Biodiesel to Budget Reconciliation Go

European outlets for US biodiesel will be severely curtailed as the EU imposed a tariff on US made biodiesel to counteract the affect of the blender’s credit and the “splash and dash” trade.  This will result in tougher times for US biodiesel manufacturers (Imperium Renewables Lays of More than Half of Staff).

There has been much discussion on the impact on Feed In Tariffs as a means to spur renewable energy development.  This has been quite successful on a national basis in Germany and the NYT reports that Gainesville is the first community to offer higher payments for solar energy.  See previous post with US map indicating how far Florida needs to go in meeting an RPS as being proposed in the House and Senate.  Long term price certainty for offtake provides tremendous support to developers and allows for long term financing.  However, if only done on a city by city basis, this will only have a marginal effect.

Potential budget reconciliation maneuver on a Climate Bill that would allow for Reid to avoid the possibility of a Senate filibuster draws the ire of Sen Murkowski and 27 other democrats and republicans.  Reid has indicating that he is considering this tactic to move through bill that will include a cap and trade system, Renewable Electricity Standard and extended FERC’s authority on interstate transmission.