by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA on July 18 announced it has reached a settlement with Lupton Petroleum Products Inc., and its affiliate Brad Hall Associates Inc., for violations of the Clean Air Act’s conventional and renewable fuel
D-5 (advanced biofuel) RINs
Back TO HOMEColonial Oil Industries to Purchase and Retire 9 Million RINs Due to RFS Violations
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Colonial Oil Industries Inc. must pay a $2.8 million civil penalty and purchase and retire more than 9 million renewable identification numbers (RINs) at an estimated price of $12.2 million under a settlement agreement reached
April 11, 2024 Read Full Article
A Tale of Two RINs – Digging Deeper
by Adam Shubert (Stillwater Associates) In our recent article, “A Tale of Two RINs,” we reviewed current conditions driving the price of D3 renewable identification numbers (RINs) upwards while the price of D4 RINs is falling. This article drew considerable interest. With respect
January 19, 2024 Read Full Article
As 40B GREET Deadline Looms, RFA Offers Recommendations for SAF Emissions Modeling
(Renewable Fuels Association) In a letter submitted to the Biden administration today, the Renewable Fuels Association laid out recommendations for ensuring that the best available science and data are used in determining eligibility for the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit established in
January 16, 2024 Read Full Article
RFA: Final RVO Rule Fails to Deliver on Promise of Original Proposal Public Comment DEADLINE July 5, 2023
(Renewable Fuels Association) The 2023-2025 Renewable Fuel Standard volumes finalized today by the Environmental Protection Agency mark an unfortunate step backward from the volumes that were originally proposed, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. EPA’s final rule includes conventional renewable fuel requirements of 15
July 11, 2023 Read Full Article
Renewable Natural Gas From Corn Stover
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Failed Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Became North America's Largest RNG Producer -- When DuPont shut down its cellulosic ethanol plant in 2017 after years of effort and $225 million in investment, it looked like the process
June 20, 2023 Read Full Article
Is the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard in Danger of Going Over a RIN Cliff?
by Maria Gerveni and Scott Irwin (University of Illinois) and Todd Hubbs (U.S. Department of Agriculture) (farmdocdaily) ... What has received far less attention is what happens when the supply of biofuel exceeds the mandate. Given the scale of the renewable diesel
June 01, 2023 Read Full Article
Clean Fuels Applauds Governors’ Letter on RFS BBD Volumes
(Clean Fuels Alliance America) Letter calls proposed RVOs “exactly the wrong signal to send right now” -- Today, Clean Fuels Alliance America welcomed a letter sent by Govs. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), Mike Parson (R-MO), and Jim Pillen (R-NE) to EPA Administrator
May 25, 2023 Read Full Article
Overview of the RIN Compliance System and Pricing of RINs for the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard
Maria Gerveni and Scott Irwin (University of Illinois) and Todd Hubbs (U.S. Department of Agriculture) ... A RIN represents biofuel that has been produced and blended into transportation fuel. RINs are tradeable, and the market price of RINs plays
May 25, 2023 Read Full Article
US Lawmakers Want to Boost Ethanol’s Green Appeal as EVs Threaten Fuel Use
by Kim Chipman and Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Bill brings together lawmakers from corn and oil states; Growth of EVs is threatening demand for liquid fuels US representatives from Iowa, Illinois, Texas and Oklahoma are introducing a bill that would allow
May 16, 2023 Read Full Article
EPA Takes Next Steps in Renewable Fuel Standard Program for 2023-25 -- Proposal Seeks Public Input on Program’s Role in U.S. Energy Security, Economy and Environment DEADLINE February 10, 2023
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Today, EPA issued a multi-part proposal that will build on the strong foundation for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program started in the Biden-Harris Administration and seeks to advance the priorities of energy security, less pollution, and
December 01, 2022 Read Full Article
EPA Approves RFS Fuel Pathway for Chevron Refinery
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA has approved a fuel pathway that allows Chevron U.S.A. Inc. to generate D6 renewable fuel renewable identification numbers (RINs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard for several biofuels produced from soybean oil via coprocessing
November 30, 2022 Read Full Article
Biointermediates: Production Opportunities and Regulatory Challenges
by Sara M. Herman (Biodiesel Magazine/Christianson) While biointermediates present opportunities for biofuel producers, close attention should be paid to regulatory requirements. -- ... Within the proposed rules, EPA included a section on biointermediates—feedstocks that are partially processed at one location
July 27, 2022 Read Full Article
Exploding Acreage
by Susanne Retka Schill (Biodiesel Magazine) Three developers take different approaches to filling the expected surge for demand in oilseeds with crops that promise low GHG scores. -- Remember the parable of the mustard seed? Developers of three oilseed crops—relatives
July 22, 2022 Read Full Article
AD Biogas To RNG Update
(BioCycle Magazine) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the final Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2020, 2021 and 2022 in early June. ... Biogas generated by anaerobic digestion qualifies as either a cellulosic biofuel (D3) or a
