Federal Regulation – Advanced BioFuels USA

Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders on Agricultural Innovations DEADLINE August 1, 2020

(U.S. Department of Agriculture/Federal Register) The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments and suggestions on objectives and opportunities leading to research goals and informed product goals to facilitate transformative breakthroughs to enable U.S. agriculture to meet the Department’s goal of increasing agricultural production by 40 percent to

April 3, 2020 Read Full Article

Notice Provides Update of MSW Landfill Gas Emissions Guidelines

by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA published a notice on March 12 announcing 42 states and territories failed to submit state plans under the 2016 emissions guidelines for existing municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The March 12 notice represents the start of a 2-year deadline under which the EPA

April 3, 2020 Read Full Article

Ace Approved to Generate D3 RINs from Corn Kernel Fiber Ethanol

(BBI International/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In late March, U.S. EPA approved Ace Ethanol’s Part 80 registration for the new D3MAX facility at Ace Ethanol LLC, in Stanley, Wisconsin. To participate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and generate renewable identification numbers (RINs), renewable fuel producers must meet the registration requirements in

April 2, 2020 Read Full Article

Report: Boost in Consumption of US Biomass-Based Diesel Expected

(The Fuels Institute/Biodiesel Magazine) U.S. biomass-based diesel, comprised of both biodiesel and renewable diesel, has increased rapidly in a relatively short time span to become a leading source of alternative transportation fuel. According a new report released March 26 by the Fuels Institute, “Biomass-Based Diesel: A Market and Performance Analysis,” biomass-based diesel

April 1, 2020 Read Full Article

QUOTE OF THE WEEK — Geoff Cooper and Renewable Fuels Association

“EPA’s rule assumes that electric vehicles have no “upstream” greenhouse gas emissions related to their use; in other words, the agency completely ignores emissions related to producing electricity from coal, natural gas, and other sources and distributing the electricity to the vehicle. … This rule should have established the roadmap

April 1, 2020 Read Full Article

Trump Administration Cuts Fuel Economy, CO2 Standards with Final Regulations

by Sean Szymkowski (Road Show) The changes, wrapped into the SAFE Vehicles Rule, will result in less stringent CAFE improvements through 2026. — The SAFE Vehicle Rule, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, lowers required fuel economy and CO2 improvements to 1.5% each year

April 1, 2020 Read Full Article

Trump Administration to Finalize Weaker Mileage Standards, Dealing a Blow to Obama-Era Climate Policy

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 Read Full Article

Biofuels Industry Tackling Challenges

by Susan Reidy (World-Grain.com) Despite a challenging environment, the global biofuels industry is holding steady and driving ahead with new policies, innovations and legislation to promote more robust growth in the future. In the EU, 2020 marks the deadline for certain greenhouse gas reduction goals, which many nations will struggle to

March 30, 2020 Read Full Article

RFA: EPA Stall Tactic on Tenth Circuit Decision Just Delays the Inevitable

(Renewable Fuels Association) As part of a package intended to “protect the nation’s gasoline supply in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced it intends to wait until “appeals have been resolved and the court’s mandate has been issued” before developing “an appropriate implementation and enforcement response to

March 30, 2020 Read Full Article

Focus Forward from Challenge to Opportunity: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to RFA’s 2020 Ethanol Industry Outlook

y Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Renewable Fuels Association released its 2020 Ethanol Industry Outlook, an annual publication that provides policymakers, regulators, consumers, the media, and renewable fuel advocates with key statistics, trends, insight, and analysis on the latest developments in the U.S. renewable fuels industry, as well as commentary

March 30, 2020 Read Full Article

Where’s Biodiesel At? Fuel Specs, Legislative Impacts, Fleet Support and more: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to the National Biodiesel Board’s Biodiesel Industry – Part 3

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Check out Part 3 of the National Biodiesel Board’s slide guide that delves into ASTM fuel specifications for biodiesel and fuel quality, biodiesel standards like BQ-9000, legislative updates impacting biodiesel demand and state policies, latest on OEM and fleet support for biodiesel. READ MORE Where’s

