The U.S. EPA on June 17 announced the appointment of 33 members to its Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee, which provides advice and recommendations to the agency on a range policy issues related to agriculture and rural communities.
The U.S. EPA on June 18 released updated small refinery exemption data that shows small refiners have filed 52 “gap year� SRE petitions for RFS compliance years 2011 through 2018 in an effort to circumvent the Tenth Circuit Court's January ruling.
The NBB called on U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to immediately reject the flood of 52 small refinery exemption petitions for compliance years preceding 2019, which would relieve oil companies from RFS obligations, disclosed by EPA June 18.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, discussed issues related to the post-2022 Renewable Fuel Standard, retroactive small refinery exemptions (SREs), and COVID-19 relief for the ag community during a media call held June 16.
Several biofuel producers and trade groups are among the nearly 200 organizations that sent a letter to President Trump on June 16 calling on him to ensure the continued implementation of the U.S.-China Phase One Trade Agreement.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., has introduced a bill that aims to approve certain advanced biofuel registrations under the RFS that the EPA has failed to take action on and set a deadline for the agency to act on future pathway and registration petitions.
Top scientists, engineers, and analysts with the Department of Energy's Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines initiative are examining how simultaneous improvements to fuels and engines can improve efficiency and reduce emissions and costs.
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing Jun 16 focused on ways to revive the energy industry, which has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Biofuels were briefly discussed during the event.
The Iowa Legislature authorized another year of funding June 14 for the cost-share biofuel infrastructure program, a move that ensures access to biofuels will continue to grow throughout Iowa. The program has led to millions in private investment.
On June 14, the Iowa legislature authorized another year of funding for Iowa's cost-share biofuel infrastructure program, a move that ensures access to biofuels will continue to grow throughout Iowa.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the U.S. Grains Council is working diligently to engage international stakeholders to convey the continued availability of U.S. ethanol. As travel restrictions ease, strategic in-country engagement will resume.
A roundup of the articles in the June issue of Ethanol Producer Magazine, including stories on hand sanitizer; the future of E30; carbon capture and storage; the CO2 market, ethanol's digital transformation and an alternative to CIP caustics.
on June 12, at an afternoon press briefing, Gov. Pete Ricketts officially designated June 2020 as Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska. The governor also highlighted three great reasons to use ethanol fuels when filling up a car or truck.
Five railcars of U.S. gasoline pre-blended at an E10 rate arrived in Guadalajara in May 2020, a direct success of the USGC's collaboration with the Mexican Association of Service Station Providers to demonstrate the benefits of increased ethanol use.
A 5-percent point reduction on import tariffs for ethanol is expected to create opportunities for increased ethanol trade with Vietnam. According to the U.S. Grain Council, the Vietnam government aims to achieve a 10 percent ethanol blend mandate.
The Biogenic CO2 Coalition sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on June 9 urging the agency to seek public comments on the regulatory treatment of biogenic CO2 from annual agriculture crops.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., on June 11 introduced legislation that aims to extend the Food and Drug Administration's temporary guidance on hand sanitizer production during the COVID-19 pandemic for at least two years.
The Renewable Fuels Association on June 11 marked the one-year anniversary of President Trump's visit to Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy by calling on him to reject requests from oil state governors to waive 2020 RFS blending requirements.
The U.S. ethanol industry saw a shift during the pandemic, as many plants sold or donated ethanol to be used in hand sanitizer production. While the temporary market provided cash flow for some, helping the nation in a time of need motivated all.
This spring, as the U.S. ethanol industry ratcheted back production by more than 45 percent, taking 8 billion gallons of capacity off line, it did anything but retreat from the COVID-19 crisis. It rose to the challenge, and stepped up to help.
The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) on June 4 announced the launch of a credit program designed to help support the country's ethanol industry, which is being negatively impacted by falling fuel demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A group of nine biofuel and ag groups sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on June 9 requesting more information about small refinery exemption (SRE) petitions the agency has reportedly received for past RFS compliance years.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration slightly reduced its forecasts for 2020 and 2021 ethanol production in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, which was released on June 9. Forecasts for ethanol consumption were also revised down.
The Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority partnered with the state biodiesel coalition and corn growers association to provide $2 million to support applicants of the USDA Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.
Biofuel and farm advocates called on the U.S. EPA to address a new effort to undermine the RFS. Administration officials are considering retroactive SREs covering years prior to 2019 (gap filings) to circumvent a Jan. 24 court ruling.
On June 4, the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority announced the creation of the Biofuel Infrastructure Program to increase the availability of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel in the Show-Me State.
A 30-day public comment period is now open on the U.S. EPA's proposal to determine that no additional fuel control measures are necessary to mitigate air quality impacts of required renewable fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
A group of 44 members of Congress sent a letter to President Trump on June 8 urging him to deny requests filed with the U.S. EPA by several governors seeking a waiver of 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements.
Forty-four bipartisan members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to President Trump demanding that his administration uphold the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard by denying recent requests to waive the 2020 RFS volumes.
The Iowa legislature has reauthorized the Iowa biofuel tax differentials, helping boost biofuel demand and lower prices. the bill extends and modernizes fuel tax differentials for E15 and higher ethanol blends and B11 and higher biodiesel blends.
Advertisement