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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., on Sept. 24 introduced the Next Generation Fuels Act, a bill that establishes a minimum octane standard for gasoline and requires sources of added octane value to reduce carbon emissions by at least 30 percent when compared to baseline gasoline. The
White House
by Chuck Abbott (Successful Farming) … Trump administration could spend $50 billion — quadruple the cost of the auto industry bailout — in less than three years to buffer the impact of trade war and pandemic on agriculture. Farm groups welcomed the second round of coronavirus assistance while critics said
September 23, 2020
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by Doug Durante and Larry Pearce (Morning Consult) … But a bigger problem has existed for decades in the air we don’t see — air polluted with toxic ultra-fine particles, or UFPs. For more than 30 years, a small group of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulators have hidden a far more lethal
September 23, 2020
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(Mankato Free Press) President Donald Trump and his Environmental Protection Agency have about six weeks to keep their promises to farmers on ethanol, which have been broken for the past three years. While farmers have backed Trump in varying degrees since he took office, their wellspring of patience seems to be running
September 23, 2020
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by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol, told audience members at the 2020 Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo during the general session panel Sept. 16 that the gap waiver denial, two days before, is a win, but there’s more work to do. Take
September 22, 2020
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(Rural America 2020) ‘Trump’s Broken Ethanol Promise’ campaign will focus on the President’s failure to deliver on promises on ethanol and E15: Will highlight how Trump has undermined the needs of farmers by providing waivers to big oil to avoid ethanol requirements — 30 billboards launch today across Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan,
September 18, 2020
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(The Gazette) President Donald Trump has been receiving praise from farm state Republicans for his decision to deny the “gap year” waivers and increase access to E15 corn-based ethanol. But it also was panned by Democrats Wednesday as nothing more than a political ploy. “What the administration has done is really
September 17, 2020
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by Stephanie Kelly, Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) The Trump administration is considering at least $300 million in cash aid to U.S. oil refiners that are denied exemptions to U.S. biofuel blending laws for the 2019 compliance year, two sources familiar with the matter said. … Although the administration has yet to
September 17, 2020
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(Bergeson and Campbell) On September 14, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a pre-publication version of a final rule establishing the procedures and requirements for how EPA will manage the issuance of guidance documents consistent with Executive Order (EO) 13891, “Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents.”
September 17, 2020
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by Larry Lee (Brownfield Ag News) The World Trade Organization has ruled in favor of China, saying President Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods violates international regulations for trade. The WTO panel says the U.S. could not prove the tariffs were necessary, but the ruling also does not force the U.S. to
September 16, 2020
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by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden late on Tuesday attacked President Donald Trump’s record on ethanol, saying his administration’s recent moves to help the industry were too little, too late and transparently political. U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden late on Tuesday attacked President Donald Trump’s
September 16, 2020
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by John Herath (Farm Journal Ag/Web) Applications for oil refiners to be exempted from the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) have been a contentious election for President Donald Trump in Iowa. His administration took a step to alleviate those political pressures Monday by denying so-called “gap year” waiver requests. The 10th Circuit
September 14, 2020
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by Bill Tomson (Agri-Pulse) The U.S. and Brazil have agreed to revive for 90 days the expired tariff rate quota that allows some U.S. ethanol to flow to the South American country duty free, the two countries said in a joint statement Friday night. It’s a stopgap deal that takes effect
September 14, 2020
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by Rachel Koning Beals (Market Watch) At least one farm group says gesture doesn’t wipe out a pro-Big Oil presidency to date — Trump has approved using existing filling station pumps to distribute higher-ethanol gasoline. “Subject only to State approval, our important Ethanol Industry will be allowed to use the 10% Pumps
September 14, 2020
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by Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Trump administration officials are developing a plan to offset the potential economic damage of denying dozens of refineries waivers from biofuel-usage mandates: giving them financial aid. The approach is actively being discussed by top Environmental Protection Agency officials as the administration courts two important voting blocs for President
September 12, 2020
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by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In New York state, Reuters reports that RIN prices skyrocketed a two-year high of 55 cents for D6 credits on the back of its exclusive story that President Trump told the EPA to deny all gap-year SRE applications. The RIN prices, not seen that high since
September 10, 2020
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by James Osborne (Houston Chronicle) … And with the election just two months away, all signs are Trump is trying to push back a decision on the how much ethanol to blend into the nation’s gasoline supply until after the ballots are cast, so as not to alienate voters in
September 4, 2020
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by James Osborne (Houston Chronicle) … Under draft rules to be published Tuesday, the U.S. Forest Service would be limited in its ability to conduct environmental reviews of drilling projects while oil and gas companies would not be required to provide as much notice to the public. READ MORE U.S.
