by Jennifer A Dlouhy, Ari Natter, and Bill Allison (Bloomberg) Investor Carl Icahn is also unpaid adviser to White House; Value of Icahn CVR Energy stake grew after biofuel deal -- Carl Icahn’s stake in a Texas refiner grew by as
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
Back TO HOMEBattle Brewing over Ethanol Program Post 2022
by Jonathan H. Harsch (Agri-Pulse) Ethanol already supplies over 10 percent of the U.S. gasoline market and the fuel’s share is growing. Yet Congressman Bill Flores, who wants to see ethanol capped at 9.7 percent of the market, is holding back on
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
RNG, Cellulosic Fuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard
by Susan Olson (BioCycle Magazine) Because of an all-time high waiver credit value paired with strong advanced RIN prices, renewable natural gas could fetch $35/MMBtu in 2017. Since 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has mandated the blending of renewable fuels
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump to Undo Vehicle Rules That Curb Global Warming
by Coral Davenport (New York Times) The Trump administration is expected to begin rolling back stringent federal regulations on vehicle pollution that contributes to global warming, essentially marking a U-turn to efforts to force the American auto industry to produce more
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Smith and Loebsack Introduce Bill to Broaden Fuel Choices for Retailers and Consumers
(Office of Congressman Adrian Smith) Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) reintroduced legislation today to broaden fuel choices for retailers and consumers by expanding the existing waiver of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations related to the Reid
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump Administration a Wild Card for Ethanol Industry
by Mike Hughlett (Star Tribune) With production on the rise, there's anxiety over unknown policy shifts. -- ... While there are positive indicators for 2017 — corn prices are forecast to be stable and the federal mandate for ethanol production
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Governors Press Trump: Coalition Asks for Ethanol Policy Changes
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) The Governors' Biofuels Coalition on Monday asked President Donald Trump to support a number of changes to federal law to support biofuels production. In a letter signed by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, chairman of
March 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Senate Bill Introduced to Give E15 Year-Round Market Presence
(Ethanol Producer Magazine) A bipartisan trio of Senators introduced a bill today that would extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to ethanol blends above 10 percent, a move that would give E15 year-round market presence. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Joe
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Letter: Need Clear Picture of Fuel Standards
by Paul Winters (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/The Wichita Eagle) Kansans deserve a clear picture of the Renewable Fuel Standard’s future, and a recent letter did the RFS a disservice (“Winners, losers in U.S. fuel policy,” Feb. 17 Letters to the Editor). Though
March 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Releases New Analysis on Reasons Why Not to Change the Renewable Fuel Standard PO
(Biofuels International) Growth Energy has released economic analysis that it says “identifies numerous problems” associated with changing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) point of obligation. The US ethanol trade body strongly supports EPA’s proposed denial to move the point of obligation. “Changing the
March 03, 2017 Read Full Article
RVO Clarity by June Top Priority for Biofuels Industry Leaders
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Amid an animated discussion of policy issues, one item gained the support of all five panelists: publication of the Renewable Fuels Standard renewable volume obligations for 2017 and 2018 by June, on schedule. Moderated by
March 02, 2017 Read Full Article
Report Analyzes the Use of Biogas-Derived Electricity To Power Electric Vehicles
(U.S. Department of Energy) With joint funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Strategic Programs, Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), and Vehicle Technologies Office, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) published a report titled Analyzing the Impacts of a Biogas-to-Electricity
February 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol Battle Escalates Amid Rumors of RFA-Icahn Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) (R)umors of a deal surfaced between the Renewable Fuels Association and Carl Icahn, shifting renewable fuel obligations away from oil refiners, in return for Icahn’s support for a Reid Vapor Pressure waiver for E15 ethanol that
February 28, 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
Interview: AFPM President Calls for Biofuels Regulation Reform, End of RFS
by Josh Pedrick (Platts) The US ethanol market is ready to stand without support from government regulations and the Renewable Fuel Standard should be repealed, Chet Thompson, president of the American Fuel and Petrochemicals Manufacturers organization, said this week in an
February 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Sierra Club Threatens to Sue EPA Over Clean Air Act Violations
by Lauren Tyler (NGT News) The Sierra Club has filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its failure to conduct the required environmental impact analysis on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), effectively violating Section
February 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Back on Track: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to the RFA Ethanol Outlook
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Looking to better understand the outlook for the US ethanol industry, but lack the time to wade through the entire 40-page Ethanol Outlook 2017 from RFA (which is right here, for download, in complete form)? Well,
February 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Shifting the Burden of Proof on High-Ethanol Blends
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Also appearing this week from the The Urban Air Initiative and several partners were filed comments with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that disrupts the agency’s current rationale for controlling ethanol blends under the
February 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump at the Renewable Pump: Will He Bump, Thump or Dump?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Let’s look at the letter behind the headlines. “Rest assured that your president and this administration values the importance of renewable fuels to America’s economy and to our energy independence. As I emphasized throughout my campaign,
February 24, 2017 Read Full Article
UNICA Says that Unintended Consequences from EPA Proposal Could Limit US Access to Advanced Biofuel
(Green Car Congress) UNICA, Brazil’s Sugarcane Industry Association, has noted with potential concern that a current EPA proposal that would allow, among other things, biofuel producers to partially process renewable feedstocks at one facility and further process them into renewable
February 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Dinneen: 'Ethanol Lifts Ag'
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Though there is angst in rural America about the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard and agriculture trade in particular, the leader of the nation's largest ethanol interest group told an ethanol industry
February 22, 2017 Read Full Article
RFA Statement on Senators’ Letter to EPA on E15 Volatility Regulation
by Rachel Gantz (Renwable Fuels Association) Today (February 17, 2017), five Senators, led by Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), sent a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, asking him to address EPA’s volatility regulation that makes it more difficult to sell ethanol blends
February 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Fuel Retailers, Marketers and End Users Urge EPA to Maintain Current RFS Compliance Requirements
(NATSO/PR Newswire) Truck Drivers, Railroads, Highway Users, Renewable Fuel Groups and Fuel Retailers Unified in Opposition to Fuel Program Changes -- As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) public comment period on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) closes today, NATSO is
February 22, 2017 Read Full Article
No Waiver? No Sense.
