by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler confirmed to senators Wednesday that the Trump administration this week will release a proposal to weaken Obama-era fuel efficiency standards. Wheeler, in his first testimony before Congress since replacing Scott
Regulations-Federal
Back TO HOMETime for EPA to Clean up the Mess It Made of the RFS
by Timothy J. Rudnicki (Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) ... Let’s be clear here. There are legitimate complaints from the biofuel industry because (acting Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew) Wheeler’s predecessor turned over the agency to Big Oil. How else can you explain
August 01, 2018 Read Full Article
USDA Provides Aid for Farmers, Biofuel Groups Call for RVP Relief
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA has announced it will authorize up to $12 billion in aid to assist farmers who have been impacted by retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods. The ethanol industry also called on the Trump
August 01, 2018 Read Full Article
House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on RINs
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On July 25, the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing that aimed to educate members of the subcommittee on renewable identification numbers (RINs) and the role RINs play
August 01, 2018 Read Full Article
NBB Files Opening Brief Challenging 2018 Renewable Fuel Standards
(National Biodiesel Board) NBB brief is the first to challenge EPA’s accounting for small refinery “hardship” exemptions in the annual RFS volumes -- On Friday July 27, 2018, the National Biodiesel Board filed an opening brief in its lawsuit objecting to EPA’s
August 01, 2018 Read Full Article
Court to Hear RFS Refinery Waivers Case
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Appeals Court to Hear Whether EPA Followed Law Prior to Granting Exemptions -- The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver will hear a Renewable Fuels Standard lawsuit challenging EPA's issuance of small refinery waivers,
July 31, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump Says Very Close to 12-Month Waiver for Ethanol in Gasoline
by Roberta Rampton and Lisa Lambert (Reuters) President Donald Trump on Thursday said his administration is very close to granting a waiver that would allow the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol year-round. “I’m very close, I have to tell you, to
July 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Higher Blends of Ethanol Should Be Available Year-Round
by Anthony Bush (Marion Star) ... Most urgently, (Agriculture) Secretary (Sonny) Perdue must follow the president’s directive to work with the Environmental Protection Agency to end harmful sales regulations on higher ethanol blends like E15 and above. These regulations restrict the
July 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Inside the Draft Auto Rule Rollback
by Alex Guillén (Politico's Morning Energy) The Trump administration is expected to formally roll back vehicle fuel economy and emissions requirements later this week, and a draft version of the EPA-NHTSA rule posted Friday evening by The New York Times offers
July 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Extra Administration Analysis Delays Fuel Economy Rules
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Fuel economy rules from EPA and the Department of Transportation that were widely expected this week will be delayed, as the feds are adding analysis to give them better odds of surviving an inevitable
July 26, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Hasn’t Told the Whole Story of the Benefits of Biofuels
by Byron Dorgan (Arent Fox LLP/National Biodiesel Board/The Hill) ... A recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report released to Congress on the environmental and resource conservation impacts of biofuel production deliberately misses the mark because of what it excludes. The EPA authors note that
July 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Fischer Joins Acting EPA Administrator to Announce Approved Fuel Pathway for Sorghum Oil
(Office of Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE)) U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement today after participating in an event at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to announce an approved fuel pathway for grain
July 24, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Issues Notice of Data Availability on Grain Sorghum
(National Sorghum Producers) On May 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of data availability (NODA) concerning renewable fuels produced from grain sorghum under the RFS program. EPA’s analysis shows grain sorghum, when used to make ethanol at
July 24, 2018 Read Full Article
With Friends Like This... ... EPA's Proposed Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support Rule
by Doug Sombke (Ethanol Producer Magazine/South Dakota Farmers Union) South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke discusses how the EPA's proposed Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support rule would hurt both the ethanol and agriculture industries -- ... There is no precedent for the
July 23, 2018 Read Full Article
United Front ... Octane Is Important
by Tim Albrecht (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Experts in multiple industries support the idea of a high-octane fuel standard, but some prefer it as a replacement to the RFS. -- Octane is important. The ethanol industry knows this, the automakers know it and
July 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry, Aurora Co-Op Continue to Expand in Nebraska
by Robert Pore (Kearney Hub) ... Aurora Cooperative is opening its new A-Stop 24 pump site just north of Grant on Highway 61. Friday’s ceremony was attended by Gov. Pete Ricketts, area chamber members and Nebraska corn and ethanol board representatives. The
July 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Sen. Ernst Questions CEQ Nominee on RFS and Year-Round E15
by AJ Taylor (KIOW) Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) stressed the importance of biofuels to rural communities and the need to uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on the nomination of Mary Bridget Neumayr
July 23, 2018 Read Full Article
When Does Environmental Regulation Stimulate Technological Innovation?
by David M. Hart (Information Technology and Innovation Foundation) There’s no magic bullet to ensure firms will respond to environmental regulation by innovating. But a literature review shows certain conditions that will raise that likelihood, pointing the way to some important
July 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Help Or Hinder? Federal Agencies At Odds Over Biofuels
by Madelyn Beck (Harvest Public Media/KUNC) ... That’s because for the last few years, the EPA and the Department of Energy have been at odds, with taxpayer money creating a new biofuel industry that may not have the room to grow
July 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Report: Clean Car Rules Coming Soon
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy)Mark your calendars, readers. An EPA official told E&E News that the Trump administration will propose its plans for weakening Obama-era clean car standards next week. The plan will provide several options for public comment,
July 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Did Trump’s Renewable Fuels Policy Really Cost Corn Growers $3.65 Billion in 2017?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, new evidence has appeared that a Trump Administration shift on US low carbon fuel policy may have cost US corn growers an estimated $3.65 billion. The mechanism? A secretive effort by Administration officials installed at
July 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at the BIO World Congress: Dinneen Steps Down at RFA, Cooper Succeeds; EPA Hearings in DC; Organic Solar Cells; Lygos rockin’; Biomaterials Advance; Iffy News for Algae Tech.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... News spread like wildfire at the 2018 BIO World Congress in Philadelphia that Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen will transition into the role of RFA’s Senior Strategic Advisor, and Executive Vice President Geoff Cooper
July 19, 2018 Read Full Article
California Is Cutting Greenhouse Gases, but Not from Cars. Can That Change?
