Sustainable Bioenergy, Farms, and Forests - June 27, 2014

A weekly look at sustainable bioenergy, farm, and forest policy issues

 

 

 

CBO Releases RFS Forecast but Ignores Mid-Level Blends

This week the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report, "The Renewable Fuel Standard: Issues for 2014 and Beyond."   In the analysis, CBO looks at the possible impacts on emissions, fuel and food prices under three different scenarios for renewable fuel volumes. The three scenarios considered by CBO are the original 2017 volumes as laid out by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), a 2017 scenario which is consistent with the 2014 EPA reduced proposal, and the third scenario being the most unlikely - a complete repeal.   

 

The Obama Administration Establishes Task Force on Pollinator Health

On June 20, President Obama issued a memorandum to address the dramatic population loss of pollinators and the critical role they play in the nation's agriculture industry. Pollinators like honeybees, bats, butterflies and birds contribute $24 billion to the U.S. economy every year and are responsible for producing about 30 percent of all food crops.  Yet, commercial beekeepers have reported a 30 percent colony loss every winter since 2006, more than doubling the previously recorded rate of 10-15 percent.  The memo establishes the first-ever task force on pollinator health, which will be co-chaired by representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  

 

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

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