by Chris Prentice (Reuters) Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump on Thursday appeared to weigh into a debate over a controversial U.S. biofuels program with a proposal that would back the position of billionaire investor Carl Icahn, one of his wealthiest
by Marc Levy (Associated Press/The Morning Call) Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and his Democratic challenger Katie McGinty tangled Monday over the use of corn ethanol in motor fuel and post-recession bank regulations as they try to show that the
(CALSTART) First-ever fuel economy survey of auto suppliers: 70 percent don’t want policymakers to change standards -- Tier 1 suppliers want long-term goals, support 2025 targets Major automotive suppliers see national fuel economy standards as important for long-term planning and investment and
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) Consumers will have the choice to purchase E15 at the pump again tomorrow, September 15, 2016. For drivers owning a 2001 or newer vehicle, E15 sales are restricted during summer months due to an arcane U.S.
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Sept. 13, the governors of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy asking her to remove the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) limit
by Mike Arbige (DuPont/The Mercury News) Letter to Editor: Next to power plants, transportation remains America’s largest source of carbon emissions. Electrification will help, but only clean-burning biofuels — like ethanol — can immediately and dramatically combat rising levels of smog,
by Jacqueline Campos (Fuel Fix/Opportune) ... When it comes to this year’s election, renewable fuels continue to be well-supported, but policy mandating the use of those renewable fuels in gasoline remains to be seen. ... The dilemma is that RINs cannot be utilized until
(Pacific Ethanol/Globe Newswire) Now generating valuable D3 cellulosic RINs – Expects to produce over one million gallons per year of cellulosic ethanol at Stockton, CA plant -- Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEIX), a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the
by Bill Delahunt (Coastal Angler) ... There is a lot to like about ethanol. It displaces cancer-causing chemicals in gasoline like benzene. It replaced MTBE, which polluted drinking water throughout the 1990s. Just this year, ExxonMobil was required to pay millions for the
by Jay Douthit (Kent County Farm Bureau/My Eastern Shore) To the editor: The Kent County Farm Bureau stands with the Maryland Farm Bureau in support of the National Corn Growers Association’s opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed reduction of the corn-based ethanol
by David Vandergriend (Sacramento Bee) ... But the day-to-day threat facing many communities doesn’t come from carbon. It comes from airborne chemicals with less attention-grabbing names like volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and ozone. As with carbon,
by Robert Rapier (Forbes) ... It would have been one thing if Congress had based the mandates on a fuel that existed commercially. However, they essentially attempted to mandate a nonexistent industry into existence. Unsurprisingly, economic challenges again arose. Despite the mandates, there
by Rebecca Chillrud (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On July 18, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released their Draft Technical Assessment Report (TAR), providing a midterm evaluation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Biotechnology Innovation Organization has released its new report “Advancing the Biobased Economy: Renewable Chemical Biorefinery Commercialization, Progress, and Market Opportunities, 2016 and Beyond,” documenting substantial, ongoing growth in the renewable chemical industry and outlining federal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization released a landmark report “Advancing the Biobased Economy: Renewable Chemical Biorefinery Commercialization, Progress, and Market Opportunities, 2016 and Beyond,” documenting substantial, ongoing growth in the renewable chemical industry and outlining
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters/Yahoo! Finance) ... The alternative is for merchant refiners to increase their ability to blend ethanol. PBF Energy is the latest refiner to take this approach. PBF has asked Delaware regulators to expand its ethanol handling
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., recently met up with the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association to learn more about Minnesota's ethanol industry and show his support for clean homegrown renewable biofuels. "Minnesota and America's heartland are prime locations for
by Todd Neeley (DTN/The Progressive Farmer) With all of the political fights about the role ethanol and other biofuels have in the transportation sector, there is common ground for the ethanol, oil and automobile industries that could bode well for