by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The ethanol industry sees one-pound waiver for E15 as a no-brainer. -- Perplexed about why E15 does not get a one-pound waiver? That’s a sign you clearly understand the issue, says Monte Shaw, Iowa
February 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Passing the Test with Flying Colors
by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Glacial Lakes challenge in Watertown, SD, demonstrates E30 is a winner. The midlevel ethanol blend caused no check engine lights, mileage was virtually unchanged and resulted in real savings. -- The E30 Challenge
February 20, 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
Iowa to Pruitt: Don't Change RFS Point of Obligation
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... “We have a slogan in the renewable fuels family that says ‘Don’t mess with the RFS,’” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Let me make this perfectly clear: changing the point of obligation is
February 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Scott Pruitt, Longtime Adversary of EPA, Confirmed to Lead the Agency
by Brady Dennis (The Washington Post) Scott Pruitt, who as Oklahoma’s attorney general spent years suing the Environmental Protection Agency over its efforts to regulate various forms of pollution, was confirmed Friday as the agency’s next administrator. Pruitt cleared the Senate
February 17, 2017 Read Full Article
My Voice: Renewable Fuel Standard Problems after 2022?
by Merle Pochop (Argus Leader) ... Currently, stakeholders have a say in how the current RFS is operated through their congressional delegates since the program is overseen by federal lawmakers. However, in 2022, the RFS will be handed over entirely to the
February 16, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Answers Renewable Fuel Standard Lawsuit – DTN
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer/AgFax) In a point-by-point answer to a number of plaintiffs who filed suit challenging how the Renewable Fuel Standard is implemented, attorneys for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contend in a legal brief filed on
February 16, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Staff Told to Prepare for Trump Executive Orders: Sources
by David Shepardson, Timothy Gardner and Richard Valdmanis (Reuters) Staff at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have been told that President Donald Trump is preparing a handful of executive orders to reshape the agency, to be signed once a new administrator
February 16, 2017 Read Full Article
Pacific Ethanol To Produce Cellulosic Ethanol at Its Madera Plant
(Pacific Ethanol/Globenews) Edeniq’s yield-enhancing Pathway Technology will now be installed at two Pacific Ethanol plants -- Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEIX), a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the United States, and Edeniq, Inc., a biorefining and cellulosic
February 16, 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
Biodiesel Volumes Challenged
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) A biofuels group and two petroleum interest groups have asked a federal appeals court to review the final 2017-2018 biodiesel volumes in the Renewable Fuels Standard published in the Federal Register. A handful of
February 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Dems Probe Trump Adviser Icahn’s Role in Ethanol Policy
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) Senate Democrats are investigating the role that President Trump’s adviser Carl Icahn is playing in setting the administration’s ethanol policy. The Democrats are concerned that Icahn, a prolific investor whose holding company owns more than 80
February 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Montclair State University Professor Receives PECASE Award
(Montclair State University/Biomass Magazine) Pankaj Lal, associate professor of Earth and Environmental Studies and associate director of the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies at Montclair State University, is among 102 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers.
