- Customer Support
- Jan 29, 2022
- 3 min read
The United States, Brazil, Indonesia, Germany, China, Thailand, France, Netherlands, Spain, Argentina, Canada, Australia, European Union, South Africa, Japan, India, Malaysia, amongst others, all have one thing in common, their governments acting as entrepreneurs, invest heavily in their countries future by not only supporting the Biofuels growth platform but also providing the legal and lawful legislative framework, which gives policy makers the tools to assist in identifying areas of law which may affect biofuels regulations when designing key elements of national bioenergy laws in addition to policies, mandates and tax incentives altogether help to foster a multitude of sustainable entrepreneurships of biofuels companies which fuel the development and production of Biofuels as a means to achieve; energy security and self-sufficiency thereby reducing their reliance on foreign fossil fuel, job creation, while fostering a new era of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions controls, provides a firm platform from which to launch this agile and higher performing renewable and green energy sector.
The United States (U.S.) must look well beyond the question of whether it fall behind, or just manage to keep up, and anew its dominance as a model for other countries/nations while wisely looking to achieve new milestones on its path towards fuel and energy self-sufficiency which will not only help to accelerate the new green economy as then candidate Biden (now president) touted during his presidential campaign and was part of the (Bill Back Better) agenda which as of this posting seems “dead as a door nail” with no signs of resuscitation. But all is not lost!
The upcoming two countries wherein I have been actively working illustrate this point. No! I am not comparing the U.S. record of historical accomplishment as the world largest producer of Biofuels, with Jamaica is in its infancy. I am merely assessing the two countries' similarities as it relates to the steps taken to accomplish their respective goals:
The US by way of congress expanded the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) which requires US transportation fuel to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuel in 2007 via the Energy Independence and Security Act (P.L. 110-140; EISA) enacted in 2005 is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which also has statutory authority to determine the volume amounts after FY 2022. Its targeted goal beginning in 2006 was 4 billion gallons of renewable fuel with projection of 36 billion gallons by 2022. Though it fell short of its projected target for 2022, largely due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, is expected to rebound as the EIA estimates renewable fuels production capacity in the United States could increase fivefold by 2024 from 1 billion gallons currently to more than 5 billion gallons per year. Biofuels have the inherent advantage as they already work with internal combustion engines in comparison to the infrastructural change required for a new grid of plug-in stations for electric vehicles powered through solar energy or fuel cells.
The Government of Jamaica (GoJ) renewable energy target of 30% in its National Energy Policy 2009 – 2030 followed by Prime Minister Andrew Holness October 16, 2018, announcement of 50% renewables up from its official policy of 30% by 2030 is possible if, in addition to the electricity subsector there are major transformation in the fuel subsector via Fuel Side Intervention “FSI”, which is the most practical to get Jamaica to 50%. The good news! the GoJ via the Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited (JUTC) an entity of the Ministry of Transport and Mining has collaborated with Elhydro Limited for the timely development and implementation of the infrastructure including the supply of biofuels (particularly biodiesel) and fueling stations to begin the JUTC’s transition to Biodiesel as early as August 1st, 2022.
Biofuels should no longer be considered an “Alternate Fuel.” It is key to the nation’s/world energy needs and should be seen in that context. The countries who properly define its energy future, with an eye to technological innovation, will impact economic and fiscal policies, as well as national security. Those countries who anticipate the technological trends will experience a safe and secure future.
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