by O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa) Governor Kim Reynolds says any new fuel pumps installed in Iowa should be able to dispense gas with at least a 10 percent blend of ethanol and the governor says B11 — 11 percent
Iowa
Back TO HOMEBiofuels Pivot under Biden
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Ethanol advocates are pushing for the new Biden administration to boost the portion of each gallon of gasoline that comes from corn. ... WHAT WILL BIDEN DO ABOUT BIOFUELS?President Joe Biden's plan to build out electric
January 27, 2021 Read Full Article
A Muted Year for Biofuels M&A Activity: 2020 Review and Outlook
by Bruce Comer and Frank Kim (Ocean Park Advisors/Biofuels Digest) COVID-19 further plagues the already challenged North American biofuels M&A market, while capital investments thrive. -- Biofuels merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in North America remained sluggish in 2020. For
January 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Iowa Has Room for All Renewables - Solar, Wind and Ethanol
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/The Gazette) ... Renewable liquid fuels and renewable electricity are highly complementary ways to reduce America’s carbon footprint. We can have clean renewable energy from solar and wind, as the authors want, and still take
January 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Grassley Shudders at Hill Reopening Renewable Fuels Law
by Marc Heller (E&E News) To Sen. Chuck Grassley, only one prospect may be scarier than putting the politics of ethanol before the Supreme Court: letting his colleagues in Congress vote on it. READ MORE
January 15, 2021 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blog: Supreme Court to Hear Small-Refinery Exemption Appeal
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) The Supreme Court will review a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver that found EPA mishandled the small-refinery exemptions program in the Renewable Fuel Standard. The 10th Circuit ruling
January 11, 2021 Read Full Article
DigestData DeepDive into Renewable Energy Group
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renewable Energy Group is the largest operator of renewable diesel and biodiesel plants in the US, with 12 refineries and a fast-growing capacity, especially in red-hot renewable diesel. In today’s Digest, we take a DigestData DeepDive™ with
January 08, 2021 Read Full Article
DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences - When ‘Best-of-Both’ Traits Shine
by Tom Bryan (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences, building on years of success with its high-yield, GA-expressing yeasts, is making the previously divergent characteristics of high yield and superior robustness—packaged together—a reality. “What we’ve seen in this industry
December 30, 2020 Read Full Article
REG: From 30,000 Gallons of Biodiesel Sold in 1996 to Half a Billion Gallons Today
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) As 2020 comes to a close, Renewable Energy Group Inc., North America’s largest biodiesel producer, is celebrating a quarter-century in soybean oil refinement and biodiesel production. Back in 1995, the company from which REG would
December 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Ames Adds New 100% Biodiesel Powered Trucks
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Renewable Energy Group and Optimus Technologies recently partnered to help Ames, Iowa grow its fleet of sustainable vehicles. The City of Ames is adding seven new all-purpose dump trucks to their fleet that have the Optimus Technologies advanced
December 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Vilsack Officially Tapped to Return to USDA
by John Herath (Farm Journal AgWeb) Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack has been officially tapped by the Joe Biden transition to return to USDA as Secretary. Vilsack was listed as the USDA nominee on the Biden transition Website Thursday morning. Vilsack, currently the CEO
December 11, 2020 Read Full Article
City of Ames Grows Sustainable Fleet with Partners Renewable Energy Group and Optimus Technologies
(Renewable Energy Group/BusinessWire) Municipal Fleet Adds Seven Additional Heavy-Duty Trucks Running on 100% Biodiesel -- The City of Ames is adding seven new all-purpose dump trucks to their fleet that have the Optimus Technologies advanced fuel system integrated into their new
December 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Vilsack Could Be Back as Ag Secretary
by Jacqui Fatka (Farm Progress) Reports indicate Obama’s 8-year agricultural secretary Tom Vilsack could be interested in the job. -- As President-elect Joe Biden continues to make announcements regarding his cabinet, former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack looks to now
December 08, 2020 Read Full Article
Oil Refineries See Profit in Turning Kitchen Grease into Diesel
by Clifford Krauss (New York Times) Used cooking oil is one of the ingredients in renewable diesel, which generates far less emissions than conventional diesel and allows refineries to take advantage of federal and state incentives. -- ... Companies that
December 04, 2020 Read Full Article
$7 Million Allocated to Iowa Renewable Fuels Retailers
by Natalina Sents (Successful Farming) Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig rolled out the Renewable Fuels Retail Recovery program that includes $7 million in CARES Act funding for renewable fuel retailers in the state today. Relief funds are intended to
December 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Renewable Energy Group Celebrates 25 Year Anniversary with Video Series
(Renewable Energy Group) This week REG is celebrating 25 years of operations! We will be releasing videos all week recounting the last quarter century of hard work and dedication that got us here. Here is how it all started: Hear
December 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Big River Resources Uses Extra Acreage at the West Burlington Facility for a Butterfly Habitat
by John Gaines (The Hawk Eye) There is more fuel than just ethanol fuel being made at Big River Resources in West Burlington. In 2018, the company began a project to create acreage by the facility at 15210 103rd St. into a
November 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Senate Finance Chair Says EPA Leader Should Follow RFS or Resign
(WNAX) Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley told farm reporters Thursday that 2020 has been a tenuous year for renewable fuels. He says ethanol demand has been hurt by the pandemic and gap year waiver requests for refiners has created a lot of
November 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Iowa, Wisconsin Ethanol Plants Sue ADM Six Ethanol Companies File New Anti-Trust Lawsuit Against Archer Daniels Midland
by Todd Neeley (DTN Progressive Farmer) Add six more ethanol companies to the list of plaintiffs suing Archer Daniels Midland, alleging one of the nation's largest ethanol producers manipulated the market. Wisconsin producers United Wisconsin Grain Producers, Didion Ethanol, Ace Ethanol, Fox
November 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Lowering Tech Barriers to Grow Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There are major barriers in growing a bioeconomy, but Idaho National Laboratory is tackling some of those by applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve the supply of sustainable biomass feedstock for conversion to
November 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Final Chapter for Cellulosic Ethanol?
