Advanced BioFuels USA

RFA Will Fight EPA’s Illegal, Last-Minute Refinery Exemptions

(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association today harshly condemned the Environmental Protection Agency’s unconscionable and unlawful decision to grant three more small refinery exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard with just hours remaining before Donald Trump leaves the White House and Joe Biden is sworn in as President. Last week, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper notified Wheeler of RFA’s intent to legally challenge any waivers issued in the final days of the Trump presidency.

EPA granted two 2019 exemptions, erasing another 150 million gallons of renewable fuel demand. Unbelievably, the Agency also appears to have reversed a 2018 petition that was initially denied, resulting in an additional loss of 110 million gallons of renewable volume blending.

“This midnight-hour attempt by the Trump administration to damage the Renewable Fuel Standard and sabotage the ethanol industry’s recovery from the COVID pandemic simply cannot be allowed to prevail,” Cooper said. “With just hours remaining in his shameful term as EPA Administrator, Andrew Wheeler couldn’t stop himself from doling out a few more Clean Air Act compliance exemptions to his well-connected friends. But the fact remains that today’s action by EPA is completely without legal merit. It flouts both the statute and recent court decisions that clearly limit EPA’s authority and ability to grant these exemptions. And while this action comes as one last sucker punch from the Trump administration, we are confident it will be a hollow victory for the politically connected oil companies receiving today’s waivers, as the new Biden Administration will most certainly act quickly to restore the volumes erased by these waivers.”

The waivers come less than two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court announced it will review the Tenth Circuit Court’s decision in RFA et al. v. EPA, which found EPA had grossly exceeded its statutory authority in granting three exemptions. Previously, Wheeler had claimed EPA would not decide any pending waiver petitions until any and all appeals of the Tenth Circuit decision were resolved.

“In the past, Administrator Wheeler has asserted that the ‘appeals process needs to play out’ before EPA will decide the SRE petitions,” Cooper said. “Unfortunately, hypocrisy has been the hallmark of the Trump administration’s EPA, which right to the end has demonstrated its fealty to the nation’s largest polluters, while showing nothing but disdain for America’s hard-working farmers and producers of homegrown renewable fuels. Today’s action by Wheeler and his political enablers will not be forgotten by the women and men across the Heartland whose livelihoods depend on a strong renewable fuels industry and stability and certainty in the RFS policy.” READ MORE

THREE FOR THE ROAD: (Politico’s Morning Energy)

Excerpt from Politico’s Morning Energy: THREE FOR THE ROAD: EPA made public Tuesday night that it would grant two small refiners exemptions from 2019 Renewable Fuel Standard requirements, and an exemption from 2018 mandate, according to its RFS dashboard . The exemptions reduced the effective mandate for 2018 by 110 million gallons and for 2019 by 150 million gallons. Rumors had been swirling for weeks over whether EPA would unleash a big batch of exemptions as the Trump administration left office, and as recently as last week the agency signaled it would not do so in a regulatory filing. The agency still has 65 pending requests for exemptions dating back to the 2011 blending mandates. Corn growers and ethanol producers promised to fight the new exemptions. READ MORE

Renewed Focus on Climate Legislation Could Help Biofuels

by Sara Wyant (Ag Week) The biofuel industry argues that President-elect Joe Biden can also make progress on his climate goals by expanding biofuel usage mandates, embracing a low carbon fuel policy and increasing vehicle emissions standards.

Now that Democrats have won control of the Senate, climate legislation is inevitable, and farm groups have to get involved in the debate, says Chandler Goule, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers and a former Democratic congressional staffer.

“We’ve got to make sure that agriculture is part of the solution,” Goule said in a Washington Week in Review interview with Agri-Pulse. “It’s not if climate legislation is coming, it’s when. So we might as well just get over whether this is going to happen or not,”

He said “there’s got to be an incentive there to help farmers with what is going to be an increased cost of production in order to meet” new climate regulations.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who will chair the Senate Ag Committee, says climate policy will be a “top priority” for the committee.

The biofuel industry argues that President-elect Joe Biden can also make progress on his climate goals by expanding biofuel usage mandates, embracing a low carbon fuel policy and increasing vehicle emissions standards.

Biden has set a climate goal of net zero emissions by no later than 2050. His climate plan calls for deploying over 500,000 new public charging stations for electric vehicles by 2030 as well as producing next-generation biofuels by turning grass, crop residues, and other biomass into fuel.

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(Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO, Geoff) Cooper said automakers should also be encouraged and incentivized to build internal combustion engines that can get the most fuel economy in terms of emissions reductions. But he noted that only happens if there is an incentive for the right fuels for those vehicles and technologies.

He said it is critical to understand that the auto manufacturing and fuel industries work as a system, not separately.