by Barbara J Powell (Bloomberg) ... RINS aren’t the real problem for the Philadelphia refinery, Robert Campbell, head of oil products research for London-based Energy Aspects, said in a telephone interview today. “East Coast refiners are not particularly competitive in this
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Wisconsin, Tesoro reached an agreement for Tesoro to acquire Virent. The acquisition, the partners said, will support the scale up and commercialization of Virent’s BioForming technology for the production of low carbon bio-based fuels
by Lia Reich (PrecisionHawk) Since receiving an experimental airworthiness certificate from the FAA to research operations within extended visual line of sight, PrecisionHawk has proven a safety case to advance its research to include commercial operations beyond the visual line of
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... Many respected laboratories, agencies, and researchers have used a lifecycle analysis to show that biofuels, particularly advanced biofuels, provide significant carbon benefits compared to gasoline. These benefits have increased in recent years, as biofuels have
by Irshad Ahmed (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels International) If bioenergy represents a sustainable energy future for the planet, then why must it compete with oil prices to be deemed a feasible energy alternative for the society? The answer is simple: It is because
(Quad County Corn Processors/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad recently met with staff and board members from Quad County Corn Processors and representatives from Syngenta, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa Corn Growers
by James Dozier (The Gazette/Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions) Sen. Chuck Grassley has displayed a consistent record of leadership when it comes to bringing jobs and clean energy to Iowa and helping to bolster the farm economy. Two recent efforts led
by Mark Drajem (Bloomberg) ... Now the oil industry itself is split over the RFS, or more specifically how the EPA applies it. It’s no mystery what’s inspiring the discord: money. Refiner CVR Energy, in which billionaire investor Carl Icahn owns an 82 percent
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association/Wayne Fueling Systems) Wayne Fueling Systems (“Wayne”), a global provider of fuel dispensing, payment, automation, and control technologies for retail and commercial fuel stations announces that all Wayne North American retail fuel dispensers will be supplied as compatible
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) As expected E15 sales in Minnesota fell in June as a result of the EPA-imposed Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) season, which bars the sale of E15 from June 1 to Sept 15. ... ... the key highlight of the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) If you were reading BBC’s coverage of the aviation biofuels space yesterday, you would have seen the provocative headline: Wood fuel plan to cut plane CO2 branded as ‘pipe dream’ Then would have looked in vain for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Is there some fundamental reason that the automotive biofuels people haven’t shifted to butanol or iso-butanol or some other compound that would be more compatible with gasoline and the present highly evolved gasoline engines? Is
by Brian Scheid and Herman Wang (Platts) Growing pressure for a federal probe of the opaque market underpinning the Renewable Fuel Standard could bolster efforts to dramatically reform the landmark biofuels policy. Earlier this month, billionaire investor Carl Icahn sent a heated,
by Richard Truett (Automotive News) Raising the octane in gasoline -- seen as a way to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions in today’s high-tech turbocharged, direct-injected engines -- looks like it will get some attention from the EPA. That’s the
by Brian Jennings (American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) It’s the Holy Grail for many in the ethanol industry to increase demand for our fuel based on its octane value proposition. The American Coalition for Ethanol has been working on octane
by John M. Urbanchuk (PennLive/ABF Economics LLP) ... Thanks to the RFS, nearly every drop of gasoline sold now contains at least ten percent renewable fuel, like ethanol, made right here in the United States. Last year, this policy allowed drivers to
by Brooke Coleman (Bloomberg/Advanced Biofuels Business Council) ... (Carl) Icahn’s ask is pretty simple. He wants the EPA to change the rules midstream to relieve his petroleum refining assets of their obligations. ... The RFS, for its part, requires petroleum companies like Icahn’s