March 27, 2020 Read Full Article

Top Democratic Law Firm Helps Oil Companies Dodge Climate Regulations

by Donald Shaw and David Moore (Sludge) Perkins Coie, a law firm with deep ties to the Democratic Party, is lobbying for fossil fuel clients to win exemptions from a federal program to limit greenhouse gas emissions. — … The primary focus of Perkins Coie’s fossil fuel lobbying in recent

March 26, 2020 Read Full Article

UPDATE 1-U.S. Ethanol Plants Cutting Output Due to Crashing Demand -Trade Group

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 Read Full Article

Biodiesel’s Green Footprint for Fleets: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to the National Biodiesel Board’s Biodiesel Industry – Part 2

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Check out Part 2 of the National Biodiesel Board’s slide guide that focuses on biodiesel’s on-road heavy-duty emission benefits, why they consider biodiesel as “liquid solar energy”, how 3 billion gallons of biodiesel used in the U.S. would reduce carbon emissions by more than 25

March 26, 2020 Read Full Article

Where’s Biodiesel At? The Diesel Market, Feedstock Options and more: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to the National Biodiesel Board’s Biodiesel Industry – Part 1

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) While things are topsy turvy around the world right now, Part 1 to this visual National Biodiesel Board slide guide takes us on an industry overview, the diesel vehicle market forecast, the U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel market (and yes, they are different!), a look

March 25, 2020 Read Full Article

Renewable Fuels Coalition Welcomes Administration’s Decision Not to Seek Re-Hearing of Tenth Circuit SRE Ruling

(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 Read Full Article

The Hand Sanitizer Market: A Salvation for Beleaguered Ethanol Producers, or Not?

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … In response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) created exemptions allowing certain alcohol fuel permit holders to sell ethanol (alcohol) for use in the production of hand sanitizers. Consequently. Aemetis, Inc. said its 65 million

March 24, 2020 Read Full Article

Fewer Refineries Able to Get Biofuel Waivers Under Trump Plan

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 Read Full Article

Grassley Asks White House for Biofuel Support as SPR Fill Helps Oil Industry

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 Read Full Article

ICCT: Potential Biomass-Based Diesel Production in the United States by 2032

by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies) One of the biggest issues I’ve been working on in my consulting practice over the last year is related to the scale up of renewable diesel (RD also known as hydrogenated vegetable oil or HVO). Who is investing? Where are the facilities going to be

March 19, 2020 Read Full Article

Renewable Fuels Coalition Launches Campaign Calling for EPA Not to Appeal 10th Circuit Decision

(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 Read Full Article

House Democrats Warn against Oil Industry Bailout

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 Read Full Article

Ethanol Prices Hit All-Time Low, Unconfirmed Reports of Plant Shutdowns

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 Read Full Article

RFA Calls on Trump Administration to Help Struggling Biofuels Industry

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 Read Full Article

Reality EV: Let’s Not Overlook Biofuels

(Clean Fuels Development Coalition) The widespread introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) as a means of reducing carbon emissions presents a far greater challenge than the public is being led to believe, according to new research by the Clean Fuels Development Coalition (CFDC). This conclusion is presented in Reality EV, a new Issue Brief

March 18, 2020 Read Full Article

Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science COMMENTS DUE April 17, 2020 EXTENDED to May 18, 2020

(Environmental Protection Agency/Federal Register) This supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) includes clarifications, modifications and additions to certain provisions in the Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science Proposed Rulemaking (“2018 proposed rulemaking,” Ref. 1), published on April 30, 2018. This SNPRM proposes that the scope of the rulemaking apply to influential

March 18, 2020 Read Full Article

Carper Asks EPA IG to Open Investigation into Process Irregularities and Potential Illegalities Associated with the SAFE Vehicles and Secret Science Rules

(Office of U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)) U.S. Senator Tom Carper, top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Inspector General (IG) to open an investigation into potentially unlawful efforts and procedural problems related to the preparation and review of both

March 17, 2020 Read Full Article

Trump Pulled Back into Oil-Ethanol Fight

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 Read Full Article

Why a Good Ethanol Education Program is Needed Now, More Than Ever

by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) U.S. DOE and EPA are Screwing America (And No One Cares – Do You?) +VIDEO — … So, I did a Google search of his name (Daniel R. Simmons) along with the word “ethanol.” There was only one pertinent search return involving Simmons and

