Group Inc., the largest U.S. biodiesel producer, applauded California lawmakers for approving the 10-year extension.
“As a leading provider of lower-carbon biomass-based diesel in California and North America, REG is thankful to Golden State legislators for these forward-thinking actions that will further improve California’s carbon reduction efforts and help provide cleaner burning fuel for its citizens,” said Randy Howard, REG’s interim president and CEO. “As a long-time Californian, I have seen firsthand how the LCFS and cap-and-trade have improved our air quality and enhanced our energy security. This long-term commitment will further both of those worthwhile goals and provide many more environmental and economic benefits.”
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The U.S. EPA on July 8 hosted virtual public hearing to gather input on the agency’s recently released proposed rule to set 2026 and 2027 RFS RVOs. Members of the biofuel industry were among those to offer testimony during the event.
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency is implementing multiple changes to the Camelina pilot insurance program for the 2026 and succeeding crop years. The changes will expand coverage options and provide greater flexibility for producers.
President Trump on July 4 signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The legislation extends and updates the 45Z credit and revives a tax credit benefiting small biodiesel producers but repeals several other bioenergy-related tax incentives.
CARB on June 27 announced amendments to the state’s LCFS regulations will take effect beginning on July 1. The amended regulations were approved by the agency in November 2024, but implementation was delayed due to regulatory clarity issues.
SAF Magazine and the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative announced the preliminary agenda for the North American SAF Conference and Expo, being held Sept. 22-24 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.