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California Biodiesel Alliance News
California's Biodiesel Industry Trade Association November 2016 |
Responses to the election of Donald Trump varied greatly among those concerned about policies affecting biodiesel. Based on Trump's expressions of support for
biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)
during his campaign,
National Biodiesel Board (NBB) CEO, Donnell Rehagen, and other biodiesel leaders issued hopeful statements the morning after the election
.
As this newsletter goes out, NBB members are gathering in DC to press the case for biodiesel on Capitol Hill. However, consideration of tax extenders, as noted by Jennifer Case in this recent article in the San Diego Union-Tribune, may have to wait for next year, given the likelihood that
the lame duck Congress will pass a continuing resolution to temporarily fund the government, which precludes policy changes. However, the national biodiesel industry is pleased with the certainty provided by the recently released RFS volume increases, and we bring you Ron Kotrba's analysis of those numbers.
In California, Trump's election prompted serious concerns about safeguarding state policies, with much focus on the impact a climate-denying president might have on our world leadership on environmental and energy policies.
So, this issue includes a link to the LA Times article in which Governor Jerry Brown said, "We will protect the precious rights of our people and continue to confront the existential threat of our time - devastating climate change." And we reprint Governor Brown's news release about the COP22, which discusses our state's success in taking action on climate change and how California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada stand with the international community on this issue.
We include evidence of that success in articles on Canada's new clean fuel standard; California's moving ahead with aggressive post-2020 LCFS carbon reduction; positive results from the state's last Cap and Trade auction
. . . and more.
The policy section has updates on state and federal issues, including information on the VW settlement in California and on our efforts to secure a portion of that funding for instate biodiesel.
SAVE THE DATE!
"California's Thriving Low-Carbon Markets"
CBA Session at 2017 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, San Diego
January 17th, 2:30 - 4:00 pm
(In lieu of our regular semi-annual member meeting)
Back Issues of this newsletter are available in the Archives on our Members Only webpage.
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Register Now for CBA's Sixth Annual
March 1, 2017 -- Capitol Ballroom, Sacramento
-- CBA Corporate Members who join or renew membership in CBA for 2017 will receive the Comp Code for 1-3 free conference registrations (depending on their membership level benefit).
-- CBA Individual Members who join or renew membership in CBA for 2017 will receive the Discount Code to attend the conference for $295.
Our 2017 conference focuses on how businesses can thrive in the state's growing biodiesel market. Biodiesel has been at the epicenter of our state's world-leading carbon transportation policy solution, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, since its inception. And now an even greater boost is coming to the biofuels market with the passage of SB 32, which requires GHG emissions reductions of 40% below 1990 levels by 2030!
Learn about risk management strategies from the experts, see how low biodiesel's carbon intensity scores can go, join in conversation with the best writers in the business, and get critical updates on state, regional, and federal policy!
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(Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.)
West Coast Leaders Reaffirm Commitment to Climate Action
at Close of COP22
11-18-2016
SACRAMENTO - California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., Oregon Governor Kate Brown, Washington Governor Jay Inslee and British Columbia Premier Christy Clark today issued the following statement on the final day of the United Nations Climate Conference in Marrakech, Morocco (COP22):
"Today, as COP22 comes to a close - two weeks after the Paris Agreement came into force - leaders from across the globe have renewed their commitment to climate action. In California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia - from the Mexican border to the edge of the Yukon Territory - we stand with the international community. Our success demonstrates that taking action on climate change goes hand-in-hand with robust job creation and a thriving clean energy economy.
We know what's at stake because we have seen the destruction firsthand - from year-round wildfires and historic drought to devastating sea-level rise. These impacts don't respect borders or wait for the next election.
Our resolve is strong. We will continue to take bold action to achieve the targets set in the Paris agreement. We will mobilize our resources and our people. We will join with other like-minded cities, states and regions committed to action and lead this global fight."
California's Leadership on Climate Change
California is playing a world-leading role in setting aggressive climate goals, broadening collaboration among subnational leaders and taking action to reduce climate pollutants.
Last year, California and Baden-Württemberg, Germany formed the
Under2 Coalition
- an international pact among cities, states and countries to limit the increase in global average temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius, the level of potentially catastrophic consequences. With the addition of
29 new members
earlier this week following a signing ceremony at COP22, a total of 165 jurisdictions have joined the coalition representing more than a billion people and $25.7 trillion in combined GDP - more than one-third of the global economy.
This action builds on
landmark legislation
the Governor signed in October 2015 to generate half of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and double the rate of energy efficiency savings in California buildings. Governor Brown has also committed to reducing today's petroleum use in cars and trucks by up to 50 percent within the next 15 years; make heating fuels cleaner; and manage farm and rangelands, forests and wetlands so they can store carbon.
