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
Regulations-Federal
Back TO HOMEGrowth 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
May 04, 2018 Read Full Article
UPDATE 1-Trump to Meet with Automakers to Discuss U.S. Fuel Rules -Sources
by David Shepardson (Reuters) The White House is planning a meeting next week between President Donald Trump and senior leaders of major U.S. and foreign automakers to discuss planned fuel efficiency rule changes through 2026, automakers and administration officials said on
May 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blog: Is Budget Report Language Cause of RFS Waivers?
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, mentioned on Tuesday he wants to change language in recent appropriations bills approved by Congress in the past three years. Grassley told agricultural journalists the language may be one of the
May 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Update 2-White House Sets Meeting with Senators on Biofuels Next Week -Sources
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters/Successful Farming) The Trump administration has invited a group of U.S. senators to the White House early next week to discuss biofuels policy, the latest in a series of such meetings aimed at helping refiners cope with the Renewable Fuel Standard, according
May 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Trucking Executive Panel Objects to EPA Fuel Economy Rollback Plan
by John O'Dell (Trucks.com) “Stay the course” is the message a panel of leading clean vehicle developers, users and regulators delivered Tuesday in the wake of the Trump Administration’s plan to roll back tough fuel economy and emissions regulations developed under
May 02, 2018 Read Full Article
RFA: Ethanol Saves Consumers at the Pump
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) ... Energy Information Administration is already warning drivers that they are likely to see the highest gasoline prices in four years. The good news is that ethanol is helping to offset higher prices at the pump,
May 02, 2018 Read Full Article
California And 16 Other States Are Suing Trump To Stop Him Destroying Emissions Standards
by Raphael Orlove (Jalopnik) Our emissions standards are probably the biggest booster to automotive performance in the past half century, making our cars not only more eco-friendly but more powerful, too. Trump has been trying to cut it all down, but now California
May 01, 2018 Read Full Article
Utilities, Oil Interests Clash over EV Policy at Conservative Policy Summit
by Gavin Bade (Utility Dive) Utility companies clashed with oil industry interests over electric vehicle and fuel subsidies at a meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a conservative political group, last Friday. Oil-backed groups led by the Institute for Energy
May 01, 2018 Read Full Article
EIA: Subsidies for Renewables Down as Tax Credits Diminish
(U.S. Energy Information Administration/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Federal subsidies for renewable energy—including biofuels for transportation use and renewable generation of electricity—dropped to $6.7 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2016, a 56 percent decline from FY 2013. Renewable subsidies in FY 2010 and FY
May 01, 2018 Read Full Article
Marathon Petroleum to Acquire Andeavor for $23B
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The deal creates the largest US oil refiner (and a top-five refiner globally) at 3.1 million barrels per day of capacity — Valero is around the same size, but that includes overseas operations. ... The (Marathon Petroleum)
May 01, 2018 Read Full Article
Stay Vigilant: The Importance of Paying Attention and Remaining Active in Ethanol Advocacy.
by Brian Jennings (Ethanol Producer Magazine/American Coalition for Ethanol ) ... The timing of this year’s fly-in was fortuitous, amid talk of “win-win” deals for refiners and biofuel producers and a snowstorm that put the citizens of D.C. on edge. Our
April 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Isobutanol: Now on the Radar for USA COMMENTS DUE April 30, 2018
by Jess Hewitt (Biofuels Digest/Lee Enterprises Consulting) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened a comment period for the registration of the use of Isobutanol in gasoline. Why is this important? Because since the states banning of the use of MTBE
April 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Exclusive: U.S. EPA Grants Biofuels Waiver to Billionaire Icahn's Oil Refinery - Sources
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has granted a financial hardship waiver to an oil refinery owned by billionaire Carl Icahn, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, exempting the Oklahoma facility from requirements under
April 30, 2018 Read Full Article
How Trump Will Go after California's Auto GHG Authority
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) The Trump administration plans to argue that California does not have the authority to enforce stringent greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars, despite the Obama administration's 2009 waiver, according to a source familiar with a forthcoming
April 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Urban Air Initiative: Leading Off -- Why Did a Retired Oil Refinery Engineer Turn into an Ethanol Advocate?