September 1, 2020
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by Rodrigo Viga Gaier (Reuters) Brazil allowed a non-tariff quota for ethanol imports to expire on Monday, which will result in U.S. producers having to pay a 20% tariff unless the Brazilian government takes new action. “The expiry date was today and nothing was decided, but that does not stop the
September 1, 2020
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(Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis) … In the near term, we must continue to significantly grow solar and wind energy, energy storage, and electric vehicles while conducting more research into new technologies, advanced biofuels, and smaller and safer nuclear power. … Congress can make clean energy choices
August 31, 2020
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(BOL/Reuters (Google translation)) Brazil is unlikely to renew the tariff-free quota for ethanol imports that expires today, and as a result, purchases from outside Mercosur should start paying a 20% tax, a government source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. With the end of the quota, which would mainly
August 31, 2020
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by Philip Brasher (Agri-Pulse) House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson supports Joe Biden’s plan to eliminate President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China but said he isn’t sure what the alternative is for countering Chinese trade practices. “First thing I want to see is to stop these tariffs. I think it’s been
August 31, 2020
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by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register/Ames Tribune) … “I’ve sat in front of the president, and he does look you in the eye, and he does listen to you,” (Bill) Couser said, adding, “It just makes you wonder what happens after that.” He holds out hope Trump will heed the requests
August 28, 2020
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by Ricardo Della Coletta (Associated Press/U.S. News and World Report) A group of Brazilian lawmakers made a final push Thursday to try to convince President Jair Bolsonaro not to reduce tariffs on American ethanol, a major Trump administration request. — A group of Brazilian lawmakers made a final push Thursday
August 28, 2020
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by Pat Rynard (Iowa Starting Line) Sen. Joni Ernst’s undying loyalty to Pres. Donald Trump was rewarded tonight with a high-profile speech at the Republican National Convention. She repaid Trump for the political boost to her reelection campaign by betraying the Iowans she’s serving, vouching for the President on the exact
August 27, 2020
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by Sarah Motter (WIBW) Congressman Roger Marshall says Kansas is home to 10 biofuel facilities providing high-quality jobs for plant workers in rural communities throughout the state, along with thousands of bushels of soybeans and milo each year. He says overall, the biofuels industry is responsible for about $4 billion in
August 27, 2020
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(Renewable Fuels Association) Citing the need for more certainty and stability in uncertain times, as well as the legal requirement to meet statutory deadlines, the Renewable Fuels Association today urged EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to immediately address a number of unresolved issues related to the Renewable Fuel Standard. “By disregarding statutory
August 27, 2020
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by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler gave no timeline for releasing 2021 renewable volume obligations in the Renewable Fuel Standard or for deciding on pending small-refinery exemptions, during a teleconference with reporters on Wednesday, as pressure mounts on the Trump administration to act. With just 69 days
August 27, 2020
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(WisPolitics.com) Instead of standing with those who till our land and sow our fields, we have a president who has sold out our farmers by undercutting the Renewable Fuel Standard with the granting of waivers to Big Oil. Those waivers severely cut ethanol production, costing farmers income and ethanol plant workers
August 27, 2020
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by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) A group of federal lawmakers is asking United States’ lead trade representative to push Brazil to either eliminate its ethanol-import tariffs or face retaliation, in a letter sent to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Thursday. Time is running out on Brazil’s current ethanol tariff
August 24, 2020
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by Jacqui Fatka (Feedstuffs) … It was nearly a year ago when farmers’ cries started getting louder demanding that President Donald Trump and his Administration stand up for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and defend the interests of biofuels over big oil. Fast forward to today, and the biofuel industry
August 21, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) EPA’s online dashboard shows the agency has now received nearly 100 petitions for small refinery exemptions to the Renewable Fuel Standard mandates dating back to 2011, Pro’s Eric Wolff reports. Since June, EPA has received two new petitions for each of 2011 and 2012,
August 21, 2020
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by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Democratic leaders put a heavy emphasis on rural broadband and health care while criticizing the Trump administration and President Trump directly on trade, biofuels, climate change and the pandemic response. A western Pennsylvania soybean and hay farmer who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 spoke
August 20, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) Night 3 of the Democratic National Convention featured a lengthy 11-minute take on Joe Biden’s climate and clean energy strategy that hammered home some of his big themes rather than the wonky details (which you can read here). The segment was heavy on optimism and
August 20, 2020
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by Liz Crampton (Politico) The campaign has vowed to pay attention to rural issues, but Biden could repeat the same mistakes as Democrats’ 2016 bid for the White House. — … No one expects former Vice President Joe Biden to win the rural vote outright. But his strategists and supporters