by David R. Baker (San Francisco Chronicle) ... Emissions from transportation — cars, trucks, trains, planes and ships — keep rising. And since transportation accounts for more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector, that must change if the state hopes
July 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump Admin Moves to Throw out RFS Waivers Suit
by Amanda Reilly (E&E News) The Trump administration on Friday asked a federal court to throw out a lawsuit over EPA's decision to exempt refiners from annual renewable fuel requirements. Government lawyers raised procedural arguments against the suit in the U.S.
July 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Prior to Take-off: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Renewable Jet Fuels and Certification
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Before renewable jet fuel production comes renewable jet fuel certification. What is involved? FAA and CAAFI stalwart Mark Rumizen presented on the process, the steps, the milestones and more at ABLC 2018 in Washington DC. READ MORE
July 17, 2018 Read Full Article
A Plan to Reallocate Waived Biofuels
(Red River Farm Network) The ethanol industry will continue to pursue a fix for the damages brought on from EPA’s issuing of small refinery waivers. Ahead of a public hearing Wednesday, Renewable Fuels Association Executive Vice-President Geoff Cooper says there
July 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Grassley Not Happy with EPA RFS Reply
(The Hagstrom Report/The Fence Post) The Environmental Protection Agency finally replied to a letter that Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and 11 other senators sent in April inquiring about waivers to the Renewable Fuel Standard, but Grassley was
July 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association Releases 2018 Half Year Report
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels) released its 2018 Half Year Report to its producer and vendor members at a networking event in Prior Lake yesterday. The report gave members an overview of Minnesota's ethanol industry in the first
July 12, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Scraps Detailed Plan to Force U.S. Refiners to Blend More Biofuels
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ditched a detailed plan that would have forced refiners to blend more biofuels into their gasoline and diesel in 2019 to compensate for volumes likely to be exempted under the agency’s small
July 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Growth Energy: American Drivers Pass 5 Billion Miles on E15
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy announced today that American drivers have logged 5 billion miles on E15. The latest milestone was reached in the midst of Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) restrictions on the sale E15 fuel across most of the country. During
July 11, 2018 Read Full Article
California Regulator Sees 'Window' for Deal on Fuel Economy Rules
by David Shepardson (Reuters) California is ready to work with major automakers on revisions to greenhouse gas emission vehicle rules through 2025 and sees a “window” for a deal in the coming months, the state’s top clean air regulator told Reuters
July 10, 2018 Read Full Article
Brett Kavanaugh Could Be Good for Ethanol
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) President Trump's nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court could be good news for the ethanol industry and clean energy programs where adherence to the law is often challenged. Trump said Kavanaugh, in his twelve years as
July 10, 2018 Read Full Article
The 'Octane Olive Branch' Is Full of Thorns
by Doug Durante (The Hill/Clean Fuels Development Coalition) With a final rule on fuel economy likely to come out in the near future, a considerable amount of attention has centered on higher octane fuels as a pathway to increased efficiency in
July 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Pruitt Departure Allows for ‘Reset’ between Trump and Ethanol
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) ... The EPA also jettisoned a plan to incorporate an additional 1.5 billion gallons of biofuel requirements in last week’s proposal to make up for the potential waivers granted to small refineries. The agency said that it
July 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Creative Debt and Equity: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Structures for Bioeconomy Project Finance
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bottom line, if you’re in the business of financing a renewable fuels project with a loan guarantee in the mix, you’re probably talking with some combination of New Energy Risk, Stern Brothers, Faegre Baker Daniels partner John
July 09, 2018 Read Full Article
In a Q&A with The Washington Post on Friday, Wheeler Showed He Differs from Pruitt
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) In a Q&A with The Washington Post on Friday, (EPA Acting Administrator Scott) Wheeler showed he differs from Pruitt in at least one major way. He said he considers an endangerment finding that is the agency's
July 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuel Standard: Program Unlikely to Meet Production or Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets
(U.S. Government Accountability Office) The Renewable Fuel Standard aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand the nation’s renewable fuels sector through 2022. It requires that transportation fuels (such as gasoline and diesel) sold in the U.S. contain annually increasing amounts
July 08, 2018 Read Full Article
Scott Pruitt Steps down as EPA Head after Ethics, Management Scandals
by Brady Dennis and Juliet Eilperin (Washington Post) Scott Pruitt, the former Oklahoma attorney general who relentlessly pursued President Trump’s promises of deregulation at the Environmental Protection Agency, resigned Thursday after controversies over his lavish spending, ethical lapses and management decisions eroded
July 05, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Schedules Hearing on Proposed RFS Rule for July 18 COMMENT DEADLINE August 17, 2018
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA has announced it will hold a public hearing in Ypsilanti, Michigan, July 18 to gather public input on its proposed rule to set 2019 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel
July 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Letter from Byzantium: Answers to Your Questions about Byzantine Biofuels Budgets and Policy Moves