(Urban Air Initiative) The resistance to ethanol expansion is really about politics and a desire to squash competition. But if you weed through all of PR campaigns and simply evaluate fuel options from the perspective of what's best for the average
April 27, 2018 Read Full Article
Washington Insider: Biofuels Mandates Under Pressure
(DTN The Progressive Farmer) Oil state partisans, including certain refiners, have raged about a credit-trading market within the program that they say causes undue economic pain. The biofuels industry counters that those compliance credits, known as renewable identification numbers, are essential
April 26, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Data Shows Small Refiner Waivers Have Lowered 2016, 2017 RFS Blending Obligations by 1.6 Billion Gallons
by Emily Druckman (Renewable Fuels Association) EPA’s recent actions in exempting small refineries from their Renewable Fuel Standard blending obligations for 2016 and 2017 have effectively lowered the volumetric obligations by at least 1.6 billion gallons, according to an analysis of
April 25, 2018 Read Full Article
ABO Insider Briefing: Algae’s Big Winning Streak in DC – How to Take Advantage --- May 1, 2018
(Algae Biomass Organization) Algae is on a roll in Congress. Despite a challenging fiscal environment, the latest federal spending bill passed by Congress includes new funding for algae R&D that will be available in FY2018 and, for the first time, tax
April 25, 2018 Read Full Article
Refinery Workers Return to Capitol Hill to Rally for Renewable Fuel Standard Reform
(United Steelworkers/PR Newswire) The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that on Thursday, April 26, about 100 workers from independent merchant oil refineries owned by Monroe Energy, Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) and PBF Energy will rally for their jobs in Washington, D.C., bringing
April 25, 2018 Read Full Article
Is the EU Killing the Magic Plant? The Emerging International Consensus on Low Carbon Fuels Takes Center Stage in (Spite of) Brussels
by Steve Bi* (Advanced Biofuels USA) At one of a series of bioenergy conferences in Brussels, April 10-12, 2018, some combination of hearty guffaws, inward chuckles and solemn nods greeted the predictable but well-delivered punchline from Miguel Ivan Lacerda de
April 25, 2018 Read Full Article
Pruitt Unveils Controversial ‘Transparency’ Rule Limiting What Research EPA Can Use COMMENT DEADLINE extended to August 16, 2018
by Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis (The Washington Post) Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt moved Tuesday to limit what science can be used in writing agency regulations, a change long sought by conservatives. The proposed rule would only allow the EPA to
April 25, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Announces Biomass from Managed Forests Will Be Considered Carbon Neutral
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Georgia, in a meeting with members of the forestry community, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency announced the Agency issued a statement of policy making clear, that future regulatory actions on biomass from managed forests will
April 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Renewable Natural Gas Production Facilities Grow by 85% in Four Years
by Alyssa Danigelis (Energy Manager Today) A new map and project database show at least 76 operational renewable natural gas production facilities in the United States and Canada now. That represents an 85% growth from the 41 projects built by 2014,
April 23, 2018 Read Full Article
The New War Over Ethanol, And How It Might Affect You
by F. Todd Davidson (Forbes) A seemingly small action from the Environmental Protection Agency could spark a new war between Big Oil and Big Ag that could have far-reaching effects on the U.S. agricultural, energy, and transportation industries. Last month the EPA granted an
April 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Farm Bill Delays, Ethanol Waivers Worry SD Sen. Rounds
by Barry Amundson (Grand Forks Herald) U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D, is concerned about two major issues that can affect farmers and ranchers this year. One is the farm bill that faces an uncertain future as it's set to expire in September. The
April 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Where Do Biofuels Stand? You Can't Always Get What You Want