by Rod Swoboda (Wallaces Farmer) ... Poet’s cellulosic ethanol plant at Emmetsburg was named Project Liberty. Following Poet’s lead, two other companies built cellulosic ethanol plants — one in Kansas and one at Nevada in central Iowa. The owners of those
November 04, 2020 Read Full Article
US Elections: Ernst Holds onto Iowa Senate Seat after Race Tests Biofuel Support
by Meghan Gordon (S&P Global Platts) Republican played key role in biofuel mandate talks; Opponent supported clean energy, denounced 'Big Oil'; Ernst took heat for commodity prices, EPA confirmation -- US Senator Joni Ernst, Republican-Iowa, held onto her seat after a tight race
November 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Senator Chuck Grassley Says That Buying an Electric Car Should Not Be a Mandate
(RFD TV) A prominent Republican Senator says that he is in favor of gas-free cars, but Senator Chuck Grassley says that buying one should not be a mandate. ... Last week, a group of Democrats introduced a bill that would
November 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol Looks beyond Trump-Biden Bluster to Biofuel Reset
by Kim Chipman and Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg Green) Presidential, Iowa Senate races put biofuel in spotlight; Renewable Fuel Standard uncertainty clouds ethanol outlook -- ... The winner will oversee a “reset” of the congressional mandate to blend biofuels with gasoline. This
November 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Agriculture and Renewables Epicenter: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Iowa
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Iowa is an agriculture superstar. With 85% of the state’s total land area being farmland, $29 billion in total agriculture receipts in 2017, ranking #1 in the nation in corn production, #2 in soybean production,
October 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Letters: Greenfield Would Protect Biofuels Industry
by Matt Russell (Des Moines Register) ... We don’t produce fossil fuel in Iowa. However, Republicans are clear they support Big Oil. They have done almost nothing to stop the Trump administration from handing out benefits to oil companies while he has
October 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Column: A Clear Choice to Support Farmers
by Mike Naig (Iowa Department of Agriculture/The Rock Island Dispatch Argus) ... I want to bring awareness to the recent executive order signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom. In his order, Newsom plans to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles
October 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol Is Key
by K. Johnson (Storm Lake Times) ... I hear a lot of political lip service these days about reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and cleaning up the air. Alcohol from corn and grains should be a major part of that
October 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump’s Rural Edge Shrinks with Enthusiasm Fading in Key States
by Mike Dorning (Bloomberg) Surveys show Trump’s margin fading versus 2016 exit polls; Biden campaign making efforts to play for rural votes -- The big margin of support among rural voters that helped Donald Trump secure victory four years ago
October 26, 2020 Read Full Article
National Biodiesel Foundation Receives DERA Grants for 2021
(National Biodiesel Board) BF Receives Grants through US EPA's Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Program -- The National Biodiesel Foundation was awarded two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants through the 2021 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program. The first is in partnership with the
October 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump in Iowa Touts Ethanol, Farm Policy
by Erin Murphy (The Courier) Campaigning in Iowa on Wednesday night, President Donald Trump touted his administration’s work to boost the ethanol industry and help farmers in Iowa. Trump’s administration this year issued a rule that allows gas stations to
October 16, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Announces $27 Million in Plastics Recycling Research and Development
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced over $27 million in funding for 12 projects that will support the development of advanced plastics recycling technologies and new plastics that are recyclable-by-design. As part of DOE’s Plastics
October 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Renewable Energy Group Biodiesel Plant Tour
(Renewable Energy Group) Do you know how clean burning biodiesel is made? Take a tour through an REG biorefinery to see the process happen from beginning to end, and learn about the continuously improving, sustainable biodiesel production process. Learn more
October 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Kum & Go Helps Promote E15 Fuel in New 'Look for the Blue Hose' Campaign
(Convenience Store News) Kum & Go LC is once again upping its commitment to promoting E15 by partaking in the new "Look for the Blue Hose" campaign. In collaboration with Colorado Corn, the American Lung Association and Kum & Go, the "Look for the Blue
October 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Enviro Law Makes a Cameo in the ACB Hearing
by Rachel Frazin (The Hill Overnight Energy) During the second day during the politically-charged confirmation hearing for Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination for the Supreme Court, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) invoked environmental issues to ask the nominee for her views on administrative
October 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Invests Up to $100 Million to Increase American Biofuel Sales
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invested $22 million out of the up to $100 million in grants available to increase American ethanol and biodiesel sales. These funds
October 09, 2020 Read Full Article
'Iowa's Good:' Ernst, Naig Talk Biofuel Advancements
y Lisa Grouette (Globe Gazette) At a press conference in Mason City on Wednesday, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig expressed enthusiasm over recently launched plans to advance biofuel infrastructure projects within the state. Ernst and
October 08, 2020 Read Full Article
Joni Ernst Is Now in Trouble. Trump Is a Huge Part of Her Problem.
by Art Cullen (Washington Post/Storm Lake Times) One big reason Republicans are shoving a Supreme Court appointment through the Senate before the election is their rising fear of losing the upper chamber — and the White House — in November.