by Keith Matheny (Detroit Free Press) The multi-billion-dollar U.S. biofuels industry — promoted and expanded for over a decade by the federal government — may be built on a false assumption, according to a new University of Michigan study published today
by James Osborne (FuelFix) Now gas station owners say they, too, are losing out after the price of RINs – the credits which refineries must have to prove there is ethanol and other biofuels in the fuel supply — shot
by Jim Talent (The American Spectator) The case for alternative energy done right. -- ... No other policy has so effectively undermined the international oil cartel that seeks to profit from our dependence on oil. Today, ethanol and other biofuels meet about
by David Shepardson (Reuters) U.S. regulators late on Monday denied a request by major automakers to extend the comment period on a key environmental analysis to determine whether government fuel efficiency requirements are feasible through 2025. ... Automakers had asked to extend
by Doug Durante (The Hill/Clean Fuels Development Coalition) ... The US Department of Energy just last week released a report that confirms the role of high octane and how it would meet automakers' needs for high efficiency, high compression engines. Among
by Mike Lorenz (Sheetz) Back in 1990, Congress limited the amount of evaporative emissions from vehicle fuel at 9 pounds per square inch (psi) Reid vapor pressure (RVP) in the Clean Air Act. While pure ethanol has a 3 psi
by Robert Walton (Utility Dive) The Obama Administration has won a significant victory for its use of a social cost metric to determine the impacts of new environmental and efficiency rules, in a unanimous circuit court decision that appeared to leave opponents with little
by Rebecca Chillrud (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... Gas stations that offer higher blends are currently few and far between, but the ACE’s “Retailer Roadmap” aims to help change the fuels landscape. The Roadmap analyzes the potential demand for higher
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Aug. 18, the U.S. EPA Office of Inspector General published a report finding the EPA’s Office of Research and Development has not complied with a statutory requirements to provide a report to Congress
by Dustin Walsh (Crain's Detroit Business) Jerry Jung, former owner of Michigan CAT and longtime environmentalist, is using his wealth to take down ethanol production. Jung, chairman of the Michigan Colleges Alliance, recently launched RethinkEthanol.com — a website calling for the
by Bob Krause (Storm Lake Times Letter to Editor) Only 35 years after the 1980s farm crisis, another storm seems to be brewing. Corn production is forecast by USDA to be up 11% from last year. This crop, possibly over
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... There’s a separate category of RINs for advanced biofuels. These are fuels that have at least a 50% reduction in fossil fuels compared to 2005 baseline gasoline. Overall, to qualify under the RFS, you need
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) ... Reuters' analysis of vehicle sales and government data shows that almost a fifth of the vehicles on US roads can safely handle E-15 fuel, a gasoline with 15% ethanol content, or 50% more than the typical US
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Let me see if we got this right. Donald Trump loves the Renewable Fuel Standard --- Carl Icahn loves Donald Trump --- Therefore, Carl Icahn hates the Renewable Fuel Standard With that, welcome to the 2016 United
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The Council on Environmental Quality, a division of the Executive Office of the President, has issued final guidance on considering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change in National Environmental Policy Act reviews that addresses
by Ned Bowman (Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association/Florida Politics) ... The RFS was originally intended to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but over time the National Association of Clean Air Agencies discovered that it had produced higher emissions of
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A recent column provides some insight into anti-ethanol stances by making a connection between beef prices, the cow herd expansion and restaurant profits, with rather breath-taking simplification. -- A recent column in Forbes from
by Ray Defenbaugh (Urban Air Initiative/Big River Resources/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ah, summertime ..., and the livin' is easy, as the song says. But if not for the U.S. EPA, it could have been even easier. Easier on our customers, easier on
(Environmental Protection Agency) Standards address second-largest segment of U.S. transportation in terms of emissions and energy use -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration jointly finalized standards for medium- and heavy-duty
