The U.S. EPA greenhouse gas regulations provided biomass facilities with an important incentive – a unique “deferral” from having to achieve established CO2 emission limits. For certain biomass facilities not being regulated for CO2 emissions had significant benefits from both a capital and operational cost perspective. There likely are a number of biomass facilities which currently owe their financial viability to the deferral.
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D.C. Circuit Issues Mixed Ruling on Biofuels Targets
The D.C. Circuit delivered a mixed decision recently regarding an American Petroleum Institute (“API”) challenge to the 2012 EPA Rule (“2012 Rule”) outlining blending requirements for cellulosic biofuels. Cellulosic biofuel is an advanced biofuel that comes from sources such as switchgrass and agricultural wastes.
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“Tailoring” of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Agenda
A key input into increased development of renewable energy projects in the U.S. is, and will continue to be, driven by U.S. EPA’s efforts to regulate greenhouse gasses (“GHG”). The nature and scope of GHG regulation, and Congress’ role in that effort, will be a material input into the renewable energy market. I encourage you…
Counting Jobs at the EPA
The House of Representatives has set its sights on limiting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to enforce several environmental laws in this country. For example, the House voted last week to strip the EPA of all authority to regulate greenhouse gases. Such a measure is unlikely to pass the Senate and the president has indicated he would veto such a bill; however, the House is seeking leverage to prevent regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.
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