by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Icahn refiner wants $15 billion renewable-fuels market changed; Cost of credits surged as U.S. mandates on biofuels at record -- Six weeks before he becomes U.S. president, Donald Trump is already disrupting an obscure, $15 billion corner of
by Brent Martin (Nebraska Radio Network) ... Congressman Adrian Smith says the move helps the ethanol industry, but he adds more can be done. “I’m continuing to work on a bill that I introduced some time ago that would allow, not mandate,
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Dec. 2, the U.S. EPA issued a notice of data availability (NODA) that will make additional data available for comment on the ethanol flex fuel (EFF) provisions of its proposed Renewables Enhancement and
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Two central questions arise when considering biofuels consumption through 2022, write University of Illinois ag economists Scott Irwin and Darrel Good: “When will domestic consumption of ethanol reach the statutory RFS mandate ceiling
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Just two days after President-elect Donald Trump's transition team announced Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt was the nominee to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Governors' Biofuels Coalition reminded Trump about his
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Iogen says it has has “one of the world’s largest and most experienced teams in developing, designing, de-bugging, scaling-up and deploying cellulosic biofuel technology. We’re using innovative thinking and disciplined engineering to transform cellulosic biofuels
(The Wall Street Journal) Letters to the Editor -- Rewriting the RFS could undermine years of progress toward U.S. energy security. by Jeff Broin (POET) Carl Icahn’s proposal to rewrite the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) (“If Oil Refiners Crash, So Will
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing in Chicago yesterday to hear testimony the agency’s proposed Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) rule. The rule includes several actions that would help allow the market to
(Nebraska Ethanol Board/KOOL Radio) In 2016, Nebraska drivers will save approximately $17 million by using ethanol-blended gasoline. The savings is based on lower prices for ethanol compared to wholesale gasoline and the state’s projected spark-ignition fuel consumption of 900 million
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) A Midwestern senator says advancements in infrastructure helped convince the Environmental Protection Agency to raise Renewable Volume Obligations for 2017 to statutory levels. Al Franken of Minnesota tells Brownfield the normal pushback from EPA on concerns like
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) A number of biofuels groups testified before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago Tuesday at a hearing on an agency proposal to make some tweaks to the Renewable Fuel Standard to help perpetuate
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) Major automakers have embarked on an eleventh-hour push to undercut the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to boost climate and fuel efficiency standards for cars over the next decade. The Auto Alliance wants lawmakers to include language
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On Dec. 1, the Senate Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management held a hearing to discuss the U.S. EPA’s management of the renewable fuel standard (RFS) and two Government Accountability Office reports released on
by Jarrod Johnson (Farm Forum) ... However, while the program was created by Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with setting annual blending requirements for conventional and advanced biofuels. Over the past few years, the unelected federal agency has
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA recently published a notice to its website setting the cellulosic waiver credit (CWC) price for 2017 at $2.00. The CWC price for 2016 was set in at $1.33 in November 2015. Within
(Growth Energy) Today, at a hearing in Chicago, Chris Bliley, Director of Regulatory Affairs for Growth Energy testified before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) Rule. During his testimony, Bliley outlined Growth Energy’s concern
by Stephen Davies (Agri-Pulse) ... The administrator touted the new Renewable Fuel Standard requirements, released Nov. 23. The final biofuel usage mandate includes 15 billion gallons of conventional corn ethanol, the same level as the annual target in the 2007
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) When fuel prices are competitive, drivers of flex fuel vehicles (FFV) will fill up with high-ethanol blends such as E85 according to a new article published in Energy Policy. Authors Sébastien Pouliot and, Bruce A. Babcock
(Environmental Protection Agency) This year’s projects focus on cookstoves, manufacturing, toxic chemicals, water, and building materials -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $1.3 million to 13 small businesses nationwide to develop and commercialize technologies to help solve
by Meghan Gordon and Brian Scheid (Platts) Total renewable fuel is slated to be more than 10% of the US fuel supply in 2017, breaking through the so-called blendwall. But how will a new presidential administration affect targets for the Renewable
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management is holding a hearing examining two reports by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The reports incorrectly
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, in Washington and Brussels, four news flashes on global renewable fuel volumes appeared on the radar. Can you safely ignore them and get on with other work, or is there something to get deeply