by Tracy King (Renewable Fuels Association) For the past several years, the Department of Energy (DOE) has been quietly researching the benefits of ethanol-based High Octane Fuels (HOF), such as E25, E30 and E40. Now, some of DOE’s findings are
(The Detroit News) The idea ethanol is the transportation fuel of the future never seems to fall out of fashion among certain members of Congress—including Michigan’s own Debbie Stabenow. But it’s time for this outdated obsession to end. Stabenow was among
by John Phillips (Daily Press) I am deeply concerned about the EPA's recent decision to alter the original intent of the Renewable Fuel Standard with a reduction to the renewable volume obligation not only because of the devastating effect it will
(Argus Media) The bank of carryover RINs used to comply with US renewable fuel mandates faces a draw of nearly 500mn RINs this year to meet a stiff blend requirement of 10.1pc of the country's transportation fuel. An Argus analysis found
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) America’s farmers are poised to harvest a record corn crop this fall and achieve the highest yield per acre in U.S. history, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates released today. Meanwhile, the U.S. ethanol
by Mike Chisam (The Hays Daily News) A recent article in the Hays Daily News, titled “Subsidized madness,” makes erroneous claims about the Renewable Fuel Standard and ethanol. The article attacks the RFS by using the tired, false arguments that are
by Dan Sanders (Windsor Now) ... The RFS has been the driving force behind the development and production of new, cleaner and lower cost fuel options at the pump. The RFS has also been instrumental in breaking the century long monopoly
by Nicolas Loris (The Heritage Foundation/The Intelligencer) ... President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law and expanded it in 2007. The RFS, which originated with that act, mandates that refiners mix biofuels into America's gasoline supply,
(Pilot Tribune) United States Senator Joni Ernst and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will visit Quad County Corn Processors cellulosic ethanol production facility in Galva on Wednesday, August 31st at 9:15 am. Senator Ernst and Governor Branstad will tour Quad County's state-of-the-art
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... With a potential omnibus spending package on the table this fall, the oil industry and some environmental groups have raised again the proposition of RFS reform. Two major claims made by RFS-reformers are that biofuels,
(Mankato Free Press) Why It Matters: Ethanol as a clean energy has come under criticism but the pollution caused by fossil fuels remains the reality. -- ... First, environmentalists complained we were paying farmers too much in subsidies to plant corn
by Rachel Gantz (Renewable Fuels Association) On Monday, Aug. 8, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) celebrated its 11th anniversary. Not on a first name basis with acronyms? It’s the law that gave us the original renewable fuel standard,
by Jeff Barber (OpisNet.com) Shifting the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) from fuel refiners and importers to blenders would reduce competition at the rack and lead to lower renewable fuel use and higher retail prices, an
by Jessie Stolark (The Hill/Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... The total amount of U.S. land under production by American farmers is down-- not just over the last 50 or 100 years, but also over the last decade according to the U.S. Department of
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) ... Yet Trump gave an economic speech Monday in Detroit in which he touted boosting domestic oil and gas production and made no references to renewable energy. Trump cited data in his speech from
by Ilari Kauppila (Biofuels International) The California Congressional delegation has added its voice to the crowd urging the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase its proposed biofuel obligations for 2017. In an open letter addresses to EPA administrator Gina McCarthy, six
by Kyle Feldscher (The Washington Examiner) The oil industry is planning to make a major advertising push in a wide swath of states against the Environmental Protection Agency's Renewable Fuel Standard in the coming weeks. Frank Macchiarola, director of the American
by James Osborne (Houston Chronicle) Earlier this year Jack Lipinski, chief executive of the Sugar Land refiner CVR Energy, flew to Washington to plead his case to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. His problem: the prices of credits required to
by Lindsay Brooke (SAE International) Raising the octane level of pump gasoline in the U.S. is integral to optimizing advanced combustion engines now in development, said GM and Hondaexecutives at the 2016 CAR Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI.
