by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s been a very busy week in Washington DC, the high point being a letter to seven senators sent late Thursday by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who took significant (and as of a few days ago,
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS and RFS2)
Back TO HOMEPutting Major RFS Concessions into Writing
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Sen. Joni Ernst released a letter late Thursday from EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt outlining a number steps the agency intends to take on the Renewable Fuel Standard that will be music to the ears
October 20, 2017 Read Full Article
New York City Submits Strong Comments to EPA Supporting Biodiesel
(NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services/Biodiesel Magazine) New York City submitted comments to the U.S. EPA Oct. 19, protesting any rollback of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which calls for minimal use levels for renewable fuels like biodiesel. Biodiesel has proven a
October 20, 2017 Read Full Article
NBB Holds Firm In Its Request for 2.5 Billion Gallons of Biomass-Based Diesel, 4.75 Billion Gallons of Advanced Biofuels
(National Biodiesel Board) EPA Letter Does Not Include a Commitment to Raise Biomass-Based Diesel Volumes -- Yesterday the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) responded to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Notice of Data Availability (NODA), focusing on the advanced biofuel standard for
October 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump Tells EPA to Boost Biofuels After Iowa Uproar
by Jennifer A Dlouhy , Jennifer Jacobs, Ari Natter (Bloomberg) Market for biofuel credits rebounds after lawmakers weigh in; Iowa governor says Trump affirms commitment to biofuel program President Donald Trump intervened personally with the Environmental Protection Agency amid pressure from Republicans in the politically important state of
October 19, 2017 Read Full Article
Sen. Tammy Duckworth Blocks Key EPA Nominees, Cites Ethanol Stance and Ties to Koch Industries
by Ben Wolfgang (The Washington Times) Citing one nominee’s stance on the federal ethanol mandate and another’s supposed ties to Koch Industries, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Illinois Democrat, on Wednesday placed holds on two key nominations for top-level jobs at the Environmental Protection Agency. The move
October 19, 2017 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at ABLC Next 2017: Fulcrum Prices Bonds, GOP Governors’ Pro-Biofuels March on DC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In the biggest news sweeping the floor at ABLC Next 2017 and perhaps the biggest industrial biotechnology update of 2017, the long-awaited financing is approaching completion for Fulcrum Bioenergy’s highly-anticipated waste-to-fuels project in Nevada, that
October 19, 2017 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Industry Helps Drive American Manufacturing
(National Biodiesel Board) Biodiesel is a driving force in America’s manufacturing sector, supporting more than 64,000 good paying, clean energy jobs across the country. These jobs are contributing to a vibrant manufacturing sector, reinvigorating rural economies and driving innovation. “Manufacturing Day 2017
October 18, 2017 Read Full Article
A Vote for Bill Wehrum Is a Vote against the RFS
by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) (The Hill) There is a reason that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), our nation's policy governing the production and sale of biofuels, has broad bipartisan support in Congress. This policy is helping us revive rural economies,
October 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Grassley Says Midwestern Senators Who Are Upset over EPA's New Renewable-Fuel Proposals Could Hold up Agency's Nominees
by Joseph Morton (Omaha World-Herald) The head of the Environmental Protection Agency sought Tuesday to calm Midwestern senators who could block his nominees if the agency sets renewable fuel mandates too low. All four GOP senators from Iowa and Nebraska attended Tuesday’s
October 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Farmers Push for Support of Renewable Fuels
(Public News Service) Farmers in North Dakota and across the country are pushing policymakers in Washington to support renewable fuels. The National Farmers Union, in conjunction with the North Dakota Farmers Union and counterparts in other states, wants Congress and the Trump
October 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Pruitt's Charm Offensive Has Few Actual Promises
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Seven corn-state Republican senators emerged smiling from what they deemed a "good" meeting with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt on Tuesday but they got no concrete policy promises on the Renewable Fuel Standard from him, Pro's
October 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Republican Governors Express Concern to President Trump Over EPA Actions on RFS
(National Biodiesel Board) “We Were Drawn to Your Explicit Promises to Our Farmers… But Now We Are Concerned” -- Today four Republican Governors sent a letter to President Trump with concerns on the recently proposed changes to America’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS),
October 17, 2017 Read Full Article
ABFA Sends Letter to President Trump Opposing Proposed Decreases to 2018 RVOs
(Advanced Biofuels Association) On October 13, members of the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA) sent a letter to President Trump expressing their opposition to the proposals in the EPA’s October 4th Notice of Data Availability (NODA), which requests comments on “potential options for
October 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Heitkamp Leads Bipartisan Effort to Protect Biofuel Production & Support Rural Jobs
(Office of Senator Heidi Heitkamp) Senators: EPA Proposal to Cut Renewable Fuel Standard Would Cost Jobs in Rural America -- U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today led a bipartisan letter with U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and
October 16, 2017 Read Full Article
The Other General Waiver: RFS and Severe Economic Harm
by Jonathan Coppess and Scott Irwin (Farms.com/University of Illinois/farmdocdaily) As discussed last week, the Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting data and feedback on the biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels components of the Renewable Fuels Standard, including the general waiver authority (see, farmdoc
October 13, 2017 Read Full Article
The Top Legislative Threats Facing Convenience Stores Today
by Tammy Mastroberte (Convenience Store News) ... One of the top issues right now is the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which provides for the inclusion of increasing volumes of renewable fuel into the marketplace each year. With the convenience store industry selling more
October 12, 2017 Read Full Article
Randy Krehbiel: Did Scott Pruitt Just Declare War on Renewables?
