biodiesel

Ontario to invest in green trucks, natural gas network

TORONTO, ON - Ontario has unveiled a five-year Climate Change Action Plan that includes funds to adopt greener commercial vehicles and build a province-wide natural gas fueling network. A new Green Commercial Vehicle Program to launch in 2017 will include up to $170 million in incentives for adopting electric and natural gas commercial vehicles, aerodynamic devices, anti-idling devices, and electric trailer refrigeration. The funding available for specific technologies is not referenced. Another $75-$100 million will be used to build a province-wide natural gas fueling network, which will be developed with input from the Ontario Trucking Association, Union Gas, Enbridge Gas, and others. Natural gas has a lower carbon content than diesel.

Biodiesel output slumps in 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. biodiesel market shrunk in 2014 amid policy uncertainty in Washington that destabilized the industry and caused many biodiesel plants to shut down or reduce production. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, total U.S. biodiesel consumption fell to 1.75 billion gallons for the year, down slightly from nearly 1.8 billion gallons in 2013. The downturn came as the Obama Administration failed to finalize biodiesel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the U.S. Congress allowed the biodiesel tax incentive to lapse at the beginning of 2014. "These numbers reflect the consequences of policy inaction," said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), the industry trade association.