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Despite efforts by President Donald Trump to settle a long-running dispute between ethanol backers and the refining industry, progress on a biofuels deal has stalled. Instead, the administration has taken a piecemeal approach to the
April 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Certification Program Will Help Biodiesel Producers Meet FSMA Requirements
(Iowa Biodisel Board) Iowa Biodiesel Board launches program to meet industry need; Webinar takes place May 10 -- Biodiesel producers who want to sell glycerin that can end up as an animal food ingredient will soon be up against the deadline to
April 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Vehicle Efficiency Transportation 2050: More EVs, but Conventional Vehicles Will Still Dominate
by Jieyi Lu (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Making Vehicles More Efficient Is Critical to Reduce Emissions -- ... Over the next 30 years, electric vehicles (EVs) will grow and fuel economy will increase, but conventional gasoline vehicles will continue to dominate
April 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Expected to Meet Growing E15 Demand
by Terry Anderson (Midwest Messenger News) ... One day after President Trump told a group of governors and lawmakers invited to the White House that he supports sales of E15 — 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline — all year,
April 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Big Bailout Number Two
by John Siciliano and Josh Siegel (Washington Examiner Daily on Energy) ...The other big bailout concern is the Environmental Protection Agency’s waivers to big refining companies to let them off the hook from meeting the national ethanol mandate, which is outraging
April 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Perdue's Strong First Year at USDA May Be Clouded by Ethanol Doubts
by Chuck Abbott (Successful Farming) ... In May 2017, during his (Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue) first month as secretary, he created the post of undersecretary for trade, a longtime goal of farm groups, as part of redrawing USDA’s organizational chart. ... If Perdue
April 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump's EPA Argues More People Will Die in Car Accidents unless California Fuel Rules Are Weakened
by Evan Halper (Los Angeles Times) The Trump administration is embracing a curious — and some would say dated — argument as it builds its case to weaken federal rules championed by California that require cars and SUVs to average
April 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Anti-Ethanol Pundits Show Iowa Uses Less of Its Own Produce
by John Siciliano and Josh Siegel (Washington Examiner) A study showing that U.S. ethanol leader Iowa doesn’t use a lot of its own corn-based fuel is exciting some in the anti-ethanol crowd in Washington. “Iowa — the number one ethanol producer and corn
April 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Farm State Senators Tell EPA to Stop Giving Big Oil Refiners a Pass on Biofuels Rules
by Tom DiChristopher (CNBC) Bipartisan senators on Tuesday asked the EPA to stop issuing waivers that allow oil refiners to avoid obligations to blend biofuels into gasoline. --EPA has reportedly issued 25 of the "hardship" waivers, usually reserved for small,
April 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Exclusive Report: The Federal Biofuel Mandate ‘Has Failed To Achieve Its Policy Goals’
by Michael Bastasch (The Daily Caller) The federal biofuel mandate “has failed to achieve its policy goals while imposing significant other costs on consumers,” according to a new report. Americans paid out nearly $77 billion in additional fuel costs over the last 10
April 19, 2018 Read Full Article
New Release: Co-Optima 2017 Year in Review
(U.S. Department of Energy) While vehicles and fuels currently on the market get travelers from Point A to Point B, are there new options that could save fuel and money, while also delivering higher performance and cleaner air? Co-Optima research is exploring
April 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Automakers Want 95 Octane Gas To Completely Take Over
by Erik Shilling (Jalopnik) ... Higher compression ratios, and thus higher octane, can have the additional benefit of greater fuel efficiency if the engine is built that way from the start, however. Which is why automakers are now lobbying for a new,
April 18, 2018 Read Full Article
King Tells Iowa RFA: “I Want Ethanol sold TO, THROUGH, and BEYOND the E15 Blend.”