by Randy Krehbiel (Tulsa World) Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt may have declared an end to the "war on coal" earlier this week, but what some consider Pruitt's own war on alternative energy seems to be just getting started. Largely unnoticed
October 12, 2017 Read Full Article
Energy Conference Focuses on Profitable Energy Independence
(Huggins Consulting Group LLC/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Competitive landscape, innovative technologies and emerging energy policy were hot topics as a diverse group of nearly 150 thought leaders, industry representatives, researchers and suppliers convened in the heart of renewable energy production for the
October 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump Tramples GOP Loyalty with Anti-Iowa Positions on Health Care, Energy
by Kathie Obradovich (Des Moines Register) ... Trump, while campaigning in Iowa, pledged to protect the RFS, which sets the minimum volume of renewable energy that must be part of the transportation fuels sold in the United States. The National Biodiesel Board posted
October 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Senators Object to Lower 2018 U.S. Renewable Fuel Requirements
(Reuters) A group of 38 U.S. senators asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday to abandon plans to lower biofuel requirements for oil refiners in 2018, according to a letter made public by the office of Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar
October 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Renewable Natural Gas Increasingly Used to Meet Part of EPA’s Renewable Fuel Requirements
(U.S. Energy Information Agency) Renewable natural gas (RNG), which is derived from biogas collected at landfills and other facilities, is increasingly used to meet government targets for renewable fuel production. In 2016, about 189 million gallons of RNG were used to
October 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels USA Files Comments on CAFE Midterm Evaluation
(Advanced Biofuels USA) Regarding the Midterm Evaluation Draft Technical Assessment Report for Model Year 2022–2025 Light Duty Vehicle GHG Emissions and CAFE Standards, Advanced Biofuels USA offered the following comments and recommendations. Current EPA CAFE Fuel Mileage Regulations Are Not an Expedited
October 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Industry Helps Drive American Manufacturing
(National Biodiesel Board) Manufacturing Day 2017 Highlights Biodiesel's Job Creation -- Biodiesel is a driving force in America’s manufacturing sector, supporting more than 64,000 good paying, clean energy jobs across the country. These jobs are contributing to a vibrant manufacturing sector, reinvigorating
October 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Environmental and Energy Study Institute Publishes Fact Sheet: Biogas—Converting Waste to Energy
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The United States produces more than 70 million tons of organic waste each year. While source reduction and feeding the hungry are necessary priorities for reducing needless food waste, organic wastes are numerous and extend to
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2018 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2019; Availability of Supplemental Information and Request for Further Comment (Deadline October 19, 2017)
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Federal Register) This document provides additional data and an opportunity to comment on that data and potential options for reductions in the 2018 biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel volumes, and/or the 2019 biomass-based diesel volume
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Refiners Make America-First Pitch to Cut Biofuels
(Argus Media) US independent refiners seized on protectionist themes and two key biofuel industry victories this year to argue regulators must reduce federally mandated blending of renewable fuels. Refiners framed a US-first pitch to slash more than 1bn USG — almost 7pc
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
A Blustery Day in the Bioeconomy’s Billion Acre Wood: The Latest from EPA, POET, Fuels America, Calyxt, Eligo Bioscience, Queensland, Gevo, Virgin, and Unilever
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Headwinds -- US road transport biofuels producers are up in arms this week. There are reports of oil industry led-efforts within the EPA to create an export-subsidy RIN, cut biofuel targets with new “data,” and bypass EPA staff recommendations for higher cellulosic targets. ... Now,
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Grassley Floor Speech Criticizes EPA Proposal to Reduce RFS RVOs
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Sept. 26, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, delivered a floor speech to the U.S. Senate expressing his disappointment in recent action taken by the U.S. EPA that could reduce 2018 and 2019 renewable volume requirements
October 03, 2017 Read Full Article
BFC Keynote Addresses Policy, Technology, Economy
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Geoff Cooper, senior vice president of the Renewable Fuels Association, told attendees at the Biofuels Financial Conference Sept. 27 in Minneapolis that it’s tough to predict the future. “Predicting the future is hard work, and
October 03, 2017 Read Full Article
ACE Partners on EPA Smart Sectors Program
(American Coalition for Ethanol) The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) announces its participation in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Smart Sectors program launched today to provide a platform for collaboration with regulated sectors to help the agency develop forward-thinking ways to improve
October 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuel Advocates: President Trump Should Keep Commitment to the RFS
by Sara Wyant (Agri-Pulse) ... In July, EPA proposed to reduce the total 2018 RFS renewable fuel blending requirements below the levels required in 2017. In late September, the agency said it was considering further reductions to the 2018 RFS volumes.