While high-compression engines may sound like a good solution for the biofuel industry, Tristan Brown, an energy resource economics professor at the State University of New York, is skeptical there will be much progress made in the next decade because of a push for increased electric vehicle use. READ MORE

QUOTE OF THE WEEK — Geoff Cooper

“Some ethanol being produced today in Iowa reduces GHG emissions by nearly 80 percent, according to analysis by California regulators. Why wouldn’t we want to combine ethanol’s environmental benefits with those of the renewable power sector?“ —Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association in The Gazette. READ MORE

Siemens Energy to Drive the Development of Green Hydrogen Economy in the Middle East

(Siemens/ElectricEnergyOnline) Siemens Energy and Mubadala join strategic partnership to accelerate green hydrogen capabilities in Abu Dhabi; Siemens Energy to collaborate

January 20, 2021 Read Full Article

S&P Global Platts Launches SAF and HVO Values in Asia

(Associated Press/PR Newswire/S&P Global) S&P Global Platts (“Platts”), the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and

January 20, 2021 Read Full Article

Green Hydrogen Set for Exponential Growth, Says Frost & Sullivan’s

(Renewables Now) The world’s green hydrogen production will grow at an exponential rate in the next decade, reaching 5.7 million

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Biogest Builds Biogas Plant in Idaho

(Biogest/Biomass Magazine) Biogest received its first U.S. order to build an agricultural biogas plant in Idaho. The plant has a

January 20, 2021 Read Full Article

From Waste to Profits and Products: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Sierra Energy

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How do you recycle mixed and complex waste? What about waste that can’t be recycled?

January 20, 2021 Read Full Article

Top 10 Bioeconomy Must-Knows in the Biden Transition

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who are the key bioeconomy players in the new Biden Administration? What recent moves by

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RFA Will Fight EPA’s Illegal, Last-Minute Refinery Exemptions

(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association today harshly condemned the Environmental Protection Agency’s unconscionable and unlawful decision to grant three

January 20, 2021 Read Full Article

Making Progress on Climate and Clean Air in a New Administration

(Diesel Technology Forum) As manufacturers are hard at work developing zero-emissions solutions over the next decade, introducing the latest diesel

January 20, 2021 Read Full Article

Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act Passed as Part of National Defense Authorization Act

(Bergeson & Campbell) On December 28, 2020, the House overrode President Trump’s veto and passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal

January 20, 2021 Read Full Article

EPA Proposes to Extend 2019, 2020 RFS Deadlines DEADLINE Comments due March 11, 2021

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA is scheduled to publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register on

January 20, 2021 Read Full Article

Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Petitions for a Waiver of the 2019 and 2020 Renewable Fuel Standards DEADLINE Comments due February 18, 2021

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) EPA seeks comment on several petitions for a waiver of the 2019 and 2020 Renewable Fuels Standard

January 20, 2021 Read Full Article

Plastics Innovation Challenge Draft Roadmap and Request for Information

(U.S. Department of Energy) In January, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the Plastics Innovation Challenge Draft Roadmap

January 20, 2021 Read Full Article

Carbon Reductions On the Rise in 2021

by Donnell Rehagen (National Biodiesel Board) With carbon reduction taking center stage, biodiesel and renewable diesel can provide immediate and

January 20, 2021 Read Full Article

Renewable Diesel’s Rising Tide

by Tom Bryan (Biodiesel Magazine) An update on U.S. renewable diesel projects—operational, expanding, under construction and proposed—giving new purpose to

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Holding Strong: U.S. Biodiesel Producers Surveyed

by Tom Bryan (Biodiesel Magazine) Biodiesel Magazine’s late-2020 survey of producers tells the story of a resilient, changing industry that’s

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Eco Crystal Ball: A Look Back & Look Ahead for Ethanol

Now that last year is behind us, join EcoEngineers as we look back at 2020 and look forward to 2021.

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Focus on Biodiesel’s Environmental Benefits

by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The environmental benefits of both biodiesel and renewable diesel are in focus this week at the virtual National

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Carbon-Neutral Airfreight Route from LA to Amsterdam Begins

(Biobased Diesel Daily/Air France KLM Martinair Cargo) To support the industry’s carbon reduction targets, Kuehne+Nagel has joined the Air France KLM

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Boost for the Global Deployment of Licella’s Innovative Cat-HTR™ Technology as Global Plastics Licensee Mura Technology Partners with Leading Engineering Firm KBR

(Licella) Licella Holdings (‘Licella’), Mura’s largest single shareholder, congratulate Mura Technology (‘Mura’), UK-based developer and licensee of their Cat-HTR™ platform, on announcing a

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

CoverCress Inc. and University Partners Selected as Start-up Inventor of the Year

by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Missouri, CoverCress Inc. and its university partners Illinois State University and the University of

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Renewed Focus on Climate Legislation Could Help Biofuels

by Sara Wyant (Ag Week) The biofuel industry argues that President-elect Joe Biden can also make progress on his climate