by Nathan Vander Griend (ERI Solutions, Inc./Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) mission is to protect human health and the environment. They are charged with delivering on that mission by using the best scientific information
by Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Republican nominee Trump backs U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard; Tactic would exploit a Clinton weakness, Rick Santorum says -- Donald Trump’s campaign swing through the Corn Belt on Friday should include a hearty endorsement of U.S. renewable
by Leticia Phillips (UNICA/Ethanol Producer Magazine) UNICA wants to focus the discussion on the importance of advanced biofuels, like sugarcane ethanol. The RFS is one of the world’s most ambitious programs promoting biofuels and a key policy for the future of
by Ron Lamberty (Ethanol Producer Magazine) There is no such thing as a 10 percent blend wall unless petroleum marketers don't allow a choice. Independent retailers are demonstrating the blend wall can be breached. -- When the U.S. EPA held
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) As the Tier 3 deadline approaches, it's important to understand the difference between EPA and ASTM treatments of the element. -- The U.S. EPA’s Tier 3 rules are not new—they were finalized two years
by Stephen Lee (South Dakota Capital Journal) South Dakota Farmers Union representatives were out hustling higher-ethanol-blend gasoline Wednesday for a couple hours at a Pierre Sinclair station. “We want to bring attention to the benefits of E-30,” said Matt Sibley,
(The Pew Charitable Trusts) ... Federal agencies are evaluating the standards that apply to model year (MY) 2022-25 passenger vehicles and will determine whether the auto industry is capable of meeting these long-term criteria. It is imperative that these agencies don't
by Ed Tibbetts (Quad City Times) A new report saying that Hillary Clinton's campaign has talked with California officials about how the Renewable Fuel Standard might be revamped is drawing criticism from a top Republican in Iowa. The Clinton campaign said
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) A new report released this week by the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) is arguing that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) should be repealed for its “numerous economic, ethical and real-world problems”. “Running Drivers into the Blend
(Mankato Free Press) Why It Matters: Ethanol as a clean energy has come under criticism but the pollution caused by fossil fuels remains the reality. -- The politics of green energy have evolved over the last two decades in a
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) A U.S. Senator from Minnesota says bipartisan efforts continue to restore the Renewable Fuel Standard to its original statute. Al Franken tells Brownfield he and other lawmakers have met frequently with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy following
by Devin Henry (The Hill) Regulators have formally concluded greenhouse gas emissions from airplanes pose a threat the environment, the first step toward new federal rules. The moved, called an “endangerment finding,” from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires officials to
(Federal Register/Environmental Protection Agency) The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted an information collection request (ICR), “Cellulosic Production Volume Projections and Efficient Producer Reporting” (EPA ICR No. 2551.01, OMB Control No. 2060-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
by Alex Guillén (Politico Pro) The Renewable Fuels Association today asked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and EPA to investigate whether anyone is manipulating the market for a key biofuels compliance credit to drum up support for repeal of the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, Reuters is reporting that “Valero Energy expects to get hit with a half-billion-dollar bill in the second half of the year” and the news agency attributed the costs to “the rising cost of
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) Here we go again. We didn’t think it could get much worse than the Associated Press hit piece on ethanol in late 2013. But an ethanol hatchet job by Bloomberg published this week actually
by Morteza Soleymannezhad (Forbes) ... In my opinion, RFS needs an overhaul. It should start phasing out first-generation biofuels and refocus solely on sustainable biofuels such as the ones obtained from cellulosic materials and algae. As Jeff Turrentine, culture & politics columnist at NRDC’s
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) Biofuel mandate was supposed to fix everything, but no one has hit over 60 home runs in the past 15 years -- I just finished reading an anti-ethanol Bloomberg editorial written by Jennifer A. Dlouhy.