February 13, 2017 Read Full Article
The Next Step in the Bioeconomy – Looking Beyond Fuels
by Jessie Stolark (Energy and Environmental Study Institute) The Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), in the Office of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy (EERE), released its updated strategic plan in January. Revised every five years, the strategic plan refreshes and
February 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Comment Periods on 2 EPA RFS Proposals to Close in Mid-February
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The comment periods on two U.S. EPA proposals that impact the renewable fuel standard (RFS) close later this month. Members of the public have until Feb. 16 to weigh in on the agency’s proposed
February 13, 2017 Read Full Article
It’s Buffett vs. Icahn as Lobbying Heats Up Over U.S. Ethanol
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Association of American Railroads argues against Icahn efforts; Renewable fuel paper credits trading at one-week high -- U.S. railroads, including Warren Buffett’s BNSF, are joining a corporate brawl over ethanol mandates that pits American corn farmers and fuel
February 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Groups Pleased Oral Arguments Set In Court Case Against The EPA
(WNAX) Oral arguments have been set for April 24 in a Washington D.C. appeals court where biofuel groups claim the EPA has mismanaged the renewable fuel standard. Renewable Fuels Association Senior Vice President Geoff Cooper says they’re arguing the EPA
February 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Florida Congressman Drafts Bill To ‘Completely Abolish’ The EPA
by Alexander C. Kaufman (Huffington Post) And here you thought Donald Trump’s plans would devastate the agency. -- Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has drafted a bill to “completely abolish” the Environmental Protection Agency, according to an email obtained by The
February 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump Team May Emphasize Climate Science Uncertainty
by Scott Waldman (E&E News/Climatewire) ... The Trump administration landing team at NOAA may focus on data used by the agency to formulate its climate research, calling into question the accuracy of temperature measurements that inform the public's understanding of global
February 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Senate Republicans Suspend Committee Rules to Approve Scott Pruitt, Trump’s EPA Nominee
by Brady Dennis and Chris Mooney (The Washington Post) Senate Republicans on Thursday again used their majority to suspend committee rules and push through another Trump administration nominee, Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, bypassing Democrats who for the second
February 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Informing Policy with Science
by Barbara Schaal (Science Magazine) ... President Trump should include credible scientists in the administration—at all levels and in all federal agencies—not individuals who reject proven science on issues of critical public importance such as vaccines or climate change.
February 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Urban Air Initiative Calls on EPA to Withdraw Erroneous Vehicle Emissions Model
(Urban Air Initiative) Stakeholders including the states of Kansas and Nebraska joined the Urban Air Initiative (UAI) and the Energy Future Coalition as they petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to correct the agency’s flawed models that limit the use of
February 02, 2017 Read Full Article
Trumping Obama on Biofuels
by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol industry advocates believe the Trump administration will be friendlier to ethanol than the previous one. -- Last fall, a few weeks before the 2016 presidential election, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob
January 27, 2017 Read Full Article
RINs Plunge to 14-Month Low Following EPA Regulation Freeze
(Platts) Renewable Identification Numbers traded at 14-month lows Wednesday following news that the Environmental Protection Agency will delay implementation of 30 regulations until March 21, despite industry groups saying 2017 blending mandates are unlikely to change. "When a market is heavily
January 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Backs off Plan to Scrub Climate Pages from EPA Website
by Brady Dennis and Juliet Eilperin (The Washington Post) The Trump administration on Wednesday backed away from plans to take down some climate-change information from the Environmental Protection Agency’s website, which employees said had been planned for this week. But political appointees
January 26, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Science under Scrutiny by Trump Political Staff
by Michael Biesecker and Seth Borenstein (Associated Press) The Trump administration is scrutinizing studies or data published by scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, and new work is under a "temporary hold" before it can be released. The communications director for President
January 25, 2017 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
by Bill Cameron (WLS-AM News) ... Duckworth (U.S .Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)): “I would rather burn American made, American grown corn and soybeans in my gas tank than I would oil from the Middle East,” Duckworth said. “I’ve already been to
January 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Duckworth Afraid Ethanol Subsidies Could End
by Bill Cameron (WLS-AM News) ... Duckworth (U.S .Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)) thinks (nominee to be EPA Administrator Scott) Pruitt is too cozy with Big Oil and so she pressed him hard on protecting the ethanol industry here in Illinois. “I would rather
January 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Tells EPA to Cut Climate Page from Website: Sources
by Valerie Volcovici (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to remove the climate change page from its website, two agency employees told Reuters, the latest move by the newly minted leadership to erase ex-President Barack
January 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuels Group Sees No Big Change to Blending Rules under Trump
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) The Renewable Fuels Association said on Tuesday it does not expect a procedural delay to the implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's Renewable Fuels Standard to lead to any significant change to the rule itself. ... "The deadline
January 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Could Use a Friend in Washington Right Now
by Mario Parker and Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Environmental, Energy nominees have criticized ethanol law; President expressed support for $24 billion industry -- ... (Carl) Icahn, who owns a majority stake in independent refiner CVR Energy Inc., is lobbying the
January 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump Team Plans Big Cuts at EPA
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) The Trump administration’s transition team for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning major budget cuts, as well as regulatory and scientific overhauls at the agency, according to a new report. The team’s plan for the EPA identified more than
January 24, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Freezes Grants, Tells Employees Not To Talk About It, Sources Say
by Kate Sheppard (Huffington Post) It’s unclear whether the freeze is temporary or indefinite. -- EPA staff has been instructed to freeze all its grants ― an extensive program that includes funding for research, redevelopment of former industrial sites, air
January 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Far-Reaching Impacts of Biointermediate Feedstocks on the Biodiesel Industry
by Karyn Jones (EcoEngineers/Biodiesel Magazine) The U.S. EPA’s proposed Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support rule, published in the federal register Nov. 16, proposes a wide-range of regulatory and compliance changes that affect the renewable fuel standard (RFS) and the entire range