September 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Fact-Checking President Trump’s Ethanol and Oil Production Claims
by Robert Rapier (Forbes) This week at a campaign rally in Jacksonville, Florida, President Trump made a puzzling claim. Near the end of a story about Kamala Harris, Trump said “The great state of Iowa — where I made ethanol possible for them...” I
September 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Ag Policy Blog: House Democrats Get Aggressive on Biofuels
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) ...What did become clear was Democrats in both the House and the Senate are paying more attention to biofuels at the moment. And yet, given that Congress is going to pass a temporary funding
September 28, 2020 Read Full Article
RFA’s Virtual Heartland Tour Gives Congressional and Agency Staff an Inside Look at Ethanol Industry
(Renewable Fuels Association) Congressional staff and other federal and state decisionmakers got an up-close virtual look at the U.S. ethanol industry last week as part of the Renewable Fuels Association’s Virtual Heartland Tour. The event included a series of educational videos
September 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump, Eyeing Farm Country, Starts Working on Ethanol Industry's Year-Old Wishlist
by Stephanie Kelly and Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) President Donald Trump, looking to shore up support in the U.S. Farm Belt during a tight race for re-election, is taking steps to help producers of corn-based ethanol using a list of policy goals
September 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Our View: Ethanol: Trump, Hagedorn, EPA Leave Farmers behind
(Mankato Free Press) President Donald Trump and his Environmental Protection Agency have about six weeks to keep their promises to farmers on ethanol, which have been broken for the past three years. While farmers have backed Trump in varying degrees since he
September 23, 2020 Read Full Article
RINs Jump 18% on News Trump Wants All Gap Year Requests Denied
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In New York state, Reuters reports that RIN prices skyrocketed a two-year high of 55 cents for D6 credits on the back of its exclusive story that President Trump told the EPA to deny all gap-year
September 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Iowa Democrats Make $1.3 Million Ad, Fuels Association Makes Endorsements
(Daily Nonpareil) ... RENEWABLE FUELS ENDORSES: The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association’s political organizing arm recognized 15 state lawmakers up for re-election, a mixture of Republicans and Democrats who the group said “maintained a clear voting record of support for renewable
September 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Grassley Urges More USDA Involvement in Biofuels Industry
(KMA Land) A key U.S. Senator says Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue should act to help the pandemic-damaged biofuels industry, despite Perdue’s disputed claim he lacks authority without Congress to do so. Senate Finance Chair Chuck Grassley says he’s personally urged Secretary Perdue
September 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Iowa Biodiesel Board Welcomes Producer Relief, Grant Opportunities for Retail Biodiesel Sales
(Iowa Biodiesel Board) Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced today that the state will dedicate more than $15 million of funding for Iowa renewable fuels producers as part of the pandemic economic recovery effort. “Virtually every industry has felt the negative economic impact
August 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Published Library of Recorded Presentations on Multitude of Bioeconomy Topics
(Biofuels Digest) Recorded presentations for your on-demand review and enjoyment. Just Pick and Click! On BioChannelTV RENEWABLE DIESEL & DME Saola Energy - Adam Belyamani Axens- David Schwalje Oberon - Rebecca Boudreaux Honeywell UOP-Dan Szeezil NextChem-Valerio Coppini Velocys - Jeff McDaniel ENGINE TECH What if everything with a
August 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol's Market Move
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol producers are investing in high-end alcohol production after seeing its value during the pandemic. And it’s not just alcohol for hand sanitizer, but other disinfectants, as well as pharmaceuticals, fragrances, cosmetics and more. ... Homeland
August 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Can Iowa Farmers Survive without Ethanol? Can Trump Survive without Iowa Farmers?
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register/Ames Tribune) ... "I've sat in front of the president, and he does look you in the eye, and he does listen to you," (Bill) Couser said, adding, "It just makes you wonder what happens after
August 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Greenfield Says U.S. Military Should Use More Biofuels
by O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa) Theresa Greenfield, the Iowa Democratic Party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate, says federal policy should expand the use of biofuels in boats and planes. “Ask the Department of Defense to use biofuels as part of a
August 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Joni Ernst Sells Out Iowa In RNC Speech
by Pat Rynard (Iowa Starting Line) Sen. Joni Ernst’s undying loyalty to Pres. Donald Trump was rewarded tonight with a high-profile speech at the Republican National Convention. She repaid Trump for the political boost to her reelection campaign by betraying the
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
NBB Launches Ad Campaign Urging President to Reject “Gap” SRE Petitions
(National Biodiesel Board) NBB encourages farmers, biodiesel producers to ask President Trump to keep his promise -- The National Biodiesel Board today launched a radio advertising campaign in six Midwestern states, urging President Donald Trump to keep his promise on the
August 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Iowa Farm Bureau Statement on CARES Act Funding for Agricultural Relief
(Iowa Farm Bureau) ... “The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) applauds Gov. Kim Reynolds’ assistance and focus on agriculture with the CARES Act funding,” said Craig Hill, a Warren County crop and livestock farmer and IFBF president. “This has been
August 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Administration Still Missing Mark on Biofuels