October 03, 2017 Read Full Article
‘No Rationale for Further Reducing’ 2018 RFS RVO, RFA Says in Response to EPA Notice
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a Notice of Data Availability (NODA), seeking comment on potential options for reductions in the biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel volumes beyond those already proposed in EPA’s recent
September 26, 2017 Read Full Article
The Message Is Clear: We Must Create Demand
by Doug Durante (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Growth above 15 billion gallons will require new markets and widespread understanding of ethanol's carbon-reduction value. -- ... The guaranteed market for 15 billion gallons has been achieved and anything we do beyond that volume will
September 26, 2017 Read Full Article
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: Blended Fuels Are the Way to Go
by Glenn Badenhop (The Blade) Oil refineries in Ohio and across the country are misleading the public about the Renewable Fuel Standards, and this deception was most recently on display in The Blade’s Sept. 18 article on the impacts of the standards
September 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump’s Bait-And-Switch On The Renewable Fuel Standard
by Paul Alexander (Huffington Post) ... “Now it is time for action,” Monte Shaw, IRFA executive director, said following Trump’s Iowa appearance. “President Trump’s EPA needs to release the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2018. That proposal needs to maintain ethanol levels
September 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Icahn's Oil Refiner CVR Starts Unwinding Biofuels Bet
by Jarrett Renshaw and Chris Prentice (Reuters) Carl Icahn’s refining company CVR Energy (CVI.N) has begun buying biofuel credits for the first time in months, a sign the firm is starting to unwind a massive short position in the niche
September 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Biodiesel's Impact on Soybean Oil Prices Lower than Previously Thought
by Tom Steever (Brownfield Ag News) An agriculture economist says biodiesel production has had less impact on soybean oil prices than previously thought. The impression was that the U.S. biodiesel production boom following the establishment of the Renewable Fuel Standard
September 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Oil and Ethanol Groups Debate Future of Fuel
by Ben Nuelle (Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network) ... Members of the Renewable Fuels Association and the American Petroleum Institute discussed the Renewable Fuels Standard on a four-member panel Tuesday. “We would like to see the RFS significantly reformed. It does not reflect
September 15, 2017 Read Full Article
U.S. EPA Chief Denies Icahn Influence in Biofuel Regulation
by Valerie Volcovici (Reuters) Investor Carl Icahn never wielded excessive influence on U.S. biofuels policy while acting as President Donald Trump’s adviser on regulation, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency said in a letter to a Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. The letter,
September 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Over 150 Biofuels Champions in D.C. Today to Kick Off Industry’s Largest Advocacy Summit
(Growth Energy) Growth Energy is holding its annual advocacy conference in Washington, D.C., this week, bringing together over 150 leaders in the ethanol industry from across the country to champion the association’s policy priorities on Capitol Hill. During Growth Energy’s Biofuels
September 13, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA: Thumbs-up to 'Energy Beet' Idea
by Mikkel Pates (Agweek) The Environmental Protection Agency predicted it might take six months to do an initial evaluation of "energy beets" for their environmental footprint as a feedstock for biofuels. Six years — not months — later the agency has
September 12, 2017 Read Full Article
Risk on the Horizon for RFS Advanced Pool?
by Michael McAdams (Advanced Biofuels Association/Biomass Magazine) The time is now to make sure policymakers in Washington, D.C., understand the importance of staying the course on fuels of the future. -- On July 28, the U.S. Court of Appeals for
September 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Donald Trump Ignores Biodiesel and the Loyal Voters behind It
by Lindsey Rae Gjording (DW) The Midwest vote helped elect Trump, but his campaign promises to defend ethanol have fallen short. Farmers struggle to get by with declining crop sales and outpricing from larger oil firms and German biodiesel imports. ... Directly supporting 86,000
September 11, 2017 Read Full Article
RFS Comment Period Closes, More than 44,000 Comments Submitted
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The comment period on the U.S. EPA’s proposed rule to set 2018 renewable volume standards (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard, along with the 2019 RVO for biomass-based diesel, closed at midnight Aug. 31. More
September 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Voices Comment on RFS Rule
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The comment period for the EPA’s proposed volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has officially ended and stakeholders in both the biodiesel and ethanol industries made their voices heard. READ MORE Growth Energy
September 01, 2017 Read Full Article
Duckworth Asks FBI to Investigate Trump Ally Carl Icahn
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) is calling on the FBI to investigate whether Carl Icahn, a former external adviser to President Trump, violated conflict of interest laws. Duckworth’s request, outlined in a Wednesday letter to FBI Director
September 01, 2017 Read Full Article
The People’s Fuel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biodiesel is the people’s advanced biofuel, but it is not always the Establishment’s darling. Whether it is cleaner air, more lubricity, more advanced domestic manufacturing and jobs, higher property values driving higher revenues for states
September 01, 2017 Read Full Article
Reform the Ethanol Mandate
by Wayne Allard (American Motorcyclist Association/Washington Examiner) For more than 10 years, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has been gradually changing the U.S. fuel supply, injecting more biofuels and corn ethanol into our gasoline every year. Under the policy, America's corn
August 31, 2017 Read Full Article
Press Release: Update 1: Trump Will Stand by Ethanol Industry-Republican Iowa Senator
(Reuters/ Successful Farming) ... Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa said on Twitter on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump told him he is "pro ethanol" and will stand by a campaign promise to support the ethanol industry. "He assured me he's pro ethanol" and
August 31, 2017 Read Full Article
Icahn Sees Biofuels Fight Deepening as Refinery Losses Mount
by Mario Parker and Jennifer A Dlouhy (Bloomberg) Billionaire Carl Icahn says an oil industry push for structural changes to the U.S. biofuels mandate will persist, even if the Environmental Protection Agency rebuffs requests from refiners to relieve them of the regulatory
August 30, 2017 Read Full Article
Cellerate + Enogen Could Meet Cellulosic Ethanol Goal
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) If every corn ethanol plant in the country were to convert to Cellerate bolt-on technology combined with Enogen® corn enzyme technology from Syngenta, the country could more than meet the goals for cellulosic biofuels under the
August 29, 2017 Read Full Article
New Biofuel Exemption Prospects Spur Oil Giant Concern
by Brian Dabbs (Bloomberg BNA) An era of relaxed biofuel blending requirements may be dawning for small oil refineries nationwide following a watershed court decision and new congressional direction for regulators. That prospect is cheered on by many companies that operate
August 29, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Changed Course on Cellulosic RFS Documents: EPA Originally Sought Increase in Cellulosic Volumes
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency originally proposed a much higher cellulosic ethanol number in its Renewable Fuel Standard proposal sent to the Office of Management and Budget in June, interagency review documents posted
August 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels and Biogas Unite in Call for Cellulosic Targets
(Biofuels International) Leading US advocates for advanced liquid and gasified biofuels have united to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stand behind President Trump’s commitment to driving investment in the next generation of ‘homegrown’ fuels under the Renewable Fuel
August 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Letter: The Economic Consequences of a Post-2022 RFS
by Lon Carrier (Argus Leader) ... The ethanol volume requirements will likely remain at this level until the EPA takes over the program entirely in 2023. At that point, the agency could cut corn ethanol out of the mandate altogether, which
August 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Congressional Research Service Publishes The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): An Overview
by Kelsi Bracmort (Congressional Research Service; posted by OurEnergyPolicy.org) Congress has expressed ongoing interest in the RFS, particularly the challenges associated with implementing the RFS and with compliance for entities required to use renewable fuels. Some question whether it is time
August 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Farmers Union to Power the Transition to a Homegrown, Renewable Energy Future for the U.S.
