Posts Tagged ‘RINSTAR’
RINSTAR Logos
Download a web-ready version of the RINSTAR logo by clicking here.
Download a print-ready version of the RINSTAR logo by clicking here.
Tags: Add new tag, Clean Fuels Clearinghouse, logo, RINSTAR
Contact Us
Would you like more information about Clean Fuels Clearinghouse? You may contact us at 575-377-3369 or email us at sales@cfch.com.
Tags: CFCH, Clayton McMartin, Clean Fuels Clearinghouse, Melissa Donovan, RINSTAR
RINSTAR® “The Renewable Fuel Registry”
RINSTAR® is the nation’s first and only third party renewable fuel registry. Through its interactions with hundreds of companies each day, RINSTAR® safeguards participating companies against invalid RINs while delivering the highest level of confidence available to the renewable fuel marketplace. The registry has facilitated over 12 billion gallon-RIN transactions since its inception.
Coming Up Short
Coming Up Short
By: Kris Bevill
From the November 2009 Ethanol Producer Magazine
Tags: Clayton McMartin, Clean Fuels Clearinghouse, Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Renewable Fuel Standard, Renewable Identification Number, RFS2, RIN, RINSTAR, RINStar Renewable Fuels Registry
About Clean Fuels Clearinghouse
Clean Fuels Clearinghouse (CFCH) is best known as the home of RINSTAR®, the nation’s only private sector registry for renewable fuels and the associated credits known as Renewable Identification Numbers, or RINs. Interacting with over 500 companies throughout the renewable fuel supply chain daily, RINSTAR is recognized as the leader in the marketplace for RIN management and validation services. As a private sector, third party verifier, RINSTAR has conducted due diligence and facilitated the trading of over 12 Billion Gallon-RINs. The registry provides its membership with the highest level of confidence possible in the market for renewable fuel credits.
Respected throughout the industry as the thought leaders in the field of advanced renewables and low carbon fuels, CFCH interacts as a stakeholder with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and such state agencies as the California Air Resource Board (CARB). A combination of unique experiences and practical industry insight position CFCH to guide its clients through the challenges associated with regulatory change.
Clayton McMartin and Melissa Donovan founded CFCH in 2001 with the mission of “Delivering Business Solutions for Cleaner Fuels”. McMartin holds degrees in Petroleum and Chemical Engineering and Donovan a degree in Computer Science. For more information about CFCH contact us at 575-377-3369.
Tags: CFCH, Clayton McMartin, Clean Fuels Clearinghouse, Melissa Donovan, RINS, RINSTAR
Inaugural RINWorld Summit a Great Success
Inaugural RINWorld Summit a Great Success
The RINWorld Summit was a great success, with companies from all over the United States, and in every sector of the renewable fuel industry attending. RINSTAR® Members accounted for approximately 1/3 of the audience.
True to our word, the Summit was not a RINSTAR® user conference but instead a balanced perspective on the commercial implementation of the RFS. Believe it or not, we didn’t even conduct a RINSTAR® demo. The content was substantial, with every presenter delivering useful information that the entire audience was able to benefit from.
Representatives from EPA provided all of us with some great insight; including when we can expect the new RFS2 to go into effect and what how the biodiesel standard will most likely be addressed in 2009. The year 2009 will certainly be a challenging period – one that I have termed RFS1.5 as we transition between the original RFS and RFS2.
Considering the fact that the RFS is only in its first year, it was great to see all of the personal connections that were made at the event. Since the program is so new, virtually no one in the audience had met each other in person, but most knew each other just by the sound of their voice. When you consider the microcosm that the RFS professional works within, it was a great experience meeting so many people in one place who actually knew what a RIN was.
One thing that was particularly apparent is that there is a great need for more information about the RFS and the RIN program. Recognizing this need, I am considering conducting a series of courses on various related subjects – What do you think about RIN University? And I will be the RIN Master. Maybe we could get some sweat shirts made up with RIN U Graduate. In all seriousness, let me know if you are interested, I am hearing from lots of people who are.
Tags: Clayton, Clayton McMartin, Clean Fuels Clearinghouse, CompIntelligence, Compliance Report, Dr. Robert Payne, EPA, Joel Velasco, OPIS, RFS, RFS1.5, RIN University, RINSTAR, RINSummit, RINWorld Summit, Stephen Fater, Success
EPA Will Take More Time To Respond to RFS Waiver Request
EPA Will Take More Time To Respond to RFS Waiver Request
Author: Clayton McMartin
EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson issued a press release today addressing the long awaited decision to Governor Rick Perry’s RFS waiver request filed 88 days ago. And the answer is, we need more time.
“Additional time is needed to allow staff to adequately respond to the public comments and develop a decision document that explains the technical, economic and legal rationale of our decision,” the EPA said in a news release on Tuesday July 22, 2008.