(4-Traders) Congressman King Pledges Continued Biofuel Support to Iowa Renewable Fuels Association -- Congressman Steve King, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, released the following statement after meeting today with members of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. During their meeting, Congressman
April 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Cars Threaten Climate Goals in Blue States
by Benjamin Storrow (E&E News) ... Transportation emissions threaten to undercut blue states' climate goals, raising questions about their ability to lead U.S. climate efforts at a time when the federal government is rolling back environmental regulations. Emissions from cars, trucks
April 18, 2018 Read Full Article
REX American: A Good To Great Ethanol Company
(Viking Analytics/Seeking Alpha) REX consistently outperforms its peers in making ethanol profitably. REX has zero debt, a large cash position, and has announced plans to buy back more shares. Stuart Rose, the Chairman of REX, displays the characteristics of a Level 5 Leader.
April 17, 2018 Read Full Article
ACE Addressing Ethanol Marketing Challenges at NEB Forum
(American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) American Coalition for Ethanol board member and past board president Ron Alverson of Dakota Ethanol speaks today at Nebraska Ethanol Board’s 2018 Emerging Issues Forum in Omaha, Nebraska, about assessing new markets based on ethanol’s
April 17, 2018 Read Full Article
RFA: E15 Debuts in St. Louis Metro Region
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association is excited to announce that E15 has debuted in the St. Louis area and will be available throughout the year. Home Service Oil Co. now offers both E15 and E85 at 1707 Hwy
April 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Advocating for Commercialization of Biobased Products: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to BRAG
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renewable chemicals are emerging at a fast pace, paving the way for new, innovative, and sustainable biobased products. A coalition of companies and trade associations committed to enhancing the legal and regulatory positioning of biobased products
April 17, 2018 Read Full Article
House Hearing Focus on High Octane Fuels
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will be holding a hearing this morning (Friday, April 13, 2018) on “High Octane Fuels and High Efficiency Vehicles: Challenges and Opportunities.” The hearing will take a look at the potential
April 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Exclusive: Chevron, Exxon Seek 'Small Refinery' Waivers from U.S. Biofuels Law
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters) Global energy giants Chevron Corp and Exxon Mobil have asked U.S. regulators for exemptions to the nation’s biofuels policy that have historically been reserved for small companies in financial distress, according to sources familiar
April 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Industry Calls on EPA to Eliminate Secrecy
(National Biodiesel Board) NBB Submits FOIA Request to Ensure RFS Transparency -- The National Biodiesel Board submitted a Freedom of Information Act Request aimed at shedding light on small refiner exemptions requested and issued under the Renewable Fuel Standard. “The EPA’s decision to
April 13, 2018 Read Full Article
In Boost for Farmers, Trump Says He May Allow E15 Gasoline Sales All Year
by Jeff Mason (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday his administration may allow the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol year-round, which could help farmers by firing up corn demand but faces opposition from Big Oil. ... “We’re going to
April 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Weighs High-Ethanol Fuel Waiver to Placate Farmers
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters) The Trump administration is considering allowing the sale of a higher ethanol fuel blend in the summer, a source familiar with the issue said, a move that would placate corn growers worried about the
April 12, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Approves First Underground Injection Control Program Primacy for Carbon Sequestration Wells to North Dakota
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Today (April 10, 2018), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it has approved the State of North Dakota’s request to implement and enforce its own Class VI Underground Injection Control (UIC) program. This marks the first
April 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Isobutanol’s Horizons: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Gevo
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo has two proprietary technologies that combine to make it possible to retrofit existing ethanol plants to produce isobutanol, a four carbon alcohol which serves as a hydrocarbon platform molecule. They have developed an industrial scale
April 12, 2018 Read Full Article
States to Sue EPA over Failure to Enforce Landfill Gas Rules
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) A coalition led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the California Air Resources board has announced plans to sue the U.S. EPA over its failure to enforce existing landfill methane regulations. The coalition announced its plans
April 11, 2018 Read Full Article
California Says a Car-Emissions Deal With Trump Could Be Doable
by Mark Chediak, Ryan Beene, and John Lippert (Bloomberg) ‘Reason could prevail,’ chair of Air Resources Board says; State is considering a lawsuit to preserve its options -- California’s top air-quality regulator sees hope for a deal with the Trump administration over fuel
