Biodiesel World News

USDA to open 30-day application period for HBIIP on Dec. 21 The USDA has announced it will open a new 30-day application period for the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive program on Dec. 21. The RFA, Growth Energy and ACE say they are ready and willing to help retailers apply for the program. READ MORE SHARE
House, Senate pass $900B COVID-19 relief package, tax extenders The U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate voted to approve a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package on Dec. 21. The legislation, which includes ag relief that could benefit biofuel producers, is expected to be signed by President Trump. READ MORE SHARE
	PMSS: Classification, organization and documentation It’s important to be aware of different safety and inspection requirements for different piping classifications, according to Jay Beckel, of PROtect. And don’t rely on your nondestructive testing (NDT) provider to keep track of it, he added. READ MORE SHARE
PMSS: Near miss reporting for SIF reduction Documenting, communicating and resolving near misses can help reduce incidents that cause serious injury or death. Jacob Hencke, with PROtect, emphasized this in his presentation during the Plant Maintenance and Safety Summit, Dec. 16 and 17. READ MORE SHARE
CVR moves forward with renewable diesel conversion project CVR Energy Inc. on Dec. 21 announced it has received approval from its board of directors to move forward with a conversion project that will allow its refinery in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, to produce renewable diesel. READ MORE SHARE
Canada publishes proposed Clean Fuel Standard regulations The government of Canada on Dec. 18 published proposed regulations for its Clean Fuel Standard. Final regulations are expected to be published next year, with the CFS scheduled to come into force on Dec. 1, 2022. READ MORE SHARE
Biden to nominate Regan as EPA administrator President-elect Joe Biden is expected to announce Michael Regan as his nominee to serve as administrator of the U.S EPA. Representatives of the biofuels industry are expressing hope that Regan will bring a change in philosophy to the agency. READ MORE SHARE
EPA: 66 SRE petitions now pending The U.S. EPA on Dec. 17 reported five additional SRE petitions have been filed with the agency seeking exemptions of RFS blending requirements. The status of three other SRE petitions appear to have been changed from “denied” to “pending.” READ MORE SHARE
Biden to nominate Vilsack as ag secretary President-elect Joe Biden has announced he will nominate Tom Vilsack as secretary of agriculture. Vilsack is a former two-term governor of Iowa who served as secretary of agriculture during all eight years of the Obama-Biden administration. READ MORE SHARE
EPA: Supreme Court should not review lower court’s SRE ruling In a filing submitted on Dec. 8, the Department of Justice recommended against Supreme Court review of the Tenth Circuit Court’s ruling earlier this year that invalidated several small refinery exemptions issued by U.S. EPA under the RFS. READ MORE SHARE