July 20, 2022 Read Full Article
EPA Approves Carinata Fuel Pathway for REG’s Geismar Facility
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA on June 30 approved a Renewable Fuel Standard fuel pathway filed by Renewable Energy Group Inc. that will allow the company’s biorefinery in Geismar, Louisiana, to generate D4 biomass-based diesel renewable identification numbers
July 20, 2022 Read Full Article
Canola Oil Pathways Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Public Comment DEADLINE: May 18, 2022
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) pathways for certain biofuels that are produced from canola/rapeseed oil and is providing an opportunity for comment on the Agency’s lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG)
April 21, 2022 Read Full Article
EPA Proposes to Approve Canola Oil Fuel Pathways under RFS
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA on April 12 published a proposed rule approve Renewable Fuel Standard pathways for renewable diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, naphtha, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) produced from canola/rapeseed oil via a hydrotreating process. EPA’s
April 14, 2022 Read Full Article
RNG, Renewable Fuels from Solar, Waste Wood & Carbon: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Aemetis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Third generation tech is what Aemetis calls it – using renewable fuels for carbon capture & sequestration siphons carbon from the atmosphere into crops which are converted into renewable fuels, then the solar energy is
March 28, 2022 Read Full Article
ABFA Calls on EPA to Recognize Advance Biofuels in RVO Proposal
(Advanced Biofuels Association/Biomass Magazine) The Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA), the leading voice of energy innovators working to decarbonize transportation fuel, released comments calling on the U.S. EPA to restore regulatory certainty in their proposed renewable volume obligation (RVO) under the Renewable Fuel Standard. ABFA's comments
February 23, 2022 Read Full Article
The Next Big Step for Algae and Sustainable Aviation Fuels
by Rebecca White, Lieve Laurens, Nate Kommers (Algae Biomass Organization/Biofuels Diges) Among the dozens of policy innovations that Congress must consider in climate change legislation is a tool that could help trigger the next stage in decarbonizing one of the most
February 15, 2022 Read Full Article
ABFA: Data Suggests a Gulf between RFS Proposal and Available Feedstocks, Production Capacity
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) The Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA) released comments it submitted to U.S. EPA on the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard rule. The comments support a higher standard for the advanced biofuel (D5) pool, referencing data on available
February 15, 2022 Read Full Article
UGI and Vertimass Enter Agreement to Produce Renewable Fuels in the U.S. and Europe
(UGI Corporation) UGI Corporation (NYSE: UGI) announced today that it has entered into a 15-year agreement with California-based technology developer, Vertimass, to utilize their catalytic technology to produce renewable fuels from renewable-ethanol in the U.S. and Europe. The agreement centers on the development of production facilities using Vertimass’
January 06, 2022 Read Full Article
Regulatory and Policy Analysis of Production, Development and Use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels in the United States
Ekrem Korkut and Lara B. Fowler (Frontiers in Energy Research) The United States, spurred in part by international developments, is expanding its law and policy to incentivize the use of sustainable aviation fuels. While the U.S. has agreed to participate
January 03, 2022 Read Full Article
S&P Global Platts to Publish Prices Showing Cost to Reduce Carbon Emissions Using Biofuels
(S&P Global Platts/PR Newswire) New prices offer granular look at actual costs of reducing greenhouse gas emissions with biofuels -- S&P Global Platts, the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets, today announced it
September 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Waste to Biogas and RNG: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Ag-Grid Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ag-Grid Energy is working on not letting waste go to waste. Find out how in this slide guide on their latest projects in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, where they see the RNG industry going
August 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Hydrocarbon Fuels from Industrial Off Gas: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to LanzaTech
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech’s Dr. Laurel Harmon shared this illuminating slide guide at the BETO Peer Review on jet and diesel fuel production from industrial waste gases, commercialization of ethanol-to-jet technology by building a standalone Alcohol-to-Jet pre-commercial demonstration
July 27, 2021 Read Full Article
New RIN Futures Launch Nodal, IncubEx to Launch 8 New Physically Delivered RIN Futures
(DTN Progressive Farmer) Nodal Exchange, a derivatives exchange, and IncubEx on Friday, Oct. 9, announced the upcoming launch of eight new Renewable Identification Number futures and options contracts. Pending regulatory review, Nodal will launch the first-ever physically delivered futures contracts on
October 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Monster on the Big Muddy: REG Geismar to Expand Renewable Hydrocarbon Production to 340 Million Gallons