January 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Why The Ethanol Industry Should Fear President Trump
by Robert Rapier (Forbes) ... Trump’s pick to head the EPA -- Scott Pruitt -- has repeatedly fought against the RFS. As EPA Administrator, Pruitt would have the authority to invoke a waiver to lower the volume of ethanol that
January 23, 2017 Read Full Article
A Double Whammy for Corn and Ethanol Industries
(Michigan Farmer) China imposes additional tariffs on DDGS and ethanol. -- ... Inevitably, changes in trade could bludgeon an already wounded ag economy. A tug of war with punitive tariffs has already started with the world’s second-largest economic powerhouse — China. In
January 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump's EPA Pick Says He Would Honor Timelines, Intent of Biofuels Program
by Valerie Volcovici, Timothy Gardner and Chris Prentice (Reuters) Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said on Wednesday he would honor the intent of the U.S. biofuels program, but remained open
January 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Successful Biofuels Industry Awaits Trump
(Forum News Service/The Daily Journal) Minnesota’s plant-based fuel industries of ethanol and biodiesel are success stories, but their future depends on the new Trump administration. “We are a little nervous,” Assistant Commissioner Andrea Vaubel of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture
January 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Soup-to-Nuts Review Finds CA Clean Cars Program Working
by Simon Mui (National Resources Defense Council) The California Air Resources Board (ARB) released a soup-to-nuts review of its Advanced Clean Car (ACC) program today. The 658-page report confirms that the popular program, which establishes smog-forming and carbon pollution limits for
January 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump Releases "An America First Energy Plan"
(White House) Energy is an essential part of American life and a staple of the world economy. The Trump Administration is committed to energy policies that lower costs for hardworking Americans and maximize the use of American resources, freeing us
January 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Quo Vadis, Mr. President-Elect?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... This Administration is a team, so long as you generally understand that there’s one guy with the ball, he’s calling all the plays, and members of the Cabinet can block and tackle and get to
January 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Notice of Analysis of the GHG Emissions Attributable to the Production and Transport of Sugar Beets for Use in Biofuel Production
(Environmental Protection Agency) On January 18, 2017, EPA issued a notice of opportunity to comment on the Agency’s analysis of the greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the production and transport of sugar beets for use as a biofuel feedstock. The
January 19, 2017 Read Full Article
BRAG® Biofuels Industry Outlook For 2017
(Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group) ... Throughout his campaign for President, Trump repeatedly pledged his support for biofuels and the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Indeed, it is this support that helped Trump win in key Midwestern battleground states, including
January 19, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Denies Petition to Waive Advanced Biofuels Requirements
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) U.S. environmental regulators have denied a request from oil refiners to waive some of their advanced biofuels use requirements from 2016, in what is likely to be one of the Obama administration's final decisions on the
January 19, 2017 Read Full Article
More Pruitt Highlights
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) During the second half of more than six hours of questioning for Scott Pruitt, the EPA pick said he saw no reason to review the agency’s 2009 endangerment finding, the scientific conclusion that climate
January 19, 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
By Their Powers Combined, They Hope to Stop Change to RFS
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Railroads and truckers are joining the fight to leave refiners as the obligated party under the Renewable Fuel Standard. As ME readers are keenly aware, a few independent refiners, led by Valero and Carl
January 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Unlike Trump, Americans Want Strong Environmental Regulator
by Chris Kahn (Reuters/Ipsos) More than 60 percent of Americans would like to see the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's powers preserved or strengthened under incoming President Donald Trump, and the drilling of oil on public lands to hold steady or drop,
January 18, 2017 Read Full Article
High Octane Group Vindicated by EPA Ethanol Assessment
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) A USDA report this week showing corn ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 43% compared to gasoline, came with a silver lining for a Washington, D.C., group that has been pressing the U.S. Environmental
January 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Automakers Fuel the U.S. Market With More Biodiesel Capable Diesel Vehicle Models
(National Biodiesel Board) U.S. auto manufacturers have introduced a record number of new biodiesel capable diesel vehicle options for consumers as the push for increased fuel efficiency, performance, and sustainability in America’s transportation sector grows. Despite a challenging marketplace, automakers
January 17, 2017 Read Full Article
CARB Supports EPA’s Final Determination on Emissions Standards
by Lauren Tyler (Next-Gen Transportation News) The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced its support for the EPA administrator’s determination that the adopted light-duty vehicle greenhouse-gas (GHG) emission standards for model years 2022-2025 are appropriate. In 2012, CARB agreed to a
January 17, 2017 Read Full Article
How Fiat Chrysler's Diesel Woes Differ from Massive VW Scandal
by Brent Snavely and Nathan Bomey (Detroit Free Press) The U.S. EPA said Thursday it notified Fiat Chrysler Automobiles of Clean Air Act violations for the diesel emissions of 104,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs and Ram 1500 EcoDiesel pickups, a move that immediately
January 13, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Administrator Signs Final Determination for Model Year 2022-2025 Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Standards
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy has signed a final determination, finding that the light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for Model Years 2022-2025, adopted in 2012, are feasible and appropriate under section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act and do
January 13, 2017 Read Full Article
AFPM Petitions EPA to Waive Portion of 2016 Cellulosic RVO
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Dec. 28, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers filed a petition with the U.S. EPA asking the agency to waive the 2016 renewable fuel standard (RFS) cellulosic volume obligation, citing a shortfall in
January 09, 2017 Read Full Article
White House Announces Release of Final Update to the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology
(Bergeson & Campbell) On January 4, 2017, the White House announced the release of the 2017 Update to the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology. The 2017 Update provides a comprehensive summary of the roles and responsibilities of the
January 09, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Denies Petition Filed by Biogenic CO2 Coalition
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA has denied a petition for reconsideration of its finding that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from aircraft cause or contribute to air pollution that may be reasonably anticipated to endanger public health and
January 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Republicans Can Cancel Some Obama Environment Rules. But They’ll Have to Choose Carefully.