Over the past year and a half, the Governor has traveled to the United Nations headquarters in
New York
, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in
Paris
, France, the
Vatican
in Italy and the Climate Summit of the Americas in
Toronto
, Canada to call on other leaders to join California in the fight against climate change. Governor Brown also joined an
unprecedented alliance
of heads of state, city and state leaders - convened by the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund - to urge countries and companies around the globe to put a price on carbon.
These efforts to broaden collaboration among subnational leaders build on a number of other international climate change agreements with leaders from the
Czech Republic
, the
Netherlands
,
Mexico
,
China
,
North America
,
Japan
,
Israel
,
Peru
and
Chile
and Governor Brown's efforts to gather hundreds of world-renowned researchers and scientists around a
groundbreaking call to action
- called the consensus statement - which translates key scientific climate findings from disparate fields into one unified document.
The impacts of climate change are already being felt in California and will disproportionately impact the state's most vulnerable populations.
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ARB Proposes LCFS CI Reductions of 18% - 25% by 2030
Sets Dates for Several Fuel Type Meetings under Verification Rulemaking
At the California Air Resources Board's (ARB) November 7th public workshop on the "2030 Target Scoping Plan Update: GHG Policy Scenarios, Natural & Working Lands, and Public Health Analysis," ARB staff discussed a range of issues. Key for the biodiesel industry was a proposal of an 18%, and possibly as high as a 25%, reduction in the carbon intensity of the state's transportation fuels by 2030 under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). By contrast, the current regulation, which has a goal of a 10% CI reduction by 2020 is set at 2% this year.
LCFS Verification Rulemaking
On November 23rd, ARB announced the first several in a series of LCFS rulemaking public working meetings that will begin this December and end in the second quarter of 2017. The meeting on biodiesel has not yet been scheduled, but is expected to take place in early 2017. A meeting on the rulemaking proposal for Verification Bodies will take place on the morning of Monday, December 19th. Other meetings are: Dec. 2, Electricity and Natural Gas; Dec. 5, Hydrogen; Dec. 13, Refinery Co-processing.
For each of the fuels types, the meetings will discuss "(1) changes to the pathway carbon intensity application and evaluation process, (2) improvements to reporting and credit generation processes, and (3) the integration of third-party verification requirements."
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Demand for Carbon Allowances Rebounds in Latest Auction
Debra Kahn, E&E News reporter
Published: Wednesday, November 23, 2016
California's latest auction of greenhouse gas permits saw improved demand, likely due to increased confidence in the state's emissions market.
The Nov. 15 auction sold 88 percent of the allowances put up for sale to cover businesses' current emissions, at the state-set minimum price of $12.73 per ton, the California Air Resources Board announced yesterday. The previous auction, in August, sold 35 percent of the current-year allowances, and May's auction saw even lower demand, throwing state revenues into uncertainty (
ClimateWire, May 27).
Observers had been expecting demand to recover, based on the fact that the minimum price is set to increase next year to $13.37 per ton. As well, state lawmakers passed a bill in September extending the state's emissions targets past 2020 to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.
Ten percent of allowances that were available for future-year emissions sold, in line with previous auctions. Overall, the auction raised roughly $360 million for the state, a quarter of which Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has earmarked for use on California's high-speed rail project.
"It seems like a bit of a stabilization," said Chris Busch, director of research at the consulting firm Energy Innovation. "Hopefully, that will reverberate positively in Sacramento."
Policymakers have been debating whether to extend the cap-and-trade program past 2020 or to use some other mechanism like a carbon tax or direct regulations (
ClimateWire, Nov. 8). The program also still faces a legal challenge by industry groups arguing that the auctions are an illegal tax; that lawsuit is set for oral arguments in January.
"I think it's a vote of confidence in this system," Busch said. "It's sort of industry acknowledging that the lawsuit currently being litigated is probably not going to come out against CARB's auctioning through 2020."
Another observer said the auction cements California's status after the presidential election as a "beacon of hope for climate action."
"While we hope President-elect Trump will listen to the almost unanimous global voice of governments and business leaders who all understand that we must act to avert catastrophic climate change, it's indisputable that leadership from U.S. states will be of paramount importance," wrote Erica Morehouse, an attorney with the Environmental Defense Fund.
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(BIODIESEL MAGAZINE)
2017-'18 RFS Rule: Advanced Biofuel RVO Grows at 19 Percent
Posted November 23, 2016 by Ron Kotrba
The U.S. EPA released its final rule for renewable volume obligations (RVO) under the renewable fuel standard (RFS) Nov. 23, and the figures for the 2018 biomass-based diesel category are what was proposed in May at 2.1 billion gallons, up 100 million gallons from 2017.