According to testimony given by Principal Deputy Assistant Robert Meyers during the July 10, 2008 Senate Environment and Public Works hearing on implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard, over 15,000 comments had been received by EPA on the waiver request.
The administrator’s comments would indicate that EPA has yet to make a final decision on the matter, assuring the public through the press release that, “The process remains fair and open, and no agreements have been made with any party in regard to the substance and timing of the decision on the waiver request.”
According to Administrator Johnson, a final decision on the Texas Governor’s petition is expected in August. No additional details were available.
Whatever the final decision, the impact to the renewable fuel supply chain will be significant. Texas Governor Rick Perry will open the RINWorld Summit in Dallas Texas on October 16, where industry leaders and government official will convene to discuss and learn more about the cost effective implementation of the RFS.
Tags: Biodiesel, Biomass, Clayton, Compliance Report, Diesel, EPA, Ethanol, Fuel, Gasoline, Government, Governor, McMartin, Policy Act, Refueling America, Regulations, Renewable Fuel Credits, Renewable Fuel Registry, Renewable Fuel Standard, Renewable Identification Number, Response, RFS, Rick Perry, RIN, RINSTAR, waiver
Survey Reveals Challenges with RFS Compliance
Survey Indicates that 81% of Renewable Fuel Suppliers are Out of Compliance
Author: Clayton McMartin
EPA issued a guidance document pertaining to Improper and Illegal RIN Trading Practices on June 26, 2008. In this document they addressed 3 different situations pertaining to improper and illegal RIN trading practices. I would like to take a few minutes and provide you with some specific insight into Situation No. 3. In particular let’s spend a few minutes investigating the issue of transmitting ownership of assigned RINs on the same day as the transfer of title to the renewable fuel product.
To give you an idea of how widespread this problem is, consider the following graph:
The guidance document states that:
The regulations also require that assigned RINs must be recorded on the PTD used to transfer ownership of the fuel or on a separate document that is transferred to the same party on the same day as the PTD used to transfer ownership of the fuel. The regulations are clear with regard to this issue. See §80.1128(a)(7); Q&As 9.7 and 9.12.
The data comprising the pie graph was collected during one of our RINSTAR sponsored Web Seminars on January 17, 2008. 134 individual companies were in attendance and participated in the anonymous polling to this question - “What Percentage of RIN Transfers do you Receive on the Same Day as Your PTD?”. Only 19% indicated that they received data in a timely manner.
What is even more enlightening is the fact that the very same question was asked of essentially the same group of participants during our October 2007 Webinar, with those results showing that 39% of participants were receiving their data in a timely manner. That is a relative drop of 50%, which is exactly contrary to what one would hope for. It would seem that with benefit of experience this practice would have improved with time, instead it appears to have worsened.
Apparently EPA sees this as a big enough issue now to step in and render an official opinion through the guidance documents. This is certainly a step in the right direction when it comes to improving efficiencies throughout the supply chain. Now the big question - Are fines in the near future?
What are your thoughts? Do you think EPA will start issuing fines? How will this impact your business?
Tags: Biodiesel, Biomass, Clayton, Compliance Report, Diesel, EPA, Ethanol, Fuel, Gasoline, McMartin, Policy Act, Refueling America, Regulations, Renewable Fuel Credits, Renewable Fuel Registry, Renewable Fuel Standard, Renewable Identification Number, RFS, RIN, RINSTAR
The Hidden Costs of the Renewable Fuels Standard
The Hidden Costs of the Renewable Fuels Standard
Author: Clayton McMartin
From the February 2008 Ethanol Producer Magazine
Millions of dollars in operating capital are being wasted as the ethanol industry struggles to comply with the renewable fuels standard. A survey conducted during an Oct. 30 web conference attended by 234 industry stakeholders indicates that as many as 61 percent of renewable fuel suppliers are out of compliance.
Each of these facts are directly attributable to the requirements set forth in the RFS regulations requiring new documentation for product transfers throughout the renewable fuel supply chain. Many players have attempted to satisfy these requirements by modifying their existing production account systems, resulting in a short-term solution with long-term consequences.
Although the threat of $32,500-per-day fines for Clean Air Act violations is significant, even greater daily costs have come to bear upon the entire industry by those mixing business systems with regulatory compliance systems. Millions of dollars in extra operating capital are required for those who have adopted this ill-advised operating practice, which comes at a time when most in the biofuels business are experiencing painfully low profit margins. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Biodiesel, Biomass, Clayton, Compliance Report, Diesel, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol-Producer Magazine, Fuel, Gasoline, Hidden Cost of Renewable Fuel, McMartin, Policy Act, Refueling America, Regulations, Renewable Fuel Credits, Renewable Fuel Registry, Renewable Fuel Standard, Renewable Identification Number, RFS, RIN, RINSTAR