by Chelsea Harvey (The Washington Post) ... Two bills under consideration in Congress, each expected to go to a swift vote, could help expedite the process of undoing recent regulations — or even make it more difficult to pass them in the
January 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump EPA Nominee Won't Gut Ethanol Law, Grassley, Ernst Say
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) Midwest Republican senators got reassurances from EPA chief nominee Scott Pruitt that he will "follow the law" that requires ethanol and biodiesel to be blended into the nation's fuel supply, Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck
January 06, 2017 Read Full Article
American Drivers Surpass 500 Million Miles on E15
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy announced today that the most tested fuel in history, E15, has reached a remarkable milestone. Based on sales and consumption data reported over the past 12 months by major gasoline retailers, drivers across the United States
January 06, 2017 Read Full Article
No Playbook on Renewable Fuels in Trump Huddle
by Douglas Durante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Midwest Producer) ... No issue has received more early scrutiny than the Renewable Fuel Standard as pundits speculate how Mr. Trump can honor campaign promises to fully support ethanol while some of his well-heeled oil supporters
January 05, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Seeks to Ban Genscape from Verifying Renewable Fuel Credits
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to revoke Genscape's ability to verify biofuels compliance credits after regulators say it failed to detect a massive fraud perpetrated by companies it was monitoring. The announcement, made
January 05, 2017 Read Full Article
RFA Optimistic about Ethanol in 2017 (and other opinions)
by Andy Eubank (Hoosier Ag Today) ... “One that comes readily to mind is the disparate treatment of E10 and E15 and other high level blends with respect to evaporative vapor control, RVP. Right now E10 and E15 are treated differently
January 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Branstad Says Trump Assures EPA Chief Will Be Pro-Ethanol
by O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa) Iowa’s governor says President-elect Donald Trump has reassured him the Trump Administration will be pro-ethanol. Governor Terry Branstad was concerned initially when he heard Trump asked the attorney general from oil-rich Oklahoma to be head
January 04, 2017 Read Full Article
The Rockefeller Foundation, USDA, and EPA to Lead Creation of National Resource Center for Action Against Food Waste
(PR Newswire) Coalition of 12 organizations set to launch FurtherWithFood.org, an online hub for information and solutions to cut food waste -- Today, The Rockefeller Foundation announced its collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection
January 04, 2017 Read Full Article
AFPM Sends US EPA Petition to Request Waiver of 2016 Cellulosic Biofuel Volumetric Requirements
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) has sent a petition to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting that it waives its 2016 cellulosic biofuels volumes “due to an inadequate domestic supply of such
January 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuel Producers Back Renewable Credit Trading Transparency
by Brian Dabbs (Bloomberg) Recent criticism of secrecy and alleged manipulation in biofuel credit trading, delivered by a top adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, is striking a chord among ethanol and other renewable fuel producers. Those producers suggest insufficient credit trading oversight
January 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Industry May Have the Juice to Endure to Trump's EPA Chief Pick
by Chuck McCutcheon (Scientific American) Despite concerns over Scott Pruitt’s record of opposing ethanol, experts say the renewable-fuel program is on safe ground -- ... Ethanol advocates, however, do not seem to worry that Pruitt will make similar waves involving their
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In: Anellotech, Edeniq, Novvi
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... For Anellotech, a new technology to extend catalyst life by reducing catalyst poisons that cause catalyst and product cost to soar. For Novvi, a signature investment from Chevron. From Edeniq, word that their technology is
December 23, 2016 Read Full Article
A Few Reasonable RIN Ideas
by John Campbell (Ocean Park Advisors) The RINs market would be improved with timely blend targets and compliance reporting, increased transparency and trading limits. -- ... Although it might reduce undesirable trading practices, moving the point of obligation would not
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Icahn Named Special Trump Adviser to Roll Back Regulations
by Mike Dorning and Beth Jinks (BloombergPolitics) $20 billion net worth makes him one of richest men in America; Trump says Icahn will advise on ‘strangling regulations’ -- Trump often spoke admiringly of (Carl) Icahn during his presidential campaign and cited
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Extension of Comment Periods for: The Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and the Proposed Denial to Change the Point of Obligation
(Environmental Protection Agency) On December 20, 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued extensions of the comment periods for two actions: the Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and the Proposed Denial to Change the Point
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
US Biodiesel Producers Lose Court Challenge over Argentinian Imports
by Meghan Gordon (Platts) A US appeals court Tuesday dismissed a challenge by American biodiesel producers to the Environmental Protection Agency's decision allowing Argentinian biodiesel to qualify for US renewable fuel credits. The National Biodiesel Board trade group had argued that EPA
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Trump’s Nixonian Pivot
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) News of high-level appointments have been streaming out of Trump Tower all this week and last, and two trends are already clear: it’s a group mostly out of the business and military communities, and there’s