August 19, 2020
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by Abby Smith (Washington Examiner) Iowa corn farmers could get a boost in a long-running dispute with oil refiners as President Trump pledged to talk to Environmental Protection Agency officials overseeing biofuels requirements on their behalf. Trump said Tuesday during a visit to Iowa that he’ll personally weigh in with EPA
August 19, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) Ford, Honda, BMW, Volkswagen and Volvo have formally committed to reducing the average greenhouse gas emissions of their vehicles through 2026, despite the Trump administration rolling back federal standards, Pro’s Debra Kahn reports. Under deals signed with California, the five automakers promise to maintain
August 18, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) The Trump administration is likely to wait until after Election Day to weigh in on tough ethanol decisions for fear of triggering backlash among farmers or the oil sector. — … WAKE ME UP WHEN NOVEMBER ENDS: The Trump administration is expected to punt on tough
August 17, 2020
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by Jacqui Fatka (Feedstuffs) Vice President Mike Pence visited Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday to re-launch the Trump campaign’s Farmers & Ranchers for Trump. However, to a room full of farmer supporters his message came off more as a campaign speech, and less understanding of the devastation that just swept through
August 14, 2020
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by Larry Lee (Brownfield Ag News) EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the gap SRE applications have been sent over from the Department of Energy. “They just started sending them to us the week before last, so our guys are just now starting to look at them.” Farmers and biofuel producers have
August 12, 2020
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(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association today expressed its support for President Trump’s announcement Monday that his administration is considering reciprocal tariffs on fuel ethanol imports from Brazil. The country’s existing tariff rate quota (TRQ) is set to expire at the end of August, and some Brazilian industry and government
August 12, 2020
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by Jacqui Fatka (Feedstuffs) Handling of trade and biofuels could be important issues in run for White House. … Farmers have overwhelmingly supported President Donald Trump over the last four years, but it is voters in the Midwest swing states who will be important in Trump’s presidential run against Joe
August 8, 2020
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(U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources) U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing focused on the development of carbon removal technologies in the United States. Murkowski also highlighted the introduction of the CREATE Act, a new bill she is cosponsoring to establish an executive committee at the National Science and Technology Council to
August 5, 2020
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by Coral Davenport and Lisa Friedman (New York Times) The Environmental Protection Agency’s internal watchdog said Monday it had opened an investigation into the agency’s weakening of Obama-era regulations that would have limited automobile emissions by significantly raising fuel economy standards. The inspector general demanded that top E.P.A. officials turn over briefing materials
August 4, 2020
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by Doug Sombke and Jim Seurer (South Dakota Farmers Union/Glacial Lakes Energy/Argus Leader) During President Trump’s Fourth of July visit to Mount Rushmore, our organizations sponsored an ad in the Rapid City Journal that urged the President to “tear down the wall” that his Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unlawfully erected to
August 3, 2020
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by Micheal Clements (NAFB News Service/NewsDakota) Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to make E15 available at every U.S. gas pump. Specifically, Ernst calls on EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to certify biofuel infrastructure for E15 and remove unnecessary labeling which will increase consumer access
July 31, 2020
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by Patty Judge (The Gazette) Rural voters are growing tired of Donald Trump. Recently, the Iowa Poll put Vice President Biden one point ahead of President Trump and Iowa moved from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican” on the Cook Political Report. Even Fox News polls show Trump and Biden in a
July 30, 2020
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by Linda Qiu (New York Times) … Likewise, Mr. Trump has sought to curry favor with corn farmers in Iowa and the Midwest by claiming to have “kept our promise on ethanol” and falsely charging Democrats with wanting to “wipe out, totally, Iowa ethanol.” Mr. Trump did lift a summertime ban on the
July 27, 2020
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by Andy Hecht (Investing.com) … The biofuel may see lots of volatility in the run-up to the 2020 US election — The US election in early November will determine the path of energy policy in the world’s leading oil and gas producing nation. President Trump favors energy independence and a continuation
July 21, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Michael McAdams from Advanced Biofuels Association shared this short but illuminating slide guide at ABLC Digital last week to look at the big 2020 issues to watch affecting the biofuels industry. From tax credits, regulatory issues, COVID-19 legislation and responses, and the big fork in
July 17, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) G20 nations — which account for 80 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions — have committed a total of at least $150 billion to support fossil fuels since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, according to data released today as part of the Energy
July 15, 2020
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by Laís Forti Thomaz and Tullo Vigevani* (AULA Blog/National Institute of Science and Technology for Studies on the United States) New priorities in Brazil-U.S. bilateral relations since President Jair Bolsonaro took office in January 2019 have shifted the country away from its longstanding diplomatic values. In his eagerness to demonstrate