by Keith Laing (Detroit News) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to quickly finalize stringent gas mileage rules that require automakers to produce car and truck fleets averaging more than 50 miles per gallon by 2025 before President-elect
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) Biofuels and oil trade bodies have written a letter to the US’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the organisation not to redefine the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The issue centres on whether
(Renewable Fuels Association) More than 80 percent of new 2017 model year (MY) vehicles are explicitly approved by the manufacturer to use 15 percent ethanol blends (E15), according to an analysis of warranty statements and owner’s manuals conducted by the
(Environmental Protection Agency) On November 30, 2016, the Administrator proposed to determine that the MY 2022-2025 standards remain appropriate and that a rulemaking to change them is not warranted. This proposed determination is based on the robust technical record including the draft
by Kyle Abbott (The Mercury) ... EPA will take full authority over the RFS after 2022 with the power to remove corn ethanol from the mandate completely. This news is alarming considering that the EPA has already begun reducing the gallon amounts of
by James H. Stock (The Hill) ... In establishing the 2017 obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the EPA finally passed a major RFS milestone that will allow moving beyond the fruitless and acrimonious debate between big corn and big
by Brian Dabbs (Bloomberg) A Trump administration and new leadership of the Senate’s environment committee may breathe new life into efforts to roll back the Environmental Protection Agency’s renewable fuel standard, lawmakers and advocates say. House members are continuing to build
(AgriMoney) ... "That larger-than-expected lift [to the EPA target] fuelled ideas that already tight vegetable oil supply would become even tighter in 2017," said Tobin Gorey at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. At Chicago broker Futures International, Terry Reilly said that the
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Nov. 16, U.S. EPA’s proposed Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support rule was published in the Federal Register, officially opening a 60-day public comment period on the proposal. Comments are due Jan. 17. ... The proposal includes
(Federal Register/Environmental Protection Agency) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to deny several petitions requesting that EPA initiate a rulemaking process to reconsider or change its regulations that identify refiners and importers of gasoline and diesel fuel as the
by Maximilian Heath (Reuters) Argentina's biodiesel producers fear losing access to the United States, the destination of nearly all their exports, after Donald Trump's surprise victory in presidential elections earlier this month, representatives of the sector said. The Republican candidate, who is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the US Environmental Protection Agency released the 2017 renewable fuel volume obligations (and the 2018 volume obligations for biomass-based diesel), with a strong push beyond what has been termed the “blend wall” and
by Antoine C. Schellinger (Biofuels Digest/ International Alliance Group) ... The EPA has performed lifecycle analysis on certain pathways and published them in the CFR as approved pathways. They are labeled with sequential alphabetical characters and currently range from A to
by Dave Vandergriend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/ICM) ... At the Urban Air Initiative, we have been relentless in our efforts to open the market for higher ethanol blends. ... During 2016, we have worked hard to understand where EPA has gotten
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... This one’s about the U.S. EPA and a Freedom of Information Act request that uncovered emails providing evidence of collusion between EPA and the oil industry to make sure ethanol looks bad. Many
by Brian Dabbs (Bloomberg BNA) A Trump administration and new leadership of the Senate’s environment committee may breathe new life into efforts to roll back the Environmental Protection Agency’s renewable fuel standard, lawmakers and advocates say. House members are continuing to build
(Federal Register) In this action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to update both its renewable fuels and other fuels regulations to reflect changes in the marketplace and to promote the growing use of both ethanol fuels (conventional and advanced) and non-ethanol advanced and cellulosic biofuels. The EPA
by Tammy Klein (Biofuels Digest/Future Fuel Strategies) ... With Trump’s outspoken refusal to accept the reality of climate change and promise to reinvigorate the fracking and coal industries, are LCFV initiatives stone dead? What can we expect in a Trump Administration? Let’s break
(Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group) On November 9, 2016, Inside EPA published “New TSCA Requirements Raise Challenges To EPA Biotech Review Staff” (subscription required), outlining what EPA has done to adapt to revised Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requirements
by Michael McAdams (Advanced Biofuels Association/Biomass Magazine) As for what is left to do after Congress returns on Nov. 15, extending existing biofuel tax credits are number one on the list. ... In early October, the U.S. EPA released a new set
(Oklahoma Farm Report) As farmers across the country harvest more corn than ever before this year, paving the way for a future of opportunity in the ethanol business, RON’s Associate Farm Director Carson Horn took the chance to speak with