December 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Tough Path to Reach US Ethanol Max in 2017
(Argus Media) US ethanol producers may never hit the 15bn USG target federal regulators included in biofuel blending mandates next year as they run into infrastructure, demand and regulatory hurdles. ... Stores can only sell higher-ethanol blends through authorized dispensers and may
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Approves Flint Hills Resources for Cellulosic Ethanol from Edeniq’s Pathway Technology
(Edeniq/Business Wire) Edeniq, Inc., a leading cellulosic and biorefining technology company, today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved Flint Hills Resources’ registration of its 120 MGPY Shell Rock, Iowa ethanol plant for cellulosic ethanol production using
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Volkswagen to Recall 83,000 3.0 Liter Diesel Vehicles and Fund Mitigation Projects to Settle Allegations of Cheating Emissions Tests on Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche Vehicles
(Environmental Protection Agency) Settlement requires Volkswagen to offer to buy back older vehicles, and spend $225 million to mitigate NOx pollution. Volkswagen will also repair newer vehicles to comply with the standards to which they were certified In a second partial
December 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Response to Petitions for Reconsideration of RFS2 Rule to Change the Point of Obligation
(Environmental Protection Agency) EPA proposed to deny requests from petitioners to initiate a rulemaking to change the point of obligation for compliance under the Renewable Fuel Standard program. Due to the importance, complexity, and broad stakeholder interest in this issue,
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Donald Trump Sends Mixed Signals on Ethanol Mandate
by Amy Harder and Jacob Bunge (The Wall Street Journal) President-elect backed the federal biofuels rules as a candidate, but his EPA pick opposes them -- ... Mr. Trump’s pick to run the Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt,
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Amends Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA has published a final rule amending specific provisions of its Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule with the goal of streamlining and improving implementation of the rule and improving the quality and consistency
December 19, 2016 Read Full Article
ACE to Grassroots: Urge Senators to Get Ethanol Support from EPA Nominee Pruitt in Nomination Process
(American Coalition for Ethanol) The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) issued a call-to-action to its grassroots membership today, urging ethanol supporters to contact their U.S. Senators about the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection
December 15, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Releases Final Report on Impacts from Hydraulic Fracturing Activities on Drinking Water
(Environmental Protection Agency) EPA’s report concludes that hydraulic fracturing activities can impact drinking water resources under some circumstances and identifies factors that influence these impacts -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing its scientific report on the impacts
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
The RFS and Domestic Consumption of Conventional Ethanol and Biomass-Based Diesel to 2022
by Scott Irwin and Darrel Good (FarmDoc Daily/University of Illinois) In the farmdoc daily article of November 30, 2016, we examined the magnitude of the "push" in production and consumption of biofuels implied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Icahn Cheers Trump EPA Pick Amid Calls for Fuel-Rule Revamp
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Icahn refiner wants $15 billion renewable-fuels market changed; Cost of credits surged as U.S. mandates on biofuels at record -- Six weeks before he becomes U.S. president, Donald Trump is already disrupting an obscure, $15 billion corner of
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Nebraska Congressman to Continue Push for More E-15 Sales
by Brent Martin (Nebraska Radio Network) ... Congressman Adrian Smith says the move helps the ethanol industry, but he adds more can be done. “I’m continuing to work on a bill that I introduced some time ago that would allow, not mandate,
December 13, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Seeks Comments on Flex Fuel Provisions of REGS Rule
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Dec. 2, the U.S. EPA issued a notice of data availability (NODA) that will make additional data available for comment on the ethanol flex fuel (EFF) provisions of its proposed Renewables Enhancement and
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Economists Examine RVO Impact on Conventional, Advanced Biofuels
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Two central questions arise when considering biofuels consumption through 2022, write University of Illinois ag economists Scott Irwin and Darrel Good: “When will domestic consumption of ethanol reach the statutory RFS mandate ceiling
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Governors Press Trump on RFS Following Pruitt EPA Nomination
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Just two days after President-elect Donald Trump's transition team announced Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt was the nominee to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Governors' Biofuels Coalition reminded Trump about his
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
What’s Next in Cellulosic Biofuels?: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Iogen and the Cellulosic Sector
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Iogen says it has has “one of the world’s largest and most experienced teams in developing, designing, de-bugging, scaling-up and deploying cellulosic biofuel technology. We’re using innovative thinking and disciplined engineering to transform cellulosic biofuels
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
RINs, Refiners and Rational Energy Policies
(The Wall Street Journal) Letters to the Editor -- Rewriting the RFS could undermine years of progress toward U.S. energy security. by Jeff Broin (POET) Carl Icahn’s proposal to rewrite the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) (“If Oil Refiners Crash, So Will
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Holds RFS Rule Hearing in Chicago
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing in Chicago yesterday to hear testimony the agency’s proposed Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) rule. The rule includes several actions that would help allow the market to
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Nebraska Drivers Save $17 Million Using Ethanol-blended Fuel
(Nebraska Ethanol Board/KOOL Radio) In 2016, Nebraska drivers will save approximately $17 million by using ethanol-blended gasoline. The savings is based on lower prices for ethanol compared to wholesale gasoline and the state’s projected spark-ignition fuel consumption of 900 million
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Improving Infrastructure Influences RFS
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) A Midwestern senator says advancements in infrastructure helped convince the Environmental Protection Agency to raise Renewable Volume Obligations for 2017 to statutory levels. Al Franken of Minnesota tells Brownfield the normal pushback from EPA on concerns like
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Groups Make Case for Change on E15
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) A number of biofuels groups testified before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago Tuesday at a hearing on an agency proposal to make some tweaks to the Renewable Fuel Standard to help perpetuate
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Automakers Look to Put EPA Rules on Ice in Spending Bill
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) Major automakers have embarked on an eleventh-hour push to undercut the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to boost climate and fuel efficiency standards for cars over the next decade. The Auto Alliance wants lawmakers to include language
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Senate Committee Hearing Focuses on GAO’s RFS Reports
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On Dec. 1, the Senate Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management held a hearing to discuss the U.S. EPA’s management of the renewable fuel standard (RFS) and two Government Accountability Office reports released on
December 07, 2016 Read Full Article
The RFS: A Ticking Time Bomb for Corn Ethanol
by Jarrod Johnson (Farm Forum) ... However, while the program was created by Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with setting annual blending requirements for conventional and advanced biofuels. Over the past few years, the unelected federal agency has
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Sets Cellulosic Waiver Credit Price for 2017 at $2.00
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA recently published a notice to its website setting the cellulosic waiver credit (CWC) price for 2017 at $2.00. The CWC price for 2016 was set in at $1.33 in November 2015. Within
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Testifies to EPA Regarding Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support Rule
(Growth Energy) Today, at a hearing in Chicago, Chris Bliley, Director of Regulatory Affairs for Growth Energy testified before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) Rule. During his testimony, Bliley outlined Growth Energy’s concern
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
McCarthy Confident EPA's Mission Will Survive
by Stephen Davies (Agri-Pulse) ... The administrator touted the new Renewable Fuel Standard requirements, released Nov. 23. The final biofuel usage mandate includes 15 billion gallons of conventional corn ethanol, the same level as the annual target in the 2007
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
When Price Is Right FFV Drivers Choose #Ethanol
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) When fuel prices are competitive, drivers of flex fuel vehicles (FFV) will fill up with high-ethanol blends such as E85 according to a new article published in Energy Policy. Authors Sébastien Pouliot and, Bruce A. Babcock
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Announces $1.3 Million to Small Businesses to Support the Nation’s Green Economy
(Environmental Protection Agency) This year’s projects focus on cookstoves, manufacturing, toxic chemicals, water, and building materials -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $1.3 million to 13 small businesses nationwide to develop and commercialize technologies to help solve
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Could Be a Bend in the Road for Biofuels Blending
by Meghan Gordon and Brian Scheid (Platts) Total renewable fuel is slated to be more than 10% of the US fuel supply in 2017, breaking through the so-called blendwall. But how will a new presidential administration affect targets for the Renewable
December 05, 2016 Read Full Article
RFA Statement on Senate Hearing Focused on GAO RFS Reports
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management is holding a hearing examining two reports by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The reports incorrectly
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Recent Renewables Required Reading: What Can You Skip, What d’ya Gotta Read?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, in Washington and Brussels, four news flashes on global renewable fuel volumes appeared on the radar. Can you safely ignore them and get on with other work, or is there something to get deeply
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Rushes to Finish MPG Regs before Trump Takes Office
by Keith Laing (Detroit News) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to quickly finalize stringent gas mileage rules that require automakers to produce car and truck fleets averaging more than 50 miles per gallon by 2025 before President-elect
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
GAO RFS Reports Paint Incomplete Picture of Advanced Biofuels
by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Government Accountability Office issued two reports Nov. 28 suggesting that the renewable fuel standard (RFS) program is unlikely to meet its targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and expanding the U.S. renewable fuels sector.
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Oil and Biofuels Trade Bodies Make Unprecedented Move to Link Together to Call on EPA Not to Change RFS Point of Obligation
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) Biofuels and oil trade bodies have written a letter to the US’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the organisation not to redefine the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The issue centres on whether
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
RFA Analysis: Automakers Approve E15 in More than 80% of New 2017 Vehicles
(Renewable Fuels Association) More than 80 percent of new 2017 model year (MY) vehicles are explicitly approved by the manufacturer to use 15 percent ethanol blends (E15), according to an analysis of warranty statements and owner’s manuals conducted by the
December 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Forecast Dreary for Farmers
by Kyle Abbott (The Mercury) ... EPA will take full authority over the RFS after 2022 with the power to remove corn ethanol from the mandate completely. This news is alarming considering that the EPA has already begun reducing the gallon amounts of
November 28, 2016 Read Full Article
A Bipartisan Opportunity to Move Forward on Biofuels Policy
by James H. Stock (The Hill) ... In establishing the 2017 obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the EPA finally passed a major RFS milestone that will allow moving beyond the fruitless and acrimonious debate between big corn and big
November 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuel Mandate Opponents Build Overhaul Momentum
by Brian Dabbs (Bloomberg) A Trump administration and new leadership of the Senate’s environment committee may breathe new life into efforts to roll back the Environmental Protection Agency’s renewable fuel standard, lawmakers and advocates say. House members are continuing to build
November 25, 2016 Read Full Article
AM Markets: US Biofuel Boost Sends Palm Oil to 4-Year High
(AgriMoney) ... "That larger-than-expected lift [to the EPA target] fuelled ideas that already tight vegetable oil supply would become even tighter in 2017," said Tobin Gorey at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. At Chicago broker Futures International, Terry Reilly said that the
November 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Comment Period Opens on EPA Rule to Update RFS, Fuel Regulations
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Nov. 16, U.S. EPA’s proposed Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support rule was published in the Federal Register, officially opening a 60-day public comment period on the proposal. Comments are due Jan. 17. ... The proposal includes
November 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Notice of Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Denial of Petitions for Rulemaking To Change the RFS Point of Obligation
(Federal Register/Environmental Protection Agency) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to deny several petitions requesting that EPA initiate a rulemaking process to reconsider or change its regulations that identify refiners and importers of gasoline and diesel fuel as the
November 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Argentina Biodiesel Producers Fear Losing Access to U.S. Market
by Maximilian Heath (Reuters) Argentina's biodiesel producers fear losing access to the United States, the destination of nearly all their exports, after Donald Trump's surprise victory in presidential elections earlier this month, representatives of the sector said. The Republican candidate, who is
November 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Back on Track: EPA Issues On-Time, Robust Renewable Fuel Standard Volumes for 2017-18
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the US Environmental Protection Agency released the 2017 renewable fuel volume obligations (and the 2018 volume obligations for biomass-based diesel), with a strong push beyond what has been termed the “blend wall” and
November 23, 2016 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
2016: Looking Back on a Busy Year
by Dave Vandergriend (Ethanol Producer Magazine/ICM) ... At the Urban Air Initiative, we have been relentless in our efforts to open the market for higher ethanol blends. ... During 2016, we have worked hard to understand where EPA has gotten
November 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Emails Show Collusion against Ethanol
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... This one’s about the U.S. EPA and a Freedom of Information Act request that uncovered emails providing evidence of collusion between EPA and the oil industry to make sure ethanol looks bad. Many
November 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuel Mandate Opponents Build Overhaul Momentum
by Brian Dabbs (Bloomberg BNA) A Trump administration and new leadership of the Senate’s environment committee may breathe new life into efforts to roll back the Environmental Protection Agency’s renewable fuel standard, lawmakers and advocates say. House members are continuing to build
November 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Environmental Protection Agency Publishes Proposed REGS Regulations in Federal Register
(Federal Register) In this action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to update both its renewable fuels and other fuels regulations to reflect changes in the marketplace and to promote the growing use of both ethanol fuels (conventional and advanced) and non-ethanol advanced and cellulosic biofuels. The EPA
November 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Trump Won. What Does It Mean for Low Carbon Fuels & Vehicles?
by Tammy Klein (Biofuels Digest/Future Fuel Strategies) ... With Trump’s outspoken refusal to accept the reality of climate change and promise to reinvigorate the fracking and coal industries, are LCFV initiatives stone dead? What can we expect in a Trump Administration? Let’s break
November 17, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Biotech Review Staff Prepares To Handle Engineered Microorganism TSCA Submissions
(Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group) On November 9, 2016, Inside EPA published “New TSCA Requirements Raise Challenges To EPA Biotech Review Staff” (subscription required), outlining what EPA has done to adapt to revised Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requirements
November 16, 2016 Read Full Article
What’s Next for Advanced Biofuels?
by Michael McAdams (Advanced Biofuels Association/Biomass Magazine) As for what is left to do after Congress returns on Nov. 15, extending existing biofuel tax credits are number one on the list. ... In early October, the U.S. EPA released a new set
November 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuels Advocate Calls EPA's Actions Regarding Biofuels a Slap in the Face to Farmers
(Oklahoma Farm Report) As farmers across the country harvest more corn than ever before this year, paving the way for a future of opportunity in the ethanol business, RON’s Associate Farm Director Carson Horn took the chance to speak with
November 14, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Rejects Plea to Tweak Ethanol Mandate’s Rules
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making plans to reject a plea by some fuel refiners to shift responsibility for ethanol mandate compliance away from them. A handful of refining companies like Valero Energy Corp. and
November 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Reject Backward Thinking on Carbon
by Carol Werner (Environmental and Energy Study Institute/Morning Consult) ... H.R. 5180, a proposal introduced by U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas), would place a 9.7 percent cap on consumption of homegrown biofuels, rolling back 11 years of progress under the Renewable