by David Roberts (Vox) ... I'm going to break this down as a series of numbered lists — not one, not two, but five lists of three: The three key facts the campaign took as starting points The three overarching goals of
by Alex Guillén (Politico Morning Energy) A newly-formed group of small fuel retailers is adding to the calls for EPA to shift responsibility for complying with the Renewable Fuel Standard, which currently is the responsibility of refiners and importers. The
by Varun Sivaram (Politico/Council on Foreign Relations) When the Obama administration released its ambitious fuel economy rules for new vehicles in 2012, the economic rationale behind the standards was obvious. The price of oil hovered near $100 per barrel. With
by Brady Dennis (The Washington Post) ... The EPA issued a scientific assessment known as an “endangerment finding,” which determined that emissions from certain kinds of plane engines contribute to pollution that fuels climate change and creates health risks for Americans. Emissions that
by Brian Sowers (Crappie Masters TV/ODU Magazine) ... The truth is that ethanol blends are ideal for watercraft, and companies like Kawasaki, Mercury Marine, OMC, Pleasurecraft, Tigershark, Tracker, Honda, and Yamaha all approve the use of E10 in their machines. The same
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) While Congress will be preoccupied with other legislative issues as it winds down this session, the RFA will continue to be on guard, hitting back at misinformation and making sure the RFS
(National Biodiesel Board) Lawmakers Ask EPA to Boost Volumes in Pending Proposal -- Forty U.S. senators from across the country Thursday called on the EPA to strengthen biodiesel volumes in the pending Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) proposal. The senators emphasized that
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization) The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), on behalf of its member companies, ... submitted comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2017, and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2018. The comments demonstrate that EPA’s
(University of Connecticut) ... The research team is led by professor emerita Carol Auer and supported by a grant from the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grant Program, an initiative of the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Auer and her research
(National Association of Convenience Stores) The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), has been around for more than a decade. Today, ethanol comprises about 10% of the total fuel sold in the United States, but there are some changes coming that will
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Coalition Sees Opportunity in Higher Fuel Economy Standards -- Leaders and founders of the Governors' Biofuels Coalition see a push for higher fuel-economy standards as the next opportunity to spur more biofuels production around
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Missouri, Ocean Park Advisors has been retained by Abengoa Bioenergy to find a strategic partner or to complete a sale of Abengoa cellulosic ethanol plant, electricity cogeneration plant and related assets in Hugoton, Kansas. Additionally,
by Alex Guillén (Politico Pro) U.S. vehicle efficiency rules won't deliver the carbon reductions or fuel savings President Barack Obama promised in his first term because cheap gasoline has set off a buying spree of gas-guzzling trucks and sport-utility vehicles,
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The comment period on the U.S. EPA’s proposed rule to set 2017 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the renewable fuel standard (RFS), along with 2018 RVOs for biomass-based diesel, has officially closed. According to information
(U.S. Department of Transportation) The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the California Air Resource Board (CARB) today took the first step in the mid-term evaluation of the National Program for greenhouse gas emissions
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) As the Tier 3 deadline approaches, it's important to understand the difference between EPA and ASTM treatments of the element. -- The U.S. EPA’s Tier 3 rules are not new—they were finalized two
by Ed Dodge (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, a commercialization panel said that “the biofuels industry has been through a tough couple of years, but the survivors are scaling up and bringing product to market. The panel featured some leading players
by David VanderGriend (Urban Air Initiative/ICM/Governors' Biofuel Coalition) The signs are everywhere highlighting our product and how it can find its true value as an octane enhancer while lowering carbon emissions. Using our research at the Urban Air Initiative and in conjunction with
by Phil Cleary (Christianson & Associates/Biofuels Digest) The Food Safety Modernization Act covers the operation of a facility that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds animal food for sale in the United States. Renewable fuels facilities producing feed co-products are no exception. In