by Jacqui Fatka (Feedstuffs) ... It was nearly a year ago when farmers' cries started getting louder demanding that President Donald Trump and his Administration stand up for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and defend the interests of biofuels over
August 21, 2020 Read Full Article
KEEPING IT 100: EPA's Online Dashboard Shows the Agency Has Now Received Nearly 100 Petitions for Small Refinery Exemptions
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) EPA's online dashboard shows the agency has now received nearly 100 petitions for small refinery exemptions to the Renewable Fuel Standard mandates dating back to 2011, Pro's Eric Wolff reports. Since June, EPA has
August 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Democrats Turn to Rural Issues: Rural, Midwest Democrats Promote Infrastructure and Divergent Strategy From Trump Years
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Democratic leaders put a heavy emphasis on rural broadband and health care while criticizing the Trump administration and President Trump directly on trade, biofuels, climate change and the pandemic response. A western Pennsylvania soybean and hay
August 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Parsing the Climate Message
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) Night 3 of the Democratic National Convention featured a lengthy 11-minute take on Joe Biden's climate and clean energy strategy that hammered home some of his big themes rather than the wonky details (which you
August 20, 2020 Read Full Article
New Leaders for Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Four new co-chairs have been selected to lead the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel (NGSB) forward. The new co-chairs are: Jenny Frank, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Leo Budy, University of Kansas Zenith Tandukar, University of
August 20, 2020 Read Full Article
In Iowa, Trump Promises to Personally Get Involved in Corn Farmers' Dispute with EPA
by Abby Smith (Washington Examiner) Iowa corn farmers could get a boost in a long-running dispute with oil refiners as President Trump pledged to talk to Environmental Protection Agency officials overseeing biofuels requirements on their behalf. Trump said Tuesday during a visit
August 19, 2020 Read Full Article
VP Pence Speech to Farmers Falls Flat
by Jacqui Fatka (Feedstuffs) Vice President Mike Pence visited Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday to re-launch the Trump campaign’s Farmers & Ranchers for Trump. However, to a room full of farmer supporters his message came off more as a campaign speech,
August 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuel Debate Could Decide Senate Balance of Power
by Timothy Cama (E&E News) One of the year's most consequential Senate races could hinge on the candidates' allegiance to the biofuel industry and ability to secure favorable policies for the sector. READ MORE Democrats are seeing a much better chance
August 12, 2020 Read Full Article
ACE: Legislation Would Require EPA to Update GREET
(American Coalition for Ethanol/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Today (August 6, 2020), Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., introduced the Adopt GREET Act, which would require U.S. EPA to update its decade-old greenhouse gas lifecycle modeling for ethanol and biodiesel. American Coalition for Ethanol
August 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Cash-Short U.S. Biofuel Industry Cuts Lobbying even as Iowa Looms Large in Election
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) A top U.S. biofuel industry trade group said it has cut lobbying spending as the coronavirus pandemic has slammed members eager to press demands with President Donald Trump, who hopes to win the corn-producing state Iowa
August 08, 2020 Read Full Article
Axne: Fossil Fuel Companies Shouldn’t Receive Covid Relief Funds
(KMA Land/Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network) ... During a virtual forum with the Iowa Farmers Union on Wednesday, Third District Congresswoman Cindy Axne was asked whether fossil fuel companies should be eligible for pandemic relief funds. “Listen, my personal belief is no,” Axne
August 08, 2020 Read Full Article
Building a Biobased Economy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to BIO in a Post-COVID-19 World
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC Digital in July, Stephanie Batchelor, Vice President of the Industrial & Environmental Section at Biotechnology Innovation Organization shared this illuminating slide guide on how BIO is advocating for a resilient future, promoting LCFS
August 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Ag Policy Blog: Ethanol and Politics 2020
by Chris Clayton (DTN Progressive Farmer) Ethanol is undoubtedly playing a role in 2020 politics in Iowa, including the presidential race. Getting the word "ethanol" into the next aid package also might become a tipping scale in the Iowa U.S. Senate race. The
August 05, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol Ingredient Provider Hosts Competitive Grant Program for Future Ethanol Advocates
by Jackie Pohlman (Renewable Fuels Association) When a group of dynamic individuals come together to make a difference, there’s no limit on the impact that they can make. This was the case when CTE Global’s employees came together with a single
August 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Getting Aggressive with Sustainability: Municipal Fleet Cuts Emissions by Running on 100% Biodiesel
(Renewable Energy Group) The city snowplows in Ames, Iowa, have worked in all types of winter weather. Blizzards. Ice. Subzero temperatures. You name it, they’ve been out in it. In early 2020, they did something they’ve never done before: run on fully
July 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Ernst to EPA: Make E15 Available at Every Pump
by Micheal Clements (NAFB News Service/NewsDakota) Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to make E15 available at every U.S. gas pump. Specifically, Ernst calls on EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to certify biofuel infrastructure for
July 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Why Trump Is Quickly Losing Rural Support
by Patty Judge (The Gazette) Rural voters are growing tired of Donald Trump. Recently, the Iowa Poll put Vice President Biden one point ahead of President Trump and Iowa moved from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican” on the Cook Political Report.