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Louisiana, Renewable Energy Group said it will undertake a capacity expansion of its Geismar, Louisiana biorefinery by 250 million gallons annually to 340 million gallons per year. This announcement follows a thorough review and
October 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Massive Refiners Are Turning into Biofuel Plants in the West
by Robert Tuttle (Bloomberg) The latest sign of a worldwide energy transition: Massive oil refineries across the western U.S. are being converted into biofuel plants. Phillips 66 on Wednesday became the latest in a string of U.S. refiners to say it’s converting
September 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Anaerobic Digestion and Farm Powered RNG: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Vanguard’s Renewable Natural Gas
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cow poop. It’s a problem for farmers across the country, something that has to be dealt with, something that environmentalists and vegetarians often cite as a reason to cut your steak intake, but Vanguard Renewables
April 28, 2020 Read Full Article
The Crisis Dashboard – Health, Economy, Climate, Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Using the latest data available, The Digest published this “Crisis Dashboard” visual guide showing what’s going on with ethanol retail prices, liquid energy commodity prices, biodiesel operating margins, ethanol operating margins, retail fuel prices, RIN
April 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Red River Biorefinery Gearing up for Production
by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) According to Keshav Rajpal, BioMass Solution principal, the industry’s newest ethanol plant - Red River Biorefinery - is still on track to start operations at the beginning of the year. The plant, developed by BioMass
December 16, 2019 Read Full Article
North American Outlook on Biofuels Challenges and Opportunities
by Steve Hartig (Biofuels Digest) The North American biofuels market can be split into three main segments all of which have major dynamics. What I would like to do is give a high-level overview of what I see as some of both
November 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Market Outlook for Low Carbon Fuels
by Nora Goldstein (BioCycle Magazine) Overall, demand for RNG is strong in spite of an oversupply of D3 RINs in 2018. -- In 2018, cellulosic biofuel producers, including those making renewable natural gas (RNG), outperformed the annual Renewable Volume Obligation
September 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Biogas To RNG Projects: What, Why And How
by Brad Pleima (BioCycle Magazine/EcoEngineers) With prices for renewable electricity low in many states, biogas producers are turning to the renewable natural gas marketplace. This road map is a valuable navigation tool. -- There is a national trend to reposition biogas-producing assets
March 11, 2019 Read Full Article
RFS Power Coalition Launched by BPA, ABC, ERC
(Biomass Power Association, American Biogas Council and Energy Recovery Council/Biomass Magazine) Three trade associations representing renewable electricity producers today announced the launch of the RFS Power Coalition. The coalition’s purpose is to get the EPA to implement a law passed by
February 13, 2019 Read Full Article
A Rightful Role in the RFS: The Electric Vehicle Market Is Predicted to Soar, and, Pending Overdue Action by the U.S. EPA, Biomass Power Producers Are Positioned to Help Meet Goals Set Forth in the Renewable Fuel Standard.
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) ... The vast complexities of the RFS extend far beyond these components, but a much lesser-known provision is beginning to attract attention—the role of renewable electricity in the program, and it’s abilities to fuel electric
January 08, 2019 Read Full Article
The Complex Dynamics of Coprocessing
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) While oil refiners adding a small percentage of renewable feedstock to their operations sounds simple, the political, economic, technical, societal and market consequences are anything but. In 2007, at the height of the biodiesel boom, ConocoPhillips and
November 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Concept to Construction and Exports are Crucial
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) In the U.S. ethanol industry, three plants are under construction, while a fourth makes its way through the permitting process. -- In an industry with more than 200 existing plants, four new projects is a
October 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Diesel with 89% Lower GHGs: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Synpet Technologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Synpet was founded in 2014 as a developer of a synthetic petroleum (SYNPET) business using its Thermal Conversion Process. TCP breaks down organic waste materials by using heat, pressure and water to produce oil and other co-products. SYNPET uses
March 08, 2018 Read Full Article
That Was Then, This Is NOW! or The New Economics of Biogas Projects
by Scott Warfield (CERES Project Services/Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... The big game changer for financing, profitability and financial returns of anaerobic digester (AD) projects regardless of feedstock is carbon offset credits and specifically California’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) which provides
February 08, 2018 Read Full Article
Sweet Sorghum as an Ethanol Feedstock in Western Nebraska - Could It Happen?