by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) More than 40 national organizations have called on Congress to end more than a century of tax breaks for the oil industry. In a letter to U.S. legislators, a diverse coalition of environmental, veterans, labor,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Loan Program Office of the U.S. Department of Energy recently introduced a number of important updates to the Loan Guarantee Solicitation for Applications for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects as well as to
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments today to EPA on its proposed 2017 Renewable Fuel Standard renewable volume obligations (RVO), urging the agency to raise the requirement for conventional renewable fuel volumes to the statutory level
(National Chicken Council) The National Chicken Council (NCC) strongly supports efforts to create a more reasonable and sustainable approach to the nation’s biofuel fuel policy, as the compelled diversion of corn from feed to fuel continues to exact a heavy
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today, 17 members of the House Biofuels Caucus sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, urging the agency to complete its 2017 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) “in a manner consistent with the Congressional intent to aggressively
by David Cox (Biomass Magazine/Renewable Natural Gas Coalition) ... It says that “for calendar years after the calendar years specified in the tables,” (i.e., after 2022), the EPA administrator will set applicable volumes using specified criteria, which are thereafter laid out. (ii) OTHER
by Bob Cleaves (Biomass Magazine/Biomass Power Association) ... Also at the top of the list is how the plan will eventually treat biomass. For us, there is a very simple solution: If fuel is derived from residues, whether it’s forest, agricultural
(Convenience Store Decisions) High-octane ethanol gasoline blends are helping American’s to enjoy low fuel prices this summer. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is proving to be beneficial to Americans in more ways than just providing a cleaner fuel supply. Gas prices in
by Howard Gruenspecht (U.S. Department of Energy Energy Information Administration/Iowa Farmer Today) ... Substantially increased use of biofuels can only occur if they can be used in forms other than low-percentage blends of ethanol and biodiesel that account for nearly all of
by Bob Dinneen (Morning Consult) ... In 2015, 14.8 billion gallons of ethanol was produced, supporting 85,967 direct jobs, while net petroleum import dependence fell to just 25 percent, and would have been 32 percent without the addition of domestically produced
by John Lippert (Bloomberg/IndustryWeek) Fuel economy standards will increase a projected 53% to 54.5 miles per gallon within the next decade, and tailpipe emissions will need to fall. What does Detroit think about the pending challenge? And how will they
(Bergeson & Campbell) Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) announced today the launch of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Blog (TSCAblog™) to track and report regulatory, scientific, legal, and policy developments under the "new TSCA." On June 22, 2016, President
by William Feehery (The Hill/DuPont Industrial Biosciences) ... One of the most vital and immediate tools at our disposal in the campaign for energy independence is renewable fuel. It is the only technology that can address the de-carbonization of the
by Collin O'Mara (Fox News/National Wildlife Federation) ... The worst part is that none of this was supposed to happen. In the law, Congress defined acceptable biofuels under the mandate as those coming from crops grown on land that was in agricultural
by Chris Prentice and Jessica Resnick-Ault (Reuters) Prices of U.S. biofuels compliance credits jumped in early trade on Wednesday as worries mounted over potential supplies after Goldman Sachs Group signaled potential tightness next year on higher biofuels use requirements, according
by Alex Guillén (Politico Pro) Former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is optimistic that auto manufacturers can meet the Obama administration's goal of lifting the nation's fuel economy standard to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. "I don't think we should deviate"
(Bergeson & Campbell) On June 29, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted an Implementation Plan that outlines EPA's plans for early activities and actions under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, legislation that significantly
(National Biodiesel Board) Nearly 100 biodiesel industry leaders are converging on Capitol Hill Tuesday to call for strong clean-fuels policy as a new study found that the industry is supporting nearly 48,000 jobs nationwide. The study, which conducted by LMC International,
by Josh Pedrick (Platts) ... "We should have included T70 as a metric in the model, it entirely changes the perception of the model," said Shon Van Hulzen, director of quality control at US ethanol producer POET, in a presentation Wednesday. T70
by Spencer Chase (Agri-Pulse) ... When it comes to land use, Colin O'Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, testified that a University of Wisconsin study had shown that 7.3 million acres of land had been brought into production between