July 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Hunt & Sons Begins Selling Clean Diesel in Sacramento Area
by Mark Anderson (Sacramento Business Journal) Sacramento fuel distributor Hunt & Sons Inc. has begun selling domestically produced clean biodiesel at some locations in Northern California. The REG Ultra Clean diesel is made by Ames, Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group Inc. and is
July 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Ernst Urges Wheeler to Take Action on Barriers to E15 Growth
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on July 28 urging him to initiate a rulemaking to certify biofuel infrastructure for E15 and remove unnecessary labeling requirements for
July 29, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Biofuel Industry May Depend on Agriculture Secretary Perdue for Aid, Senator Says
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) The U.S. biofuel industry may have to depend on Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for aid, Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa said on Tuesday, after Senate Republicans unveiled a coronavirus relief package without specific appropriations for the
July 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Biofuels Vision 2020 Announces Ad Blitz on EPA Threat to Biofuels
(Biofuels Vision 2020/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In the run up to the November election, Biofuels Vision 2020 is launching a new ad campaign raising the alarm over a major regulatory threat to the economic recovery in Iowa. The new sizable, five-figure digital ad
July 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol Leaders See Happy Days in the Future
by Nat Williams (Illinois Farmer Today) The ethanol industry has a long, complicated history. But supporters believe the best days are ahead. “Fuel ethanol was a thing as early as early as automobiles. Henry Ford made his automobiles to run on ethanol
July 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump Tailors Exaggerations and False Claims to Election Battlegrounds
by Linda Qiu (New York Times) ... Likewise, Mr. Trump has sought to curry favor with corn farmers in Iowa and the Midwest by claiming to have “kept our promise on ethanol” and falsely charging Democrats with wanting to “wipe out,
July 27, 2020 Read Full Article
5 Big Scale-up Projects – From Beginning to End of Supply Chain, These Projects Show How Scale-up Happens
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... In today’s Digest, rev up the engines for these 5 projects – feedstock supply for renewable fuels and high protein feed; fats, oils, and grease separation technology; waste-to-energy facility that just entered full
July 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Pivotal Research Discovers Practices, Technologies Key to Sustainable Farming
by Anna Marie Tomczyk (Argonne National Laboratory/Phys.Org) ... The practices that grain farmers use to produce their crops—managing fertility, tillage practice and crop rotations—influence the overall carbon footprint of U.S. agriculture. By using sustainable practices, farmers could substantially reduce their
July 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Harnessing Biomass, Manure to Fuel Farms through Multi-institutional Project
(Penn State News) Transdisciplinary research team aims to create new value chains on U.S. farms, with emphasis on the generation of renewable natural gas, improved rural economic outcomes and protection of the environment. -- A new federal grant will allow a
July 22, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. Iowa Senators Hope to Include Biofuels Aid in Next Coronavirus Relief Package
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) U.S. lawmakers from Iowa are trying to add aid for the biofuels industry into a pending coronavirus relief package in the Senate, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley said on Friday. Grassley and his Iowa colleague, Senator Joni Ernst, hope
July 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol Industry Evolving in COVID-19 World – from Biofuel to Hand Sanitizer, Adapting Is Necessary
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... Just this week, Green Plains shifted one of their Nebraska facilities to make FCC grade alcohol to be used for producing hand sanitizer. Lactips developed a solution to produce water-soluble strips for sealing
July 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Senators Press USDA for Biofuel Infrastructure Grant Flexibility
(Kansas Ag Connection/US AgNet) U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) are pressing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to allow businesses that have received grants under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) to use
July 17, 2020 Read Full Article
Doubling for Diesel: A Novel Engine Technology
by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A novel engine technology could make it possible for ethanol to be used in compression-ignition engines, opening up a potential multi-billion-gallon market. With $3 million in financing secured, Clear Flame Engines is poised for
July 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Ag Recovering from Coronavirus Disruptions, CoBank Says
by Greg Henderson (Drovers) America’s economy is showing signs of recovery from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, but any economic surge is likely over, according to a quarterly report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. “Economic data prior to the recent resurgence of coronavirus cases
July 14, 2020 Read Full Article
U.S. EPA Puts 2021 Biofuel Blending Mandate Proposal on Hold Indefinitely, Sources Say
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has put on hold indefinitely a proposal for the amount of biofuels refiners must blend into their fuel next year, two sources familiar with the matter said. Many anticipated the proposal would come
July 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Sen. Cruz to EPA: No Relief for Refinery Workers, No Consent for EPA Nominee
(Office of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)) U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement on the nomination of Doug Benevento to be Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "The price of RINs has more than quadrupled since
July 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Rebuilding Minnesota's Ethanol Industry
by Timothy J. Rudnicki (Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) ... That is why it is imperative for the Senate to include the financial aid package for the ethanol industry that was introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the next
July 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Our View: Politics: What Rural Areas Need from Legislators
(Mankato Free Press) ... Here’s what rural Minnesota does need: It needs clean water and subsidized wastewater systems. It needs good government that gets state and federal subsidies to provide a life that provides a solid base of services but few luxuries. It needs
June 29, 2020 Read Full Article
CEO Reflects on Ethanol Industry Crises a Year after Trump Visit
by Glenn Minnis (The Center Square) ... The president was there to help industry executives celebrate his administration’s removal of a regulation that up until then prohibited companies from selling gasoline containing 15% ethanol year-round. “It was a terrific event for
June 25, 2020 Read Full Article
Greenfield: Wheeler Must Step Down Immediately
by Paul Deaton (Blog for Iowa) At a June 22 press conference U.S. Senate candidate Theresa Greenfield said since Joni Ernst hasn’t called for the resignation of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler over 52 new Renewable Fuel Standard
June 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Changes to Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Fund Needed
by Ronald Langston (Clinton Herald) ... To truly increase the sale of E-15, Iowa’s leaders should help bring this home-grown fuel to every community in Iowa – “rural” and urban. Fuel Iowa estimates 85% of the retail fuel facilities do not
