The 2025 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW), held this month in Omaha welcomed nearly 2,500 attendees, 370 exhibitors, 150 speakers, and over 575 biofuel producers, representing 94% of U.S. installed ethanol production capacity. With representation from 45 U.S. states, eight Canadian provinces, and 30 countries, this year’s FEW achieved its highest attendance in 15 years, and the largest …
RFA Urges E15 Deregulation to Lower Pump Prices
Amid fears that Middle East conflicts could lead to higher fuel prices, the Renewable Fuels Association is urging President Trump to eliminate some of the burdensome regulatory roadblocks that are preventing broader use of 15% ethanol blended fuel, E15 or Unleaded 88. RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper sent a letter to President Trump noting that the U.S. currently has …
U.S. Ethanol Industry Provides Expertise to Southeast Asia
Members of the ethanol industry recently joined the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) on a strategic mission to Southeast Asia (SEA) to provide support for ethanol policy and technical advancement in Vietnam and the Philippines. The delegation included Renewable Fuels Association Director of Market Development Cassie Mullen who joined government officials, oil companies and local industry leaders for two technical fuel …
Ethanol Report on EPA RVO Proposal and SCOTUS Ruling
The ethanol industry is welcoming two major wins in the past week – EPA’s release of proposed renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2026 and 2027 and the Supreme Court ruling that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is the proper venue for legal challenges to small refinery exemption (SRE) decisions. In this edition of “The Ethanol Report” …
Supreme Court Rules on Small Refinery Exemptions Case
The U.S. Supreme Court today issued its opinion that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is the proper venue for legal challenges to small refinery exemption (SRE) decisions. The Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy presented oral arguments to the Supreme Court regarding the case on EPA’s behalf and urging the court to reject the argument by …
Whitefox Technologies Marks 25th Anniversary
Whitefox Technologies celebrated its 25th anniversary last week at the 2025 Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo and honored their customers as the industry honored its CEO. Gillian Harrison, CEO of Whitefox Technologies, received the 2025 Women in Ethanol Award for her visionary leadership in expanding Whitefox from a startup into a key player in the global ethanol market. “It’s a …
Industry Welcomes New Renewable Fuel Standards
The renewable fuels industry welcomed new Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements for 2026 and 2027 announced by the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday. EPA proposal includes a total Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) of 24.02 billion gallons (bg) for 2026, including 15 bg for conventional renewable fuels like corn ethanol and 9.02 bg for advanced biofuels, with 5.61 bg of …
Land Use Change Study Author Moves to MSU
The author of a 2022 land use change study out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison that caused negative headlines for the ethanol industry is moving to Michigan. Tyler Lark will join the Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences in August as an assistant professor after spending the last six years as a scientist in the University …
Iowa Governor Vetoes Pipeline Bill
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds made corn growers and ethanol producers in her state happy today with her veto of a bill passed by the state legislature that would have limited the future for carbon sequestration pipelines. In her explanation for vetoing the bill, Gov. Reynolds said the bill would set a troubling precedent. “For example, the bill would block a …
Awards Presented at #FEW25
Several ethanol industry leaders were honored for their years of service and commitment during the awards presentation at the 2025 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo Tuesday. Rick Schwarck, president and cofounder of Absolute Energy, received the Distinguished Service Award for a career defined by advocacy and innovation. A longstanding leader in the ethanol sector, Schwarck has earned accolades including …