July 14, 2020
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by David Kruse (The CommStock Report/Spencer Daily Reporter) President Donald Trump has had the worst biofuel and trade policies that I have ever seen and came with the most farm subsidies ever because of it. When elected I thought “well at least his ethanol policy would be better.” I was
July 10, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) The Trump administration on Thursday asked a court to block Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW from becoming directly involved with litigation over the SAFE Vehicles rule (Reg. 2060-AU09). The automakers, which struck a voluntary emissions deal with California, last week moved to join the
July 10, 2020
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by Amy Harder (Axios) Four of America’s biggest banks are backing a new nonprofit initiative to leverage the financial sector toward achieving climate-change goals. Driving the news: The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) is launching a center focused on climate that will be supported by Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and JPMorgan
July 10, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) A bipartisan group of former EPA and Transportation Department chiefs filed a friend-of-the-court brief this week criticizing the Trump administration’s revocation of California’s fuel economy waiver as having no “no valid legal, factual, or logical basis,” Alex also reports for Pros. The Trump administration
July 8, 2020
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by Jennifer M. Latzke (High Plains Journal) … And still, shortly after Trump’s visit, the EPA granted 31 small refinery waivers from the Renewable Fuels Standard in the fall that would have wiped out any traction that year-round E15 approval had gained the industry. Looking back, that was one bump
July 6, 2020
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by Mikkel Pates (Ag Week) Ethanol proponents try to make some political hay with President Donald Trump when he visits Rapid City. They ask that he “tear down that wall” of 10% ethanol blends, and allow ethanol to climb to 30% blends. They say the Environmental Protection Agency should do
July 3, 2020
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by Robert Kozak* (Atlantic Biomass/Advanced Biofuels USA) I was sad to see an obituary today for the great engineer John J. Mooney. Who was John J. Mooney you ask? He was the co-inventor of both the 2-way and the 3-way motor vehicle catalytic converter. The “3-way cat,” as it is referred
July 1, 2020
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by Jordan Godwin (OPIS/Governors Biofuels Coalition)EPA is expected to propose as early as next month a 250-million-gal increase in the 2021 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) and another 250-million-gal boost in the 2022 RVO to comply with a remand order the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
June 30, 2020
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by Ricardo Della Coletta (Folha de Sao Paulo (Google Translation)) With sector in crisis due to coronavirus, Americans want to end barriers to sell more fuel to the country READ MORE
June 26, 2020
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by Glenn Minnis (The Center Square) … The president was there to help industry executives celebrate his administration’s removal of a regulation that up until then prohibited companies from selling gasoline containing 15% ethanol year-round. “It was a terrific event for my company and the renewable fuels industry, drawing nearly
June 25, 2020
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(RFD TV) As producers worry that China is not fulfilling its phase one promise to buy nearly $40 billion dollars in U.S. exports, ethanol groups say that the country could easily make those numbers if they bought more renewable fuels. China is the second largest gasoline market in the world
June 24, 2020
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by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) Biofuels groups are tired of ethanol being excluded from China’s phase one purchases.vGrowth Energy senior vice president of global markets Craig Willis says it’s been two years since the Chinese imported ethanol from the U.S. “It was our third-largest export market, so there’s a ton
June 22, 2020
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(Renewable Fuels Association/National Biodiesel Board/Farm Progress) Renewable Fuels Association, National Biodiesel Board critical of these petitions, say refiners are trying to circumvent court ruling. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today disclosed that 52 new petitions have been received from small refineries seeking retroactive exemptions from their Renewable Fuel Standard requirements
June 19, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) 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. The letter notes the agreement is critical to
June 18, 2020
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(RFD TV) … Both the oil and ethanol sectors are asking the federal government to step in as each one sees a sharp decline in prices and production. Oil groups say that the pandemic pushed the industry over the edge, while it was battling an already downward demand trend. …
June 18, 2020
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by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Members of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus held a virtual town hall Wednesday to discuss the challenges currently facing the ethanol industry and what can be done to help. Participating in the meeting were caucus members including Reps. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), and Rodney Davis
June 18, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) REFINERS LATEST ETHANOL BLENDING BID: Small oil refiners — still reeling from the pandemic-driven collapse in fuel demand — have petitioned EPA to grant them economic hardship status dating back to 2013 in an apparent move to pave the way for the agency to free
June 15, 2020
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by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) A leading U.S. biofuel trade group said on Thursday it had started conversations with the campaigns of both Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and incumbent Donald Trump to discuss potential policy fixes for the ailing industry. The discussions come as the coronavirus pandemic crushes demand for ethanol