(National Farmers Union) The transition to a homegrown, renewable energy future for America is underway. Biofuels, higher blends of ethanol in gasoline, and advanced, bio-based technologies are reaping tremendous benefits for our environment and providing much-needed economic stability to America’s
August 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Letter to the Editor: Eclipse Visitors, Help Us on Climate
by Mick Harris (Oregon Live) I loved Richard Waring's Aug. 17 message to eclipse visitors. As somebody who continues to try and take the fight to climate change through a variety of organizations, I agree with him that, in order to preserve the Oregon
August 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Behind the Battle for Octane
by Denton Cinquegrana (Oil Price Information Service(OPIS)) What you need to know as the refining, agricultural and auto industries gear up to vie for their piece of a multi-billion-dollar market -- Premium gasoline has clearly become a sought-after commodity for U.S.
August 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Don’t Change Horses in the Middle of the River
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) We were disappointed, but not surprised, to see Mike McAdams and his members come out in support of changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard in Biofuels Digest (July 26 – The Time Has Come for RFS
August 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Listen to Farmers, Not Oil Industry Lobbyists
by Kris Tom (The Brazil Times) This paper recently published a letter from oil lobbyist Maureen Ferguson attacking Indiana farmers and ethanol producers. I’m a farmer, and I want you to know the oil lobby is flawed in its arguments. Her claims
August 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Special Report: Refiner Valero's Secret Campaign against U.S. Biofuels Mandates
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) ... As part of an extensive behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign, Valero played a key role in bringing these people and groups together around a policy proposal that could save the refiner hundreds of millions of dollars each year
August 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Are Good for Iowa by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) (River Cities' Reader) Q: How has your support for renewable fuels helped Iowa? A: Iowans breathe cleaner air and can chalk up a stronger, healthier economy thanks to renewable fuels. My long-held support for public policies
August 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Major Study Says “Cut Cellulosic Ethanol out”, RFA Says “No Way Jose”
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, a new tractable multi-market model study finds that the RFS has substantially benefited the U.S. economy by lowering gasoline, crude oil prices, and crude oil imports, while increasing prices and benefits for corn
August 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Pruitt, EPA Should Heed Court Ruling, Boost RFS Biofuel Blending Levels
(25 x '25 REsource) In a radio interview in Iowa late last week, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt made pretty clear the rational that went into his agency proposing lower levels of cellulosic biofuels, advanced biofuels, and total renewable fuels that would be required
August 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Tested, Proven and Driven – Ethanol Moving Forward
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The American Coalition for Ethanol celebrated its 30th annual conference this week by highlighting recent victories for the industry and embracing the challenges moving forward. “We’re as close as we’ve ever been to getting Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) relief
August 18, 2017 Read Full Article
New Study Shows Renewable Fuel Standard Helps—Not 'Harms'—the US Economy
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/The Hill) Buried deep within the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent proposal for 2018 renewable fuel standard (RFS) blending requirements is a curious request for public comments on whether the proposed biofuel volumes would somehow cause “severe
August 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Gov. Pete Ricketts among Those Touting Higher Ethanol Blends at Industry Conference in Omaha
By Russell Hubbard (Omaha World-Herald) Ready or not, higher ethanol blends appear destined for a gas station near you, a development touted by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts Wednesday at a major industry conference being held in Omaha. “The ethanol industry is
August 17, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Erred in Denying Renewable Fuel Hardship Exemption: Courts
by Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency used too strict of a test when it denied Sinclair Oil Corp's request for an exemption from the country's biofuel regulations, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Tuesday. The ruling could broaden
August 16, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Interpretation of the "Inadequate Domestic Supply" Waiver for Renewable Fuels Ruled Invalid: Where to from Here?