June 22, 2020 Read Full Article
WEBINAR: Webinar: How Fleets Are Using B100 Biodiesel to Lower their Carbon Footprint --- June 25, 2020
Biodiesel has traditionally been blended with petroleum diesel. Recently, some forward-looking organizations have been using 100% biodiesel, known as B100, to take even greater advantage of the environmental benefits of biodiesel. They’re doing this with a simple, affordable piece of technology that
June 10, 2020 Read Full Article
IRFA Urges Iowa Legislature to Reauthorize Biofuel Tax Differentials before Session End
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association) Failure to address tax differentials will raise fuel taxes for consumers, hurt farmers and producers -- As Iowa’s elected leaders prepare to return to the State Capitol and wrap up the 2020 legislative session, Iowa Renewable Fuels
June 04, 2020 Read Full Article
New Iowa State Web Hub Offers Resources to Track COVID-19’s Economic Impacts
(Iowa State University) Tracking COVID-19’s economic impacts, especially in the state of Iowa, is now possible thanks to resources on a new web hub. The webpage “COVID-19 Pandemic: Research and Resources” developed by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development and the Department
May 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Adkins Energy Announces Scholarship Recipients
(Journal Standard) Adkins Energy LLC recently announced Aaron Folk, Kayla Runkle and Hannah Pickard as the recipients of this year’s scholarship awards. The scholarship provides each student with $500 scholarships to help them further their higher education. Entries for this year were
May 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Joni of Ernst Leads the Defense of the RFS
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Leading the defenses is Joan of Ernst, er, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa along with Tina Smith of Minnesota, Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. Two Republicans, two Democrats, now urging
May 15, 2020 Read Full Article
AFBF Reports Bankruptcies Are Highest In 20 Years
(Farm Journal/AgWeb) Bankruptcies are rising and are expecting to increase due to problems associated with COVID-19. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, Chapter 12 family farm bankruptcies for the 12 month period ending in March totaled 627 filings. That’s a 23%
May 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Midwesterners Were Already Doubting Trump. Covid Could Seal His Political Fate
by Art Cullen (The Guardian/Storm Lake Times) ... “A lot of voters wanted to believe Trump – that out there in Washington it’s all BS, and that a savvy businessman could straighten it out,” (Drake) Custer said. It’s hard for many
May 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Ernst, Grassley, Bipartisan Senators Reject Legality of Waiving the RFS, Call on Administration to Protect Biofuels
(Office of Senator Joni Ernst) Ernst and her colleagues write, “We urge you to direct the EPA to reject all calls to waive the RFS. The RFS is more important now than ever as farmers, the biofuel sector, and rural
May 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol and Biodiesel Industry Groups Commend 24 Senators’ RFS Letter to President
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, D.C., two biofuels groups, Iowa Biodiesel Board and Renewable Fuels Assocation, both released notes of thanks to 24 Senators that signed the bipartisan letter to President Trump urging him to uphold the
May 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Midwest Lawmakers: Biofuel Producers Need Relief Aid
(Nexstar Media Wire/Fox40) Midwest lawmakers say biofuel producers should be getting the same support and protection as oil companies. Coronavirus shutdowns have slashed the demand for gasoline, and while the White House is pledging to buy 75 million barrels of oil, ethanol
May 05, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol Demand: A Long, Hard Road to Recovery
by Rhiannon Branch (Brownfield Ag News) A University of Illinois ag economist says he does not expect a bounce back from ethanol demand destruction anytime soon. “I think it’s going to be a long, hard road to recovery.” Todd Hubbs tells Brownfield COVID-19
April 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Vilsack Warns Administration Continues to Ignore Biofuels
by Jacqui Fatka (Feedstuffs) ... (Former Agriculture Secretary Tom) Vilsack said the biofuel industry hasn’t been invited to the White House like the airline or oil industries have to discuss ways to help cover their losses. A number of conservative
April 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Bill Authorizes $600 Million to Support Biofuel Infrastructure
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Rep. Abby Finkenauer, D-Iowa, on April 28 announced the introduction of the Clean Fuels Deployment Act of 2020. The bill aims to provide funding for installing and converting fuel pump infrastructure to deliver higher blends
April 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Amid Pandemic, Iowa Ethanol Plant Restarts Production to Help Des Moines Water Treatment
by Austin Cannon (Des Moines Register) The domino effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are widespread, but here’s a peculiar one: Having fewer cars on the road has caused a shortage of a crucial component at Iowa’s water treatment plants. Follow along:
April 28, 2020 Read Full Article
COVID-19 Crisis Affects Ethanol Industry
by Kelby Wingert (The Messenger) ... With fewer cars on the roads, fewer people commuting to work and fewer families traveling for vacations, gasoline prices across the nation began to drop. And while consumers at the pump are enjoying the lowest
April 24, 2020 Read Full Article
All the Buzz on Biodiesel Fuels: Fill It up Please
by Allen Schaeffer (Diesel Technology Forum/Progressive Dairy) ... In California, home of the nation’s most progressive climate policy that is now nearly a decade old, the Air Resources Board motto is, “Electrify everything possible and use low-carbon fuels in everything
April 21, 2020 Read Full Article
New RFA Analysis: Ethanol Industry Could See $10 Billion in Losses Due to COVID-19
(Renewable Fuels Association) As the COVID-19 pandemic and crude oil glut continue to ravage world fuel markets, U.S. ethanol sales in 2020 could fall by more than $10 billion and the industry’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) could drop by
April 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Hero BX Eyes Expanding Biodiesel Footprint When Pandemic Subsides
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) ... “We are surviving day by day,” Peterson (Chris Peterson, president of Hero BX) said. “All our people are still employed.” According to Peterson, Hero BX owner Pat Black strives to provide stability for his staff
April 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Report Shows 70 Percent of Iowa’s On-Road Diesel Fuel Contains Biodiesel
by Jenna Higgins Rose (River Cities' Reader) Iowa Biodiesel Board points to successful state policies behind growth -- A report released by the Iowa Department of Revenue shows biodiesel-blended fuel represented 69.9 percent of the total reported sales of on-road diesel
April 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Great Plains Institute’s Latest Report: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to A Clean Fuels Policy for the Midwest
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) The Midwestern Clean Fuels Initiative, facilitated by the Great Plains Institute, is a broad coalition of fuels producers and marketers, nonprofit and research organizations, scientists and engineers, and agriculture and industry stakeholders. The coalition
April 10, 2020 Read Full Article
New Market Dynamics Force New Focus on Distillers Grains: Ethanol Plants Are Adjusting to the New Normal in the Economy by Focusing on Livestock Feed.
