by Doug Durante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/South Dakota Farmers Union) ... Ethanol is in no way mandated under the RFS – the refiners choose ethanol as a way to meet their obligation, they could have used renewable diesel, biogas, even
certification fuels
Back TO HOMENew Issue Brief on Next Generation Fuels Act
(Clean Fuels Development Coalition) CFDC has produced an Issue Brief clearly explaining the provisions of the Next Gen legislation and makes a compelling case for its passage. The new brief, the latest in CFDC’s highly successful Issue Brief and White Paper series,
October 02, 2023 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blog: Senators Introduce Bill to Expand Use of High-Octane Fuels Including Ethanol
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) With gasoline prices still at historically high levels, a group of U.S. senators on Tuesday introduced legislation that would expand demand for ethanol by establishing high-octane certification test fuels containing 20% to 30% ethanol and
July 27, 2022 Read Full Article
EPA Provides Some Clarity on Mid-Level Blends in Court
(Urban Air Institute) A three-judge-panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit heard oral arguments Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not go far enough when it extended the 1 pound RVP waiver to allow year-round
April 14, 2021 Read Full Article
Trust Me. I’m from the Government and Here to Help
by Dave VanderGriend (ICM/Urban Air Initiative/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... But what we thought we did know was that he (President Donald Trump) was determined to remove regulations that were holding back American business. So that held some excitement and promise
October 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Bustos Introduces Next Generation Fuels Act
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
September 25, 2020 Read Full Article
UAI: EPA Keeping Ethanol from Its True Lower Carbon Value
by Steve Vander Griend (Urban Air Initiative/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In a world intent on lowering carbon emissions, any positive steps lowering CO2 should receive credit. Instead, a recent Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) issued by EPA actually proposes to penalize
June 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Brief Filed in Case Over EPA Limits on Higher Blends
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) An alliance of ethanol, agriculture and clean fuel organizations led by the Urban Air Initiative is challenging the EPA over regulatory barriers to higher blends of ethanol they say are illegal. An opening brief in the case was filed this week
May 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Vehicle Test Procedure Adjustments for Tier 3 Certification Test Fuel DEADLINE: August 11, 2020
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to make adjustments to certain laboratory tailpipe emission testing procedures for automobiles, light trucks, and heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans as the result of a test fuel change that was finalized
April 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Reg Modlin High Octane Low Carbon Fuel Blog Series
(Natual Resources Solutions) Reg Modlin is a senior NRS Advisor and a veteran of 40-plus years in the automotive industry. In the following posts, he examines the steps that have been taken – and need to be taken – to
October 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Wondering What If -- Real-World Fuels Are Needed as Part of Real-World Testing to Prove Ethanol's Worth in Helping to Boost Octane and Lower Emissions.
by Steve Vander Griend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Urban Air Initiative) ... While we are all glad Reid vapor pressure (RVP) relief for E15 was finalized, limiting us to E15 makes this a small victory rather than the game-changer it could have
September 26, 2019 Read Full Article
EPA Can Go Further than E15
(Urban Air Initiative) The Urban Air Initiative submitted comments to the EPA supporting the agency’s proposal to make E15 available year round. While this is a critical step forward and needs to happen, UAI asked EPA to not stop at E15 and
May 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blog: Ethanol Industry Not Impressed with General Motors' Push on Octane Standard Legislation
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) While General Motors representative Dan Nicholson indicated this week it was important for the ethanol industry to get behind legislation to set a national octane standard -- starting with a 95 research octane number,
February 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Are the Transportation Fuel of the 21st Century, NFU Says
(National Farmers Union) As Congress looks to revamp and coordinate federal-level policies that govern the transportation fuels and vehicles sectors, National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging legislators to expand use of high-octane, mid-level blends of ethanol in the transportation fuel supply.
December 27, 2018 Read Full Article
NFU Urges House Subcommittee to Expand Use of High-Octane, American Grown Biofuels
(The Fence Post/National Farmers Union) As Congress looks to revamp and coordinate federal-level policies that govern the transportation fuels and vehicles sectors, National Farmers Union is urging legislators to expand use of high-octane, mid-level blends of ethanol in the transportation fuel
December 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Improving Ethanol’s Outlook: Fuel Economy Standards Help Make the Case for Midlevel Ethanol Blends.
by Chris Bliley (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Automakers are responding by making smaller, higher-compression engines that demand higher octane. Improved engines are the first step toward achieving mid-level ethanol blends such as E25 and E30. ... E30 would improve fuel economy standards, reduce
October 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Help Wanted: Job Interview for High Octane & Low Carbon
by Doug Durante and Doug Sombke (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/South Dakota Farmers Union/Biofuels Digest) ... However, we may have a unique and perhaps unprecedented opportunity for a do-over with the proposed fuel economy rule. While we take no position on exactly what
October 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Making America Great Again Starts with the States
by David Vander Griend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Urban Air Initiative) Dave VanderGriend, president of Urban Air Initiative, doesn't mince words in his column this month, calling out EPA for what he says is collusion with the oil industry. -- ... The 15.8 billion
September 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Your Turn: South Dakota Ethanol Policy Genius
by Orrie Swayze (Argus Leader) Sen. Kent Frerichs looked to further capitalize on the genius of our incredibly successful ethanol policy taxing imported petroleum one cent/gallon at the pipeline to fund incentives to build a strong South Dakota ethanol industry. His Senate
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Regulatory Fixes Will Open the Market to Ethanol Quickly -- How EPA Could Easily Remedy Issues with RINs.