by Scott Irwin and Darrel Good (FarmDocDaily/University of Illinois) Three words--inadequate domestic supply--have taken center stage in the implementation of the RFS since 2014. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) used a controversial definition of this term to reduce the (implied)
August 11, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Chief: ‘Production Levels & Demand Matter’ in RFS Decision
by O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa) ... (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Scott) Pruitt said he doesn’t want his agency “being used” to spur the expansion of biofuel facilities. READ MORE
August 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Application of America-First Approach to RVOs Well-Intended, But Misses the Mark
by Donnell Rehagen (National Biodiesel Board) The first action by the Trump administration on the Renewable Fuel Standard was much anticipated. The National Biodiesel Board and the entire biofuels industry eagerly awaited the 2018 renewable volume obligations (RVO) proposal released
August 09, 2017 Read Full Article
Column: Keeping Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Communities Strong
by Senator Al Franken (D-MN) (The Globe) ... That’s why I pushed back hard when President Trump recently proposed more than $230 billion in Farm Bill cuts, including $29 billion in cuts to the crop insurance program, which farmers depend upon
August 09, 2017 Read Full Article
Remembering the Original RFS
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen keeps a signed copy of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which included the original Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), hanging on the wall of his office as a
August 09, 2017 Read Full Article
Democrats Look to Fit Electric Car Credits into EPA's Ethanol Mandate
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) The Environmental Protection Agency's renewable fuel mandate could get a whole lot more complicated if Democrats are able to add electric cars to a credit program designed to boost corn ethanol and other liquid biofuels
August 07, 2017 Read Full Article
A Better Fuel Mix Can Be 'Made in America'
by Rick Santorum (Des Moines Register/Americans for Energy Security and Innovation) ... American ethanol now replaces more than 500 million barrels of imported oil annually and shields drivers from price manipulation by hostile forces within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting
August 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Inside the Cellulosic Industry
by Susanne Retka Schill and Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol Producer Magazine provides an update on 10 cellulosic ethanol projects around the world striving for continuous, large-scale production. -- Some things have changed in the U.S.’s cellulosic ethanol sector in
August 04, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Will Reject Change that Trump Backer Icahn Sought
by Eric Wolff (Politico) The Trump administration plans to reject a proposal that would let oil refiners off the hook for complying with the federal ethanol mandate, a senior administration official told POLITICO, dashing the hopes of billionaire Carl Icahn
August 03, 2017 Read Full Article
RFA Chief Says He's Still Concerned RINs Market Is Being Manipulated
by Jeff Barber (Oil Price Information Service) The head of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) says the ethanol industry group remains concerned that "market manipulation" is a "significant factor" driving the price of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and cited an
August 03, 2017 Read Full Article
RNG Stakeholders Testify at EPA Renewable Fuel Volume Standard Hearing
by Lauren Tyler (NGT News) Several renewable natural gas stakeholders attended the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) public comment hearing today on the 2018 Renewable Fuel Volume Standard Proposed Rule to advocate for RNG transportation fuel under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. According
August 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Drive Innovation
by Wesley K. Clark (Denver Post) ... It is no accident that spikes in the cost of fuel have become further and farther between, despite near ceaseless turmoil in many regions of the world. Oil production has played a role, but
August 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Make-Ready: Decision Time at the Bioeconomy’s Gettysburg
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts are the headliners in a battle in and about Washington DC this week. You can call it what you want: it’s Gettysburg. As Reynolds put it, “I
August 02, 2017 Read Full Article
RFA Urges EPA to Increase Cellulosic Ethanol RVO
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen today urged the Environmental Protection Agency to increase its proposed cellulosic ethanol requirement to reflect growing bolt-on technologies at existing ethanol plants. “We understand the agency’s dilemma in establishing
August 01, 2017 Read Full Article
NBB Has Strong Showing at RFS Public Hearing, Calls for Higher Biodiesel Volumes
(National Biodiesel Board) Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a public hearing on the proposal for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) had several witnesses testify before the EPA staff and advocate for higher
August 01, 2017 Read Full Article
Why Ethanol Is in Gas
by Robert White (Yakima Herald) To the editor — The Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires refiners to blend an increasing amount of ethanol and other biofuels into petroleum, was enacted in part to help bring greater consumer choice to the
July 31, 2017 Read Full Article
Notice of Opportunity To Comment on an Analysis of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Attributable to Production and Transport of Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris (Sugar Beets) for Use in Biofuel Production
(Environmental Protection Agency/Federal Register) In this notice, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting comment on its analysis of the upstream greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the production of Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris (sugar beets) for use as a biofuel feedstock. This
July 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Federal Court Hands Ethanol Industry Big Victory on EPA Fuel Mandate
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) A federal appeals court on Friday handed the ethanol industry a major victory, ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency under the Obama administration fundamentally misinterpreted its authority under the national renewable fuel mandate by reducing
July 28, 2017 Read Full Article
House Committee Debates Future Federal Support of Biofuels
by Sara Taginawa (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On Tuesday, July 25, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing examining the future of biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). According to Emily Skor, chief executive officer
July 28, 2017 Read Full Article
The Time Has Come for RFS Reform
by Mike McAdams (Advanced Biofuels Association/Biofuels Digest) In December of 2007, President Bush—with overwhelming bipartisan support—signed the RFS2 into law. Since that time, it has become clear the law has worked for first-generation corn ethanol and biodiesel. While the first generation
July 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Proposal on Biodiesel Regulations Concerning to Ethanol Producers
by Russell Hubbard (BH News Service/Daily Nonpareil) ... But it is the biodiesel part that really has people asking what is going on. The EPA has proposed that 2.1 billion gallons of diesel produced from sources such as corn oil and
July 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Top 10 Storylines: Heard on the Floor at the 2017 BIO World Congress
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Industrial biotech’s biggest and grandest show, the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology, opened today in Montreal and BIO itself was in the newsframe with a striking report debunking myths around RIN price surges. 10 Hot Newstories
July 25, 2017 Read Full Article
OUR OPINION: EPA's RFS Proposal Is Mixed Bag for Farm States
(Sioux City Journal) Announcement earlier this month by the Environmental Protection Agency on new volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standards program produced a mixed bag of news for farm states like Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. The federal RFS began
July 24, 2017 Read Full Article
OPIS Publishes White Paper: "Implications for Revitalized Brazilian Sugarcane Ethanol and U.S.-Produced Corn Ethanol"
Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy recently launched RenovaBio, a program poised to take a radically new approach to expanding the production and use of biofuels in Brazil. Should Brazil’s RenovaBio program adopt a Carbon Intensity (CI) rating system similar to
July 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol Blog: RFS Public Comment Period Opens Friday
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will officially open a public comment period on Friday on the latest renewable volume obligations for the Renewable Fuel Standard, with the comment period slated to end on
July 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Get Yer Hot Hot E15 Action Here!