March 13, 2020 Read Full Article

Grassley Doubts Administration Will Appeal 10th Circuit Ruling on SRES

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 Read Full Article

Despite Tough Times, Study Finds Ethanol and Biodiesel Production Continues to Power Iowa’s Economy

(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association) Economic benefits hampered by RFS exemptions — Today (March 11, 2020) a new study finds despite challenges, Iowa biofuel production continues to have a significant impact on Iowa’s economy, supporting over 48,000 jobs and more than $2.4 billion in household income. The study, authored by John Urbanchuk

March 13, 2020 Read Full Article

Farm Groups Focus on Trade, Biofuels at Commodity Classic

by Michelle Rook (AgWeek) Leaders of the nation’s top commodity organizations were focused on trade, biofuels and the upcoming crop season at this year’s Commodity Classic in San Antonio. — …U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told farmers at Commodity Classic that the agency is not working on a third round of

March 10, 2020 Read Full Article

Trump’s Biofuel Plan Triggers Fallout in U.S. Farm Country

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 Read Full Article

Notice of Request for Public Comment on Updates to Technical Guidelines for Quantifying Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Carbon Sequestration at the Entity-Scale for Agriculture and Forestry COMMENTS DUE April 20, 2020

(U.S. Department of Agriculture/Federal Register) In accordance with Section 2709 of the 2008 Farm Bill, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed technical guidelines and science-based methods to quantify greenhouse gas sources and sinks from the agriculture and forest sectors at the entity-scale. In the report, Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in

March 7, 2020 Read Full Article

Ethanol Blog: Inhofe Amendment Would Cap Biofuels Credits Price at 10 Cents

by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Sen. James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, has offered an amendment to an energy bill to cap the price of Renewable Identification Numbers, or RINs, at 10 cents, as time is running out on the EPA to make a decision on possible changes to the small-refinery exemptions program.

March 6, 2020 Read Full Article

2019 EPA Automotive Trends Report: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Fuel Economy, and Technology since 1975

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) … EPA has collected data on every new light-duty vehicle model sold in the United States since 1975, either from testing performed by EPA at the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, or directly from manufacturers using official EPA test procedures. These

March 6, 2020 Read Full Article

Trump Plans to Appeal Ruling that Imperils Refinery Biofuel Waivers

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 Read Full Article

UPDATE 2-U.S. EPA Mulls Ways to Stabilize Biofuel Costs for Refiners, with Waiver Program at Risk

by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Wednesday it is mulling new measures to help oil refiners cope with the cost of complying with the nation’s biofuel policy, as the agency faces a sweeping legal challenge to a waiver program worth a fortune to the industry.

March 5, 2020 Read Full Article

EPA: 23 SRE Petitions Now Pending for Compliance Year 2019

by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data on Feb. 21, reporting that two additional SRE petitions have been filed under the Renewable Fuel Standard for compliance year 2019. A total of 23 SRE petitions for compliance year 2019 have now been filed, up from 21

March 4, 2020 Read Full Article

Ethanol Industry Added $2.3 Billion to Minnesota’s Economy in 2019

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Despite challenging conditions in 2019, Minnesota’s ethanol industry contributed $2.31 billion to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) last year, according to a new study by ABF Economics. In 2019, the industry produced 1.31 billion gallons of ethanol, 3.6 million tons of dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS)

March 3, 2020 Read Full Article

EPA Board: Trump Replacement of Obama-Era Emissions Rule May Not Be as Good for Society

by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) The Trump administration’s plans for addressing vehicle emissions may not be as good for society as an Obama administration rule, according to a review released Monday by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) independent science board. The analysis from the Science Advisory Board (SAB) found “significant weaknesses

March 3, 2020 Read Full Article

Colorado Man Sentenced to 83 Months in Prison for Role in $7.2 Million Biodiesel Tax Credit Scheme

(U.S. Department of Justice) A Colorado resident was sentenced to 83 months in prison on Friday for his role in a biodiesel tax credit fraud scheme, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. According to court documents and statements made in court, Matthew