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Yes, Virginia, there is cant, pettifoggery, self-dealing, obfuscation, and downright dirty pool when it comes to the deployment of biofuels, chemicals and advanced biomaterials — but there are also some mysteries which can unraveled and
July 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol Helps Fourth of July Travelers Declare Independence from High Gas Prices
by Rachel Gantz (Renewable Fuels Association) A record number of travelers will take to America’s highways and byways this Fourth of July holiday, and ethanol will be lowering the price they pay for gasoline while simultaneously strengthening our nation’s energy
July 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Lawmakers Ask EPA to Approve RFS Pathway for Biomass Power
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A bipartisan delegation of California lawmakers are urging the U.S. EPA to resolve any issues that prevent biomass and waste-to-energy pathways from receiving the same level of support as other forms of energy under the
June 29, 2018 Read Full Article
RFA Chief Knocks EPA Over Failure to Address Illegal Cut in 2016 RVO
by Jeff Barber (Opisnet) PA's failure to include in its proposed 2019 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) an estimated 500 million gal of renewable fuels that a federal appeals court last year said the agency illegally excluded from its 2016 biofuel targets
June 28, 2018 Read Full Article
Grassley Statement on EPA’s Proposed 2019 RFS Biofuels Levels
(Office of Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)) ... “As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I also have concerns that EPA may be ignoring or abusing the Administrative Procedure Act as they continue to grant waivers in secret and refuse to respond
June 28, 2018 Read Full Article
“To-mah-toe, To-may-toe…”: Consequences of Valorizing Biobased Carbon over Biobased Matter
by Michael A. Fatigati (Biofuels Digest) ... We now find it necessary to throttle back our drawdown of the fossil carbon account to preserve our climate and through reasoned and sensible policies and regulation moving us towards use of non-fossil or “living”
June 28, 2018 Read Full Article
Octane Overconfidence
by Ron Lamberty (American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... (W)hy oil refiners wouldn't use ethanol as a source of octane, under a high-octane fuel standard, without an RFS or RINs. -- ... Ethanol is the best and cheapest source
June 27, 2018 Read Full Article
Zero to 10 Million in 5 years
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Slow to start and with fewer gallons than targeted through the Renewable Fuel Standard, cellulosic ethanol is showing signs of steady growth. -- Cellulosic ethanol production has been gaining momentum in the past five years,
June 27, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Confirms 33 Small Refinery Waiver Applications
(Argus Media) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was considering applications to waive 2017 federal fuel blending requirements from 33 refiners this month, up from the 29 it confirmed in April, the agency said today (June 26, 2018). Applications increased as EPA faced
June 27, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol, Not Oil, Should Be Focus of EPA
by Dale Christensen (Argus Leader) The new EPA Director, E. Scott Pruitt is reworking the EPA. It appears their new mission is to rewrite all the rules to benefit the Oil Industry! The old rule of order was to help create a
June 26, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Releases Proposed 2019 RFS RVOs, Fails to Address Waivers COMMENT DEADLINE: August 17, 2018
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On June 26, the U.S. EPA released a proposed rule that aims to require 19.88 billion gallons of biofuels to be blended into the U.S. fuel supply in 2019, up from 19.29 billion gallons in
June 26, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol Provides Value to Everyone in the Chain
by John Duff (Delta Farm Press) ... Regardless of policy, ethanol presents a value proposition to all involved. Ethanol gives farmers access to more markets and greater global market liquidity. In a world where 74% of the variance in the price
June 26, 2018 Read Full Article
EXCLUSIVE-Trump's EPA Ignored Energy Department Calls to Limit Biofuel Waivers
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters) The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency has consistently ignored recommendations from the Department of Energy to reject or limit waivers to oil refiners seeking exemptions from nation's biofuels law, according to five sources familiar with
June 26, 2018 Read Full Article
BoatUS Conducting Ethanol, Summertime Refueling Survey
(Boating Industry/Boating Owners Association of The United States) With the start of the boating season, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) wants to hear from boaters about their experiences with ethanol fuels in an online survey. The short, 13-question survey is an
June 26, 2018 Read Full Article
Producers, Marketers Unify in Support of Biodiesel Tax Credit
(National Biodiesel Board) Today (June 25, 2018), a diverse group of trade associations delivered a letter to Congressional leaders announcing a unified position to maintain and extend the current biodiesel blenders tax credit. In a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), Senate
June 26, 2018 Read Full Article
Barrasso Statement on Forthcoming Biofuel Mandate for 2019
(Office of Senator John Barrasso (R-WY)) U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), issued the following statement on the forthcoming biofuel mandate for 2019. “I will carefully examine EPA’s proposed rule, especially its impact
June 26, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol Discussion Needs to Be Based on Facts
by David Kessel (Marin Independent Journal) ... Discussions on energy use and production are important, but need to be based on factual information, not made up red herrings. • The articles state the intent was to increase renewable fuels. Not mentioned
June 25, 2018 Read Full Article
Drain the Swamp: Fire Pruitt at EPA
(The Courier) ... Yet (Iowa Senator Joni) Ernst’s recent attack against Pruitt at a Washington energy forum was triggered over Pruitt’s “lies” about the Renewable Fuel Standard: not expanding year-round sales for the 15 percent corn-based ethanol fuel blend, while
June 25, 2018 Read Full Article
The White House Continues to Drive The Outlook for Biofuels Producers
by Tristan R. Brown (Seeking Alpha) Three major policy developments by the White House have had a large impact on U.S. biofuel producers over the past week. The EPA was initially reported to be on the verge of effectively reducing the U.S.