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Biodiesel plants idled as shipments from Asia, Argentina jump; Foreign supplies cheaper or cleaner than fuel from Midwest soy -- Makers of renewable fuels derived from the vast soybean fields across the American Midwest can’t seem to
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On June 22, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy and Power Subcommittee held a hearing on the renewable fuel standard (RFS). The event featured testimony from government officials, biofuel supporters and other stakeholders. During
by Selena Yakabe (The Dickinson Press) South Dakota’s $3.8 billion ethanol industry is facing a “glass ceiling,” according to officials. ... Hunter Roberts, the South Dakota representative for the Governor’s Biofuel Coalition, said this (Renewable Volume Obligation announced by the Environmental
by Robert Miller (TC Palm) ... The oil industry doesn't want ethanol to go away, but it doesn't want to give up any more market. It needs the low-cost oxygenate as refineries have been retooled to run more profitably by producing a
by Katie Fehrenbacher (Fortune Magazine) This is how much methane pollution that eleven oil and gas companies emit annually. Eleven oil and gas giants in the U.S. leak so much of a potent green house gas into the atmosphere every year that
by Devin Henry (The Hill) A bipartisan group of senators on Friday chided federal regulators for pulling back on the federal ethanol mandate. In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy, the 39 senators said the agency should
(Gas & Electricity) By now, most are familiar with biodiesel. It is a cost-effective and more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional petroleum-based diesel fuels when used in the correct applications. ... However, there are limitations when compared to petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel typically
by Zahra Hirji (Inside Climate News) Two activist groups used government data to show 12.4 million people in the U.S. live within a half-mile of an oil and gas facility—and its pollution. -- Environmentalists have launched a new mapping tool
by Bob Dinneen (Richmond Times-Dispatch) ... Joe Geiger’s recent Business Principles 101 column on business fads contained a number of fundamental inaccuracies related to the U.S. ethanol industry. As the saying goes, people are entitled to their own opinion, but
by Ryan Rowden (Missouri Petroleum Council/Kansas City Star) ... It’s good to be the world’s leading oil and natural gas producer. But an obsolete law passed before the U.S. energy resurgence could interfere. ... The problem could be even worse in Missouri if
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, following a lobbying push by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, 45 congressmen have sent a letter to the EPA administrator voicing concerns about the 2016 blending mandate under the Renewable Fuel Standard and
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization) EPA’s new methodology for setting annual Renewable Fuel Standards continues to chill investment in advanced biofuels, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) finds in a new analysis released today. Investment patterns clearly demonstrate that EPA is sending a
(National Biodiesel Board) Biodiesel is delivering the vast majority of Advanced Biofuel under the Renewable Fuel Standard and is poised for continued growth with strong policy, National Biodiesel Board Vice President of Federal Affairs Anne Steckel said in prepared testimony
by Chris Soules (The Courier) ... The RFS is one law nearly every farmer knows. It requires oil companies to offer consumers clean, renewable choices at the gasoline pump, including blends of homegrown ethanol produced from agricultural products. For family
by Bob Dinneen (The Hill) ... It’s worth recalling why a bipartisan coalition of policymakers, including President George W. Bush, worked together in 2007 to expand the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which requires oil companies to make increasing amounts of biofuel
by Austin Harrington (Ames Tribune) ... During the trip, Culhane (Dan Culhane, president and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and the Ames Economic Development Commission) and the other members of the delegation had a meeting that lasted nearly a
by Dave VanderGriend (ICM, Inc./Urban Air Institute/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In the world of ethanol, we need to get people smarter and "coach up" the public, media and policymakers as to the real story about our product. -- ... In our world
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Tom Daschle, is leading an effort to ensure that high octane, low carbon fuels are part of EPA’s midterm evaluation of the progress of federal fuel economy standards. Daschle was the
by Brad Plumer (Vox) A new energy era is upon us: For the first time since 1979, America’s cars, trucks, and airplanes emit more carbon dioxide than its power plants do. ... The story here is that the United States has made
(Bergeson & Campbell) On June 7, 2016, the Senate passed the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg) by voice vote and sent it to President Obama for signature. As reported in our May 26, 2016,
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