Advanced BioFuels USA

(KMA Land/Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network)  … During a virtual forum with the Iowa Farmers Union on Wednesday, Third District Congresswoman Cindy Axne was asked whether fossil fuel companies should be eligible for pandemic relief funds.

“Listen, my personal belief is no,” Axne said. “Our fossil fuel companies have been getting handed a silver platter for years, and in particular with this administration. You know right now, this administration is issuing those renewable fuel standard waivers at the expense of hardworking Iowa farmers to put more money in the pockets of rich oil shareholders.”

Axne’s stance on relief for fossil fuel companies echoes recent comments made by Senator Joni Ernst. During a June 30th IFU forum, Ernst was also asked if she feels fossil fuel companies should be granted COVID-19 relief funds.

“I’d rather they weren’t,” Ernst said. “We could see additional support for our ethanol producers and I think that is really important. That’s one thing we continue to push both through our work in a potential fourth package, but then also we have approached USDA about that as well – making sure that those supports are going to those tied into agriculture. That would be for our clean energy sector whether that’s biofuels, biodiesel, advanced biofuels, ethanol and so forth.”

Axne added that fos(sil fuel companies should be able to support themselves without federal aid.

“We see businesses in the oil industry that pay little to no taxes and also pollute our environment,” Axne said. “These are large companies no matter how you slice it. They’ve got ample opportunity. They should be figuring out how they can make their way through this with all of the tax incentives and support that they’ve already received from the federal government.”  READ MORE

Growth Energy: Applauds renewed House push for biofuel relief (WisBusiness)

Ethanol industry in ‘crisis’ (Lincoln Journal Star)

COVID-19 effects: Iowa’s economy is not out of the woods yet (Des Moines Register)

Help on the Way for Ethanol Plants? (KDHL Radio)

Marathon Poised for $1.1 Billion Tax Refund From Coronavirus Aid (Bloomberg)

House members advocate for COVID-19 relief for biofuels (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

CONGRESSIONAL BIOFUELS CAUCUS URGING CORONAVIRUS RELIEF NEGOTIATORS TO PROVIDE DIRECT AID TO BIOFUELS (Brownfield Ag News)

Ethanol Blog: Members of the House Biofuels Caucus Ask Leaders for Specific Language for Biofuels Relief (DTN Progressive Farmer)

OPINION: Safeguarding South Dakota’s top industry  (Capital Journal)

In a perfect storm of unstable markets and recession, Iowa’s rural communities need more than promises (Des Moines Register)

House rivals find common ground: Hating biofuel waivers (E&E News)

Axne, Young weigh in on RFS waivers  (KMA Land)

Excerpt from Lincoln Journal Star: A downturn in the ethanol industry has a direct effect on farmers, and agriculture advocates in South Dakota say the fix lies in putting an end to special waivers for oil companies and improving trade relations with other countries.

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Coronavirus kept people at home and off the roads this spring and summer, putting a damper on demand for gasoline and diesel.

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As Congress works on its next round of coronavirus relief funding, those connected to the ethanol industry want to make sure there is funding for them. Debate continues on how to calculate for the compensation – by gallons produced or others means ….

Ethanol supporters are also looking for changes in policy to improve markets for biofuels. Waivers for a small oil refineries are still an issue after January‘s lawsuit that said the Environmental Protection Agency overstepped its authority in granting exemptions to Renewable Fuel Standards.

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The downturn in the ethanol industry affects more than just plants making ethanol. Panelists noted the current crisis caused corn prices to fall, to the detriment of farmers in the Midwest, as well as the loss of ethanol byproducts such as dried distillers grains for livestock feed and CO2 used in the beverage industry.  READ MORE