A major moment for ethanol in Europe

The next few months are sure to be a crucial period for the European ethanol industry, as European Union policymakers grapple with new legislation that could phase out crop-based biofuels after 2020. The moment is especially important as the EU tries to assert its leadership in the global fight against climate change after the U.S. government’s decision to abandon the Paris Agreement. But even as it touts its continued commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the European Commission is making a strange push with its Renewable Energy Directive II to ensure a dominant place for fossil fuel in the EU’s 2030 transport energy mix.