April 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump to Put Biofuel Reform Push on Ice, for Now: Sources
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) The Trump administration will delay any moves to reform the nation’s biofuel policy for about three months, according to three sources briefed on the matter - a decision one of the sources said was meant to shield
April 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump Ethanol Moves May Be Worse for Farmers Than Soy Tariff
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg) Change to biofuel mandate may mean destruction of corn demand; Growers already dealing with trade concerns, crop gluts -- Based on his own back-of-the-envelope calculations, Minnesota farmer Kirby Hettver could lose tens of thousands of dollars of earnings because
April 10, 2018 Read Full Article
RFS Wrangling Continues: GOP Senators Ask for Small-Refiner Waiver Suspension
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) Details have yet to emerge from a planned meeting at the White House on Monday between President Donald Trump and members of his cabinet regarding possible changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard. The meeting reportedly
April 10, 2018 Read Full Article
U.S. Ethanol Policy Under Siege
by Robert Rapier (Forbes) ... Mr. Constantine (Tim Constantine, a spokesperson for Rethink Ethanol) believes that we will soon see an announcement from the White House on the nation's ethanol program, and it's probably not going to be one the ethanol industry
April 09, 2018 Read Full Article
ACE: New Video Addresses Gasoline Retailer E15 Liability Concerns
(American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A controversial new video was released today, addressing fuel retailer concerns about potential liability for vehicle damage from the new E15 fuel on the flexfuelforward.com website. The video features current E15 marketers talking openly about customer E15 complaints and
April 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Vehicle Transformation through New Fuels: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the Clean Fuels Development Coalition
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It may be renaissance times for the Clean Fuels Development Coalition. Their long quest to upend proposed Obama-era vehicle efficiency rules that ignored the potential to improve efficiency and emissions via clear high performance fuels has
April 06, 2018 Read Full Article
White House Plans to Hold RFS Meeting Monday
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) The White House plans to hold a Monday meeting to discuss possible changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Minnesota Corn Growers president Kirby Hettver says it appears EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt will present President Trump with
April 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Exclusive: Biofuels Battle - Senator Moves to Expand Small Refiner Exemption
by Jarrett Renshaw, Chris Prentice (Reuters) Lawmakers spearheading efforts to reform U.S. biofuels regulations are considering a blanket waiver for all small refineries, according to four sources familiar with their draft legislation. The move would save some refiners a fortune but would
April 06, 2018 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
The Houston Chronicle's James Osborne reported an unnamed executive for one refining company describing the feeding frenzy for exemptions from Renewable Fuel Standard biofuels obligations, "Anyone with a brain submitted an application," the executive said. "The EPA was handing out
April 05, 2018 Read Full Article
U.S. Ethanol Groups Bristle as EPA Frees Refiners from Biofuels Law
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved the request of 25 small refineries to be exempted from the nation’s biofuels laws, an agency source said on Wednesday, marking a big increase from previous years
April 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Investors Stunned over Oil Producer’s Climate-Change Exemption
by Amy Harder (Axios) ... Trillium proposed a resolution calling on EOG to set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. EOG complained to the SEC in late December that the proposal would micromanage the company, calling it a "rigid, time-bound" target, and asked
April 04, 2018 Read Full Article
Grassley Slams EPA RFS Waivers
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) Sen. Chuck Grassley joined corn growers and ethanol producers in slamming a report Tuesday that refining giant Andeavor got a hardship waiver from the Renewable Fuel Standard for its three smallest refineries. Grassley said
April 04, 2018 Read Full Article
McConnell to Back Legal Hemp
by Bruce Schreiner (Arkansas Online/Associated Press) Senate leader’s bill will take it off controlled substance list -- The U.S. Senate's top leader said Monday that he wants to bring hemp production back into the mainstream by removing it from the controlled substances
April 04, 2018 Read Full Article
Rep. Collin Peterson Voices Support For Minnesota's Ethanol Industry
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Rep. Collin Peterson visited the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) plant in Benson on March 28 to reiterate his support for Minnesota’s ethanol industry. “Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company is doing some exciting work and are continuing to find new
April 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Cleaner Cars Create Jobs -- New Study Shows Strong Vehicle Standards Boost Economy