The agency also issued its advanced biofuel RVO for 2017, which was higher than the proposal of 4 billion ethanol-equivalent gallons (2.67 billion biodiesel-equivalent gallons) at 4.28 billion ethanol-equivalent gallons (2.85 billion biodiesel gallons). The 2016 advanced biofuel RVO was 3.61 billion ethanol-equivalent gallons (2.41 billion biodiesel gallons).
The 2017 advanced biofuel RVO represents nearly a 19 percent growth in one year, and a 7 percent increase from the 2017 proposal issued in May. Biomass-based diesels such as biodiesel and renewable diesel will continue filling most of the advanced biofuel volumes, as biomass-based diesel is a subset of the overall advanced biofuel category.
"We think it's very encouraging movement overall, particularly on the advanced biofuel part of the program," Gene Gebolys, founder, president and CEO of World Energy, a major U.S. biodiesel producer with four production facilities, told Biodiesel Magazine. Gebolys is also chair of the National Biodiesel Board's RFS Working Group, which helps supply EPA with suggested volumes the industry can achieve, and data to buttress its positions. "Clearly it's nowhere near what we as an industry have for capacity," Gebolys added, "but the fact that EPA moved the advanced biofuel RVO from 4 billion in the proposal to 4.28 billion gallons in the final rule, well, it's heartening they listened to us. But there's a lot more room for growth."
Janet McCabe, the EPA's acting assistant administrator for the office of air and radiation, said, "Renewable fuel volumes continue to increase across the board compared to 2016 levels. These final standards will boost production, providing for ambitious yet achievable growth of biofuels in the transportation sector. By implementing the program enacted by Congress, we are expanding the nation's renewable fuels sector while reducing our reliance on imported oil."
The National Biodiesel Board welcomed the release of the new standards and said the final rule strengthens America's energy security.
"The real winners with this announcement are American consumers who will now have access to even more cleaner-burning, advanced biofuel," said NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen. "These benefits extend far beyond the biodiesel industry, supporting high-paying jobs and clean air across the nation. Though we are poised to top these numbers this year, growth in advanced biofuels still sends positive signals to the marketplace."
NBB said while the new standards reflect modest growth, they remain below the more than 2.6 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel expected in 2016.
"While NBB applauds the increased volumes, there is room for more aggressive growth," Rehagen said. "The U.S. biodiesel industry can do more. The production capacity and feedstock are clearly available as the market is already topping these levels. We will work with the incoming administration to help them understand the benefits provided by our growing domestic biodiesel industry and the potential to support additional jobs and investment in rural economies."
Gebolys said what has been gleaned from this past election and Trump's victory is that rural America was a huge player in this election cycle, which he said bodes well for conversion of the $1 per gallon biodiesel blenders credit to a domestic producers credit. "While I don't think it's likely to pass before Jan. 1, I do think it is likely to pass as a producers credit retroactively to Jan. 1," he said. "After talking with high-level officials on both sides of the aisle, I feel good about that happening."
The cellulosic biofuel RVO for 2017, at 311 million gallons, is 35 percent higher than the 2016 standard.
Total renewable fuels under the RFS for 2017 comes in at 19.28 billion gallons, up from the 2016 standards of 18.11 billion gallons.
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(Advanced Biofuels Canada)
Canada to Act on Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Cleantech Growth
Canada to Provide Leadership with National Clean Fuel Standard to 2030
VANCOUVER November 25, 2016 - The announcement today by Minister Catherine McKenna that Canada will adopt a national clean fuels standard is an important step for climate action and the growth of our cleantech economy and green jobs. This federal leadership builds on the early actions of British Columbia, Oregon and California, and will greatly improve availability of low carbon fuel choices and competition at the pump.
A national clean fuels standard will require fuel suppliers to progressively reduce the carbon pollution in their fuels, with annual reduction requirements within a specified overall timeframe. Environment and Climate Change Canada will consult with stakeholders to establish the reduction levels and timeframes.
"Canada has within its borders a complete set of time-tested approaches for reducing the carbon pollution in fuels", stated Ian Thomson, President of Advanced Biofuels Canada. "From this experience of over a decade, the Government of Canada has zeroed in on a proven, flexible regulatory tool. We believe they've made a smart choice, and set a goal - 30 million tonnes of reduction by 2030 - that will spur all parties to action."
The decision to adopt the first national clean fuels standard in the world is consistent with the guidance offered recently by Canadian and US non-governmental and industry organizations. British Columbia has already demonstrated that leadership in clean and renewable fuels can go hand in hand with economic growth. And a clean fuels standard complements the recent announcement by the US EPA that it is strengthening the US renewable fuel standard.
Fuel suppliers have an array of options for meeting the clean fuel standard. They can employ lower carbon fuels blended into, or replacing, gasoline and diesel, or improve the emissions associated with upstream oil and gas extraction and refining. The new standard will also promote fuel switching to electric mobility and hydrogen fuel cells. This flexible, market-based approach will ensure a smoother transition from the starting point of today's existing vehicles and fuels infrastructure.