June 12, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) 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. “We write to express our concern
June 9, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) California and 22 other states sued the Trump administration over its rollback of auto emissions standards and fuel economy rules, Pro’s Alex Guillén reports. The Trump administration’s final Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles rule requires automakers to improve their fuel efficiency at a rate of
May 28, 2020
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(Agri-Pulse) E15, gasoline blended with 15% ethanol, saw modest growth over the last year as President Donald Trump’s order to lift the ban on year-round sales approaches its one-year anniversary at the end of this week. READ MORE
May 27, 2020
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by Dan K. Eberhart (CNN Business Perspectives) … President Trump indicated that some sort of financial bailout for the US oil industry — and the millions of jobs it supports — could be in the works. … “We will never let the great U.S. Oil & Gas Industry down. I
May 22, 2020
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(Office of Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO)) Today (May 20, 2020) the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation passed S. 3712 and S. 3734, two bipartisan bills cosponsored by U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) and designed to strengthen our nation’s cybersecurity and bioeconomy. “These bipartisan bills passed by the committee today
May 22, 2020
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by Jennifer A. Dlouhy (Bloomberg/Yahoo! Finance) The Environmental Protection Agency has drafted a plan to slightly lift biofuel-blending targets next year, while so far skirting potentially controversial decisions about exempting refineries from U.S. mandates to use plant-based fuels, according to three people familiar with the matter. Under a proposed rule now
May 20, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA has delivered its proposed rule to set 2021 renewable volume requirements (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard and the 2022 RVO for biomass-based diesel to the White House Office of Management and Budget. OMB review marks a final stage before a proposed
May 18, 2020
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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … Leading the defenses is Joan of Ernst, er, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa along with Tina Smith of Minnesota, Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. Two Republicans, two Democrats, now urging the Trump Administration to uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard and
May 15, 2020
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by Matthew Capuano-Rizzo (Leaders in Energy) … In an Oxford University study, Nobel prize winning economist Joseph Stiglize outlined how government spending on low-carbon industries and activities would better benefit the economy in the short and long term than bailing out the fossil fuel industry. City leaders from Los Angeles to Lisbon, São
May 15, 2020
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(Urban Air Initiative) The last few months have been tough, the sudden distress caused by COVID-19 has caused so much harm and heartache for all of us. But if there is something positive coming from this pandemic, it is the world’s attention on air pollution, tailpipe emissions and the need to improve
May 13, 2020
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(Solutions from the Land) … Compared to the relief that is being considered for the oil industry, it is still a meager response. Changes made late last month by the Federal Reserve to a $600 billion loan program created to help small- and medium-sized businesses will lift the program’s lending restrictions and make
May 13, 2020
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by Art Cullen (The Guardian/Storm Lake Times) … “A lot of voters wanted to believe Trump – that out there in Washington it’s all BS, and that a savvy businessman could straighten it out,” (Drake) Custer said. It’s hard for many to admit that it didn’t work out. A tragic comedy
May 12, 2020
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(Office of Senator Joni Ernst) Ernst and her colleagues write, “We urge you to direct the EPA to reject all calls to waive the RFS. The RFS is more important now than ever as farmers, the biofuel sector, and rural America struggle to remain operating amid the COVID-19 crisis.” — U.S.
May 12, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative recently issued its 2020 National Trade Estimate, an annual report detailing foreign trade barriers faced by U.S. exporters of goods and services and USTR’s efforts to reduce those barriers. Fuel ethanol is among products addressed in the report.
May 11, 2020
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by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, D.C., two biofuels groups, Iowa Biodiesel Board and Renewable Fuels Assocation, both released notes of thanks to 24 Senators that signed the bipartisan letter to President Trump urging him to uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard and reject the requests for a waiver
May 11, 2020
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by Jim Talent (The Gazette) … Oil companies have requested special access to a $600 billion lending facility at the Federal Reserve, and the administration seems keen to deliver. The president just announced that the Secretary of Energy and Secretary of the Treasury would make funds available, and the Department
May 7, 2020
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(Nexstar Media Wire/Fox40) Midwest lawmakers say biofuel producers should be getting the same support and protection as oil companies. Coronavirus shutdowns have slashed the demand for gasoline, and while the White House is pledging to buy 75 million barrels of oil, ethanol producers say their requests for help have gone ignored. “We’re
May 5, 2020
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by Emily Holden (The Guardian) Revealed: Oil and mining firms – some with ties to Trump officials – taking advantage of funding, review shows — US fossil fuel companies have taken at least $50m in taxpayer money they probably won’t have to pay back, according to a review of coronavirus aid
May 4, 2020