(Union of Concerned Scientists) Vehicle efficiency and emissions standards are a remarkably successful policy, delivering cleaner cars every year, saving drivers money at the pump, and reducing the pollution that causes climate change. A new study has found another important benefit of the
April 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump to Roll Back Fuel Standards for Cars, Light Trucks -- Ford, GM Positions
by Todd Spangler and Eric Lawrence (Detroit Free Press) ... General Motors said that, regardless of what standard is ultimately set, it remained committed to "improving fuel economy, reducing emissions and an all-electric future," including working on shared and self-driving vehicles which
April 03, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Actions on the RFS are Destroying Demand for Ethanol and Corn
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association) Recent actions by EPA have effectively reduced the Renewable Fuel Standard conventional renewable volume obligation (RVO) for 2016 by more than 1 billion gallons, and the agency appears poised to take similar actions to effectively
April 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Calif. to Fight Trump’s ‘Politically Motivated’ Car Standards Plan
by Timothy Cama and Miranda Green (The Hill) California officials promised Monday to put up a fight against the Trump administration’s newly announced decision to lower standards for car tailpipe emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared Monday afternoon that the Obama-era greenhouse
April 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Recall Of CAFE Rule Is Opportunity To Improve Fuel Quality
(Urban Air Initiative) The announcement by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the fuel economy rules rushed through in late 2016 will be revised is an encouraging first step for high octane fuels to play a much bigger role, according
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
RFA: EPA and NHTSA Should Consider Role of High Octane Fuels in Upcoming CAFE/GHG Rulemaking
by Emily Druckman (Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today encouraged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to strongly consider the role of high-octane fuels and higher compression ratio engines as the
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Orders Revised CAFE Targets, May Revoke California's Waiver
by Eric Kulisch (Auto News) Move applauded by auto industry, denounced by other businesses -- EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt on Monday announced that aggressive light-vehicle fuel efficiency and emissions limits set under the Obama administration for model years 2022-25 are “not appropriate,” triggering
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Publishes CAFE Standards Mid-Term Evaluation Final Determination
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) On April 2, 2018, the Administrator signed the Mid-term Evaluation Final Determination which finds that the model year 2022-2025 greenhouse gas standards are not appropriate in light of the record before EPA and, therefore, should be revised.
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
2018 ACE Fly-in
(AgNewsWire) American Coalition for Ethanol celebrates 10 years of taking the message of grassroots ethanol producers, retailers, farmers and consumers to Capitol Hill. This year’s theme is Ignite a Movement. This virtual ag newsroom includes links to photos and audio content available free
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Commentary: Biofuels Are Driving US Growth
by Jim Talent (Tribune News Service/Madison.com/Americans for Energy Security and Innovation) ... Biofuels are a target because they supply a full 10 percent of America’s motor fuel, and every extra gallon increases competition at the fuel pump, holding down prices
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
How EPA Is Destroying Demand for Ethanol and Corn
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Recent actions by EPA have effectively reduced the Renewable Fuel Standard conventional renewable volume obligation (RVO) for 2016 by more than 1 billion gallons, and the agency appears poised to take similar actions to effectively reduce the
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
BIO Comments on Proposed Settlement Agreement Between EPA and Philadelphia Energy Solutions on RFS Obligations
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization) BIO is greatly concerned by the Department of Justice's and Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Settlement Agreement to resolve a dispute about the PES Holdings' obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard. ... This Settlement Agreement undermines the goals of the
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Auto Exec: Raise the Octane Rating of U.S. Gasoline for Bump in Fuel Efficiency
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) At a recent American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers meeting, General Motors executive Dan Nicholson voiced the automaker’s support in raising the minimum octane rating of the U.S. gasoline pool from 87 to 91,
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Exclusive: Trump Weighs Dropping Personal Efforts on Biofuel Reform - Sources
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) President Donald Trump is seriously considering abandoning efforts to remake the nation’s biofuel laws after wading deep into an issue that divides some of his core constituencies, according to three sources familiar with the administration’s thinking. Advisers
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Regulatory Fixes Will Open the Market to Ethanol Quickly -- How EPA Could Easily Remedy Issues with RINs.