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making plans to reject a plea by some fuel refiners to shift responsibility for ethanol mandate compliance away from them. A handful of refining companies like Valero Energy Corp. and
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) ... Biofuels: Trump said in Iowa in January that he wants ethanol volumes set under the Renewable Fuel Standard restored to statutory levels, but he has surrounded himself with RFS opponents, leaving the future of
by Carol Werner (Environmental and Energy Study Institute/Morning Consult) ... H.R. 5180, a proposal introduced by U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas), would place a 9.7 percent cap on consumption of homegrown biofuels, rolling back 11 years of progress under the Renewable
by Dale Christensen (Glacial Lakes Corn Processors/The Hill) ... EPA has either through ignorance at best or malice at worst failed to make our continued transition to cleaner, renewable fuels an easier path. Recall the nearly decade old problem with setting
by Douglas L. Faulkner (The Cleantech Conservative/Biofuels Digest) ... America is divided in so many ways: by ideology, class, gender, education and race, and even by geography. There is a political and economic chasm between the coasts and the interior as
by Mark Drajem & Ari Natter (Bloomberg) Early last year the EPA sent a letter to the Argentine biodiesel board that set out how its members could qualify their fuel as having been produced from “qualified land,” allowing them to sell
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) ... EPA’s proposed renewable volume obligation (RVO) is below the statutory 15-bg level established by Congress in 2007, and the Agency suggested the reduction was necessary because the marketplace lacked the capacity to consume
(Center for American Progress) Carbon taxes and emissions trading systems, once considered political moonshots in the battle to combat carbon emissions, have found purchase in Canada, Mexico, and parts of the United States, raising the possibility that carbon pricing could
(Environmental Protection Agency) Average fuel economy reaches record 24.8 miles per gallon -- Passenger vehicles achieved record-high fuel economy while outperforming greenhouse gas emission standards in model year 2015, according to two reports released today by the U.S. Environmental Protection
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Missouri, the National Biodiesel Board has named Donnell Rehagen as the trade group’s chief executive. Rehagen was named interim CEO in June after serving 12 years as NBB’s chief operating officer. ... It’s dead obvious, as
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA has announced plans to hold a public hearing on Dec. 6 in Chicago for its proposed Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support Rule. Those who wish to testify must contact the EPA by
by Rich Piellisch (Fleets & Fuels) NGVAmerica Urges States to Take Advantage of Settlement -- States should take advantage of the big diesel emissions settlement with Volkswagen to promote natural gas vehicles to reduce pollution, says NGVAmerica. The association notes that
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... The lame duck Congress offers the next best chance for some movement on one issue important to the ethanol industry, said Brian Jennings, executive vice president of the American Coalition for Ethanol, in his
by John Upton (Climate Central) It may have seemed apparent to members of Congress a decade ago that if a motorist pumped a gallon of fuel made from corn into their gas tank, a gallon of fossil fuel would be
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Oct. 19, the U.S. EPA delivered its proposed rule to set renewable fuel standard (RFS) volume standards for 2017 and biobased diesel standards for 2018 to the White House Office of Management and
by Shelby Shepherd (KWQC) An hour before Trump and Clinton battled it out in Las Vegas, Iowa’s U.S. senate candidates battled it out in the western part the state they are fighting for. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley has held his
(Urban Air Initiative/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Urban Air Initiative has discovered that the U.S. EPA relied heavily on the oil industry to help design test fuels used for the EPAct Study. This is a critical development because the data in
(Environmental Protection Agency) More than 4,400 environmental educators will gain training and leadership opportunities in 2017 through a new cooperative agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). EPA is funding up
(Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced its call for nominations for the 2017 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards for companies or institutions that have developed a new process or product helping to protect public health
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) The American Petroleum Institute is hoping that when the EPA sets final biofuel volumes later this year, it will reduce the percentage of ethanol required for blending with gasoline to something under 9.7 percent of total
by Eric Wolff (Politico/Governors' Biofuels Coalition) The Obama administration’s newest plan to stimulate sales of electric vehicles could deliver a political boost to supporters of the Renewable Fuel Standard, aligning automakers with biofuel backers against the oil industry’s attacks on
by Jim Seurer (Glacial Lakes Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Our good friend and colleague Dave VanderGriend wrote in this column in April that a little place called Watertown, South Dakota, could be the beginning of a revolution in how we think about