March 3, 2020 Read Full Article

New Ethanol Bill Touted as Good for Farmers and the Environment

by Andrew Deziel (Lonsdale News Review) A bipartisan group of legislators have introduced a bill that would make Minnesota the first state in the nation to embrace E15, or gasoline with 15% ethanol, as the standard. The bill was introduced Monday in the House by Rep. Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin, and in the Senate

March 2, 2020 Read Full Article

Here We Go Again: Senate Letter Plagued by Myths and Mistruths about RINs

by Scott Richman (Renewable Fuels Association) Yesterday (February 27, 2020), a group of senators wrote a letter to President Trump regarding the January 24 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit that found the EPA improperly exceeded its statutory authority in exempting three refineries from the Renewable Fuel

March 2, 2020 Read Full Article

Congresswoman Angie Craig Leads Letter Reiterating Support for Biofuels, Reducing Carbon Emissions

(Office of Congresswoman Angie Craig (D-MN2)) Today, U.S. Reps. Angie Craig (MN-02) and Dave Loebsack (IA-02) delivered a letter signed by 11 members on the bipartisan Congressional Biofuels Caucus urging the Select Committee on Climate Crisis to include biofuels as a cost-effective and readily available solution for further decarbonization. “The Select

February 27, 2020 Read Full Article

45Q, the Tax Credit That’s Luring US Companies to Capture CO2 — Cement, Ethanol, and Ammonia Makers Are among Those Looking to Convert Waste Carbon to Cash

by Melody M. Bomgardner (Chemical & Engineering News) … The most effective policies, economists and industrialists agree, are those that put a price on carbon. Doing so with a tax could make for a potent policy, but the idea doesn’t have traction among legislators. Yet a low-key adjustment to the

February 27, 2020 Read Full Article

USDA’s 30 Year Vision: No Need to Wander Like Moses

by Douglas Duarante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Biofuels Digest) … U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) … presented a 10 year plan for E15 and a 30 year plan for E30 that is neither bold nor visionary and clearly suggests they need to get their vision checked. Thirty years? Really? Thirty Years? I guess

February 26, 2020 Read Full Article

IRS Unveils 45Q Guidance

by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) Almost two years after Congress initially expanded a tax incentive for carbon capture and sequestration projects as part of its 2018 budget bill, the IRS on Wednesday released its initial guidance on how exactly industries can take advantage of the tax credit. The IRS issued guidance describing

February 20, 2020 Read Full Article

Limited Biofuels M&A Activity in 2019, Stage Set for Potentially Busy 2020

by Bruce Comer (Ocean Park/Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Merger and Acquisition (M&A) activity in North America was subdued in 2019. Only four operating biodiesel, ethanol and advanced biofuels plants were sold during the year. These four acquired plants were relatively small with a combined capacity of only 133 Million Gallons Per Year.

February 19, 2020 Read Full Article

The Road to Higher Octane: Making the Case for a 95 RON Octane Standard Now

by David Vander Griend (Urban Air Initiative) Octane. Mercedes called it the single most important parameter in designing engines. And guess what? Ethanol has the highest octane blending value and the lowest cost of any gasoline additive commercially available. Today’s vehicles adjust to take advantage of octane while improving mileage

February 18, 2020 Read Full Article

Carbon Capture Initiatives and 45Q

by Cácia Pimentel* (Advanced Biofuels USA) On February 15th the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) Carbon Management Research Initiative and the Women in Energy program hosted a panel of experts to discuss carbon capture policies and technologies, especially Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS). CCUS are methods and technologies to remove

February 18, 2020 Read Full Article

Request for Comment: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2018 DEADLINE: March 13, 2020

(Environmental Protection Agency/Federal Register) The Draft Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2018 is available for public review. EPA requests recommendations for improving the overall quality of the inventory report to be finalized in April 2020, as well as subsequent inventory reports. To ensure your comments are considered

February 17, 2020 Read Full Article

EPA Consulting White House over Biofuel Waiver Program: Source

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 Read Full Article

Commentary: New York Must Adopt Technology-Neutral Fuel Standard

by Tristan R. Brown (Times Union) …The state’s transportation sector, which currently is responsible for 46 percent of its total energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, must undergo rapid and comprehensive decarbonization on an unprecedented scale. If New York is to successfully reach this target, then it is imperative that we