"Most Canadians do not know that we already produce at commercial scale the low carbon fuels and transportation technologies that are needed to take us well towards our climate goals. The technologies are proven, and many petroleum companies are making investments in them around the globe. In Canada, there is much more that we can do to participate in the global clean fuels economy. A Canadian standard will attract investment to scale up clean fuels growth and help make these fuels more available and drive down costs."
A clean fuels standard will achieve carbon reductions well beyond what can be achieved from a price on carbon alone. Unlike a price on carbon, which relies on making fuels more expensive to discourage their use, a clean fuel standard will stimulate direct investments in a variety of lower carbon fuel options. A clean fuels standard is particularly effective because all compliance costs are directed back into lower carbon solutions.
Clean fuels have other benefits. In polluted urban airsheds, they lead to better air quality by reducing emissions of the toxins found in gasoline and diesel. For consumers, new fuels in the market creates more choice and increases competition, leading to more innovation in the supply of fuels and in transportation options.
Canada's announcement is aligned with the global transition towards a low carbon economy. A stringent clean fuels standard will provide a predictable, longterm innovation signal for both clean fuels providers and fuel suppliers to reduce emissions. Advanced Biofuels Canada is committed to supporting our government as we develop an effective regulation that achieves our targeted greenhouse gas emissions reductions and captures the benefits of new cleantech growth.
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CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY NEWS
(Biodico)
Biodico Completes Resource Assessment Of 'Zero Net Energy Farm' in California
-Results Indicate Optimal Use of Solar, Wind and Biomass
To Support Energy Self-Reliant Farms throughout State
Fresno and Ventura Counties, Calif. - November 16, 2016
Biodico Inc. today said that it has completed its resource assessment to support the next stage of development for its "Zero Net Energy Farm" project, which is funded in part by the California Energy Commission to create environmentally sound energy solutions for the state's agricultural industry.
Based on the results, Biodico will proceed with the building of the first-of-its-kind Zero Net Energy Farm or "ZNEF" to generate all electrical and heating power needs from on-site renewable resources, including solar, wind and biomass. The project will provide a template for introducing Biodico's ZNEF technology to other regions throughout the country and on a global scale.
"We are making excellent progress with the development of our ZNEF facility in the San Joaquin Valley. The goal is to use the site's design as a replicable model that would apply to a multitude of settings in need of a customizable yet practical solution for energy self-reliance," said Biodico Founder and President Russ Teall. "The viability of our project is based on an economical solution that would improve energy security, decrease air pollutants and stimulate job creation."
Preliminary results of Biodico's resource assessment were recently presented to the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Cluster, a consortium of clean energy entrepreneurs based at California State University, Fresno. Members of the Energy Cluster toured Biodico's ZNEF site, as well as participated in a poll that further validated the need and interest for technologies demonstrated by the ZNEF project.
"Fostering greater awareness of this project will take us to the next level of investing in California's renewable future, and projects such as Biodico's Zero Net Energy Farm is not only going to be great for California, but the country as a whole," said Nick Gera, project coordinator of the Clean Energy Cluster. "The nation's eyes are on California, and we are very excited that the next energy revolution is happening right here in the Central Valley."
_________________
(UC Berkeley & UCLA Law)
Posted on November 4, 2016 7:34 am by Ethan Elkind
To meet the challenge of climate change, California and other governments will need to adopt a suite of policies affecting multiple sectors. Reducing economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions will take reforms in energy, land use, transportation, and agriculture, to name just a few.
Since 2009, UC Berkeley and UCLA Schools of Law, with the generous support of Bank of America, have been developing policy recommendations for California and other jurisdictions to meet ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. In California and increasingly in other jurisdictions, these targets are legally mandated and based on what climate scientists tell us is needed to reduce the threat of catastrophic climate change.
All of the policy recommendations result from a series of workshops the law schools have convened since 2009. They included key stakeholders from the business, academic, and policy sectors of the affected industries. The recommendations are also contained in
reports accessible via CLEE
or the
UCLA Emmett Institute
.
Note:
A free webinar was held on Wednesday, November 9th, from 2-3pm, to launch the two law schools' new
climate policy website
. The site contains all the recommendations from our work since 2009 on reducing carbon emissions in multiple sectors of the economy. It features easy-to-navigate pages organized by issue topic (renewables, fuels, etc.). It also groups solutions around the specific challenges they address and lists them by the actors who can implement them (state officials, local representatives, businesses, etc.)
The webinar featured:
- Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board
- Nancy Pfund, founder and managing partner, DBL Investors
- Amanda Eaken, transportation & climate director, Natural Resources Defense Council
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