by David Uible (Clermont County Commissioner/Clermont County GOP/The Clermont Sun) ... On principle, I believe in free markets, and in keeping the government small and control as local as possible. The EPA, an unelected federal agency, shouldn’t have the power to control
(Biofuels International) The US Grains Council (USGC) recently hosted a team of car, fuel, and ethanol industry representatives from Southeast Asia to engage in a fact finding mission about higher blends of ethanol in the petrol pool. As Thailand has already
by Meghan Gordon (Platts) US advanced biofuels production could get a boost under a rule change the Environmental Protection Agency is considering that would allow conventional refineries to receive renewable fuel credits for using drop-in biofuels when making gasoline and diesel. Developers
by George Lurie (The Business Journal) In a first-of-its-kind ruling, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved Pacific Ethanol’s registration of its Stockton ethanol plant to generate valuable credits by producing cellulosic ethanol with the same equipment the company
(Biogenic CO2 Coalition) Today (October 6, 2016), a coalition of major agricultural groups launched a grassroots campaign to urge the Environmental Protection Agency to remove its regulatory roadblock to development of the emerging bioeconomy. The Biogenic CO2 Coalition is a working
by John Beltz Snyder (AutoBlog) Neste will sell its 100-percent renewable diesel at certain stations in Finland.Produced from renewable ingredients (including waste products), the company's NEXBTL fuel has a lower carbon footprint and fewer emissions than petroleum-based diesel, requires no vehicle
by Meghan Gordon (Platts) US advanced biofuels production could get a boost under a rule change the Environmental Protection Agency is considering that would allow conventional refineries to receive renewable fuel credits for using drop-in biofuels when making gasoline and diesel. Developers
by Michael Hirtzer (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday proposed tweaks to its Renewable Fuel Standard that would allow biofuels to be processed at more than one location and would allow cellulosic ethanol to be made from poplar and
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) The Obama administration's latest effort to stimulate sales of electric vehicles could deliver a political boost to supporters of the Renewable Fuel Standard, aligning automakers with biofuel backers against the oil industry's attacks on the
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol industry leaders have weighed in on a draft technical assessment report for the midterm assessment on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and CAFE standards for model year 2022-2025 light-duty vehicles, focusing on the benefits
(Oil Price Information Service) EPA's move Monday proposing enhancements to its Renewable Fuel Standards program was "not at all unexpected," according to a Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) official. "EPA has been very transparent about this particular proposal," RFA Vice President Geoff
by Jeremy Martin (Union of Concerned Scientists) ... 9 things you need to know about high octane fuel, and my perspective on a path forward. High octane fuel enables more powerful or more efficient engines ... But in the context of engines, octane is a
(Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced the filing of a complaint against NGL Crude Logistics, LLC and Western Dubuque Biodiesel, LLC and a settlement with Western Dubuque to address
by Paul Raeburn (Newsweek) ... (Myron) Ebell, the director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and a prominent climate-change skeptic, was chosen at the end of September to head the Environmental Protection Agency’s transition team
(Bioenergy Deployment Consortium) A successful BDC Fall Symposium was held in Washington DC on September 27-28, 2016. A combination of Government Agency Directors and Sr. Advisors were joined by outstanding leaders in the bio-industry to discuss the advancement of the
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) ... Within the proposed rule, the EPA explains that the RFS registration, reporting, recordkeeping and product transfer document (PTD) requirements were designed with the general expectation that renewable biomass would be converted into renewable fuel at
(Fuel Marketer News) Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released their proposed rule for Ethanol Flex Fuel and Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) Rule. This proposal intends to provide regulatory clarification for ethanol blends from 16 percent to 50
(Environmental Protection Agency) EPA is proposing enhancements to its Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) program and other related fuel regulations to support market growth of ethanol and other renewable fuels in the U.S. These proposed changes will provide the opportunity for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization released the new white paper, “The Myth of High RIN Prices As Proof of the Blend Wall,” analyzing data recently released by EPA on compliance with the Renewable Fuel
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) ... Data recently released by EPA refutes the widely held assumption that reaching and exceeding the blend wall caused the 2013 rise in RIN prices. This newly available data calls for a thorough
by Liz Mathis (Marion Times) Here in Iowa, we encourage gas stations to install flex fuel pumps and other equipment to offer homegrown, renewable ethanol and biodiesel. The Legislature's investment of $3 million this year will continue to make tax
by Dirk Lohry, McCook Lake (Argus Leader) ... Sen. Mike Rounds is questioning corn ethanol’s future under the RFS. I know that seems counterintuitive, but in 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency will take control of the ethanol mandate, with the authority to