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Official Release of the MOVES3 Motor Vehicle Emissions Model for SIPs and Transportation Conformity

(Environmental Protection Agency/Federal Register) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of the (MOVES3) for official purposes outside

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Washington Week in Review: Jan. 15, 2021: Rep. Rodney Davis on Impeachment, COVID Aid, and Biofuels

(Agri-Pulse) It’s been an eventful two weeks on Capitol Hill, and the impacts could linger for an extended period of

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Germany Announces Three Green Hydrogen Projects

by Chloe Jardine (Argus Media) Germany’s research ministry today presented three large-scale research projects on green hydrogen, with a focus on the

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

BioMADE Manufacturing Scale-up Accelerator, Top 10 Predictions for ’21

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today, a look into the Bioindustrial Manufacturing And Design Ecosystem (BioMADE), a Manufacturing USA Institute

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

TGE and PGNiG Embark on Cooperation with a View to Developing a Biomethane Market in Poland

(TGE and PGNiG) TGE and PGNiG intend to jointly prepare modern solutions supporting the creation and development of a biomethane

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Department of Energy Establishes ‘Division of Minerals Sustainability’

by Emily Holbrook (Environment + Energy Leader) … US Department of Energy (DOE) announced the establishment of a Division of Minerals

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Aviation Sector and NGOs Agree on Sustainability of Future Fuels

(European Climate Foundation) Given that EU leaders have committed to achieving a net-zero-carbon economy by 2050, there is a growing focus

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Stora Enso’s Biogas Partnership with Gasum Turns Waste into Green Energy

(Stora Enso) The production of Multicopy paper is about to contribute to the biofuel production in Sweden. The energy company Gasum

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Greenergy Invests in Advanced Biofuels Project

(Greenergy) Greenergy announces its continued commitment to renewables through an investment in advanced biofuels. Utilising a combination of existing technologies, the

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Getting to Neutral Carbon: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Carbon Drawdown

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s A.J. Simon shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC 2020 to

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Truly Renewable Energy: The Importance of Organics Recycling in a Decarbonized Future

by Shawn Kreloff (Bioenergy Devco/Biofuels Digest) … But what if we could replace a significant amount of these fossil fuels

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Aemetis: Patent Award Enables Launch of ‘Carbon Zero’ Plants

(Aemetis/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Aemetis Inc. announced Jan. 15 that its exclusively licensed technology for the production of below zero carbon renewable fuel was

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Hydrous Ethanol Price Parity Not Seen Decreasing Despite Gasoline Price Hike: Sources

by Nicolle Monteiro de Castro (S&P Global Platts) … Brazilian oil company Petrobras’ average gasoline price hike of 7.93% is

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Tired of Waiting on Washington, Ethanol CEO Bets on Animal Feed

by Kim Chipman (Bloomberg) Green Plains Inc. Chief Executive Officer Todd Becker is getting closer to his goal of never having

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

QUOTE OF THE WEEK — Geoff Cooper

“Some ethanol being produced today in Iowa reduces GHG emissions by nearly 80 percent, according to analysis by California regulators.

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Iowa Has Room for All Renewables – Solar, Wind and Ethanol

by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/The Gazette) … Renewable liquid fuels and renewable electricity are highly complementary ways to reduce

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

Outgoing Trump Admin Mulls Industry-Wide Biofuel Waiver for Oil Refiners and E15 Labeling Change

by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) The Trump administration is considering requests from the oil refining industry and its backers for a sweeping

January 19, 2021 Read Full Article

‘Essential Energy,’ the Theme of the Upcoming National Ethanol Conference

by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ‘Essential Energy,’ the theme of the upcoming National Ethanol Conference, is inspired

January 16, 2021 Read Full Article

Air Quality Impacts of Palm Biodiesel in Indonesia

by Jane O’Malley, Stephanie Searle, and Tenny Kristiana (International Council on Clean Transportation) As Indonesia moves toward more advanced vehicle emission standards,

January 16, 2021 Read Full Article

Malaysia to File WTO Lawsuit against EU on Jan 15, Says Minister

by Shaheera Aznam Shah (Malaysian Reserve) Mohd Khairuddin says we will continue to fight against any discriminatory actions which pose a

January 16, 2021 Read Full Article

Total and Engie Partner to Develop France’s Largest Site for the Production of Green Hydrogen from 100% Renewable Electricity

(Total) Total and Engie have signed a cooperation agreement to design, develop, build and operate the Masshylia project, France’s largest renewable

January 16, 2021 Read Full Article

CALL FOR SPEAKERS: International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo (FEW) — July 13-15 2021 — Minneapolis, MN DEADLINE: March 12, 2021

Now in its 37th year, the FEW provides the global ethanol industry with cutting-edge content and unparalleled networking opportunities in