by Adam Gustafson (Boyden Gray and Associates/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Such short-term fixes to high RIN prices ignore their underlying cause—EPA’s artificial constraints on the volume of ethanol that can be blended into the nation’s fuel supply. Basic rules of supply
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Delivering ‘Big League’
by Emily Skor (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... While we haven’t yet achieved Reid vapor pressure (RVP) parity for E15 and higher blends, we made dramatic headway by broadening our base of supporters and positioning retailers as the new face of
January 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Is E25 Legal in the Mini Cooper?
by Dave VanderGriend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/ICM/Urban Air Initiative) ... In an over-simplified explanation, the EPA has claimed the legal authority to regulate ethanol blends under section 211(f) of the Clean Air Act, known as the “sub-sim” law. Under EPA’s current interpretation
November 27, 2017 Read Full Article
New Fuels, Vehicles, Both, Together: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to the Co-Optima Market Transformation Project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy initiated a project to identify and mitigate the challenges of moving new fuels and vehicles into markets. Specifically, engaging with all critical stakeholders (OEM’s, fuel producers, distribution networks, gas station
August 18, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Can Improve Its Implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard in 6 Ways: BIO
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization called on the US EPA to “improve its implementation of RFS,” and noted six key improvements. issue its annual Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) under the RFS on time; interpret
May 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuel Groups Ask EPA to Ease Regulatory Burdens
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Several biofuel trade groups have filed comments with the U.S. EPA asking for changes to regulations that are hindering the growth of U.S. ethanol production and use. On Feb 24, President Donald Trump released Executive
May 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuels Are Part of an ‘America First’ Energy Plan
by Brian Jennings (The Hill/American Coalition for Ethanol) ... By every measure, increasing the production and use of homegrown renewable fuels has spurred economic growth for U.S. farmers and supported high-skill, high-wage jobs in rural communities. When the use of renewable
May 04, 2017 Read Full Article
ACE Outlines Ethanol Priorities to EPA on Regulatory Reform Agenda
(KTIC Radio) The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) submitted a public comment addressed to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt thanking him for establishing a Regulatory Reform Task Force to evaluate existing regulations and make recommendations regarding those that can be
April 14, 2017 Read Full Article
UAI Challenges CRC Ethanol Study, Calls Test Procedures Flawed
(Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Urban Air Initiative is calling the results of a new Coordinating Research Council emissions study “one more example of the biased and flawed testing procedures used to penalize ethanol.” The ethanol advocacy group said Wednesday CRC’s match
March 31, 2017 Read Full Article
New ASTM High-Octane Fuel Standard Published
(Growth Energy) Last week, ASTM International published an important new high-octane fuel standard, ASTM D8076 – 17, Standard Specification for 100 Research Octane Number Test Fuel for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines. A major victory for the ethanol industry, this new specification
March 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol Advocates Critical of EPA Proposed RFS Revisions in REGS
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The comment period for the U.S. EPA’s rule revisions to the renewable fuel standard (RFS) have closed, with 254 comments posted to regulations.gov regarding the Renewables Enhancements and Growth Support Rule, dubbed REGS. ... In its
February 27, 2017 Read Full Article
RFA Suggests Retool for REGS
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) In comments submitted this week on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) rule, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) said the proposal fails to address key regulatory barriers that are constraining growth
February 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Health Effects Institute Takes Hard Look at Ethanol vs Aromatics
by David Hallberg (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Urban Air Initiative) Candid discussions at the Health Effects Institute offer hope ethanol's positive emissions profile will be taken seriously, writes a UAI advisor and Siouxland Ethanol board member in the Clearing the Air column
February 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Repeat After Me: High Octane, Low Carbon
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
July 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Blog: Who Killed the Only EPA Certified E85 Conversion Kit?
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... To write this, I talked to Chris Disher and Max Kinast. As Disher said, it’s a story full of controversy, intrigue and lies. And, even though that conversion kit was ultimately certified by the U.S.
