Join Us

News

15 Jun

Posted at 13:01h in Industry News, Regulatory
0 Likes

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers have asked a federal judge to remand the Waters of United States (WOTUS) rule without vacating it, essentially leaving the current rule in place while the agencies work on a replacement. “This action reflects the agencies’ intent to initiate a new rulemaking process that restores the protections in place prior to the 2015 WOTUS implementation, and anticipates developing a new rule that defines WOTUS and is informed by a robust engagement process…,” the announcement stated. Prior to the 2015 rule's implementation, those...

09 Jun

Posted at 13:52h in Advocacy, Industry News
0 Likes

Renew Kansas Biofuels Association co-signed National Biodiesel Board’s letter to congressional leaders urging support of the biodiesel and renewable diesel industry as congress develops legislation concerning the nation’s infrastructure, climate and economic priorities. Addressed to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Democratic Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, the letter requested bipartisan support and inclusion of the industry. Specifically, the letter called on members of congress to: Support the bipartisan, bicameral proposal to extend the biodiesel tax credit through 2025 (S 1806/HR...

01 Jun

Posted at 15:58h in Advocacy
0 Likes

2021 Kansas Legislature Adjourns Sine Die The 2021 Kansas legislative session formally adjourned Sine Die just before 1:00 p.m., on Wednesday, May 26. The half-day of floor work was uneventful in terms of laws overridden as the Senate successfully Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of a short-term health insurance bill, but the House fell nearly 20 votes short of the 2/3 majority needed to pass the law. Neither chamber attempted any other overrides on bills vetoed. Lawmakers in both chambers did pass a concurrent resolution to Governor Kelly, urging her administration to end...

20 May

Posted at 17:17h in Advocacy, Industry News
0 Likes

East Kansas Agri-Energy (EKAE) hosted an hour-long tour and biofuels discussion with Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and members of her administration in Garnett on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Renew Kansas Biofuels Association Chairman and EKAE CEO/President Bill Pracht and Vice President of Operations Doug Sommer facilitated the tour. “It was an honor to walk Governor Kelly and Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam through our plant explaining our process for producing biofuels and showing them first-hand our impact on Garnett and the surrounding community,” Pracht said. “As an industry, we’ve only ever...

12 May

Posted at 15:49h in Advocacy, Industry News
0 Likes

Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Rogers announced a new linked deposit loan program to provide low-interest loans to Kansas businesses as well as to schools and businesses who experienced extraordinary natural gas bills from the February polar vortex weather event. The Extraordinary Utility Loan Program utilizes $20 million from the City Utility Loan Program to provide low-interest loans to wholesale natural gas customers, including businesses and school districts, who experienced higher utility bills resulting from the February winter weather. The program provides loans of no more than $500K with a term of up to three...

12 May

Posted at 13:09h in Advocacy
0 Likes

Legislative Veto Session Report The legislature met for additional legislative action last week during a time referred to as the Veto Session – historically meant to provide the legislature with a brief period to consider bills vetoed by the Governor. During this final week of action, lawmakers voted to override multiple vetoes of bills by Governor Laura Kelly. The legislature worked late into the evening on Friday, May 7, with the House adjourning at 1:40 a.m. on Saturday morning and the Senate adjourning at 2:15 a.m. The legislature passed a handful...

27 Apr

Posted at 19:05h in Regulatory
0 Likes

Following an announcement by OSHA in February concerning its guidance on COVID-19, OSHA now plans to issue an emergency temporary standard (ETS) on COVID-19. The agency has formally transmitted its draft Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on COVID-19 to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. You can find the draft rule here: DASHBOARD - EO - REGINFO.GOV. After publication, OSHA could make enforcement of the standard a priority. The ETS could then be made permanent. AGENCY: DOL-OSHA TITLE: Subpart U – Emergency Temporary Standard – COVID-19 RIN: 1218-AD36 STAGE: Final...

26 Apr

Posted at 14:18h in Advocacy
0 Likes

Legislative Session Interim Report Governor Laura Kelly has now signed multiple bills passed by the legislature during the regular session. The Governor has also teed up possible action by the House and Senate during the veto session beginning May 3 by vetoing key legislation focusing on taxes and social issues. Upon its return, the legislature will also focus on passage of an omnibus budget bill for the balance of the current fiscal year. This budget action comes on the heels of the state having just received positive news on the budget...

19 Apr

Posted at 18:49h in Industry News, Regulatory
0 Likes

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) is providing Kansans a 30-day public comment period on the draft 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The plan provides a 25-year statewide vision for the future of transportation in Kansas. Comments can be made until May 18 by clicking here. The draft plan inventories the state's transportation system that includes highways, transit, rail, air and active transportation elements. It also identifies issues and trends that will influence the transportation system over the next 25 years such as technology advances, digital access, connections between health...

16 Apr

Posted at 16:29h in Advocacy, Industry News, Regulatory
0 Likes

Photo courtesy: Growth Energy Renew Kansas Biofuels Association submitted comments to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supporting changes in proposed regulations to either remove or amend the current labeling requirement on E15. The association also conveyed its support for EPA’s proposed changes to the compatibility requirements for UST systems for E15 and higher blend biofuels. The comment explained how the current label requirements for E15 are overly-aggressive, and unnecessarily deter consumers away from purchasing a beneficial and low-cost fuel. If the EPA label requirement is retained, Renew Kansas supports modifying the current label...

X
X