by Adam Gustafson (Boyden Gray and Associates/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Such short-term fixes to high RIN prices ignore their underlying cause—EPA’s artificial constraints on the volume of ethanol that can be blended into the nation’s fuel supply. Basic rules of supply
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Where’s Ethanol Going to Go?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... According to POET CEO Jeff Broin, there’s a deal on the table — changing almost by the hour, but a deal none the less. A deal on the table to provide year-round E15 approval for the biofuels industry
March 23, 2018 Read Full Article
RFA Leader: EPA Eroding RFS -- Assistant to President Says Search Continues for a Win-Win Proposal
by Chris Clayton (DTN The Progressive Farmer) A special assistant to President Donald Trump on agriculture said Wednesday, "the search for a win-win continues" in the debate over how to relieve oil refiners of their obligations under the Renewable Fuels Standard. Ray
March 22, 2018 Read Full Article
10-Day Comment Period on PES Settlement Agreement Closes March 26
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The public comment period opened March 16 after publication in the Federal Register on the proposed consent decree and environmental settlement agreement lodged by the U.S. Department of Justice with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of
March 21, 2018 Read Full Article
What Would a Bill Look Like?
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. John Shimkus have some ideas. The two have been working on a bill for well over a year to overhaul the Renewable Fuel Standard, a likely vehicle for the fixes Perdue
March 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Preparing List of Possible Biofuels Tweaks - Sources
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) The heads of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Agriculture Department are scheduled to meet on Tuesday to winnow down proposals to lower the cost of the nation’s biofuels policy to oil refiners, according to two sources
March 20, 2018 Read Full Article
RFS Roundup: Potential Impacts of the GREENER Fuels Act on Cellulosic Fuels Development
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Riding the recent wave of Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) reform talks, Representative Welch (D-VT) and Senator Udall (D-NM) introduced the Growing Renewable Energy through Existing and New Environmentally Responsible Fuels Act (GREENER Fuels Act)
March 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Corn-State Senators Seek Trump Meeting as U.S. Biofuel Changes Loom
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) A group of senators from U.S. corn states have asked President Donald Trump for a meeting about the nation’s biofuels law, amid expectations the administration will soon act to lower the regulation’s costs to the oil refining
March 18, 2018 Read Full Article
The U.S. Is about to Be the World’s Top Crude Oil Producer. Guess Who Didn’t See It Coming.
by Charles Lane (Washington Post) ... Domestic crude production was not inherently “limited,” as O’Connell told Congress in 2011, it just needed a better mouse trap. Fracking was it. Entrepreneurs broke the oil-import addiction, even though the main thing they intended to
March 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Environmental Groups Back Ted Cruz, Republicans on Overhaul of Renewable Fuel Standard
by Ben Wolfgang (Washington Times) Green organizations back ending corn ethanol mandate -- ... The intense opposition to the RFS from environmental and conservation groups comes as the White House and congressional leaders work to craft the most serious reforms the program
March 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Oklahoma Cellulosic Diesel Facility Achieves D7 Q-RIN Status
by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) D7 renewable identification numbers (RINs) generated at a biorefinery in Oklahoma City producing cellulosic diesel fuel have been verified by Weaver and granted Q-RIN status. Weaver is an independent third-party auditor and U.S. EPA-approved RIN Quality
March 16, 2018 Read Full Article
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