June 22, 2018 Read Full Article
House Members Demand Answers from EPA on RFS, Waivers
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On June 20, 12 democratic members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Committee on Agriculture asked the U.S. EPA to provide additional information regarding its failed implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard. “We
June 22, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA to Propose 19.88 bln Gallon Biofuels Mandate, up 3 pct - Sources
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will propose setting a 19.88-billion-gallon biofuels blending mandate in 2019 under the Renewable Fuel Standard, up about 3 percent from 2018, according to two sources briefed on the matter. The proposal will include
June 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard: Current Status and Future Prospects
(U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment) ... A number of exogenous policies have greatly impacted advanced biofuels markets and RFS (Renewable Fuel Standards) compliance. These include trade restrictions and duties now imposed on certain imported
June 22, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Considers Delaying Friday Biofuel Announcement: Sources
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering delaying its widely anticipated announcement on Friday on 2019 renewable fuel volumes as it re-examines plans to force larger refineries to make up for gallons exempted
June 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Growth Energy: Prime the Pump Success Driving Ethanol Demand
(Growth Energy) More than 2,800 retail sites will offer E15 by 2021, generating approximately 350 million new ethanol gallons annually, according to a one-pager released today by Growth Energy. The report touts the immense success of E15 and the accomplishments of
June 21, 2018 Read Full Article
UPDATE 2-EPA to Propose Reallocating Waived Biofuels Volumes to Other Refiners-Sources
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters/Successful Farming) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will propose reallocating biofuel blending obligations waived under its small refinery exemption program to other refiners, in an announcement that could come as early as Friday, according to two sources familiar with the
June 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Goes Global as Gasoline Price Rally Deteriorates Demand
by Suzanne Danforth and Jim Venhof (Genscape) U.S. domestic ethanol demand suffered this spring relative to 2017, despite consistently favorable blending values and increasing Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requirements. The decline, following a period of historically low ethanol prices this winter, forced
June 20, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Decision on Isobutanol Blasts Gevo Stock into Stratosphere Monday
by Ben Miller (Denver Business Journal) Gevo applauded an EPA decision on isobutanol, a fuel that's made from renewable resources like corn. Gevo shares soared 262 percent in Monday trading. READ MORE EPA decision on isobutanol buoys Gevo stock Monday (9News.com) Gevo shares
June 19, 2018 Read Full Article
US EPA Close to Releasing 2019-20 Biofuel Mandate Volumes
(Platts) The US Environmental Protection Agency is close to releasing its proposal for how much biofuel refiners must blend into the US transportation fuel supply next year, a spokeswoman said Friday. The policy will include 2019 blending requirements for ethanol and advanced
June 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Midwest Trump Voters Losing Faith in His Commitment to Biofuels
(National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) New polling shows that voters across three Midwestern states are disappointed with Trump administration decisions they view as broken promises of support for local agriculture and renewable fuels industries. In a survey of voters in Iowa, Missouri and
June 18, 2018 Read Full Article
U.S. EPA Won't Reallocate Exempt Biofuel Obligations without Congress
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday it will not reallocate exempt biofuel obligations under the small refinery waiver program without an act of Congress, setting the stage for a new clash with lawmakers in corn producing
June 18, 2018 Read Full Article
GAO to Look into Trump's Reduction of Carbon Social Costs
by Miranda Green (The Hill) A government watchdog has agreed to review the Trump administration's method for calculating the social cost of carbon, including examining the decision to drop the rate as first determined during the Obama's administration. The Government Accountability Office
June 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Everyone's Favorite Acronym: The Renewable Fuel Standard
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The Renewable Fuel Standard will be the subject of a subcommittee hearing this week in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. On Friday the Environment subcommittee will have a hearing focused on advanced biofuels under
June 18, 2018 Read Full Article
White House to Meet Automakers, California on Fuel Efficiency Rule
by David Shepardson (Reuters) White House officials will have a new round of meetings with an automakers trade group and California’s “clean air” agency next week before unveiling a proposal to reverse rules aimed at increasing fuel efficiency, participants said on
June 15, 2018 Read Full Article
NMMA Provides Update on EPA Bio-Isobutanol Approval
(National Marine Manufacturers Association) Earlier this week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt approved the registration of bio-isobutanol as a fuel additive. The National Marine Manufacturers Association has been a leading voice in the effort to secure approval for bio-isobutanol, raising it
June 15, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Chief Hints He Could Order More Ethanol in Fuel
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) A week after the White House suspended its bid to reform the nation’s biofuels policy to aid oil refiners, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday dangled a tantalizing prospect to Midwest corn farmers, saying
June 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Senate Ag Committee Restores 2018 Farm Bill Energy Title Funding
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On June 13, the Senate ag committee approved the its version of the 2018 Farm Bill with bipartisan support. The legislation includes an amendment offered by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., that restores mandatory funding to Farm
June 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Senators Hope to Reap Farm Bill Amendments
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The Senate Agriculture Committee will take up amendments to the farm bill today, but negotiations were still ongoing as to just which of 186 submitted would get a vote. Here are a few energy highlights
June 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Not into Octane