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by Saleha Mohsin, Ari Natter and Jennifer A. Dlouhy (Bloomberg/RigZone) The Trump administration may announce as soon as Thursday a plan to offer loans to the ailing oil industry possibly in exchange for a financial stake, according to two people familiar with the matter. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Energy Secretary
April 30, 2020
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by Jacqui Fatka (Feedstuffs) … (Former Agriculture Secretary Tom) Vilsack said the biofuel industry hasn’t been invited to the White House like the airline or oil industries have to discuss ways to help cover their losses. A number of conservative lawmakers are saying now is the time for the Administration
April 30, 2020
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by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Pressure is mounting on President Donald Trump to change the Renewable Fuel Standard in light of the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19. A number of tax, environmental and political think tanks sent a letter to Trump on Tuesday asking him to make changes to
April 29, 2020
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by Adele Peters (Fast Company) … Fracking companies have lost billions over the past decade. Some investors may be even more reluctant to invest in the sector now. “I think on the financial side, I would think twice as a lender until it became really clear what the trends were
April 24, 2020
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by David Roberts (Vox) Oil and gas companies were already facing structural problems before Covid-19 and are in long-term decline. — … I wrote about how shortsighted it is for Republicans (enabled by learned Democratic passivity) to reject aid for the struggling clean energy industry. In this post, I want to
April 21, 2020
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by Laura Sanicola (Reuters) The governors of five U.S. states have asked the Trump administration for a nationwide waiver exempting the oil-refining industry from the nation’s biofuel laws to help it survive a demand meltdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak, according to letters seen by Reuters. The request places Republican President
April 16, 2020
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by P. Scott Schearer (Natinal Hog Farmer/Informa Business Media ) Legislative Watch: Biofuels feeling COVID-19 impact; CO2 shortage hits food industry; more loan flexibility needed; expanding beef pricing inquiry; USMCA moving forward. — … A bipartisan group of Senators is asking USDA to allocate additional Commodity Credit Corp. funds to
April 13, 2020
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by Matt Carr (New Energy America/The Hill) The novel coronavirus pandemic could not have come at a worse time for America’s clean energy industry. After overcoming years of attacks by the Trump administration, the resultant loss of demand is threatening to decimate key companies and technologies, and it seems we will have
April 13, 2020
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by Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis (Washington Post) The new rule will improve the U.S. car and light truck fleet’s efficiency by 1.5 percent a year, versus nearly 5 percent under current law. The new rule will improve the U.S. car and light truck fleet’s efficiency by 1.5 percent a year,
March 31, 2020
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by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) U.S. ethanol producers are on track to shut about 2 billion gallons of annualized output by the end of this week because of a slump in demand for fuel, the head of the Renewable Fuels Association trade group said on Monday. Biofuel producers are feeling the impact
March 26, 2020
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(Renewable Fuels Association) Ethanol and farm groups today welcomed the Trump administration’s decision not to seek a re-hearing of a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit that struck down certain small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard. On Jan. 24, a panel of
March 25, 2020
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by Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Administration will not appeal court ruling curbing exemptions; Officials directed to look for other ways to help oil refiners — The Trump administration doesn’t plan to challenge a federal court ruling that dramatically curbs its ability to exempt oil refineries from biofuel-blending requirements, according to three
March 22, 2020
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by Meghan Gordon (S&P Global) US Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican-Iowa, urged the Trump administration Thursday to help the US biofuel industry weather plunging fuel prices and demand, just as the White House was seen as supporting domestic oil producers by filling up the government’s emergency crude stockpile. “Fuel consumption has
March 20, 2020
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(Renewable Fuels Association) With the need for a decision only days away, the coalition that successfully won a unanimous court decision against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continued its call for the agency to not appeal the decision by launching a new social media campaign aimed at encouraging policymakers and the
March 19, 2020
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by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) A growing number of Democrats are voicing concern that the White House may pursue broad relief for the oil and gas industry amid sinking prices and the coronavirus pandemic. Twenty House Democrats sent a letter to President Trump on Tuesday cautioning against dolling out further funds to the
March 18, 2020
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by Jerry Perkins (Successful Farming) … The downturn in demand for ethanol, which is blended at a 10% rate in almost every gallon of gasoline consumed in the U.S., is coming at a time when ethanol plants were already economically challenged by the Small Refinery Exemptions granted by the Trump
March 18, 2020
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by Ken Anderson (Brownfield Ag News) … With many ethanol plants on the verge of shutting down, we implore the Trump Administration to take action that equitably supports all liquid fuel industries—including ethanol producers—during this time of unprecedented market uncertainty and unrest,” RFA CEO Geoff Cooper said in a new release.
