Sustainable Bioenergy, Farms, and Forests - April 24, 2015

Administration Announces Voluntary Climate Mitigation Measures for Agriculture & Forestry

On April 23, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced several voluntary measures for greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation from the agriculture and forestry sectors.  According to Vilsack, agriculture is responsible for 9 percent of U.S. GHG emissions. Using existing authority in the 2014 Farm Bill, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) aims to lower GHGs in forestry and agriculture by 120 million metric tons, equal to removing 25 million cars off the road per year.  In its fact sheet, USDA outlines ten building blocks as the basis of its Climate Smart Agriculture Program, as well as announces several public-private partnerships, grants and programs aimed at reducing GHGs from land use.

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RFS Roundup: Bipartisan Group of Senators Asks Administration for Strong Renewable Fuel Standard

On April 23, a bipartisan group of 37 Senators, led by Senators Klobuchar (D-MN), Grassley (R-IA), Durbin (D-IL), Thune (R-SD), Franken (D-MN) and Kirk (R-IL), sent a letter to EPA, urging the agency to maintain a strong RFS by “revers[ing] course from the 2014 proposed rule and craft targets for domestic biofuels that reflect Congress’ intended goals for the RFS.”  The EPA will set the blending requirements for 2014 by June 1; the 2015 and 2016 standards will be set by November 30, but has not given indication as to what the volumes will be.  

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Headlines:

1. Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act of 2015 House Companion Bill Introduced

2. EPA Studies Regarding Ethanol Flawed, According to Air Quality Group

3. Growing Chorus of Complaints on Chemicals in Gasoline

4. If E15 Was Widely Available, Iowans Could Save $50 million a Year According to Study

5. Climate Change Is Affecting the Beer Industry

 

To Contact the Editor: Jessie Stolark at [email protected]

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