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) ON THE HILL: GOP Sen. John Cornyn says finding common ground on an overhaul of the RFS is "like trying to come up with peace in the Middle East." Cornyn has not yet put pen
June 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Pruitt Heads out on Ethanol Visit
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is expected to travel to Kansas this morning, where he'll stop by East Kansas Agri-Energy's ethanol plant in Garnett. The trip comes a week after the White House quashed the release
June 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Ted Cruz Says Biofuel Policy Overhaul May Be Revived
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) A day after a tentative agreement to overhaul U.S. biofuel policy appeared to collapse amid farm-state concerns, EPA chief Scott Pruitt met to discuss the issue with the lead senator pushing for the changes: Ted Cruz. Pruitt had
June 12, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA to Change How It Considers Costs, Benefits of Regulations COMMENTS DEADLINE: July 13, 2018
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On June 7, the U.S. EPA issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, announcing the agency is soliciting public input on whether and how to change the way it considers costs and benefits in making
June 08, 2018 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK -- Jenna Bloxom
Jenna Bloxom, in a recent Biofuels Digest thought piece on the need "to drastically alter the public’s understanding and attitudes about biofuels," pointed to Standing Rock as, "among many things, a prime and missed opportunity for the biofuels industry to send
June 08, 2018 Read Full Article
Mired in Misère: Re-Launching Political Capital and Public Trust for Biofuels; Seven Strategies to Reinstate Our Industry’s Power in Washington, D.C. through Mainstreet, USA
by Jenna Bloxom (Colorado State University/Biofuels Digest) ... Now is the critical juncture for a unified bioeconomy to re-assert biofuels as a political powerhouse and compelling policy agenda that defies partisan, geographical, and generational divisions. ... (T)his industry must take the initiative to drastically
June 08, 2018 Read Full Article
Notice for Solicitation of Members for Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee DEADLINE: June 30, 2018
(U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Agriculture/Federal Register) ... U.S. Department of Energy is soliciting nomination for candidates to fill vacancies on the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee (Committee). ... Deadline for Technical Advisory Committee member nominations is
June 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Why Nebraska’s Governor Is a Champion of Biofuels
(Urban Air Initiative) Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts recently declared May as Renewable Fuels Month to draw attention to clean burning biofuel options. He’s focused on grassroot efforts to educate and expand access of mid-level blends for his citizens. Urban Air believes
June 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Top 10 Biodiesel Trends 2018: What’s up with the World’s Favorite Advanced Biofuel?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... We’ve organized the state of biodiesel into 10 areas of vital interest ranging from the development of markets to the entry of ancillary products and new feedstocks. #1 Tax & Trade Free trade vs fair trade: Dumping
June 07, 2018 Read Full Article
RFS Changes on Hold
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) ASSUME DEAL DEAD: Sen. Joni Ernst's decision to lay into embattled EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt over his alleged about-face on ethanol appears to have paid off. Ernst spoke to President Donald Trump Tuesday night, she wrote on Twitter,
June 06, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA's New Super Fuel Could Spell Trouble for Ethanol
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) The Environmental Protection Agency is about to allow a new renewable fuel to be sold at the pump, which could revolutionize the fuel business while eliminating the use of corn ethanol in gasoline altogether. For some, the
June 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump’s Support Wavering in Farm Country Over Ethanol, Trade Moves
by Alan Bjerga and Mario Parker (Bloomberg) EPA chief seen as betraying Trump’s promises on biofuels; Trade tensions put demand for agricultural goods at risk -- Even as Donald Trump tweets his support for U.S. agriculture, farmer loyalty for the president looks like it’s starting
June 05, 2018 Read Full Article
RFS Deal Coming Soon
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The White House is expected to release its final proposal on revisions to the Renewable Fuel Standard today. Pro’s Eric Wolff is hearing from two industry sources that the proposal will include reallocating some of the
June 05, 2018 Read Full Article
On The Front Lines: The Old Battle between Ethanol and Oil Takes Center Stage with the RFS.
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol Producer Magazine recaps the many recent attempts to hinder the policy, and looks beyond 2022. -- ... But leaders in the ethanol industry are quick to point out this fight is not new; it’s the
June 04, 2018 Read Full Article
Commentary: A Success Story Worth Repeating
by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today) ... The ethanol industry could provide a home-grown, energy source that lessened our dependence on foreign imports, replaced a cancer-causing chemical as the octane portion of gasoline, and reduced tail pipe emissions. It would also
June 04, 2018 Read Full Article
Growth Energy: RVP Period to Begin at Highest Fuel Cost to Consumers in Years
(Growth Energy) Tomorrow (June 1, 2018) marks the beginning of the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) restriction on E15 sales across most of the country during the summer driving season – June 1 to September 15. The ban on E15 comes at
June 04, 2018 Read Full Article
Farm and Biofuel Coalition Demands that EPA Account for Lost Volumes Due to Secretive, Retroactive Small Refinery Exemptions
(Growth Energy) Coalition Petitions EPA to Revise the Way It Calculates Annual Renewable Fuel Obligations; EPA Is Failing to Comply with Statutory Mandate -- Today a coalition of biofuel and agriculture groups petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to change its regulations to
June 04, 2018 Read Full Article
Exclusive: U.S. EPA Grants Refiners Biofuel Credits to Remedy Obama-Era Waiver Denials
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded tens of millions of dollars worth of biofuel blending credits for this year to refiners HollyFrontier and Sinclair Oil after they argued the agency had wrongly denied
May 31, 2018 Read Full Article
Sustain RFS as Important Tool in GHG-Reduction Strategy
(Solutions from the Land) One of the three pillars of climate-smart agriculture is actions that farmers can take to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and simultaneously improve profitability. A principal means by which the agriculture sector can help governments around