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Sen. Jim Inhofe will take to the Senate floor to opine on the need for Republicans to work together to support fossil fuels. Sources familiar with Inhofe's thinking say he'd like to introduce amendments that
July 19, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Schedules Hearing on RFS Proposal for Aug. 1
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA has announced plans to hold a public hearing Aug. 1 in Washington, D.C., for its recently released rule to set 2018 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard, along with
July 12, 2017 Read Full Article
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Op-Ed: Renewable Fuel Standard Good For Farmers, Consumers, Environment
by Dale McCall (Rocky Mountain Farmers Union/Brian Allmer Radio Network) America’s farming communities are facing an economic crisis. Not since the 1980s have farm incomes declined so far so fast. The Wall Street Journal called it the “next American farm bust” and
July 07, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Targets Biofuel Imports and Biodiesel, HUH?
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) EPA wants to cut imports of biofuels, but the biodiesel and advanced biofuels industries are mystified as to why it's getting into that arena, Pro's Eric Wolff reports . EPA cut back advanced biofuels,
July 07, 2017 Read Full Article
AFPM Encouraged by EPA Proposed Changes to Biofuel Mandates
(American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers/PR Newswire) Following the release of the 2018 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), AFPM President and CEO Chet Thompson released the following statement: "We are pleased the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a
July 05, 2017 Read Full Article
RFS Proposal Stays the Course By Maintaining Conventional Biofuel Requirement at Statutory Level
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018. The agency proposed a total renewable fuel volume of 19.24 billion gallons (BG), of which 4.24 BG is
July 05, 2017 Read Full Article
NBB Statement on EPA's RFS Proposal: This Ignores Reality and the Law
(National Biodiesel Board) Proposed Volume Requirements for Advanced Biofuels Fail to Recognize the Continued Growth of Industry -- Today the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) responded to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal on the advanced-biofuel standard for 2018 and
July 05, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Announces Proposed Volume Standards for 2018, and the Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2019
(Environmental Protection Agency) On July 5, 2017 EPA issued proposed volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard program for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel for calendar year 2018. EPA also proposed biomass-based diesel volume standards for calendar year 2019. The proposed volume requirements
July 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Despite Progress, Algae Diesel Stills Years To Go In Development
by Tim Pearce (Daily Caller) ExxonMobil reported in June that scientists had developed a way to double the size of natural algae that could be used as biofuel to take the place of diesel, according to a news release. Commercially viable
July 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Research Progressing on How to Spur Wide Use of Aviation Biofuels
(Penn State News) Slowed as much by extremely low oil prices as supply-chain and technological challenges, the effort to integrate biofuels into the nation's aviation fuel supply is nonetheless progressing, according to a researcher in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. Sustainable
June 30, 2017 Read Full Article
Congress Needs to Protect Renewable Fuel Law
by Jim Harris (Natural Resource Report) Please stand with me and ask our Oregon representatives in Washington, D.C. to protect the partnership between fuel and agricultural by preserving the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) as is, without changes. With so many policies
June 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Letter: Ethanol Production Helps Local Farmers
by David Howell (The Herald Bulletin) While increased production is usually a good thing, the bumper crop is leading to a global glut of corn and a third straight year of tumbling commodity prices. To complicate matters, farmers are facing uncertainty
June 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Watchdog Group Sues EPA to Access Communications with Icahn
by Valerie Volcovici (Reuters) A U.S. watchdog group filed a lawsuit in a federal court on Tuesday to force the Environmental Protection Agency to release communications with billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who it says tried to influence biofuels policy for personal
June 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Regulating the Indirect Land Use Carbon Emissions from Biofuels Imposes High Hidden Costs on Fuel Consumers
(Phys.Org/ University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) ... To penalize the carbon emissions from this so-called indirect land use change, the USEPA and California Air Resources Board include an indirect land use change factor when considering the carbon savings with biofuels for
June 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Charged up
by Patrick C. Miller (Ethanol Producer Magazine) From an economic perspective, now might be the time for ethanol producers to consider installing a solar array to generate electricity for their operations. But from a technical perspective, producers also should be aware
June 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Says President Trump's Remarks Supporting Biofuels Show Need For Administration Action
(Biofuels Journal) On June 21, in his remarks to Iowa ag leaders at Kirkwood Community College and again at his Cedar Rapids rally, President Donald Trump reiterated his support for American renewable fuels. ... Today, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director
June 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Representatives Press Pruitt on Icahn’s Role in Shaping the RFS
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On June 21, democratic leaders in the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt asking him to detail policies and procedures the agency has put in place
June 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump’s Comments Please Ethanol Industry
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The ethanol industry was thrilled with President Donald Trump’s visit to Iowa this week where he put agriculture and biofuels in the spotlight. “We’re here today to talk about how we’re going to empower America’s farmers and