by Richard Perrin, Lilyan Fulginiti, Subir Bairagi, Ismail Dweikat (KRVN) It has been proposed that non-irrigated sweet sorghum might be grown in western Nebraska as a seasonal substitute for corn grain in corn ethanol plants. In the research summarized here1, we
January 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Grain Sorghum Oil Pathways
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking provides notice and an opportunity to comment on the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with biofuels that are produced from grain sorghum oil extracted at dry mill ethanol plants. EPA's
December 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2018 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2019; Availability of Supplemental Information and Request for Further Comment (Deadline October 19, 2017)
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Federal Register) This document provides additional data and an opportunity to comment on that data and potential options for reductions in the 2018 biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel volumes, and/or the 2019 biomass-based diesel volume
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
OPIS Publishes White Paper: "Implications for Revitalized Brazilian Sugarcane Ethanol and U.S.-Produced Corn Ethanol"
Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy recently launched RenovaBio, a program poised to take a radically new approach to expanding the production and use of biofuels in Brazil. Should Brazil’s RenovaBio program adopt a Carbon Intensity (CI) rating system similar to
July 24, 2017 Read Full Article
California LCFS Guides Advanced Biofuels Industry
by Heather Zhang (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Carbon credit prices recover and multiple new pathways are certified as the state’s program gets back on track. -- California’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector are racing to make progress
June 27, 2017 Read Full Article
As OPEC Falls, What Is the Liberated Market Signaling to Producers?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... There’s a theory going around that biofuels are “government fuels” — and prices are set around a table in Washington, DC. But if you visit the big biodiesel and ethanol firms, you’ll see right
March 22, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Approves Pathway for Isobutanol as an Advanced Biofuel Provides Route for Gevo to Generate Potentially More Valuable D5 RINs at Luverne
(Gevo) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ:GEVO), announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has approved the pathway for isobutanol produced at Gevo’s Luverne, MN plant to be an advanced biofuel under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program (“RFS”). This is the first
January 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Biointermediates and U: A Potential Step Change in Advanced Biofuel Economics
by Antoine C. Schellinger (Biofuels Digest/ International Alliance Group) ... The EPA has performed lifecycle analysis on certain pathways and published them in the CFR as approved pathways. They are labeled with sequential alphabetical characters and currently range from A to
November 22, 2016 Read Full Article
The RINferno, as It Burns up America’s Venture into Advanced Biofuels
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
August 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Major Regulatory Milestones in First Quarter Set Joule Up for Commercial Success
(Joule/BusinessWire) EPA Qualifies Joule Ethanol Under Clean Air Act -- Joule, the pioneer of drop-in liquid fuels from recycled CO2, today announced major accomplishments in the first quarter of 2016 that are accelerating the commercialization of environmentally sustainable ultra-low carbon
April 08, 2016 Read Full Article
RINs Behavior after EPA Rule Shows Ethanol-Biodiesel Relationship
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The release of the U.S. EPA’s final rulemaking for the renewable fuel standard (RFS) was a shock to the RINs market—the renewable identification numbers used by obligated parties to demonstrate compliance. Biodiesel, D4
December 09, 2015 Read Full Article
RINs Gone Wild? (round 2)
by Scott Irwin and Darrel Good (FarmDocDaily) The EPA released the final rulemaking for 2014-2016 RFS standards on Monday, November 30. This release follows preliminary rulemaking released on May 29 of this year. Figures 1 and 2 are based on
December 07, 2015 Read Full Article
EPA: Jatropha-Based Biofuels Could Qualify as Biomass-Based Diesel or Advanced Biodiesel under RFS
(Green Car Congress) Based on its analysis of the production and transport components of the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of biofuel made from jatropha oil, the US EPA anticipates that biofuels produced from jatropha oil could qualify as biomass-based diesel
October 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Industry’s Withering Critique of EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard Proposals for 2014, 2015, 2016: The Digested Version
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Heard dire comments like “POET expects to stop all future U.S. cellulosic investments if EPA’s proposed base renewable fuel requirements are not strengthened.” Want to understand the substantive concerns on the Renewable Fuel Standard, but
July 31, 2015 Read Full Article
U.S. Buyers Scoop up Brazilian Ethanol Amid RIN Revival
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) Oil traders are rushing to import ethanol from Brazil for the first time this year after U.S. regulators moved to increase use of advanced biofuel, opening a wide spread in the niche biofuel credits market. The premium
June 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Algenol Racks up $65M in New Algae-to-Fuels Investment, from Mexico’s BioFields
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Mexico’s BioFields pours in $65 million to commercialize next-gen algae-to-fuels venture -- In Florida, Algenol, a pioneer in turning CO2 emissions into fuels, announced that it has closed on a new $25 million investment from BioFields, a
February 11, 2015 Read Full Article
EPA: 2014 Cellulosic RIN Generation Tops 33 Million
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for December, reporting that more than 8.53 million cellulosic RINs were generated during the month. EIA data currently shows more than 33.01 million
January 16, 2015 Read Full Article
EPA Approves Algenol Fuels for Renewable Fuel Standard
(Algenol) Algenol announced today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved fuels made from Algenol’s process as an advanced biofuel, meeting the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction requirements under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). Fuels produced from Algenol are now eligible for a