March 18, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Poltico’s Morning Energy) JUST WHEN HE THOUGHT HE WAS OUT:The president is once again caught in the middle of a spat between oil refiners and ethanol producers centered around small refinery exemptions under the RFS, Pro’s Eric Wolff reports. The White House is trying to set up
March 16, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) A federal judge ruled against the Justice Department on Thursday in the first round of a lawsuit between the Trump administration and California over the state’s cap-and-trade program with Quebec, Pro’s Debra Kahn reports. Judge William Shubb of the U.S. District Court for the
March 13, 2020
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by Ken Anderson (Brownfield Ag News) Earlier this week the Trump Administration was granted a two-week delay in deciding whether to appeal a court ruling on small refinery exemptions. Does that mean an appeal is likely? Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley doesn’t think so. “No, I read it as just the opposite,” Grassley
March 13, 2020
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(Kallanish Energy) President Donald Trump and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have agreed to appeal a federal appeals court decision on ethanol blending, Kallanish Energy reports. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had invalidated three small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The ruling covered blending waivers granted to Wynnewood Refining
March 11, 2020
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by Jeff Stein, Will Englund, Steven Mufson and Robert Costa (Washington Post) … The White House is strongly considering pushing federal assistance for oil and natural gas producers hit by plummeting oil prices amid the coronavirus outbreak, as industry officials close to the administration clamor for help, according to four people
March 10, 2020
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“So, the President, his point to me was, Joni, it’s not going to be overturned. It’s not going to be overturned. And this way, let Ted Cruz and the oil buddies feel good about what they are doing, but he said it’s not going to be overturned,” said Senator Joni
March 9, 2020
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by Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Appeal would be ‘a stunning betrayal’ of farmers, groups warn; Move allows EPA to keep waiving refineries from biofuel quotas — President Donald Trump’s decision to defend the U.S. government’s power to broadly exempt oil refineries from biofuel-blending requirements is triggering a backlash in Iowa and
March 9, 2020
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by Jennifer A. Dlouhy and Mario Parker (Bloomberg News/The Eagle) President Donald Trump has decided to appeal a federal court ruling that jeopardized the U.S. government’s ability to widely exempt refineries from requirements to use renewable fuels. The decision follows an intense pressure campaign by oil-state senators, including Ted Cruz, a
March 6, 2020
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by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking White House guidance on the future of its controversial biofuel waiver program after a court ruling cast doubt over its legitimacy, and aims to announce a decision by early next month, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday.
February 17, 2020
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(American Banker) Banks in corn country are worried the once booming ethanol business has reached its peak as profits have been pinched by low prices, bad weather and the Trump administration’s moves to curb ethanol use. The price of a gallon of ethanol is down more than 16% since last summer when
February 13, 2020
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(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association was honored to welcome George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, to the 25th Annual National Ethanol Conference today in Houston. By championing an all-of-the-above approach to domestic energy production while in office, President Bush put the United States on a course
February 12, 2020
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(Our Daily Planet) Yesterday, President Trump released his FY2021 budget, and the proposed cuts to federal agencies and research programs were severe.As Science Mag summarized, Trump’s budget proposes the following cuts: National Institutes of Health: a cut of 7%, or $2.942 billion, to $36.965 billion National Science Foundation (NSF): a cut of
February 11, 2020
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by Amy Harder (Axios Generate) A short new Energy Information Administration report provides a breakdown that’s useful in light of all the discussion these days about the U.S. energy posture. Driving the news: The report shows that while late last year the U.S. became a consistent net exporter of petroleum (that is, crude oil and
February 7, 2020
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by Ari Natter (Bloomberg) Unspent funds earmarked for electric cars, energy efficiency; Energy Department vows to spend funding at House hearing — The Trump administration is withholding nearly a billion dollars for a clean energy program it has unsuccessfully tried to cut, congressional Democrats said Wednesday, raising the specter of political
February 6, 2020
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(Natural Resources Defense Council) The Department of Energy is flouting the will of Congress by delaying clean energy R&D and Congress should act quickly to prevent such ideologically driven efforts that thwart action to combat climate change, a Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) policy analyst told a House oversight panel today.
February 6, 2020
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by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/Des Moines Register) When Ted Cruz, a strong opponent of the Renewable Fuel Standard, won the Iowa caucuses four years ago, political pundits said it was the “beginning of the end” for national biofuels policy. After all, Cruz had walked into the lion’s den of corn country
February 3, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) Investors representing almost $113 billion in assets under management warned oil, gas, mining and timber companies not to take advantage of Trump administration environmental rollbacks, arguing they should consider the financial risk. Trump rollbacks to laws like the Endangered Species Act, Antiquities Act and
January 30, 2020
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by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) … While climate change has been given short shrift on the debate stages, it’s been widely discussed as the state races toward its first-in-the-nation caucuses on Monday. Record-setting flooding devastated nearly every corner of the state in 2019 as heavy rains swelled the Mississippi River at
January 29, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA on Jan. 27 submitted a proposed rule to streamline fuels regulations to the White House Office of Management and Budget. OMB review marks a final step before a proposed rule is released for public comment. According to a summary published by the
January 29, 2020
