by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The U.S Department of Agriculture has announced another round of funding for its successful Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, or HBIIP. Approximately $22 million is being made available for retailers to add higher ethanol blends like E15 and E85.
The application window will be open for 30 days starting December 21 and ending January 19. Ethanol organizations are offering help to retailers in the application process. Awards to successful applicants will be in the form of cost-share grants for up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs, but not to exceed $3 million.
The Renewable Fuels Association is urging retailers to act quickly.
MacXever/iStock/Thinkstock New nominees for EPA, Department of Interior and climate advisers could bring new direction in addressing the changing climate.
President-elect Joe Biden has made it clear from day one he intends to lead with action on the climate. And now he’s filling his climate team with some familiar faces and some new ones that could bring a change to agriculture.
“We have a good idea of the vision President-elect Biden is trying to accomplish. And as it relates to agriculture it is positive,” says Ethan Lane, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s vice president of government affairs. The concern comes in when the progressive left of the party tries to take actions further.
This week the Brazilian government decided to let the current tariff rate quota expire and replace it with a 20 percent tariff on all imports of U.S. ethanol. The move elicited plenty of verbal response by the U.S. ethanol industry, and one coalition of groups called it devastating.
On a media conference call the day after Brazil’s announcement, Geoff Cooper, president, and CEO, of Renewable Fuels Association, said they are extremely disappointed with this news.
“There was a tariff free quota that allowed us to get some U.S. ethanol into Brazil duty free, but the Brazilians let that quota expire and now all gallons going into that market are subject to that twenty percent tariff,” Cooper said. “It will be incredibly disruptive. Brazil has been our top market the past few years, and if this tariff remains in place, we certainly expect that to change.”
December 18, 2020
IARN Leaders in the US ethanol industry are expressing disappointment after the Brazilian government imposed a 20 percent tariff on all US ethanol imports.
Earlier this week, Brazil allowed its current tariff rate quota (TRQ) to expire and replaced it with the 20 percent tariff. Calling the move devastating for US ethanol, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the two countries are now at risk of destroying the great progress both nations have made as global leaders in ethanol production, marking a dramatic turn in a bilateral trade relationship.
“We are extremely disappointed in this news that Brazil and US trade negotiators have failed to reach a deal that would have averted Brazil’s implementation of a 20 percent tariff on all US ethanol imports,” Cooper said.
The U.S Department of Agriculture has announced another round of funding for its successful Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, or HBIIP. Approximately $22 million is being made available for retailers to add higher ethanol blends like E15 and E85.
The application window will be open for 30 days starting December 21 and ending January 19. Ethanol organizations are offering help to retailers in the application process. Awards to successful applicants will be in the form of cost-share grants for up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs, but not to exceed $3 million.
The Renewable Fuels Association is urging retailers to act quickly.
“We are very proud of our earlier work that helped fuel retailers across the country successfully apply for and receive funding under the HBIIP grant program, and the RFA staff is ready to roll up its sleeves again to help retailers tap into the remaining funds available,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper.