by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data on Dec. 17, reporting that five additional SRE petitions have been filed with the agency seeking exemptions of Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements. The status
Regulations-Federal
Back TO HOMEBiden Taps Environmental Law Expert Brenda Mallory to Head White House Council on Environmental Quality
by Brady Dennis (Washington Post) President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Brenda Mallory, a longtime expert in environmental law and regulation, to head the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality, according to several people familiar with the decision who spoke anonymously
December 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Biden Picks Top North Carolina Environmental Official to Run EPA
by Brady Dennis, Steven Mufson and Juliet Eilperin (Washington Post) President-elect Joe Biden will choose to nominate Michael S. Regan, who heads the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, as the next Environmental Protection Agency administrator, according to two individuals
December 17, 2020 Read Full Article
OMB Updates Timelines for 2021 RFS, E15 Label Rules
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Information released by the White House Office of Management and budget indicates the a proposed rule to set 2021 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard could be released soon. A rulemaking is
December 16, 2020 Read Full Article
California’s Climate Policy Goes National: Trump Fought Californian Environmental Officials. The Biden Team Wants to Learn from tThem.
by Miranda Green (The New Republic) ... California’s pathbreaking climate measures range from a ban on future car combustion engine sales to setting a historic 100 percent clean energy goal by 2045. And in order to implement Joe Biden’s still more ambitious campaign promise
December 11, 2020 Read Full Article
DOJ Asks SCOTUS to Pass on Refinery Exemption Case
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politco's Morning Energy) The Justice Department asked the Supreme Court not to review the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals decision creating a strict new definition of who qualifies for small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
December 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels Coalition Files Brief Challenging 31 Small Refinery Exemptions in 2018
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, National Biodiesel Board, American Coalition for Ethanol, and National Farmers Union today filed a brief challenging EPA’s August 2019 decision to exempt 31 small refineries from their obligations to comply
December 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Ag Leaders Meet with Biden Team to Explain Priorities
by Ben Nuelle (AgriPulse) ... Carbon sequestration payments to farmers is something said to be on the table for the incoming Biden administration as a path to address emissions reduction. Duvall said any potential program should be a market-based system and
December 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Oil Refineries See Profit in Turning Kitchen Grease into Diesel
by Clifford Krauss (New York Times) Used cooking oil is one of the ingredients in renewable diesel, which generates far less emissions than conventional diesel and allows refineries to take advantage of federal and state incentives. -- ... Companies that
December 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Oil and Gas Companies Keep Taking From Taxpayers. And Taking. Congress Should Raise the Royalty Rates on Federal Lands.
by Senators Tom Udall (D-N) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) (New York Times) One hundred years ago, Congress passed the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, setting up a system in which companies lease public lands to wrest valuable oil and gas from
December 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Submits Notice of Intent to Sue EPA Over Failure to Issue 2021 Biofuel Blending Targets
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy submitted a notice of intent to sue letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding its failure to fulfill its statutory obligation to issue the 2021 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) by November 30th, 2020, an annual deadline set by
December 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Who’s in Hot Water, Cold Water, and Who’s Just Right?: Mitsubishi, Monolith Materials, Codexis, Casdin, LG Chem, Neste, Wells Fargo, EPA, NXTLEVVEL, Elementis, Growth Energy, US National Labs, Ginkgo Bioworks in the News
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who’s in Hot Water? Some of the Usual Suspects get into the usual trouble. We note that EPA missed the 2021 Renewable Volume Obligation deadline, and Growth Energy threatens a lawsuit. Really. We get tired of reporting on
December 03, 2020 Read Full Article
S&P Global Platts Launches Renewable Diesel Values in United States
(S&P Global Platts/Markets Insider) S&P Global Platts ("Platts"), the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets, today announced the launch of renewable diesel values for the Americas. These daily assessments bring transparency to
December 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Incentives Spur Investors to Pick Up Pace on Low-Carbon Projects
by Dean Scott (Bloomberg Law) Growing interest in combining federal, state credits in low-carbon projects; Congress’ inaction on 45Q credit extension a worrying sign for new efforts -- A mix of federal and state environmental incentives are drawing investors towards low-carbon,
December 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Ford Says Automakers Should Consider Backing California Emissions Deal
by David Shepardson (Reuters) Ford Motor Co is urging major automakers to consider backing a framework deal with California on vehicle emissions in a bid to reach industry consensus before President-elect Joe Biden takes office, according to a letter seen
December 01, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Misses Statutory Deadline to Set 2021 RFS RVOs
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA has missed its Nov. 30 statutory deadline to set the 2021 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard, as well as the 2021 RVO for biomass-based diesel. While the delay was
December 01, 2020 Read Full Article
An Open Letter to the Ethanol Community from Ethanol Producers
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... (T)he overriding objective should be to increase demand, which increases ethanol volume and corn grind. With that in mind, do we continue to fight for what is almost certain to be a reduced
November 30, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Oil Industry Group Pledges to Fight Possible Biden Fracking Limits
By Laura Sanicola (Reuters) If U.S. President-elect Joe Biden tries to restrict development of oil and gas drilling on federal lands, the American Petroleum Institute (API) will use “every tool at its disposal” including legal action, chief executive Mike Sommers said
November 25, 2020 Read Full Article
New Biofuel-Trading Venue Sees Untapped Demand in Green Revival
by Kim Chipman (Bloomberg/Yahoo! Finance) The U.S. market for biofuel credits has long drawn calls for reform over lack of transparency. Trading-technology expert Julian Anstes says he has the answer. Anstes and the firm he runs, London-based OTC Direct Markets Ltd., have
November 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Farm & Biofuel Leaders Urge Courts to Hold EPA Accountable on Improper 2016 Waiver
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today, a coalition of the nation’s largest biofuels and agricultural trade groups filed a motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia asking the court to enforce its 2017 decision requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address its improper waiver of 500
November 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Should Ethanol Go Back to Business as Usual after COVID-19?
by Christina Stella (WVIK/NPR) ... As Americans hunkered down for lockdowns, gasoline demand across the country plummeted. Ethanol industry leaders issued warnings that the financial repercussions of widespread lockdowns could be significant to plants across the country. They later reported half of
November 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels to Boost Clean Fuel Standard to Biden
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Some of the largest biofuels companies plan to ask Biden to impose a nationwide standard to reduce carbon emissions from transport fuels, Reuters reports, citing five sources familiar with the matter. The push reflects the
November 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Outlines 2021 Biofuel Policy Priorities
(Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor today outlined the biofuels industry’s top federal priorities for 2021, highlighting key measures that elected leaders must take to protect the climate, revitalize rural communities, and offer more consumers clean, affordable options
November 20, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA: 6 More SRE Petitions Filed, 58 Now Pending
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data on Nov. 19, reporting that six additional SRE petitions have been filed with the agency, including one for Renewable Fuel Standard compliance year 2019 and
November 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Transition Book: Priorities for Administrative Action on Carbon Removal in 2021+
(Carbon 180) We partner with policymakers, scientists, and businesses around the globe to develop policy, promote research, and advance solutions that transform carbon from a pollutant to a resource and foster a prosperous, carbon-conscious economy that removes more from the
November 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Applauds Streamlining Advanced Biofuels Registration Act of 2020
(Growth Energy) Today, U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and Jim Hagedorn (R-MN) introduced the Streamlining Advanced Biofuels Registration Act of 2020 to encourage low-carbon fuel production and increase production of cellulosic biomass into renewable fuels. This legislation would expedite the approval process
November 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Small Refinery Gets Second Win in Battle for Renewable-Fuel Hardship Exemption
by Sebastien Malo (Reuters/WestLaw) A federal appeals court vacated for the second time on Tuesday a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency denial of small oil refinery Ergon West Virginia Inc's (EWVI) request for an exemption from the country's biofuel regulations after finding
November 18, 2020 Read Full Article
USDA Accepting Comments on Information Request Related to HBBIP DEADLINE: November 30, 2020
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA is accepting comments on a proposed information collection request related to the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. In a notice published in the Federal Register, the USDA said the information collection is needed for
November 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Ag Retailers: Zero-Emission Truck Plan Could ‘Devastate’ Agriculture
by John Gallagher (Freight Waves) Ag retailers: Zero-emission truck plan could ‘devastate’ agriculture -- An environmental policy promoted by Democratic lawmakers to effectively ban internal combustion engines (ICEs) for heavy-duty trucks by 2040 would be a major economic blow to agribusiness
November 17, 2020 Read Full Article
CountryMark, Ceres Solutions and USDA Bring E15 to Rensselaer
(95.3 MNC) Jasper County, Indiana will soon have its first E15 fueling station thanks to efforts from two farmer-owned cooperatives and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ... Ceres Solutions owns the CountryMark-branded station on North McKinley Avenue in Rensselaer, Indiana,
November 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Senate Finance Chair Says EPA Leader Should Follow RFS or Resign
(WNAX) Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley told farm reporters Thursday that 2020 has been a tenuous year for renewable fuels. He says ethanol demand has been hurt by the pandemic and gap year waiver requests for refiners has created a lot of
November 16, 2020 Read Full Article
California Official Sees State Auto Emissions Deal as 'Template' for Biden
by Nichola Groom, David Shepardson (Reuters) California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols, who sources say could be the next federal environment chief, said on Thursday her state’s agreement with manor automakers for fuel efficiency requirements could serve as a “good
November 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Post-Election Analysis from ABFA: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Advanced Biofuels Association’s Election View
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Did the bioeconomy win or lose? If you missed the conversation on Thursday at DigestConnect, check out this slide guide from Mike McAdams, President of Advanced Biofuels Association for his post-election analysis from the Presidential
November 10, 2020 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK -- Geoff Cooper
RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper reminds us that President Elect Joe Biden committed on the campaign trail to put an end to the Trump Administration’s EPA small refinery waivers on day one according to Brownfield Ag News. READ MORE
November 10, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Renewable Fuels Legislation Could Garner Bipartisan Support under Biden
by Stephanie Kelly and Laura Sanicola (Reuters) Renewable fuels are a niche market for now, but with Democratic President-Elect Joe Biden set to enter office with a divided Congress, legislation supporting demand for products like renewable diesel could garner bipartisan
November 10, 2020 Read Full Article
University of Kentucky Researchers Launch a $2 Million Project to Study Sulfur Variability in Biofuel Feedstocks
by Katie Pratt (University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment) Sulfur found in biofuel feedstock could pose serious problems to the industry, because it causes pollution, is toxic to the catalyst and corrosive to biorefinery equipment. A national group
November 06, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Asks SCOTUS for Delay in RFS Case: Trump Administration Asks for Time to File Response in Small-Refinery Exemption Case
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) The EPA has asked the Supreme Court for an extension to file a response to a refiner's petition for review of an appeals court's January 2020 ruling on small-refinery exemptions. HollyFrontier Corp. appealed to the high
November 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Final Chapter for Cellulosic Ethanol?
by Rod Swoboda (Wallaces Farmer) ... Poet’s cellulosic ethanol plant at Emmetsburg was named Project Liberty. Following Poet’s lead, two other companies built cellulosic ethanol plants — one in Kansas and one at Nevada in central Iowa. The owners of those
November 04, 2020 Read Full Article
US Elections: Ernst Holds onto Iowa Senate Seat after Race Tests Biofuel Support
by Meghan Gordon (S&P Global Platts) Republican played key role in biofuel mandate talks; Opponent supported clean energy, denounced 'Big Oil'; Ernst took heat for commodity prices, EPA confirmation -- US Senator Joni Ernst, Republican-Iowa, held onto her seat after a tight race
November 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Factbox: Unresolved Biofuel Policy Issues Facing the Next U.S. President
(Today/Reuters) Both U.S. President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden have tried to clinch rural votes ahead of the election by voicing support for corn-based ethanol. But big questions remain over how either would administer the nation's biofuel law,
November 04, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Administrator: RFS Waiver Requests to Wait on Court Appeal
by John Herath (Farm Journal's Ag Pro) Wheeler (EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler) said on the AgriTalk Radio Show on Monday that he will not consider those waiver requests until after the courts have spoken on that appeal. “The refiners appealed that to
November 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Report Evaluates Emission-Reduction Efforts: The Fuels Institute Compares 14 Initiatives in Terms of Effectiveness, Impact and Overall Cost.
(NACS) As governments consider strategies to reduce emissions from transportation, a new Fuels Institute report provides valuable context to help guide their considerations, encouraging them to consider multiple perspectives before deciding how to proceed. “Impact of Transportation-Related Environmental Initiatives” takes an in-depth look at the
November 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Expanded E15 Sales Have Helped, but Ethanol Backers Say Roadblocks Still Remain
by Chris Dunker (Lincoln Journal Star) In lifting a restriction on the sale of E15 during summer months, corn growers and ethanol producers praised President Donald Trump for removing a major roadblock to expanding sale of the 15% ethanol blend. ... The
November 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol Looks beyond Trump-Biden Bluster to Biofuel Reset
by Kim Chipman and Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg Green) Presidential, Iowa Senate races put biofuel in spotlight; Renewable Fuel Standard uncertainty clouds ethanol outlook -- ... The winner will oversee a “reset” of the congressional mandate to blend biofuels with gasoline. This
November 02, 2020 Read Full Article
LETTER: Biofuel Targets Should Be Set Now
by Marc Berger (Daily Citizen) ... The EPA announced that E15 -- a gasoline blend made with 15% ethanol -- can be pumped through existing E10 infrastructure, helping expand the market for ethanol at a critical time. Despite this, we’re
October 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Joint Statement from Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association on Motion for Partial Summary Judgment in FOIA Lawsuit Regarding Small Refinery Exemption Transparency
(Growth Energy/Renewable Fuels Association) Upon the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) failure to adequately respond to several Freedom of Information Act requests filed by the biofuels industry regarding the small refinery exemption (SRE) program and EPA’s radical escalation in granting SREs in
October 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Biogas Markets and Applications: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Iogen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) One of the top 5 registered producers of cellulosic biofuel in the U.S., Iogen’s Brian Foody shared this illuminating slide guide at ABLC 2020 on what cellulosic biogas is and how is it used today,
October 28, 2020 Read Full Article
RFA, Others Seek Certainty and Consistency in EPA Treatment of Flex Fuel Vehicles
(Renewable Fuels Association) In comments submitted today to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding emissions standard compliance calculations for Flex Fuel vehicles (FFVs), the Renewable Fuels Association supported the EPA’s new approach to maintaining some level of certainty for automakers in the absence
October 27, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. EPA Considering E15 Labeling Changes at Gas Pumps: Sources
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering changes to labels for gasoline containing higher blends of ethanol, or E15, in an effort to appease the biofuel industry’s concerns that current labels discourage use of the fuel, according
October 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Limited Impact on LCFS and RIN Prices: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to COVID-19 Impact on Renewable Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) COVID-19 has impacted every industry in some way, but Mike McCurdy from ICF shared this slide guide at ABLC2020 demonstrating how COVID-19 has had limited impact on some areas for renewable fuels and how compliance fuels’
October 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol Is Key
by K. Johnson (Storm Lake Times) ... I hear a lot of political lip service these days about reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and cleaning up the air. Alcohol from corn and grains should be a major part of that
October 26, 2020 Read Full Article
RFA Says Oil State Senators Request To Freeze RFS For 2021 Is Ridiculous
(WNAX) Senators from 15 oil producing states have written to the EPA Administrator asking him to freeze the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2021. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says courts have already determined that what they’re asking for
October 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Overview of 2020 Cannabis Ballot Measures: Potential to Add 21 Million as Legal Consumers in the U.S.
by Martin Wahl (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) This is the first in a series of articles being prepared by Lee Enterprises Consulting experts addressing opportunities and concerns for the growing hemp and cannabis industries. Topics will include cultivation, feedstock management, project
October 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Submission by Solutions from the Land on Behalf of the North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance In Response to the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture
(Solutions from the Land) NACSAA 'Capstone Submission' Stresses CSA Is 'Foundational' to Global Agreement -- North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance has handed over its capstone submission into the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture, the global platform for ag policy
October 23, 2020 Read Full Article
RFA: Oil-State Senators Ask EPA to Violate the Law, Ignore the Courts
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association today blasted the latest attempt by oil refiners and their supporters in the Senate to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard. On Wednesday, a small group of oil-state Senators submitted a short letter to EPA Administrator Andrew
October 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Column: There's a Burning Mandate for Change, Green Jobs
by George Miller (Columbus Dispatch) ... From geothermal steam in Nevada to the low-carbon biofuel feedstocks harvested across Ohio, carbon savings are available through the labor and ingenuity of green energy workers in every community. We’ve seen this strategy work in
October 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Your Views: EPA Needs to Support Farmers, Homegrown Fuels
by Doug Rebout (GazetteXtra) ... The EPA has consistently undercut the Renewable Fuel Standard by granting Small Refinery Exemptions—or waivers—to big oil, essentially cutting billions of gallons of biofuel demand and cutting off this vital market to corn farmers. The president
October 19, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Issues Final Fuels Streamlining Rule
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA on Oct. 15 issued its final Fuels Streamlining Rule, which streamlines the agency’s existing regulations for gasoline, diesel and other fuels. It does not, however, change the stringency of existing fuel quality
October 19, 2020 Read Full Article
The Art and Science of Codigestion on Dairy Farms
by Nora Goldstein (BioCycle Magazine) Reinford Farms in central Pennsylvania has been a pioneer in integrating codigestion of manure and food waste on a dairy farm. -- ... In 2008, Reinford Farms installed a 526,000-gallon complete-mix anaerobic digester supplied by RCM
October 16, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA: 2 Additional SRE Petitions Filed for Compliance Year 2019
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data on Oct. 15, reporting two additional SRE petitions have been filed for Renewable Fuel Standard compliance year 2019. No other changes were made to the
October 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump in Iowa Touts Ethanol, Farm Policy
by Erin Murphy (The Courier) Campaigning in Iowa on Wednesday night, President Donald Trump touted his administration’s work to boost the ethanol industry and help farmers in Iowa. Trump’s administration this year issued a rule that allows gas stations to
October 16, 2020 Read Full Article
We're Open to It: FERC Commissioners Approved a Policy Statement that They Are Open to Establishing Market Rules that Will Allow for Putting a Price on Carbon Dioxide Emissions.
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) commissioners approved a policy statement that they are open to establishing market rules that will allow for putting a price on carbon dioxide emissions. The statement, which was not
October 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Midwest AgEnergy Drilling Well to Test Carbon Capture at Ethanol Plant
by Maddie Biertempfel (KXNet) Midwest AgEnergy’s Blue Flint biorefinery in Underwood turns corn into ethanol, but that process’s byproduct, carbon dioxide, can be harmful to the environment. The energy company is working to mitigate those effects by testing out a carbon
October 15, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Drags Feet on Remaining Small Refinery Exemption Requests
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) The EPA recently denied 54 so-called “gap year” small refinery exemption requests, but Renewable Fuels Association CEO Geoff Cooper tells Brownfield the agency is still considering 31 petitions for 2019 and a couple for 2020. “We
October 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Enviro Law Makes a Cameo in the ACB Hearing
by Rachel Frazin (The Hill Overnight Energy) During the second day during the politically-charged confirmation hearing for Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination for the Supreme Court, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) invoked environmental issues to ask the nominee for her views on administrative
October 14, 2020 Read Full Article
New California Port Emissions Data Shows Advanced Diesel Technology Boosts Clean Air for Frontline Communities
(Diesel Technology Forum) ... “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimate that the Commercial Vehicle Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Standards Phase 1 rules saved 270 million tons CO2 and 530 million barrels of oil
October 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Biden Would Be Good for Oil Sector, Goldman Sachs Says
by James Osborne (Houston Chronicle) With his $2 trillion plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions, Joe Biden might seem a far from ideal president for the Texas oil and gas industry. But new analysis by Goldman Sachs says that compared with a
October 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Is There Money for Renewable Fuels? Latest Perspectives on Financing Renewable Fuel Projects
by Mike Newman (Parhelion Underwriting Inc./Biofuels Digest) Connecting people from renewable fuels companies with projects they want to finance to the people who can finance them was a key goal for Parhelion Underwriting’s recent virtual roundtable. The finance panel included Justin Goldstein
October 13, 2020 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
AG Talks Priorities to White House Aspirants
by Steve Kopperud (Brownfield Ag News) This was the week agriculture – organized and individual – emerged from the political closet and started laying down markers for the November 3 election. The Ag CEO Council, comprised of the heads of 21 of
October 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Elected Officials Urge Automakers to Support Cleaner Cars
by Chris Teale (Smart Cities Dive) More than 200 elected officials at the city and state level issued a joint declaration Thursday calling on automakers to stop supporting the Trump administration's rollback of national and state clean car standards. The "Clean Cars Declaration" urges
October 09, 2020 Read Full Article
ACE Rule Heads to Court
by Eric Wolff (Politico's Morning Energy) The Trump carbon rules for power plants goes to court in a mirror image of the case from 2016 when the Obama administration's more stringent rules faced the judges. -- ... It's déjà vu all
October 08, 2020 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
Ethanol's Recovery Readout
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A survey of ethanol plant CEOs and general managers shows the COVID-19 downturn had a significant impact on their operations. Most producers have substantially ramped up production since spring, but a full recovery is
October 07, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Report Looks at Best SAF Pathways: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Sustainable Aviation Fuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The 106-billion-gallon global (21-billion-gallon domestic) commercial jet fuel market is projected to grow to over 230 billion gallons by 2050. Cost-competitive sustainable alternative jet fuels for aviation are needed to decouple carbon growth from market
October 07, 2020 Read Full Article
New Report Reveals EPA Reform on Biogenic Crops Ruling Could Add Hundreds of Millions in Wages, Thousands of Jobs to U.S. Economy
(Biogenic CO2 Coalition) Scientifically Backed Change in Status of Carbon Emissions from Ag Feedstocks Could Provide Massive Boost to Struggling U.S. Economy -- The Biogenic CO2 Coalition, a working group of leading trade associations that support American agriculture, today released a new
October 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Sonny Perdue Fuels Ethics Scrutiny as Trump’s Rural Envoy
by Ryan McCrimmon (Politico) The agriculture secretary has kept farmers in Trump’s corner, but Democrats claim he crosses the line between public duties and political promotion. -- Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue offered a spirited pitch for voters to reelect President Donald
October 05, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Extends Public Comment Period on ICR On Anaerobic Digestion Facilities Processing Wasted Food DEADLINE October 29, 2020
(Bergeson & Campbell) On September 29, 2020, EPA announced that it has submitted for review and approval an information collection request (ICR) on Anaerobic Digestion Facilities Processing Wasted Food to Support EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management Program and Sustainable Management of
October 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Secretary Perdue Says Congress Must Approve Ethanol Aid
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Despite estimates that ethanol producers could lose up to $8 billion this year, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue says he has no authority to make payments to plants through the Commodity Credit Corporation under the latest round
September 30, 2020 Read Full Article
SEC Commissioner Talks Climate
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Securities and Exchange Commission member Allison Herren Lee said on Tuesday that "climate change presents a systemic risk to the financial market" and that "there's certainly evidence that climate risks are currently underpriced." Lee, who
September 30, 2020 Read Full Article
A Rare Bit of Good News for Oil Refiners: ‘Renewable Diesel’
by Tim Treadgold (Forbes) ... Until recently renewable diesel was very much a niche product which failed to attract mainstream investor interest. That could change after a leading investment bank, Morgan Stanley MS -2.4%, took a close look at the opportunities opening up
September 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Joni Ernst Is Now in Trouble. Trump Is a Huge Part of Her Problem.
by Art Cullen (Washington Post/Storm Lake Times) One big reason Republicans are shoving a Supreme Court appointment through the Senate before the election is their rising fear of losing the upper chamber — and the White House — in November.
September 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Signal to Noise: Oil and Biofuels Must Work Together
by John Herath (Farm Journal Ag Web) ... They (Pro Farmer's Jim Wiesemeyer and Farm Journal's John Herath) also lay out how the oil and biofuels industries need to work together if they want to preserve a future for liquid
September 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Fact-Checking President Trump’s Ethanol and Oil Production Claims
by Robert Rapier (Forbes) This week at a campaign rally in Jacksonville, Florida, President Trump made a puzzling claim. Near the end of a story about Kamala Harris, Trump said “The great state of Iowa — where I made ethanol possible for them...” I
September 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Ag Policy Blog: House Democrats Get Aggressive on Biofuels
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) ...What did become clear was Democrats in both the House and the Senate are paying more attention to biofuels at the moment. And yet, given that Congress is going to pass a temporary funding
September 28, 2020 Read Full Article
RFS Rule in Court, Chapter 2019
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The D.C. Circuit on Friday hosted the annual legal rite: a challenge to EPA's blending mandate under the Renewable Fuel Standard, with this round focusing on the rule governing 2019 requirements. Biofuel producers argued that
September 28, 2020 Read Full Article
House Legislation Includes RFS Integrity ACT
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act passed by the U.S. House includes provisions of the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act put forth by Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN). The provisions set an annual deadline for refiners to request exemptions from
September 25, 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
Trump, Eyeing Farm Country, Starts Working on Ethanol Industry's Year-Old Wishlist
by Stephanie Kelly and Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) President Donald Trump, looking to shore up support in the U.S. Farm Belt during a tight race for re-election, is taking steps to help producers of corn-based ethanol using a list of policy goals
September 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Behind the Smoke: It’s What You Don’t See That Kills
by Doug Durante and Larry Pearce (Morning Consult) ... But a bigger problem has existed for decades in the air we don’t see — air polluted with toxic ultra-fine particles, or UFPs. For more than 30 years, a small group of U.S. Environmental
September 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Our View: Ethanol: Trump, Hagedorn, EPA Leave Farmers behind
(Mankato Free Press) President Donald Trump and his Environmental Protection Agency have about six weeks to keep their promises to farmers on ethanol, which have been broken for the past three years. While farmers have backed Trump in varying degrees since he
September 23, 2020 Read Full Article
House Ag Committee Chair Says Ethanol Is Priority
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson puts ethanol second only to the hog industry in priority to get some kind of assistance to mitigate losses this year due to coronavirus restrictions. “Because of the price of oil collapsing
September 23, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA: 7 New SRE Petitions Filed, Including 5 Gap Year SREs
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA on Sept. 17 published updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data that reflects the denial of 54 gap year SRE petitions announced by the agency on Sept. 14. The data also shows seven new
September 22, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Delivers Final Fuels Regulatory Streamlining Rule to OMB
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA released a proposed rule on April 13 that aims to streamline and modernize the agency’s existing fuels regulations. In the rulemaking, the EPA said it is proposing “some slight modifications to
September 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Rallies Biofuel Champions at D.C. Summit
(Growth Energy) Advocates and experts have virtually converged in Washington, D.C. this week for Growth Energy’s annual Biofuels Summit to advocate for biofuels in our nation’s capital. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor kicked off this year’s all-virtual event with opening remarks and a
September 22, 2020 Read Full Article
FEW General Sessions Address Policy, Production
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol, told audience members at the 2020 Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo during the general session panel Sept. 16 that the gap waiver denial, two days before,
September 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Rural America 2020 Launches Major Ad Campaign Highlighting Trump’s Broken Ethanol Promises
(Rural America 2020) ‘Trump’s Broken Ethanol Promise’ campaign will focus on the President’s failure to deliver on promises on ethanol and E15: Will highlight how Trump has undermined the needs of farmers by providing waivers to big oil to avoid ethanol
September 18, 2020 Read Full Article
ACE Helps Retailers Determine E15 Compatibility by Launching "Flex Check" Tool
(American Coalition for Ethanol) The American Coalition for Ethanol’s fuel-marketer focused Flex Fuel Forward website releases tool for fuel retailers to see how E15-compatible their station is right now. -- The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) today launched a tool on
September 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Eyes at Least $300 Million Aid to Refiners Denied Biofuel Waivers: Sources
by Stephanie Kelly, Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) The Trump administration is considering at least $300 million in cash aid to U.S. oil refiners that are denied exemptions to U.S. biofuel blending laws for the 2019 compliance year, two sources familiar with
September 17, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Releases Final Rule Intended to Promote Transparency in Developing Regulatory Guidance Documents
(Bergeson and Campbell) On September 14, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a pre-publication version of a final rule establishing the procedures and requirements for how EPA will manage the issuance of guidance documents consistent with Executive Order (EO) 13891,
September 17, 2020 Read Full Article
RFA Applauds Congressional Efforts to Enhance Transparency of Small Refinery Waiver Process
(Renewable Fuels Association) The House Committee on Energy and Commerce today unveiled the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, which contains provisions requiring more transparency and accountability in EPA’s process for evaluating small refinery exemption requests under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The provisions
September 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Letter Urges EPA to Comply with GOA Investigation of SRE Process
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Seven federal lawmakers sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on Sept. 15 expressing disappointment with the agency’s failure to cooperate with the Government Accountability Office’s investigation into the small refinery exemption (SRE)
September 16, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Presidential Candidate Biden Rips Trump's Record on Ethanol
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden late on Tuesday attacked President Donald Trump’s record on ethanol, saying his administration’s recent moves to help the industry were too little, too late and transparently political. U.S. Democratic presidential nominee
September 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Biogenic CO2 Coalition Files Formal Petition for Rulemaking with EPA
(Biogenic CO2 Coalition) Includes Legal Justification to Change Status of Carbon Emissions from Ag Feedstocks -- The Biogenic CO2 Coalition today filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), providing a detailed explanation of the scientific and legal basis for the agency
September 15, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Denies Gap Year RFS Waiver Requests
by John Herath (Farm Journal Ag/Web) Applications for oil refiners to be exempted from the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) have been a contentious election for President Donald Trump in Iowa. His administration took a step to alleviate those political pressures Monday
September 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Now Backs Higher-Ethanol Gas at Pumps in Move to Court Farm Votes before November
by Rachel Koning Beals (Market Watch) At least one farm group says gesture doesn’t wipe out a pro-Big Oil presidency to date -- Trump has approved using existing filling station pumps to distribute higher-ethanol gasoline. “Subject only to State approval, our important
September 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Considers Cash Aid for Refineries Denied Biofuel Waivers
by Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Trump administration officials are developing a plan to offset the potential economic damage of denying dozens of refineries waivers from biofuel-usage mandates: giving them financial aid. The approach is actively being discussed by top Environmental Protection Agency officials
September 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Renew Kansas Biofuels Association on E15 Reg.
(KTIC Radio/Renew Kansas) Renew Kansas Biofuels Association submitted written comments to Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) regarding the agency’s notice of public hearing on its proposal to revoke an existing regulation limiting the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) of ethanol-blended
September 10, 2020 Read Full Article
RINs Jump 18% on News Trump Wants All Gap Year Requests Denied
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In New York state, Reuters reports that RIN prices skyrocketed a two-year high of 55 cents for D6 credits on the back of its exclusive story that President Trump told the EPA to deny all gap-year
September 10, 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
Proactively Leveraging Ethanol’s Low-Carbon Value
by Brian Jennings (American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Merely playing defense on the RFS does not constitute a plan to expand ethanol demand. We need to go on offense because it is a matter of when, not if, Congress
September 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Without a Grand Deal, Trump Tries to Dodge Ethanol Question
by James Osborne (Houston Chronicle) ... And with the election just two months away, all signs are Trump is trying to push back a decision on the how much ethanol to blend into the nation’s gasoline supply until after the
September 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Bloomberg Launches ESG Ratings
by Ally Selby (Financial Standard) Bloomberg has launched proprietary environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings, which it says will help to provide transparent, data driven insights into company performance. Initially, Bloomberg will offer environmental and social scores for 252 oil and gas
September 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Why Should You Care about the VRIN?
by Jim Ramm (EcoEngineers) The VRIN is an important piece to maintaining RFS compliance -- Intimate knowledge of clean fuel regulations and record-keeping requirements is needed to maintain compliance in the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The USEPA bases much of
September 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Study: Ag Crops Don’t Contribute Increase Atmospheric GHG Levels
(Biogenic CO2 Coalition/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Biogenic CO2 Coalition today (August 17, 2020) released a scientific literature review conducted by Seungdo Kim, a leading researcher at Michigan State University, that surveyed peer-reviewed journal articles from all over the world. The review confirms
September 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Moves to Open up Drilling in National Forests
by James Osborne (Houston Chronicle) ... Under draft rules to be published Tuesday, the U.S. Forest Service would be limited in its ability to conduct environmental reviews of drilling projects while oil and gas companies would not be required to
September 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Climate Plan Addresses Potential of Biofuels, Bioenergy
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Senate Democrats Climate Committee released a new report on Aug. 25 that details how climate action by Congress can create new jobs and grow the U.S. economy. Biofuels and bioenergy are among the topics
August 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuel Supporters Back in Court: Orgs File Brief Supporting EPA's 2019 Regulation Allowing Year-Round E15 Use.
(Farm Progress/Growth Energy) Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, and the National Corn Growers Association on Friday filed a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit supporting and defending the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2019 regulation that allowed year-round
August 31, 2020 Read Full Article
House Ag Chair Backs Biden on Killing Trump Tariffs
by Philip Brasher (Agri-Pulse) House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson supports Joe Biden’s plan to eliminate President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China but said he isn’t sure what the alternative is for countering Chinese trade practices. “First thing I want to see
August 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Published Library of Recorded Presentations on Multitude of Bioeconomy Topics
(Biofuels Digest) Recorded presentations for your on-demand review and enjoyment. Just Pick and Click! On BioChannelTV RENEWABLE DIESEL & DME Saola Energy - Adam Belyamani Axens- David Schwalje Oberon - Rebecca Boudreaux Honeywell UOP-Dan Szeezil NextChem-Valerio Coppini Velocys - Jeff McDaniel ENGINE TECH What if everything with a
August 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Can Iowa Farmers Survive without Ethanol? Can Trump Survive without Iowa Farmers?
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register/Ames Tribune) ... "I've sat in front of the president, and he does look you in the eye, and he does listen to you," (Bill) Couser said, adding, "It just makes you wonder what happens after
August 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Joni Ernst Sells Out Iowa In RNC Speech
by Pat Rynard (Iowa Starting Line) Sen. Joni Ernst’s undying loyalty to Pres. Donald Trump was rewarded tonight with a high-profile speech at the Republican National Convention. She repaid Trump for the political boost to her reelection campaign by betraying the
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA Seeks Input on F-factor for E85 FFVs DEADLINE: October 26, 2020
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA published notice on Aug. 26 requesting comment on sources and analytical approaches on which to base an EPA determination of an updated weighting factor (F-factor) for E85 flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) for
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
RFA Urges Immediate EPA Action on ‘Litany’ of Outstanding RFS Issues
(Renewable Fuels Association) Citing the need for more certainty and stability in uncertain times, as well as the legal requirement to meet statutory deadlines, the Renewable Fuels Association today urged EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to immediately address a number of unresolved
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
RFA Makes Plea for Action -- Wheeler: EPA Still Working on RFS Issues Including 98 Pending Exemption Requests
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler gave no timeline for releasing 2021 renewable volume obligations in the Renewable Fuel Standard or for deciding on pending small-refinery exemptions, during a teleconference with reporters on Wednesday, as pressure mounts
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Biden Campaign: Statement on Commitment to Renewable Fuel Standard Amid Trump Administration’s Repeated Attacks on Farmers and Producers
(WisPolitics.com) Instead of standing with those who till our land and sow our fields, we have a president who has sold out our farmers by undercutting the Renewable Fuel Standard with the granting of waivers to Big Oil. Those waivers severely
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
NBB Launches Ad Campaign Urging President to Reject “Gap” SRE Petitions
(National Biodiesel Board) NBB encourages farmers, biodiesel producers to ask President Trump to keep his promise -- The National Biodiesel Board today launched a radio advertising campaign in six Midwestern states, urging President Donald Trump to keep his promise on the
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Farmers, Ethanol Producers File Court Brief Defending EPA’s Year-Round E15 Regulation
(Growth Energy) Responding to the oil industry’s effort to undermine the expansion of E15 (gasoline containing 15% ethanol), Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, and National Corn Growers Association on Friday filed a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C.