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by Silvia Amaro (CNBC) -The European Union is assessing whether to implement a carbon border tax, which would hit importers from countries that do not respect climate goals. -U.S. officials have already raised concerns about such plans, arguing they could hurt American businesses. -The EU and the U.S have been
January 28, 2020
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by John Herath (Farm Journal Ag Web) If elected president, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) plans to immediately roll back all of the small refinery exemptions made to the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). Klobuchar made the pledge on the AgriTalk Radio show talking with host, Chip Flory. “We have 137 things
January 24, 2020
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(Hagstrom Report/Fence Post) … In a call to rural reporters, Grassley (Senator Charles Grassley R-IA) noted that he continues to warn the Trump administration that farmers are watching the management of the Renewable Fuel Standard and that he had heard Trump got a warm welcome when he spoke at the
January 22, 2020
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by Ben Nuelle (AgriPulse) Biofuel industry advocates say they’re pleased with how the Democratic presidential candidates are talking about ethanol and biodiesel in Iowa, although most of the campaigns haven’t provided specifics about how they would increase demand. READ MORE Trump to farmers: Your ‘best days’ are ahead (AgriPulse) Trump
January 22, 2020
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by Ryan Beene and Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Revised proposal will require modest annual efficiency gains; Draft rule is under review by White House budget office — … A draft of the final rule, now undergoing a final White House review, includes several changes that could make it easier to
January 22, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data on Jan. 16, reporting that five new SRE petitions have been filed under the Renewable Fuel Standard for compliance year 2019, up from 16 petitions that had been filed as of Dec. 19, 2019. A
January 17, 2020
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by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) As the keynote speaker at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit Thursday, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said “2019 sucked” but the industry is focusing forward now into the “Roaring ’20s.” Cooper offered four predictions for the new decade. 1. The battle over the Renewable Fuel Standard
January 17, 2020
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by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Aemetis Inc. has purchased a partially complete ethanol plant in Kansas. While the company previously said it would convert the facility to cellulosic production, Aemetis Chairman and CEO Eric McAfee said there are currently no plans to build at the site. … In its third
January 16, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) EPA and NHTSA on Tuesday sent their new auto emissions and fuel efficiency rules to the Office of Management and Budget for review, EPA confirmed to ME. This is the second half of the SAFE Vehicles rule and covers model years 2021 through 2026,
January 15, 2020
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by Simone Preissler Iglesias Samy Adghirni (Bloomberg Quint) Washington will likely take time to lift a ban on Brazilian fresh-beef imports amid frustration at the South American country’s decision to keep quotas on tariff-free imports of U.S. ethanol, according to people familiar with talks in Brazil. The breakdown in negotiations on
January 13, 2020
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by Scott Richman (Renewable Fuels Association) The recent conflict with Iran and its proxies in Iraq has served as a reminder of the enduring potential for geopolitical risk to unsettle petroleum markets – not just globally but also in the U.S. While the U.S. has become significantly more energy-secure over the
January 13, 2020
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(Hoosier Ag Today/NAFB News Service) China this week announced a suspension of its ethanol mandate, signaling a further reduction of imports from the United States. The E10 target was suspended because China says, “any promotion of ethanol-gasoline must be based on the precondition that food security is guaranteed.” The mandate was
January 13, 2020
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by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters/Financial Post) The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) will review the Trump administration’s use of waivers exempting oil refineries from the nation’s biofuel blending requirements, according to a letter dated Friday, after lawmakers called for an investigation. The so-called Small Refinery Exemptions are intended to protect refineries in
January 11, 2020
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(Renewable Fuels Association) Tensions in the Middle East have inflamed global oil markets, sending Brent crude oil futures over $70 per barrel and pushing U.S. gasoline futures to a nine-month high. Analysts expect these gas price increases to reach the pump in the days ahead, hitting consumer pocketbooks and again underscoring
January 8, 2020
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by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) … Another looming fight: EPA’s proposals to weaken rules on greenhouse gas emissions from cars. The Trump administration has revoked California’s waiver authority, but its sweeping rollback of federal emissions standards has stalled ahead of an April deadline to set CAFE standards for 2021
January 6, 2020
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(Renewable Fuels Association) RFAEditor’s Note: In keeping with a long-standing RFA holiday tradition, our very own Senior Strategic Advisor offers his views on what is on the way “out” as we turn our calendars to 2020 and what will be “in” as the new year begins. The 2020 Out-In List — 2019
January 3, 2020
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“Locally, a chain of convenience stores has installed blender pumps selling mid-level blends in addition to E10 and E85. Consumers are responding by purchasing nearly as much E30 as E10, resulting in 2.5 times more ethanol sales compared to E10-only retailers.” Dave VanderGriend laments that this is apparently illegal according
December 31, 2019
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by Dave VanderGriend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Urban Air Initiative/ICM) Mid-level blends are the future of the ethanol industry, and the U.S. government can’t be trusted to promote their use. … An overlooked provision in the recent rule allowing year-round sales of E15 caps ethanol blends at 15 percent by making
December 31, 2019
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by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) … I do remain bullish, because I believe in ethanol. It’s the right fuel at the right time—and for the time to come. It’s the low-carbon, low-cost fuel America and the world need now. As long as we remain committed to the
December 31, 2019
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EPA Delivers Final Fuels Regulatory Streamlining Rule to OMB
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA released a proposed rule on April 13 that aims to streamline and modernize the agency’s existing fuels regulations. In the rulemaking, the EPA said it is proposing “some slight modifications to the Renewable Fuel Standard,” but indicated it does not plan