Image: BBI International
March 13, 2019
BY The National Biodiesel Board
The National Biodiesel Board would like to congratulate Washington State for being a leader in clean, low carbon fuels such as biodiesel and renewable diesel. On March 12, the state House of Representatives passed a Clean Fuel Standard (HB 1110) that would institute a low carbon fuel program by 2020. The program is designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation fuels 10 percent below 2017 levels by 2028 and 20 percent below those same levels by 2035. Supporters share that the program will play a significant role in meeting the state’s overall greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.
“Washington is poised to become a national leader in production of clean, renewable fuels like biodiesel once this bill is signed into law,” said Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon who sponsored the legislation into the Washington House of Representatives. “Job growth and emissions reductions can go hand in hand, and by passing HB 1110, the House has taken a strong stance in favor of growing rural jobs and cleaning up Washington’s air.”
To meet state GHG emissions reduction targets, Washington State will need to increase use of fuel alternatives such as biodiesel and renewable diesel. Historically, biodiesel consumption in Washington State has been relatively low compared to the rest of the nation. With implementation of a Clean Fuel Standard, however, that would change quickly.
Advertisement
“Implementation of this program would bring Washington in line with other renewable fuels champions on the West Coast—such as Oregon, California and British Columbia, Canada—creating a unified market for clean fuels on the West Coast,” said Shelby Neal, NBB director of state governmental affairs. “This is a great step forward for the environment, consumers and green industry in Washington State.”
Advertisement
The House Ways and Means Committee on May 14 advanced its portion of President Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax bill. The draft legislation amends and extends the 45Z clean fuel production credit but repeals several other clean energy tax credits..
U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on May 14 confirmed the agency will “over the next few months” be completing a rulemaking process to set new Renewable Fuel Standard renewable volume obligations (RVOs).
Reps. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, and Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., on May 7 introduced a bill that aims to update USDA’s Section 9003 program to expand access to grants, streamline loan guarantees and provide $100 million in mandatory funding over five years.
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal on May 5 announced that a preliminary investigation launched earlier this year did not find evidence that imports of U.S. renewable diesel are causing harm to Canada’s domestic renewable diesel industry.
Reps. Mike Carey, R-Ohio, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, on May 1 introduced legislation that aims to retroactively extend the biodiesel blenders tax credit (BTC) and the second-generation biofuel producer tax credit.