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
A New Research Tool to Help Ensure Accurate Ethanol Data
(Urban Air Initiative) A new tool is available for researchers to help ensure accurate and consistent results when conducting fuel and emission testing. Future Fuel Strategies recently published a Fuel Blending Guide for Ethanol: Identifying Sound Practices for Acquiring or Blending Fuels
August 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Refinery Can't Hide behind Pseudonym for Renewable Energy Program Exemption
by Sebastien Malo (Reuters) A federal appeals court in Washington D.C. made public on Thursday its denial of a small refinery’s motion bid to use a pseudonym in a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its exemption status from
August 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Captain Canola – Yield10 Biosciences One Step Closer to Canola Feedstock Superhero
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) News just in from Yield10 Bioscience, Inc., a Massachusetts-based agricultural bioscience company, that they have obtained a positive response from USDA-APHIS’s Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) for its CRISPR genome-edited trait C3007 in canola plant lines
August 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Still Missing Mark on Biofuels
by Jacqui Fatka (Feedstuffs) ... It was nearly a year ago when farmers' cries started getting louder demanding that President Donald Trump and his Administration stand up for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and defend the interests of biofuels over
August 21, 2020 Read Full Article
D.C. Circuit Rejects Anonymous Status for Refiner in RFS Waiver Dispute
(Environmental NewsStand) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a sealed case has rejected a small refiner’s bid for anonymity in an apparent legal fight over EPA’s denial of a renewable fuel standard (RFS) economic
August 21, 2020 Read Full Article
KEEPING IT 100: EPA's Online Dashboard Shows the Agency Has Now Received Nearly 100 Petitions for Small Refinery Exemptions
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) EPA's online dashboard shows the agency has now received nearly 100 petitions for small refinery exemptions to the Renewable Fuel Standard mandates dating back to 2011, Pro's Eric Wolff reports. Since June, EPA has
August 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Democrats Turn to Rural Issues: Rural, Midwest Democrats Promote Infrastructure and Divergent Strategy From Trump Years
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Democratic leaders put a heavy emphasis on rural broadband and health care while criticizing the Trump administration and President Trump directly on trade, biofuels, climate change and the pandemic response. A western Pennsylvania soybean and hay
August 20, 2020 Read Full Article
US Fuel-Makers Could Face 'Irreparable' Damage from Demand Collapse and the Move to Green Policy
by Josh Siegel (Washington Examiner) ... “Thankfully, I am not invested in refineries,” said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at IHS Markit and founder of Oil Price Information Service. “They are having a pretty miserable year. They don't
August 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Biden Tries to Elbow Aside Trump with Rural Voters
by Liz Crampton (Politico) The campaign has vowed to pay attention to rural issues, but Biden could repeat the same mistakes as Democrats’ 2016 bid for the White House. -- ... No one expects former Vice President Joe Biden to
August 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuel's Uphill Battle for More Coronavirus Relief
(RFD TV) ... The head of the Renewable Fuels Association, Geoff Cooper, says that ... USDA Secretary Perdue has made his position clear on using unspent CCC money for pandemic-crippled biorefineries. "Secretary Perdue has said pretty bluntly, 'look unless Congress
August 19, 2020 Read Full Article
In Iowa, Trump Promises to Personally Get Involved in Corn Farmers' Dispute with EPA
by Abby Smith (Washington Examiner) Iowa corn farmers could get a boost in a long-running dispute with oil refiners as President Trump pledged to talk to Environmental Protection Agency officials overseeing biofuels requirements on their behalf. Trump said Tuesday during a visit
August 19, 2020 Read Full Article
California, Automakers Finalize Emissions Deal
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Ford, Honda, BMW, Volkswagen and Volvo have formally committed to reducing the average greenhouse gas emissions of their vehicles through 2026, despite the Trump administration rolling back federal standards, Pro's Debra Kahn reports. Under deals
August 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Spotlight: Ethanol Plants Part of the Solution for Forthcoming Renewable Diesel Feedstock Problem
by Corey Lavinsky (S&P Global Platts) Distillers corn oil (DCO) is a co-product of corn ethanol production and can be used as renewable diesel feedstock; Greater demand, higher prices seen for DCO from upcoming surge in renewable diesel capacity; RD made from DCO
August 18, 2020 Read Full Article
DFL Leader Responds to President Trump’s Mankato Visit
by CJ Baumgartner (FOX 21 Local News) ... One DFL senator has criticism on the president’s policies toward farmers. Assistant Minnesota Senate Minority Leader and District 19 Senator Nick Frentz says he’s glad to have any president come to the area
August 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Groups Say Proposed Rule Would Penalize Ethanol Blends
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The Urban Air Initiative (UAI), a coalition of state corn grower organizations, and the American Coalition for Ethanol, and the Clean Fuels Development Coalition filed comments last week opposing a proposed EPA rule they say would penalize ethanol for its
August 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Biogenic Emissions: Credit Where It’s Due
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The push to alter biogenic emissions regulations could boost corn farming and ethanol production while cementing the role of biobased solutions in the fight against climate change. Political inertia, however, remains the primary barrier
August 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Seen Putting Biofuels Decisions on Hold
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The Trump administration is likely to wait until after Election Day to weigh in on tough ethanol decisions for fear of triggering backlash among farmers or the oil sector. -- ... WAKE ME UP WHEN
August 17, 2020 Read Full Article
D.C. Circuit Tosses Biofuel Maker's Complaint that New Guidance Will Cost It Valuable Credits
by Sebastien Malo (Retuers) A federal appeals court on Friday denied a challenge by leading ethanol maker POET Biorefining, LLC who accused the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of making it impossible to certify its corn-fiber-derived ethanol under a renewable-fuel program. A split three-judge
August 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Corn Growers, Ethanol Supporters to EPA: Stop Penalizing Ethanol Blends
(Urban Air Initiative) The Urban Air Initiative (UAI), a coalition of state corn grower organizations, and the American Coalition for Ethanol, and the Clean Fuels Development Coalition filed comments today asking EPA not to penalize ethanol's ability to reduce carbon
August 14, 2020 Read Full Article
VP Pence Speech to Farmers Falls Flat
by Jacqui Fatka (Feedstuffs) Vice President Mike Pence visited Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday to re-launch the Trump campaign’s Farmers & Ranchers for Trump. However, to a room full of farmer supporters his message came off more as a campaign speech,
August 14, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA ‘Reset’ Recommendation Addresses RFS, LCFS
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A group of six former U.S. EPA administrators representing both republican and democratic administrations are calling for a “reset” of the agency as it approaches its 50th anniversary. The Renewable Fuel Standard and a potential federal
August 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Groups Fear 'No Consequences' for Delaying Biofuel Volumes
by Ben Nuelle (Agri-Pulse) Biofuel groups are frustrated election-year politics could be getting in the way of time-sensitive Environmental Protection Agency action on renewable fuel policy that needs to be finalized by the end of the year, and fear voter accountability in