(Notícia em Inglês)
In 2004 the US Congress created a $1 per gallon blenders' tax credit for biodiesel that was slated to expire in 2006. But in 2005 it extended the tax credit through the end of 2008 and, before that year was up, extended it again, through 2009.
Predictably, last autumn, legislation was introduced to extend the tax credit for yet another year, through 2010. The bill passed the US House of Representatives but stalled in the Senate. Consequently, since 1 January 2010, a number of biodiesel operators, unable to find buyers for their product at a cost price, have suspended operations.
Currently, the US biodiesel industry is estimated to be operating at only 15 percent of its rated capacity. That percentage would undoubtedly be even smaller if it were not for the subsidies and tax exemptions still provided by a number of states, and for the various government mandates (state as well as federal), that continue to force the blending of biodiesel into the nation's fuel supply regardless of cost. Because taxpayers cannot opt out of buying a blended fuel, mandates allow blenders to pass on at least some of their costs to consumers, creating a de facto subsidy via a captive, artificial market.
energytribune.com»
In 2004 the US Congress created a $1 per gallon blenders' tax credit for biodiesel that was slated to expire in 2006. But in 2005 it extended the tax credit through the end of 2008 and, before that year was up, extended it again, through 2009.
Predictably, last autumn, legislation was introduced to extend the tax credit for yet another year, through 2010. The bill passed the US House of Representatives but stalled in the Senate. Consequently, since 1 January 2010, a number of biodiesel operators, unable to find buyers for their product at a cost price, have suspended operations.
Currently, the US biodiesel industry is estimated to be operating at only 15 percent of its rated capacity. That percentage would undoubtedly be even smaller if it were not for the subsidies and tax exemptions still provided by a number of states, and for the various government mandates (state as well as federal), that continue to force the blending of biodiesel into the nation's fuel supply regardless of cost. Because taxpayers cannot opt out of buying a blended fuel, mandates allow blenders to pass on at least some of their costs to consumers, creating a de facto subsidy via a captive, artificial market.
energytribune.com»