March 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Are You Ready for the E30 Challenge?
by Dave VanderGriend (ICM/Urban Air Initiative/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Watertown is challenging conventional wisdom in order for biofuels like ethanol to finally realize their true potential. Conventional wisdom says our nonflex autos can only operate on 10 percent ethanol blends and, at most,
March 10, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuels Association Welcomes Auto Industry Vet Tracey King to Staff
(Renewable Fuels Association) Auto industry veteran Tracey King has joined the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) as the organization’s new Technical Director. King will serve as the RFA’s top liaison to the automakers, and will focus on forging the path to
February 24, 2016 Read Full Article
Blog: More Details on the High Octane Story
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) I really enjoyed learning about research into midlevel ethanol blends from Timothy Theiss and Brian West, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. "E25, E40 for the masses" went live on our website last week
February 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Growing Beyond the RFS to Drive Demand for Ethanol
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ... “The RFS helped kick start the significant volumes of ethanol production we see today, but we cannot rely on the RFS to ensure a continued market,” Durante (Doug Durante, Clean Fuels Development Coalition (CFDC) executive
January 27, 2016 Read Full Article
New White Paper Identifies Opportunities for Increased Ethanol Demand: Growing Beyond the RFS Keys on Regulatory Relief
(Ethanol Across America) Despite the effectiveness of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in providing an entry ramp to the fuel market, the potential for corn ethanol to contribute to meeting a range of public policy objectives has only scratched the
January 18, 2016 Read Full Article
RFA Comments on DOE’s Innovative “Optima” Program
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) had a call for information on Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Optima). The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments stating that the Association agrees that “co-optimization of future
January 14, 2016 Read Full Article
A Message For EPA: Get Real on Emissions and Clean Fuels!
by Doug Durante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Biofuels Digest) In the aftermath of revelations of how Volkswagen had their thumb on the scale as they cheated not just the EPA, but all of us who breathe the air, it raises serious
October 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Emissions Testing Is Broken, and Other Lessons from the VW Scandal
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... How do you create clean vehicles that consumers want to buy? All of the automakers are currently focused on this question. The Department of Energy’s Quadrennial Technology Review calls for the co-optimization of fuels and
October 03, 2015 Read Full Article
EESI Asks EPA to Focus on Steps to Increase Volumes of Advanced and Cellulosic Fuels
(Energy and Environmental Study Institute) ... In comments to EPA, EESI points out that when Congress was debating the Renewable Fuel Standard, the meaning of “adequate domestic supply” was defined as qualifying fuel – not infrastructure constraints. For the first time,
August 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Court Dismisses E30 Test Fuel Case, But Decision Could Help Open Door for Mid-Level Blends
by Laura Small (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On July 14, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a petition from the Energy Future Coalition and other biofuel interests to review an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation requiring test fuels
July 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Federal Court Slams Ethanol and EPA in One Ruling
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) A federal appeals court slammed the ethanol industry on Tuesday for suing the Environmental Protection Agency, and then slammed the EPA's defense even though the agency won the case. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals threw
July 16, 2015 Read Full Article
EPA 'Tier III' Test Change May Complicate Achieving Fuel Economy Goals
by Lori Nicholson (IWP News) EPA's recent decision in its "Tier III" vehicle emissions rule to increase the amount of ethanol in certification fuel used to determine an automobile's compliance with the standard could complicate automakers' ability to meet separate
September 08, 2014 Read Full Article
New Strategy for Clean, High-Octane Ethanol Needed
by Dave Vander Griend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/ICM) The industry must push for change in the way fuels are blended and tested, writes Dave Vander Griend. Growth of the ethanol industry, producers of a clean high-octane fuel, is being blocked by U.S.
August 12, 2014 Read Full Article
It’s Not a Sprint: Achieving Biofuel Goals Requires the Effort of a Marathon
(25 x '25) EPA’s release this week of the latest rule governing vehicle emissions and fuel standards is a reminder that while regulations can raise the profile of biofuels, there are no “silver” policy bullets that absolutely assure the growth of biofuels
March 07, 2014 Read Full Article
EPA Sets Cleaner Fuel and Car Standards, Slashing Air Pollution and Providing Health Benefits to Thousands
(US Environmental Protection Agency) Based on extensive input from the public and a broad range of stakeholders, including public health groups, auto manufacturers, refiners, and states, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today finalized emission standards for cars and gasoline
March 03, 2014 Read Full Article
RFA Comments on Proposed Tier 3 Rule
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ...Kelly Davis, RFA Director of Regulatory Affairs, says they support the timely implementation of the Tier 3 standards especially the proposal to establish E15 as the certification test fuel beginning in 2017. “We really hope that
July 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Squeezing More From Ethanol
by Matthew L. Wald (The New York Times) Faced with a crop of lemons — too much ethanol, a population of cars not tuned to burn it effectively and a driving public leery of the fuel’s properties — the Environmental
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Hyundai Tech Center Expansion to Allow More Emissions Testing
by Alisa Priddle (Detroit Free Press) An expansion of Hyundai’s eight-year-old technical center in Superior Township, east of Ann Arbor, will require 50 new jobs and enable more vehicle emission testing. ...The new testing chambers can run vehicles through extreme temperature
April 29, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Tier 3 Rules Lower Sulfur Content, Assume E15 to Replace E10
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA has proposed Tier 3 emission standards for cars and gasoline. The new goals for lower sulfur content got the attention in the first days after the release of the proposed
April 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Butanol Producers Target Biofuels Market
by Philip Brasher (Argus Leader) ... A top official with the Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates motor fuels, told lawmakers recently butanol is one of the nation’s “most promising biofuels.” However, the product faces potential government barriers that provide an advantage