As has become a New Year tradition, Renewable Fuels Association Senior Strategic Advisor Bob Dinneen offers his views on the evolving ethanol industry trends – what is on the way “out” as we turn our calendars to 2020 and what will be “in” as the new year begins.
Cooper to Keynote Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper will present the keynote address at the 2020 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on January 16th of the new year in Altoona, Iowa. “America’s ethanol producers have a powerful story to tell,” Cooper said. “Whether you’re concerned about jobs and market opportunities in rural communities, clean and sustainable fuel choices in urban cities, …
Ethanol Groups Applaud House Passage of USMCA
Ethanol organizations are praising the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) yesterday on a bipartisan vote of 385-41. American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings says the new agreement solidifies a multi-billion-dollar export market while providing more certainty to farmers. “Canada is the most reliable export market for U.S. ethanol over the course of time, …
Ethanol Report on 2019
No one in the ethanol industry will be sorry to see 2019 in the rear view mirror. To say it has been a rough year would be an understatement. Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper says it was one of the worst years – if not the worst – the industry has seen in its relatively short history. …
Ethanol Industry Disappointed with EPA Final Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a final rule today that establishes required renewable volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2020 that is basically the same as the proposed rule that industry stakeholders say still falls short. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the rule fails to deliver on President Trump’s commitment to restore …
RFA Technical Expert to Lead Safety Coalition
Director of Safety and Technical Programs for the Renewable Fuels Association, Missy Ruff, has been selected to chair the executive committee of the National TRANSCAER Task Group, the managing body for the national outreach effort focused on assisting communities prepare for and respond to possible hazardous material transportation incidents. She assumes this key leadership role on January 1. Ruff leads …
Tax Extenders Also Help Ethanol and Advanced Biofuels
The deal reached by congressional leaders Tuesday for renewing and extending important renewable fuel tax provisions helps the ethanol industry as well as biodiesel producers. Specifically, the amendment would retroactively reinstate the second-generation biofuel producer credit, the special allowance for second-generation biofuel plant property and the alternative fuel refueling property credit for 2018 and 2019 and extend them through 2020. …
MN Biofuels Names Retailer of the Year
The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association has named Hutchinson Co-Op its Distinguished Retailer for 2019. “Hutchinson Co-Op was a recipient of the highly successful Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership program. It began offering E15 at the end of 2018 and today E15 sales comprise nearly half of its fuel sales,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director at MN Biofuels. Hutchinson Co-Op also offers E30 and …
Nebraska Ethanol Helps Fuel the Cure
In the past two years, Nebraska fuel retailers and drivers have raised more than $13,000 for cancer research as part of Fuel the Cure, which has gone to fund efforts at centers in the state. During October, when drivers chose higher blends of ethanol fuel like E15, E30 and E85 at participating retail locations, gas stations donated 3 cents for …
Ethanol Industry Mourns Loss of Randy Ives
The ethanol industry lost a pioneer and a great friend this week as Randy Ives, 63, of Omaha, Nebraska has passed away after a courageous battle with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Ives was a U.S. Grains Council (USGC) delegate and a key figure in the development of distiller’s dried grain with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol market …