by Jason Frerichs (Argus Leader) ... As a state senator, I am hopeful we can generate bi-partisan support for putting S.D. state-owned undesignated flex fuel autos on E30. Then, adjoining state leaders will be encouraged to follow our lead to openly
by Adam Lidgett (Law360) The American Petroleum Institute said Wednesday a swath of biodiesel industry groups shouldn't be able to chime in on a set of consolidated appeals in the D.C. Circuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's volume obligations
by Jack Fitzpatrick (Morning Consult) Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) is concerned that drivers who want to avoid a 15 percent ethanol blend of gasoline won’t be able to, he said in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy
(Farm Futures) EPA and DOJ allege Chemoil exported biodiesel, but failed to retire RINs. -- Chemoil Corporation is required to retire 65 million renewable fuel credits to resolve alleged violations of the Renewable Fuel Standard program, according to the terms
(Advanced Biofuels USA) Advanced Biofuels USA fully supports meeting the 2022 CAFE standards. It is our understanding that the key to vehicle manufacturers meeting these standards rests on the ability to use high levels of low cost octane to operate
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) Comments regarding the goals of the CAFE-GHG standards were due yesterday (September 26, 2016) to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ethanol organizations made their voices heard. Comments submitted by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE)
by Ron Lamberty (American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) With high-profile convenience store chains announcing the addition of E15 and flex fuels to their traditional fuel slates, other chains and individual station owners increasingly are looking for information to explain
(Minnesota Corn Growers Association Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council and the Illinois Corn Growers Association) Early this year, the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council approved a research grant to Defour Group LLC (D4) and Air Improvement Resource INC
by Kerry Smith (The Telegraph) ... With the EPA set to exercise complete control over the RFS program in 2023, traditional corn ethanol may be at risk. Congressman John Shimkus is among those questioning whether the program has run its course.
by John Campbell (Biodiesel Magazine/Ocean Park Advisors) The U.S. EPA has set off a debate within the petroleum industry by suggesting that the point of obligation for compliance with the renewable fuel standard (RFS) be moved from the hands of a
[caption id="attachment_77283" align="alignleft" width="282"] Chris Tindal, U.S. Navy's Director for Operational Energy, explains the launch, operations and use of renewable fuel by the Great Green Fleet.[/caption] by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) An intimate group that shares some background or interest
by John Lippert and Jeff Plungis (Bloomberg) ... As head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s air-quality and transportation office, (Chris) Grundler holds as much sway as any single human over how global automakers allocate more than $100 billion in R&D money
by Bill Bushong (Northern Virginia Daily) I have been following coverage of the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent decision to alter the renewable fuel standard with a reduction to the renewable volume obligation on corn-based ethanol, and as a grain and
(WNAX) A report out by a former EPA official says that the RINS market or renewable identification numbers may be ripe for fraud or abuse. In order to comply with the RFS, refiners are required to blend a percentage of
by Rebecca Chillrud (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) September 22 marks the autumnal equinox and the official end of summer. But for approximately 330 gas retailers, the season ended last week, on September 16—a day celebrated as “E15 Day” in
by Kyle Feldscher (The Washington Examiner) Donald Trump appeared to back off his proposal to eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency as president, instead promising to "refocus" the agency on a less regulatory-heavy mission. ... He promised to open up more drilling off
by Jim Lane and Ron Cascone (Biofuels Digest/NEXANT) Recently, we held a popular webinar on Renewables and the Advanced Bioeconomy with NEXANT principal Ron Cascone, for which you can see the slides here. During the webinar, we received a number of excellent questions,
by Rachel Gantz (Renewable Fuels Association) If legislation was introduced that would prevent the latest iPhone from being sold and instead require users to return to the days of big brick phones and other technology relics, you’d be up in arms.
by Jennifer A. Dlouhy (Earth & Water Group/Bloomberg) — A program to boost the use of biofuels in the U.S. has become vulnerable to scams that have bilked victims out of nearly $1 billion so far, warns a former Environmental
by David Shepardson (Reuters) A congressional panel will hold a hearing on Sept. 22 to look at the fate of U.S. fuel efficiency rules through 2025 amid growing concerns from automakers. An auto trade group representing General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co,
by Bart Barnes (The Washington Post) William C. Holmberg, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel who received the Navy Cross for his actions on a Korean battlefield and later spent decades as an advocate on Capitol Hill for renewable energy
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) Consumers will have the choice to purchase E15 at the pump again tomorrow, September 15, 2016. For drivers owning a 2001 or newer vehicle, E15 sales are restricted during summer months due to an arcane U.S.