May 31, 2018 Read Full Article
Pruitt's SAB Story
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) EPA's independent Science Advisory Board will meet today and Friday for the first time since Administrator Scott Pruitt barred scientists on the committee from receiving EPA grants and boosted its ranks with industry representatives —
May 31, 2018 Read Full Article
Down to the Details: Kernel Fiber Now
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... EcoEngineers’ Director of Engineering Jim Ramm details Kernel Fiber Now, a service that helps producers navigate their options with corn kernel fiber-to-ethanol technologies, RINs and more. With intense interest in corn kernel fiber-to-ethanol technologies,
May 25, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Can’t Keep Prior Fuel Economy Data in Its Blind Spot: Critics
by Abby Smith (Bloomberg) Lawsuits seek to force consideration of prior data in fuel economy proposal; Automakers expect fuller analysis, data to back up agencies’ proposed options -- Lawsuits over the EPA’s April fuel economy determination are more than just a preemptive strike,
May 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Officials to Meet on Biofuel Policy Changes - Sources
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) Top officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Energy and Agriculture plan to meet on Thursday to hammer out details of President Donald Trump’s planned changes to the nation’s biofuel laws, according to
May 24, 2018 Read Full Article
E15 Year-Round: Mixed Messages from RFS, RINs Meeting
by Tom C. Doran (AgriNews Publications) It was good news and bad news for corn growers and ethanol proponents after President Donald Trump met with legislators to discuss the Renewable Fuel Standard. A White House meeting with Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Joni Ernst,
May 23, 2018 Read Full Article
TSITRIAN: Trump No Friend of Family Farmers
by John Tsitrian (Rapid City Journal) ... And forgetting about soybeans for a minute, there's the matter of Trump administration policy on the ethanol mandate, aka the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), a major matter for corn producers. Trump's Environmental Protection
May 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blog: Grassley Points to Need to Change RFS Waivers Language
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, would like to see administrative changes made to how EPA hands out Renewable Fuel Standard waivers to small refiners, estimated by one ethanol industry study to have resulted in about
May 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Large U.S. Refiner Marathon Seeks Biofuel Hardship Waiver - Sources
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters/Daily Mail) Marathon Petroleum Corp, the second-biggest refining company in the United States, has asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a hardship waiver exempting one of its facilities from the nation's biofuels law, two
May 23, 2018 Read Full Article
By the Gallon and Trade Groups: What about EVs?
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) While the numbers are still making their way through the regulatory process, sources tell Pro's Eric Wolff, refiners can expect to blend 500 million more gallons of advanced biofuels next year into the nation's
May 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Donnelly Urges President Trump To Take Steps To Lower Gas Prices
(WBIW) Following reports that gas prices are on the rise, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly today urged President Trump to take an important step towards addressing the price surge by reducing regulatory burdens around the blending of biofuels. Current regulations on Reid
May 22, 2018 Read Full Article
'Climate Change Is Real,' Automakers Declare To Trump
by Ryan Felton (Jalopnik) Major automakers are still reeling from the sudden realization they’ve collectively succumbed to Stockholm Syndrome, after they buddied up with President Donald Trump to alter fuel economy standards set by his predecessor. Since Trump went waaaay further than the automakers could’ve
May 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Waiver Wire: Why Is the Biofuels Industry up in Arms about Oil Refinery Waivers?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... But they’re part of the Washington dialogue this month, waivers and easy outs, since reports surfaced in media that the US Environmental Protection Agency granted a Renewable Fuel Standard hardship waiver for CVR Energy’s Wynnewood, Oklahoma
May 22, 2018 Read Full Article
The Interaction of the Clean Air Act, California's CAA Waiver, Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards, Renewable Fuel Standards and California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The Trump Administration is taking a new look at Obama Administration era Co2 regulations. On the transportation side, these include reviewing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards; threatening to take away California’s authority to set
May 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Hits Back at Proposed E15 Labelling
(Biofuels International) Following the introduction of a bill to warn consumers about the perceived dangers of E15 in small engines, representatives from the ethanol industry have questioned the rationale for the legislation. The biofuel proponents say that the new rules are designed to
May 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Biotechies Riding Herd on Biofuel Policy Uncertainties
by Mikkel Pates (Agweek) Ag technology promoters are pedaling hard for biofuels-friendly policies in Washington, D.C., to make life livable for cash-strapped farmers supplying markets that didn't exist 30 years ago. Erick Lutt, director of industrial and environmental policy for Biotechnology
May 21, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Set To Give Oil Another Victory At Ethanol’s Expense
(Urban Air Initiative) A proposed rule to make ethanol blends above 15% illegal in anything other than flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) is a potential death blow to the ethanol industry according to the Urban Air Initiative. This coincidently comes at a
May 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Utilities Join with Tesla to Sue EPA over Fuel Standard Rollback
by Gavin Blade (Utility Dive) o A coalition of utilities and electric transportation companies sued the Enviornmental Protection Agency earlier this month over its efforts to roll back automotive fuel efficiency standards set by the Obama administration. The suit, first reported by Axios,
May 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofuel Policy Adds to Agricultural Market Uncertainty
by Pat Westhoff (Columbia Tribune) ... Biofuel policy decisions also have the potential to have large impacts on commodity markets and farm income. Most cars in this country run on a blend of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol. At current gasoline
May 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Will Battle Between 'Big Corn' And 'Big Oil' Stall Next Generation Biofuels?