by Robert Fears (Beef Magazine) Until recently, the primary objective of the bioethanol industry was ethanol production. That was before a little bitty virus caused a very big disruption in just about everything, including the amount of gasoline that is no longer being
April 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Grassley Urging USDA to Aid Ethanol Industry through CCC
(The Hagstrom Report/The Fence Post) Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said today that he will send a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging him to use the Commodity Credit Corporation to help the ethanol industry. Grassley said he
April 08, 2020 Read Full Article
Iowa’s Renewable Energy Portfolio & Opportunity: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to All Things Iowa
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At last week’s Digest webinar, Mark Laurenzo from the Iowa Economic Development Authority shared this illuminating presentation on Iowa’s key value propositions, activity from the biosciences industry in the state where bioscience R&D expenditures per
April 07, 2020 Read Full Article
REG Newton Biodiesel Plant Seeds Monarch Fueling Station
(The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Biodiesel Magazine) Iowa’s spring planting season is just around the corner and Renewable Energy Group’s biodiesel plant near Newton is getting a head start with a unique kind of planting. Local Pheasants Forever representatives recently conducted a seeding
April 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Gevo Tightens Belt, Plans to Push Forward with Project Funding Amid COVID-19 Layoffs
(Gevo) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) announced today that due to the impact the COVID-19 virus has had on the economy and Gevo’s industry, Gevo has suspended production operations at its production facility in Luverne, Minnesota (the “Luverne Facility”) for the foreseeable
April 01, 2020 Read Full Article
US Fuel Ethanol Producer Valero Shuts Two Plants, Declares FM
by Alex Snodgrass (Independent Commodity Intelligence Service) US fuel ethanol producer and refiner Valero is closing two of its ethanol plants and declaring force majeure on shipments of dried distillers grains or corn purchases, according to sources. The force majeure is due
March 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Flex Fuel Spreads Its Reach, as Casey’s Becomes 5,000th Station to Offer E85
(Renewable Fuels Association) The number of fuel stations now offering Flex Fuel E85 has reached an important milestone, as a Casey’s store in Ankeny, Iowa, became the 5,000th station nationwide to sell E85. While offering significantly lower emissions than traditional fuel,
March 24, 2020 Read Full Article
The Hand Sanitizer Market: A Salvation for Beleaguered Ethanol Producers, or Not?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) created exemptions allowing certain alcohol fuel permit holders to sell ethanol (alcohol) for use in the
March 24, 2020 Read Full Article
Grassley Doubts Administration Will Appeal 10th Circuit Ruling on SRES
by Ken Anderson (Brownfield Ag News) Earlier this week the Trump Administration was granted a two-week delay in deciding whether to appeal a court ruling on small refinery exemptions. Does that mean an appeal is likely? Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley doesn’t think
March 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Despite Tough Times, Study Finds Ethanol and Biodiesel Production Continues to Power Iowa's Economy
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association) Economic benefits hampered by RFS exemptions -- Today (March 11, 2020) a new study finds despite challenges, Iowa biofuel production continues to have a significant impact on Iowa’s economy, supporting over 48,000 jobs and more than $2.4
March 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Iowa’s Biodiesel Industry Calls for Fuel Tax Incentive Extension
(Biofuels International) Biodiesel producers, soybean farmers and other supporters in Iowa have urged state lawmakers to extend a break in fuel tax for diesel that contains at least 11% biodiesel. To date, the policy has almost tripled the number of retailers
March 12, 2020 Read Full Article
Trump’s Biofuel Plan Triggers Fallout in U.S. Farm Country
by Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Appeal would be ‘a stunning betrayal’ of farmers, groups warn; Move allows EPA to keep waiving refineries from biofuel quotas -- President Donald Trump’s decision to defend the U.S. government’s power to broadly exempt oil refineries
March 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Hydrogen and a Story of a Simple Fuel, and SimpleFuel
by Jim Lane (Hydrogen Digest) There are two places in the world we thought there would long have been a hydrogen project built or announced. One, at the Port of Amsterdam in The Netherlands, and one at the Prairie View Industrial
March 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Congresswoman Angie Craig Leads Letter Reiterating Support for Biofuels, Reducing Carbon Emissions
(Office of Congresswoman Angie Craig (D-MN2)) Today, U.S. Reps. Angie Craig (MN-02) and Dave Loebsack (IA-02) delivered a letter signed by 11 members on the bipartisan Congressional Biofuels Caucus urging the Select Committee on Climate Crisis to include biofuels as a
February 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Udall, Grassley Introduce Bill to Ensure Taxpayers Get Fair Share for Public Lands Leasing
(Office of Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)) On the 100 year anniversary of the Mineral Leasing Act, senators introduce the Fair Returns for Public Lands Act of 2020 to modernize the country’s antiquated public lands royalty system, increase return to federal
February 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Big Oil Explores Adding More Cheap Ethanol to Gasoline in Iowa
by Jeffrey Bair and Michael Hirtzer (Bloomberg/Yahoo! Finance) BP Plc and Royal Dutch Shell Plc are exploring adding more ethanol in gasoline in top corn state Iowa to take advantage of how cheap the biofuel has become. The oil majors are gauging
February 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Limited Biofuels M&A Activity in 2019, Stage Set for Potentially Busy 2020
by Bruce Comer (Ocean Park/Biofuels Digest) Biofuels Merger and Acquisition (M&A) activity in North America was subdued in 2019. Only four operating biodiesel, ethanol and advanced biofuels plants were sold during the year. These four acquired plants were relatively small with
February 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Green Plains to Focus on High-Protein Feed Products
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Green Plains Inc. officials announces plans to transform into an ag tech-focused company that produces sustainable high-protein and novel feed ingredients in addition to biofuels during a fourth quarter earnings call held Feb. 11. “As 2019
February 18, 2020 Read Full Article
New Study: Despite Policy Challenges, Ethanol Industry Significantly Benefited Economy in 2019
(Renewable Fuels Association) Policy obstacles—especially ongoing trade disputes and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s granting of RFS compliance waivers to dozens of small refineries —dampened the U.S. ethanol industry’s economic contributions in 2019, according to a new study released today at