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Sept. 13, the governors of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy asking her to remove the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) limit
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Edeniq is torn between two lovers: its current ownership group, which shuffled together a financing this week; and Aemetis, which is supposed to be acquiring Edeniq this year for $23 million. How Edeniq landed in this
by Mike Arbige (DuPont/The Mercury News) Letter to Editor: Next to power plants, transportation remains America’s largest source of carbon emissions. Electrification will help, but only clean-burning biofuels — like ethanol — can immediately and dramatically combat rising levels of smog,
(Pacific Ethanol/Globe Newswire) Now generating valuable D3 cellulosic RINs – Expects to produce over one million gallons per year of cellulosic ethanol at Stockton, CA plant -- Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEIX), a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the
by Jim Seurer (Watertown Public Opinion/Glacial Lakes Energy, LLC) ... The E30 Challenge is a campaign initiated by GLE and its industry partners ICM and Urban Air Initiative to encourage the voluntary use of Premium E30 fuel (30 percent ethanol blend)
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/Denver Post) Re: “EPA dodges responsibility on ethanol,” Sept. 3 editorial. The ethanol industry agrees with The Denver Post that the Environmental Protection Agency should conduct updated scientific assessments on the impacts of biofuels. In
by David Vandergriend (Sacramento Bee) ... But the day-to-day threat facing many communities doesn’t come from carbon. It comes from airborne chemicals with less attention-grabbing names like volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and ozone. As with carbon,
by Robert Rapier (Forbes) ... It would have been one thing if Congress had based the mandates on a fuel that existed commercially. However, they essentially attempted to mandate a nonexistent industry into existence. Unsurprisingly, economic challenges again arose. Despite the mandates, there
by Rebecca Chillrud (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On July 18, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released their Draft Technical Assessment Report (TAR), providing a midterm evaluation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization released a landmark report “Advancing the Biobased Economy: Renewable Chemical Biorefinery Commercialization, Progress, and Market Opportunities, 2016 and Beyond,” documenting substantial, ongoing growth in the renewable chemical industry and outlining
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters/Yahoo! Finance) ... The alternative is for merchant refiners to increase their ability to blend ethanol. PBF Energy is the latest refiner to take this approach. PBF has asked Delaware regulators to expand its ethanol handling
by Todd Neeley (DTN/The Progressive Farmer) With all of the political fights about the role ethanol and other biofuels have in the transportation sector, there is common ground for the ethanol, oil and automobile industries that could bode well for
(The Gasconade County Republican) The Environmental Protection Agency apparently has postponed indefinitely a decision due whether or not to increase the allowable blend of ethanol in gasoline from 10 to 15 percent. More tests and studies are needed, the EPA
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... Many respected laboratories, agencies, and researchers have used a lifecycle analysis to show that biofuels, particularly advanced biofuels, provide significant carbon benefits compared to gasoline. These benefits have increased in recent years, as biofuels have
(Quad County Corn Processors/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad recently met with staff and board members from Quad County Corn Processors and representatives from Syngenta, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa Corn Growers
by James Dozier (The Gazette/Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions) Sen. Chuck Grassley has displayed a consistent record of leadership when it comes to bringing jobs and clean energy to Iowa and helping to bolster the farm economy. Two recent efforts led
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This season, The Digest is hosting the Strategic Intent webinar series, looking at the plans, progress and future milestones of strategic stakeholders in the Advanced Bioeconomy. In this slide deck, we looked at DSM and its direct investments, partnerships
by Mark Drajem (Bloomberg) ... Now the oil industry itself is split over the RFS, or more specifically how the EPA applies it. It’s no mystery what’s inspiring the discord: money. Refiner CVR Energy, in which billionaire investor Carl Icahn owns an 82 percent
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) As expected E15 sales in Minnesota fell in June as a result of the EPA-imposed Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) season, which bars the sale of E15 from June 1 to Sept 15. ... ... the key highlight of the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you were reading BBC’s coverage of the aviation biofuels space yesterday, you would have seen the provocative headline: Wood fuel plan to cut plane CO2 branded as ‘pipe dream’ Then would have looked in vain for