by Aaron Smith and Vincent Smith (Investor's Business Daily) ... The most immediate impact of the RFS wars is to focus attention on corn ethanol and petroleum gasoline at the detriment of second-generation biofuels. These fuels — produced from the inedible parts
May 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Ryan Zinke Moves to Protect Critical Minerals from Foreign Threats
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is listing 35 minerals used in aircraft, cellphones, and other important technologies as "vital" to national security in a move to wean the U.S. off foreign suppliers. The list includes such valuable metals
May 18, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA, California Officials Meet on Fuel-Efficiency Rules
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) The Environmental Protection Agency is meeting with California officials this week in Washington to negotiate the creation of a national fuel efficiency standard after the state sued the Trump administration over its proposed easing of the
May 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Looking Back on Platts 7th Annual Geneva Biofuels Conference
(Biofuels International) Struggles and triumphs of the biofuels industry were brought into sharp focus at the Platts 7th Annual Biofuels Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. With speakers from across the biofuels sector, the event at the Grand Hotel Kempinski covered the latest policy updates
May 17, 2018 Read Full Article
RNG Stakeholders Talk Renewable Fuels With Lawmakers
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) Stakeholders from across the North American renewable natural gas (RNG) industry descended on Capitol Hill today (May 15, 2018) for more than 65 meetings with federal lawmakers to communicate the importance of continuing to develop and
May 17, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Slapped With Another Suit Over Vehicle Emissions Standards
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) Several environmental and public interest groups have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to the agency’s April 2 announcement to roll back vehicle emissions standards. The suit was filed on Tuesday
May 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Rising Fuel Prices Bring into Question EPA Efforts to Reduce Fuel Economy Standards
by Tsvetana Paraskova (Oilprice.com/USA Today) Crude oil and gasoline prices are on the rise after President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal. Now, many consumers are seeing their extra money go to rising gas prices, potentially undercutting a key
May 17, 2018 Read Full Article
U.S. Agencies Moving forward with Proposing Fuel Economy Revisions
by David Shepardson (Reuters) The Trump administration is moving ahead with plans to submit a series of options for softening fuel efficiency standards to the White House for approval in the coming week, two officials briefed on the matter Tuesday said. The U.S.
May 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump Said to Mull Ways to Boost Biofuel Market Transparency
Mario Parker and Jennifer A. Dlouhy (Bloomberg) The Environmental Protection Agency plans to ask for advice on whether -- and how -- to boost the transparency of an opaque $9 billion market in biofuel compliance credits amid allegations of manipulation, said
May 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Grassley vs Pruitt: Will Billionaire Bailouts or Biofuels Prevail?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Trump in a pickle: support his beleaguered EPA Administrator over oil refinery bailouts, or rally his Midwestern farm-state base? -- In Washington, Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa tweeted: “I’ve supported Pruitt but if he pushes changes to RFS
May 16, 2018 Read Full Article
A Proposed Rule by the Agricultural Marketing Service: National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard COMMENTS DUE 7/3/18
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) A recent amendment to the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 requires the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to establish the national mandatory bioengineered (BE) food disclosure standard. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing a new rule that
May 15, 2018 Read Full Article
A Higher Market for Ethanol Former Author of RFS Legislation Sees Octane Levels as Advancement for Ethanol
by Chris Clayton (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle keeps close tabs on what's happening with biofuels even though he's been out of the U.S. Senate more than a decade now. Daschle, who is working with the
May 15, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Sends 2019-20 US Biofuel Mandate Proposal to White House
by Meghan Gordon (Platts) The US Environmental Protection Agency has sent its proposal for the federal biofuel mandate's 2019 ethanol volumes and 2020 biodiesel volumes to the White House, according to Office of Management and Budget records. The notice did not contain
May 15, 2018 Read Full Article
API: Administrative Changes to RFS Probably Illegal, Definitely a Bad Idea
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The American Petroleum Institute is no fan of Trump's effort to make administrative changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard. The Trump administration is working on a memo laying out a series of administrative changes, including
May 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Lawrence Solomon: Even Environmentalists Tell Trudeau His Ethanol Plan Is Terrible
by Lawrence Solomon (Financial Post) Henry Waxman, the U.S. congressman who pushed to cut tailpipe emissions in 2007, is among those who now say biofuels like corn ethanol and soy biodiesel are increasing global warming pollution -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s plan to
May 14, 2018 Read Full Article
UPDATE 2-Trump Biofuel Policy Overhaul to Include Fewer Refinery Waivers - Source
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters) The Trump administration will scale back the use of biofuels waivers for small refineries and count ethanol exports toward federal biofuels usage quotas as part of a broad overhaul of the nation’s renewable fuel policy,
May 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofuels Production and Consumption in the US: Status, Advances and Challenges
by Mahmood Ebadian and James D. McMillan (IEA Bioenergy Task 39 Newsletter) ... The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) was enacted in 2007 to enhance domestic production of fuels and spur economic development while reducing reliance on imports and improving the
May 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Deal or No Deal– Either Way We Need to Keep Moving
by Doug Durante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Biofuels Digest) ... First of all the export RIN issue does raise trade questions but if RINS go back to pennies then it would be hard for anyone to consider it a subsidy. And how
May 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump Tells World's Top Automakers to Build More Cars in U.S
by Tom Krisher and Ken Thomas (Associated Press/Chicago Tribune) President Donald Trump told leaders of the world's top automakers on Friday that he wants to see more cars built in the United States as his administration weighs plans to reduce gas mileage and
May 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump, Top Car Executives Meet Amid Struggle over Climate Rules for Automobiles
by Chris Mooney (The Washington Post) Executives from top car companies arrived at the White House on Friday amid a looming legal conflict between the Trump administration and primarily Democratic-led states over climate rules for automobiles. “We’ve made a lot of progress in
May 11, 2018 Read Full Article
New FSMA Compliance Program Launched for Biodiesel Producers
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) A new food safety program has been developed by the Iowa Biodiesel Board to help biodiesel producers comply with the U.S. government’s Food Safety Modernization Act, deadlines for which are quickly approaching. Glycerin, a byproduct of biodiesel production,
May 10, 2018 Read Full Article
Groups Ask EPA to Prioritize Cellulosic Pathway Approvals
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Today (May 3, 2018) five Midwest biofuels associations sent a letter to the EPA asking the agency to shift administrative time and staff away from demand-destroying Renewable Fuel Standard exemptions and toward pathway approvals for
May 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Growth Energy’s Retail Partners Call on Trump for RVP Relief
(Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) E15 retailers from across the country are urging President Trump to ensure the Environmental Protection Agency follows through on his commitment to allow fuel containing 15 percent ethanol to be sold year-round. “This common-sense change will allow
May 09, 2018 Read Full Article
US EPA Climate Changing on RFS?