February 14, 2020 Read Full Article

7 New Changes in USDA Biorefinery Funding Opportunities – Now is the Time to Take Advantage

by Cynthia Thyfault (Global Biofuture Solutions) The USDA Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program, also known as the “9003” program, provides loan guarantees up to $250 million to assist in the development, construction, and retrofitting of commercial scale biorefineries using eligible technology and of biobased product manufacturing facilities

February 14, 2020 Read Full Article

Heartland Banks Have a New Worry in Turbulent Ethanol Business

(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 Read Full Article

25th Annual National Ethanol Conference Welcomes President George W. Bush

(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 Read Full Article

Reforming Renewable Fuel Standard Major Task for NATSO

by Alan Adler (Freight Waves) Waivers of blending rules for small refineries drive up pump price of renewable fuels. — NATSO, the trade group for highway travel center operators, is trying to preserve subsidies for biodiesel that let members profitably sell cleaner-burning fuel while planning what to do when the $1per

February 11, 2020 Read Full Article

Oberon Fuels, SHV Energy Partner up to Accelerate Renewable DME: Is This Tech a Carbon Removal Machine of Great Importance?

by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In California, Oberon Fuels and SHV Energy are partnering to accelerate the use of renewable DME to reduce the carbon footprint of transportation fuel. For Oberon’s path to scale, the partnership will include funding to augment a recent $2.9M grant from the California Energy Commission

February 11, 2020 Read Full Article

DOJ Drops Probe of Carmakers that Aligned with California on Pollution

by Zack Coleman and Alex Guillén (Politico) DOJ was investigating whether Ford, Volkswagen, Honda and BMW illegally coordinated last year. — The Justice Department has ended its antitrust investigation of automakers who formed a voluntary deal with California to reduce air pollution — a probe that was one of a

February 11, 2020 Read Full Article

How Ditching the Iowa Caucus Could Remake the Biofuels Debate

by Miranda Green (New Republic) If politicians no longer coveted that early “Iowa bump,” would they still feel compelled to support ethanol subsidies? In the wake of Iowa’s caucus vote-counting disaster, political staffers and pollsters alike are reconsidering the state’s “first in the nation to vote” status. The quaint caucuses

February 10, 2020 Read Full Article

Policy Swings Shutter Iowa’s Biodiesel Plants

by Marc Heller (E&E News) Fifteen years ago, farmers produced so much soybean oil they couldn’t figure out what to with it all. It was good for cooking and salad dressing — and not much more. “We were throwing it away,” recalled Bill Shipley, a farmer and district director with the

February 7, 2020 Read Full Article

Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2020 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2021 and Other Changes

(Environmental Protection Agency/Federal Register) Under section 211 of the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to set renewable fuel percentage standards every year. This action establishes the annual percentage standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that apply to gasoline and diesel

February 6, 2020 Read Full Article

NRDC: DOE Is Flouting the Will of Congress by Delaying Clean Energy R&D

(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 Read Full Article

Biomass Leaders Provide State of the Industry at Int’l Event

by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) The 13th Annual International Biomass Conference & Expo drew nearly 900 industry stakeholders to Nashville, Tennessee, where, following an awards ceremony, a roundtable discussion with biomass association leaders covered topics including the state of the industry, tax and renewable energy policies, carbon markets, politics, and the message

February 6, 2020 Read Full Article

RFA Analysis Finds Record E15 Sales in 2019

(Renewable Fuels Association) A new Renewable Fuels Association analysis found that approximately 500 million gallons of E15 were sold nationwide in 2019, setting a new record and proving that the Trump administration’s elimination last summer of an obsolete regulatory barrier is working. However, sales would have been even stronger if not

February 5, 2020 Read Full Article

From the Other Side: Bio-Fuels Co-Products

by Matthew L. Gibson (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./Biofuels Digest) … Today I’m going to put on my “Food Production Hat” and share with you some thoughts about where your co-products ultimately end up: Food. What your downstream customers have to deal with. Hopefully, you can glean some nuggets to think about and start

February 4, 2020 Read Full Article

BLM Issues Notice on Tribal Biomass Demonstration Projects

by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management published a notice of availability on Jan. 15 establishing eligibility and selection criteria for biomass demonstration project proposals submitted for BLM-managed lands as authorized by the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self Determination Act Amendments of 2017.