by Chip Bowling (Capital Gazette/National Corn Growers Association) Letter to Editor: As a boater from Southern Maryland, I read Chris Dollar's latest column with interest (The Capital, July 17). But he cited some inaccurate claims from BOATUS about ethanol-blended fuel. In reality,
by Brian Scheid and Herman Wang (Platts) Growing pressure for a federal probe of the opaque market underpinning the Renewable Fuel Standard could bolster efforts to dramatically reform the landmark biofuels policy. Earlier this month, billionaire investor Carl Icahn sent a heated,
by Richard Truett (Automotive News) Raising the octane in gasoline -- seen as a way to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions in today’s high-tech turbocharged, direct-injected engines -- looks like it will get some attention from the EPA. That’s the
by Brooke Coleman (Bloomberg/Advanced Biofuels Business Council) ... (Carl) Icahn’s ask is pretty simple. He wants the EPA to change the rules midstream to relieve his petroleum refining assets of their obligations. ... The RFS, for its part, requires petroleum companies like Icahn’s
by James Osborne (FuelFix) Now gas station owners say they, too, are losing out after the price of RINs – the credits which refineries must have to prove there is ethanol and other biofuels in the fuel supply — shot
by David Shepardson (Reuters) U.S. regulators late on Monday denied a request by major automakers to extend the comment period on a key environmental analysis to determine whether government fuel efficiency requirements are feasible through 2025. ... Automakers had asked to extend
by Doug Durante (The Hill/Clean Fuels Development Coalition) ... The US Department of Energy just last week released a report that confirms the role of high octane and how it would meet automakers' needs for high efficiency, high compression engines. Among
by Mike Lorenz (Sheetz) Back in 1990, Congress limited the amount of evaporative emissions from vehicle fuel at 9 pounds per square inch (psi) Reid vapor pressure (RVP) in the Clean Air Act. While pure ethanol has a 3 psi
by Robert Walton (Utility Dive) The Obama Administration has won a significant victory for its use of a social cost metric to determine the impacts of new environmental and efficiency rules, in a unanimous circuit court decision that appeared to leave opponents with little
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Regarding the Edeniq acquisition, McAfee indicated Aemetis is in the process of completing the documentation and approvals required to close the transaction. He also said Edeniq is expected to obtain its first U.S. EPA
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Aug. 18, the U.S. EPA Office of Inspector General published a report finding the EPA’s Office of Research and Development has not complied with a statutory requirements to provide a report to Congress
by Dustin Walsh (Crain's Detroit Business) Jerry Jung, former owner of Michigan CAT and longtime environmentalist, is using his wealth to take down ethanol production. Jung, chairman of the Michigan Colleges Alliance, recently launched RethinkEthanol.com — a website calling for the
by Zia Haq (U.S. Department of Energy) Renewable biofuel alternatives can help replace conventional petroleum-based jet fuel. -- New White House reportoutlines the federal government’s plans to lower the cost of alternative jet fuels. -- Bioenergy Technologies Office supports R&D of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... There’s a separate category of RINs for advanced biofuels. These are fuels that have at least a 50% reduction in fossil fuels compared to 2005 baseline gasoline. Overall, to qualify under the RFS, you need
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) ... Reuters' analysis of vehicle sales and government data shows that almost a fifth of the vehicles on US roads can safely handle E-15 fuel, a gasoline with 15% ethanol content, or 50% more than the typical US
(U.S. Department of Justice) U.S. Attorney Josh J. Minkler for the Southern District of Indiana announced today the guilty verdict after an eight-day jury trial of Jeffrey Wilson of Evansville, Indiana, who was charged with securities fraud related to a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Let me see if we got this right. Donald Trump loves the Renewable Fuel Standard --- Carl Icahn loves Donald Trump --- Therefore, Carl Icahn hates the Renewable Fuel Standard With that, welcome to the 2016 United
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A recent column provides some insight into anti-ethanol stances by making a connection between beef prices, the cow herd expansion and restaurant profits, with rather breath-taking simplification. -- A recent column in Forbes from
by Ray Defenbaugh (Urban Air Initiative/Big River Resources/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ah, summertime ..., and the livin' is easy, as the song says. But if not for the U.S. EPA, it could have been even easier. Easier on our customers, easier on
(Environmental Protection Agency) Standards address second-largest segment of U.S. transportation in terms of emissions and energy use -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration jointly finalized standards for medium- and heavy-duty
(Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House Council on Environmental Quality, recognized 18 teachers and 63 students from across the country for their outstanding contributions to environmental education and stewardship. These 2015 winners and
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