by Michael McAdams (Advanced Biofuels Association/Biomass Magazine) At ABFA, we’ve been keeping our eyes on the U.S. EPA during the first quarter of 2018. The EPA’s actions over the next several months will have ripple effects through the industry, in the
May 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Rallying for RNG
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas’s Marcus Gillette discusses the organization, its goals and progress in expanding the production and use of RNG in North America. -- ... The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (‘RNG Coalition’ for
May 09, 2018 Read Full Article
If at First You Don't Succeed: The Looming Fight between the Trump Administration and the State of California over Climate Change Rules for Cars
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The looming fight between the Trump administration and the state of California over climate change rules for cars will cover some familiar terrain - where the liberal state and its environmentalist allies have won
May 09, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Lacks Power to Administratively Expand Ethanol Waiver
(Institute for Energy Research) The Trump administration is considering expanding the ethanol fuel waiver in the Clean Air Act (CAA) to allow E15 fuel (gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol) to be sold year round. The Environmental Protection Agency has indicated
May 09, 2018 Read Full Article
UPDATE 1-U.S. Refiners Reap Big Rewards from EPA Biofuel Waivers
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s expanded use of waivers to free small refineries from the nation’s biofuels law has saved the industry as a whole hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a Reuters review of public
May 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Parties to White House Biofuel Deal Disagree What's Agreed
by Jennifer A Dlouhy and Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Tentative agreement struck during a White House negotiation; Refiners could benefit with biofuel exports allowed for quotas -- A tentative deal on U.S. biofuel policy struck at the White House would allow year-round sales of higher-ethanol gasoline in
May 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Urban Air Uncovers More Fishy Fuel Testing
(Urban Air Initiative) Urban Air Initiative uncovered what looks to be more fishy fuel testing. Last year, we called out the Coordinated Research Council (CRC) for using flawed fuel blending practices when evaluating ethanol emissions. These CRC studies matter because EPA often uses
May 08, 2018 Read Full Article
Pruitt’s Renewable Fuel Attacks Cost Him GOP Support in Congress
by Mike Carr (The Hill/New Energy America) As the drip, drip of Pruitt scandals becomes a deluge, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s supporters continue to claim that he should be protected because he’s “advancing the president’s agenda.” But because he’s breaking a key Trump
May 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Carl Icahn's Refinery Investment Has Rebounded by $1.4 Billion, Boosted by Trump Energy Policy
by Tom DiChristopher (CNBC) -Shares of CVR Energy have more than doubled since August, resulting in a $1.4 billion paper gain for Carl Icahn, who holds an 82-percent stake in the company. -CVR Energy's stock price slumped through much of last
May 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Debate over the RFS Is Playing out on the Political Stage: The Public Discussion Rarely Considers American Consumers.
by Donnell Rehagen (National Biodiesel Board/Biofuels Digest) The biofuels industry found itself in an unusual position for much of the past 12 months. Typically confined to debates in the trade press, biofuels-related headlines are now splashed across the mainstream media. It’s new
May 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Mail Call! Biofuels Write to EPA on Strategy
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) A coalition of Midwest biofuels associations sent a letter Thursday to EPA asking it to move administrative time and staff away from Renewable Fuel Standard exemptions and instead toward approvals for cellulosic ethanol. "The
May 04, 2018 Read Full Article
How Trump Might Make SUVs Pricier in Seattle than Omaha
by Camille von Kaenel (E&E News) ... The Trump administration's efforts to weaken vehicle pollution requirements could set up a split U.S. market, concentrating fuel-efficient cars in mostly Democratic states and gas guzzlers in the red states. President Trump's plans could
May 04, 2018 Read Full Article
Growth Energy Ad Campaign Rallies Midwest Behind E15 Fix
(Growth Energy) A new radio ad launched today by Growth Energy reminds listeners across the heartland that it’s “make or break time” for the rural economy. Slated to air alongside a digital ad campaign in Midwestern states, the radio spot encourages listeners to join Growth
May 04, 2018 Read Full Article
Former Volkswagen CEO Indicted Over Emission Testing Scandal
by Sonari Glinton (National Public Radio) Martin Winterkorn, the former head of Volkswagen, was indicted on Thursday along with five other former VW executives on charges of conspiracy and fraud in connection with a years-long scheme by the automaker to cheat