February 3, 2020 Read Full Article

OPINION: Don’t Count out Ethanol This Election Season

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 Read Full Article

Groups Comment on USDA’s New Biofuel Infrastructure Program

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association, American Coalition for Ethanol and Growth Energy are among the groups that submitted comments to the USDA regarding the development of its new Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. The USDA issued a request for information (RFI) on Jan. 16 seeking public input to

February 3, 2020 Read Full Article

NBB Supports Biodiesel in USDA Infrastructure Program

(National Association of Farm Broadcasting/KRVN) The National Biodiesel Board released comments in response to the USDA’s request for information on the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. The NBB stated it’s grateful that biodiesel is included in the program. The infrastructure needs for biodiesel, renewable diesel, Bioheat, and sustainable aviation fuel are

February 3, 2020 Read Full Article

Ethanol Report 1-31-20 SRE Court Ruling, NEC Preview, Midwest LCFS, Crappie Masters

(Ethanol Report/Renewable Fuels Association) In this episode of The Ethanol Report, we hear about a new court ruling that could be a game changer for Small Refinery Exemptions, get a preview of the 25th annual National Ethanol Conference, learn about LCFS for the Midwest, and kick off the 4th year

January 31, 2020 Read Full Article

Investors Go after Trump Rollbacks

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 Read Full Article

Letter: Give Retailers Incentive to Offer Stronger Ethanol

by Rick Fox (Ohio Ethanol Producers Association/Columbus Dispatch) Even though Ohio is one of the nation’s leading ethanol producing states, it lags far behind other states in terms of the number of retailers that offer higher blends of ethanol gasoline such as E15 and E85. House Bill 400, introduced by state

January 29, 2020 Read Full Article

Iowans Push 2020 Candidates to Focus on Climate Change

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 Read Full Article

EPA Delivers Proposed Rule to Streamline Fuel Regulations to OMB

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 Read Full Article

Experts to Gather to Discuss the Public Health Threat from Gasoline Aromatics — February 6, 2020 — online from Miami Beach, FL

The discussion will highlight alternatives to gasoline aromatics that benefit public health, the environment/climate change, national security, and the economy. These solutions could be implemented in the upcoming Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule. Governors, public health, environmental, energy, public policy, and media experts will present new data and discuss

January 27, 2020 Read Full Article

Tenth Circuit Court Strikes Down EPA Small Refinery Exemptions

(Renewable Fuels Association) In a decision that is expected to broadly impact the Environmental Protection Agency’s approach to granting small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit late on Friday struck down three exemptions that were improperly issued by EPA. The

January 27, 2020 Read Full Article

Klobuchar Pledges to Roll Back Refinery Exemptions if Elected

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 Read Full Article

Tribal and Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Projects; Eligibility Criteria

(Federal Register/Land Management Bureau) The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is establishing eligibility and selection criteria for Tribal Biomass Demonstration Project and Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Project proposals submitted for BLM-managed lands, as authorized by the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2017. Section 202 of Public Law

January 24, 2020 Read Full Article

Roadblock to Higher Blends

by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA’s rule allowing year-round sale of E15 is a monumental achievement for the ethanol industry, but might also stymie growth for higher blends. Challenges to the rule could take the issues to court. — … Specifically, the rule limits blends higher than

January 23, 2020 Read Full Article

At the Table, or On the Menu?

by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) As discussions about climate change ramp up, ethanol and its impact on emissions and the environment should be top of mind. — We’re only halfway through the 116th Congress and, already, there have been nearly 40 legislative proposals and resolutions introduced to tackle climate

January 23, 2020 Read Full Article

B&C Launches TSCA Tutor™ Online, On-Demand Training Courses

(Bergeson & Campbell) Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is pleased to announce the release of the complete suite of TSCA Tutor™ regulatory training courses online and on-demand at www.TSCAtutor.com. Professionals seeking expert, efficient, essential training can preview and enroll in on-demand classes to complete at their own pace and timing. In