Biobased Products News and Policy Report
August 31, 2017
Industry
Flint Hills Resources Installs Co-Product Technologies
On August 14, 2017, Flint Hills Resources, a member of the Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group (BRAG®), announced that construction is underway to install a new, bolt-on technology, known as Maximized Stillage Co-Products™ (MSC), at its ethanol plant in Fairmont, Nebraska. The MSC technology will be used to convert a portion of the distiller grains, a coproduct of ethanol manufacturing, to a high protein animal and fish feed ingredient, known as NexPro™. NexPro will be a combination of corn gluten (protein) and spent yeast with close to 50 percent protein and an improved amino acid profile, compared to traditional corn gluten meal.
The $50 million project, which involves the addition of a new building and two protein dryers, is expected to last 12 months. The patented MSC technology was developed by Fluid Quip Process Technologies (FQPT) exclusively for dry mill ethanol plants to separate protein from the solids leftover after ethanol distillation. Once isolated, the protein is dried into a high-quality meal.
Neste Announces Renewable Diesel Fueling Helsinki Airport
On August 24, 2017, Neste, a member of BRAG, announced that its Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ is part of Finavia’s climate program. Initially, the renewable fuel will be used in 20 Helsinki Airport buses, with the goal of expanding its use in the future. According to Mikko Viinikainen, Vice President of Sustainability & Environment at Finavia, Neste MY Renewable Diesel is an excellent addition to the Finavia’s energy portfolio, which has been working towards carbon-neutral operations by using renewable energy sources; by investing in new, energy-efficient, low-emission solutions; and by compensating for residual emissions. The renewable fuel can be used in airport buses without any vehicle modifications and is available to all companies operating at the airport.
DOC
DOC Publishes Preliminary AD/CVD Determination For Argentina And Indonesia
On August 28, 2017, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) announced in the Federal Register that a preliminary determination had been issued in the antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations on biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia. DOC preliminarily determined that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia. The period of investigation for both countries is January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016.
Pursuant to Section 703(e)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, DOC preliminarily determined that critical circumstances exist with respect to imports of biodiesel from Indonesia for Musim Mas and Wilmar Trading. Similarly, DOC preliminary determined that critical circumstances exist with respect to imports of biodiesel from Argentina for LDC Argentina and Vicentin, but do not exist with respect to all other exporters or producers not individually examined. DOC will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of entries of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption, and to require a cash deposit equal to the subsidy rates indicated in the respective Federal Register notice. For Indonesian companies not individually examined, DOC applied an “all-others” subsidy rate, which was calculated by weight averaging the calculated subsidy rates of the two individually examined company respondents.
More information on the methodology and results of DOC’s analysis is available in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, which is a public document on file in the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). DOC invites comments on the preliminary determinations from interested stakeholders. Following DOC’s final determination, the International Trade Commission (ITC) will make its final determination within 45 days.
DOD
Agencies Request Public Comment On Collection Of Biobased Procurements Data
On August 28, 2017, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the General Services Administration (GSA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) issued in the Federal Register a notice of request for public comment on an extension of a previously approved information collection requirement regarding Biobased Procurements. Pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Clause 52.223-2, Affirmative Procurement of Biobased Products Under Service and Construction Contracts, prime contractors are required to report annually the product types and dollar values of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-designated biobased products purchased to the System for Award Management (SAM) website. Federal agencies use the submitted information to report annually to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) concerning actions taken to implement and measure progress in carrying out the preference for biobased products required under Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, codified at 7 U.S.C. § 8102.
Comments are due by October 27, 2017. Public comments are invited specifically on:
■ Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility;
■ Whether the estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology;
■ Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
■ Ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Other News
■ DOE, “Bioprose: Building the Bioeconomy through Technology & Communication”
■ Business Wire, “Biofuel and Biogas Innovators Unite for Stronger Cellulosic Targets”
■ Bangor University, “Landfill Sites: Not Just a Load of Rubbish”
■ Penn State, “Potato Waste Processing May Be the Road to Enhanced Food Waste Conversion”