February 13, 2020 Read Full Article
How Ditching the Iowa Caucus Could Remake the Biofuels Debate
by Miranda Green (New Republic) If politicians no longer coveted that early "Iowa bump," would they still feel compelled to support ethanol subsidies? In the wake of Iowa’s caucus vote-counting disaster, political staffers and pollsters alike are reconsidering the state’s
February 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Policy Swings Shutter Iowa's Biodiesel Plants
by Marc Heller (E&E News) Fifteen years ago, farmers produced so much soybean oil they couldn't figure out what to with it all. It was good for cooking and salad dressing — and not much more. "We were throwing it away," recalled
February 07, 2020 Read Full Article
2020 Bioeconomy M&A Deal Review & Outlook
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest published today a 2020 Deal Review and Outlook Bioeconomy M&A visual guide that looks at the slurry of recent mergers and acquisitions in the bioeconomy like Lygos and Librede, NuSeed and Agrisoma, FinCo Fuels
February 05, 2020 Read Full Article
The Critical Importance of Higher Ethanol Blends to Ethanol Producers
by Tristan R. Brown (Seeking Alpha) A new dataset illustrates for investors why the U.S. ethanol sector is staking its future margin hopes on the EPA's recent decision to permit year-round blending of 15 vol% ethanol. Ethanol blending is very uniform across
February 04, 2020 Read Full Article
OPINION: Don't Count out Ethanol This Election Season
by Geoff Cooper (Renewable Fuels Association/Des Moines Register) When Ted Cruz, a strong opponent of the Renewable Fuel Standard, won the Iowa caucuses four years ago, political pundits said it was the “beginning of the end” for national biofuels policy. After all,
February 03, 2020 Read Full Article
Democratic Candidates’ Electric Car Mandates Will Kill Jobs in Iowa and Beyond
by Ed Wiederstein (Real Clear Energy) ... Like clockwork, candidates on the stump in Iowa — and even at the recent democratic debate at Drake University — are making a point to show their support for our ethanol industry. But for voters who
February 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Blended Curriculum: The Nebraska Ethanol Board Offers Workshops
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Nebraska Ethanol Board offers workshops to help retailers learn more about E15 and higher blends. Other states offer help with grant application processes, or are pushing for for mid-level blends. -- Considering updating
January 30, 2020 Read Full Article
RFA and NCGA Co-Title Sponsorship of 2020 Crappie Masters Tournament Trail Begins This Week
(Renewable Fuels Association) The 2020 season of the Crappie Masters Tournament Trail begins later this week, with the Renewable Fuels Association and the National Corn Growers Association signed on as co-title sponsors for the fourth consecutive year. The first tournament begins
January 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Iowans Push 2020 Candidates to Focus on Climate Change
by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) ... While climate change has been given short shrift on the debate stages, it’s been widely discussed as the state races toward its first-in-the-nation caucuses on Monday. Record-setting flooding devastated nearly every corner of the state
January 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Plant Reopens Thanks to Biodiesel Blenders Tax Credit
by Marjorie Kulba (Farm Journal's Ag Pro) An Iowa biodiesel plant is reopening after it shut down late last year. The Western Dubuque Biodiesel plant in Farley, Iowa started up production at the plant last week after shutting down for most of December
January 29, 2020 Read Full Article
The Democratic Party’s Choice for President: The Digest’s Endorsement--Amy Klobuchar
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... We need “idealism without illusion”, as President John F. Kennedy once defined it. ... For that task, there is no better leader we’ve seen on the Democratic side this season than Senator Amy Klobuchar
January 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Reynolds Can't Handle Our Climate Crisis. She Should Resign.
by Jeff Biggers (Climate Narrative Project/Des Moines Register) The fate of our state is too important to leave in the hands of someone who doesn't have the wherewithal to deal with our climate crisis. -- ... Despite massive wind energy
January 21, 2020 Read Full Article
EPA: 21 SRE Petitions Now Pending for Compliance Year 2019
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data on Jan. 16, reporting that five new SRE petitions have been filed under the Renewable Fuel Standard for compliance year 2019, up from 16 petitions
January 17, 2020 Read Full Article
USDA Seeks Input on New Ethanol Sales Infrastructure Incentive Program DEADLINE January 30, 2020
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking public input to help with the creation of the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), a new program that will expand the availability of domestic ethanol and biodiesel by incentivizing the expansion
January 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Payments for Ecosystem Services Key to Enabling Agricultural Solutions to Sustainable Development Goals, Ag Renaissance
(Solutions from the Land) As discussions on climate change, clean water, hunger, poverty and biodiversity grow both on the domestic and global stages, the role of agriculture in addressing these mega-challenges is filling a growing role at the policy table. Statewide
January 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Secretary Naig Presents Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards: Diamond Oil Company Receives Biodiesel Award and Ethanol Award Goes to Elliott Oil Company
(FuelIowa) Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented Elliott Oil Company of Ottumwa and Diamond Oil Company of Des Moines with the 2020 Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards today at the FUELIowa Annual Meeting in Des Moines. The Ethanol and Biodiesel Marketing Awards
January 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Senator Amy Klobuchar Campaigns in Iowa Ahead of Democratic Debate
by Melody Mercado (WHOTV) ... (Senator Amy) Klobuchar is claiming a home field advantage for next week’s Democratic debate in Iowa. She says she is looking forward to bringing rural issues to the debate such as the closings of biodiesel and
January 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Five Reasons Midwestern States Need a Clean Fuel Standard
by Jeremy Martin (Union of Concerned Scientists) ... Here are five reasons now is the time for Midwestern States to get started on a clean fuel standard. Accelerating Electric Vehicles: Electric vehicles are growing in the Midwest, but need a boost.
January 10, 2020 Read Full Article
A Clean Fuels Policy for the Midwest
(Great Plains Institute) This Initiative is exploring a clean fuels policy, at the state or regional level, as a marketdriven approach to achieving our economic, energy security, climate, environmental, and public health goals. This white paper presents policy design considerations that