June 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Thoughts from the Fuel Ethanol Workshop and National Advanced Biofuels Conference and Expo
by Douglas Root* (Advanced Biofuels USA) From the Welcome Reception on Monday to the last session on Wednesday, there was new information presented and new developments reported. At the opening of the expo, many vendors were not able to participate in
June 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Don’t Spill That Ethanol! Those Cellulosic Fuels Are Worth $4.33 a Gallon.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The value of cellulosic fuels has reached $4.33 per gallon in the California market. That’s real-world, today, including the energy and the low-carbon attributes, and not based on speculation. The value has risen 59 cents,
June 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuel Revamp Debate Powers Up, Includes Higher Ethanol Blends
by Brian Dabbs (Bloomberg BNA) Long-awaited efforts to modify biofuel policy are entering the limelight across Capitol Hill. A Senate panel will host a hearing next week on a bill to allow summer sales of vehicle fuel with high concentrations of
June 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Trump and the EPA Should Stay Out of Point of Obligation Fight
by Gary Baise (OFW Law/Morning Consult) ... Like the EPA, the vast majority of the liquid fuel industry is also strongly opposed to shifting the RFS point of obligation for a variety of regulatory and economic reasons. Over the past 12 years,
June 09, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels Work for Oregon
by Jim Talent (Capital Ag Press/Americans for Energy Security and Innovation) Unfortunately, even as fracking reached new heights, America’s total domestic crude oil production declined in 2016. According to new data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, that lost domestic
June 07, 2017 Read Full Article
RFS Has Been ‘Tremendous Success’ Since Adoption, According to RFA Analysis
by Emily Druckman (Renewable Fuels Association) More than a decade after the original renewable fuel standard (RFS) was signed into law, tremendous progress has been made toward its goals of energy security, clean air and boosting local economies, according to
June 07, 2017 Read Full Article
CFTC Says It Is Not Probing Icahn's Activity in Biofuels Credits
by Timothy Gardner (Reuters) The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission informed eight Democratic U.S. senators last month that it is not investigating biofuels credits after the lawmakers had urged it to probe billionaire Carl Icahn's activity in that market, according
June 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Regs Under the Microscope
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Trump's OMB has dramatically ramped up the number of EPA regulations it is reviewing and has begun taking lots more meetings to gather input from interested parties, Pro's Alex Guillén reports in Energy Regulation
June 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Corn Ethanol Faces Its Limits under EPA Fuel Mandate
by John Siciliano (Washington Examiner) Corn ethanol has reached its official limit under the Environmental Protection Agency's renewable fuel program, which means other less-developed, low-carbon fuels will have to step up to fill a 21 billion-gallon gap by 2022. ... Under the
June 05, 2017 Read Full Article
The RFS, Now and Beyond: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Program
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The EPA administers the US Renewable Fuels Standards out of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality, and management of the Standard has come under increasing scrutiny from critics of renewable fuels, and supporters of
June 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Koehler Letter: Renewable Energy
by Neil Koehler (Pacific Ethanol/Idaho Statesman) ... The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has played a vital role in protecting the environment and American consumers. Without it, oil companies would once again have free rein to limit choices at the pump, eliminating competition
June 02, 2017 Read Full Article
Boating, Biofuels and Dirty Politics
by William Delahunt* (Special to Advanced Biofuels USA) Washington, D.C. is full of advocates. Some are very effective champions for important causes, but others get sucked into the maelstrom of competing special interests. Lately, I’ve seen a lot of the latter
June 02, 2017 Read Full Article
Billionaire Carl Icahn Reaps $60 Million as Trump Adviser
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg/Southwest Farm Press) Government work has paid off handsomely for billionaire Carl Icahn. CVR Energy Inc., his oil refining company, saved about $60 million in the first quarter because of expectations that the federal government will ease
May 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Congress: E15 Waiver Hearing Still Coming and First Step on RFS Reform
by Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) It's not scheduled yet, but Senate EPW Chairman John Barrasso told reporters Wednesday that legislation allow year-round sale of gasoline blends with 15 percent ethanol would still get an EPW markup. "We haven't sent a
May 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Cultivating Homegrown Energy Solutions
by Rick Santorum (Washington Times/Americans for Energy Security and Innovation) ... With all the publicity around fracking, it’s easy to assume that America’s own domestic oil production is more than enough to fuel a growing economy. It certainly helps. But
May 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Ex-Pence Chief of Staff Signs up for Biofuels Group
by Kevin Bogardus (E&E News) Biofuels advocacy group Fuels America has bolstered its K Street team in bringing on a former senior aide to Vice President Mike Pence. Lobbying disclosure records released by the Senate last week show the group has hired Bill
May 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Livin’ La Vida Octane: The Quest for Torque and Affordable, Sustainable Vroom
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In recent days. we’ve been updating some very useful industry charts relating to costs, carbon, and biofuels — and here’s another highly useful chart from the University of Illinois that looks at ethanol as a
May 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Driving GHG Down, Bringing Capacity Up
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Increasing efficiency is the ethanol industry’s top goal, and proving it to the U.S. EPA opens the way for expanded ethanol production. -- The number to beat to be named an efficient ethanol
May 22, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Can Improve Its Implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard in 6 Ways: BIO
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization called on the US EPA to “improve its implementation of RFS,” and noted six key improvements. issue its annual Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) under the RFS on time; interpret
May 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Talking RFS Revamp
By Anthony Adragna (Politico's Morning Energy) Rep. John Shimkus, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment, said he expected to begin a series of meetings on how to potentially revamp the Renewable Fuel Standard in the coming
May 19, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol and Biodiesel: Dropping Below the Production Cost of Fossil Fuels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... As you can see from the hard data, the production cost for ethanol today is $1.22 per gallon, which translates to $51.24 per barrel. Now, on an energy basis — given that ethanol has 67%
May 19, 2017 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Joel Kurtinitis in an opinion piece in the Des Moines Register: These aren’t just farmers and businessmen, they’re chemists and biologists and engineers, too. There’s an immense amount of research behind ethanol production, fuel blending, vehicle needs and consumer demands. Unfortunately,
May 18, 2017 Read Full Article
With the RFS in doubt, Ethanol Pros Need the EPA to Back off
by Joel Kurtinitis (Des Moines Register) ... The RFS is an oddball issue that sees free-market libertarians allying with big oil corporatists, and liberal Democrats with Corn Belt Republicans — proof of the time-honored adage that politics makes strange bedfellows. ... These aren’t just
May 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Senators Call on SEC, EPA, CFTC to Investigate Trump Advisor Carl Icahn for Possible Insider Trading, Market Manipulation in Renewable Fuel Credit Market
(Office of Senator Elizabeth Warren) U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), called on the heads of the Commodities Futures
May 18, 2017 Read Full Article
EPA Approves Fuel Pathway for REG Geismar
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA recently posted a notice to its website approving a fuel pathway for Renewable Energy Group Inc.’s Geismar, Louisiana, biorefinery. The plant can now generate D5 advanced biofuel renewable identification numbers (RINs) for
May 17, 2017 Read Full Article
National Biodiesel Board Submits Comments to Ease the Administration of the Renewable Fuel Standard for Biodiesel Producers
(National Biodiesel Board) Today (May 16, 2017) the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to President Trump’s Executive Order 13777, “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,” which called for input on
May 17, 2017 Read Full Article
RFS Proposal Sent to White House
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) The 2018 proposed renewable volume obligations in the Renewable Fuel Standard were sent to the Office of Management and Budget at the White House late Thursday, according to the OMB website. The White House
May 12, 2017 Read Full Article
LCFS vs RFS: As Two Contend for the Renewables Heavyweight Championship, Who Is the Greatest? Carbon 2017 Part 2 of 3
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What is different about a Low Carbon Fuel Standard — as compared to a Renewable Fuel Standard? There are 4 primary differences. 1. An RFS creates a standard, and any fuel that meets that standard can compete
May 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Icahn’s Pig in a Poke
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) Members of the U.S. Senate are questioning whether Carl Icahn’s lobbying to change the Renewable Fuel Standard creates an ethics conflict with his role as advisor in the Trump administration. In addition to
May 11, 2017 Read Full Article
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) "The fight against climate change never had such a false friend as the Obama Administration — who gutted the only carbon legislation on the books, and built all its other actions on carbon on such
May 10, 2017 Read Full Article
$20 Oil? $200 Oil? Does It Matter? Part 1 of the 3-Part Digest series: Carbon 2017
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For the world of renewable fuels — the only significant carbon legislation on the books, it really doesn’t matter what the oil price is. The RFS creates a separate market for renewable fuels and they compete
May 10, 2017 Read Full Article
NBB Asks for Higher Biodiesel RVO
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is working with the Trump Administration to increase the renewable volume obligations (RVO) for biodiesel. NBB vice president of federal affairs Anne Steckel says the organization is optimistic President Trump
May 09, 2017 Read Full Article
Business and Consumers Will Both Lose if Renewable Fuel Standard Is Changed
by Max McBrayer (The Hill/RaceTrac Petroleum) ... My perspective comes from over 30 years in the fuels business. Currently, I am chief supply officer of RaceTrac Petroleum, a fuel retailer and operator of more than 700 convenience stores from Texas
May 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Perdue Pushes RFS, Beef Exports in Iowa Speech
by Spencer Chase and Ben Nuelle (Agri-Pulse) ... Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue highlighted the benefits of renewable energy and the need for export markets in a Friday speech to Iowa producers. The speech was billed as Perdue’s first major farm policy speech
May 08, 2017 Read Full Article
The Digest's Complete March Madness Webinars Available Online
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest's Complete March Madness webinars - 700+ slides available for your on-demand review. -- The Digest's March Madness series - 20 webinars covering the hottest topics as selected by Digest readers - featuring dozens
May 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Is Ethanol Worth the Fight?
by Tim Snyder (Equities.com/Crudefunders) ... With that in mind, we decided to break down the question of, “Is it worth it?” into four parts: price benefits, reduction of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), oxygenate replacement and green fuel alternatives. ... Ethanol was introduced in 2006, into
May 01, 2017 Read Full Article
Remove the Ethanol Albatross from around the Necks of U.S. Consumers: Robert W. Chase (Opinion)
by Rob W. Chase (Cleveland.com) ... Less than 5 percent of all service stations in the United States offer ethanol-free gasoline. Almost all the gasoline sold nationally is E10 (10 percent ethanol, 90 percent gasoline). And some of the biofuel being sold is 15
May 01, 2017 Read Full Article
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