Governors Urge Expanded Use of High Octane Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Governors’ Biofuels Coalition leaders Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem are asking the Biden Administration to expand the use of higher-octane ethanol to meet climate and public health goals. The governors’ letter focuses on the timeliness of the expanded use of ethanol now: “As the Office of Management and Budget continues to review the Safe Affordable …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Octane

Flex Fuel Jeep Wrangler Debuts in Vegas

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Kenny Hauk of Hauk Designs unveiled a new project at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas this week that highlights the benefits of higher ethanol blends in high performance vehicles – a Flex Fuel Jeep Wrangler with more than 1,000 horsepower using a high-octane, low-carbon fuel containing up to 85 percent ethanol (E85). …

Audio, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Octane, RFA

SD Farmers Union Challenges GM on Higher Octane

Cindy Zimmerman

The president of the South Dakota Farmers Union took issue with remarks made by a General Motors executive at the recent National Ethanol Conference that 98 RON (Research Octane Number) or higher gasoline was not feasible. In a letter to General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra, Doug Sombke challenged GM vice president Don Nicholson’s claim that “98 RON fuel …

Car Makers, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Octane

Study Finds Refiners Can Increase Octane Without Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

A new Energy Information Administration (EIA) study has found that U.S. petroleum refineries would be able to produce gasoline with a higher minimum octane rating (95 Research Octane Number, or “RON”) beginning in 2022 without using more ethanol meet such an octane standard. The study, conducted by oil industry consulting firm Baker & O’Brien, determined “refiners would simply increase reformer …

Energy, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Octane, RFA

Ethanol Stakeholders Comment on High Octane Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol stakeholder groups submitted comments Friday to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the proposed SAFE Vehicles Rule, emphasizing the benefits for fuel economy and emissions reductions from the use of high-octane fuels, which can be attained with higher blends of ethanol. “Ethanol delivers the highest octane at the lowest cost, allowing automakers …

ACE, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, Octane, RFA

High Octane Ethanol Fits Fuel Economy Standards

Cindy Zimmerman

The proposed Fuel Economy Standards for 2021-2026 Vehicles could put high octane ethanol in the fast lane at last. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are seeking public comment on a wide range of regulatory options proposed in the SAFE Vehicles Rule, including how high octane fuels could facilitate engine efficiency improvements and …

ACE, biofuels, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, Growth Energy, Octane, RFA

New High Octane ASTM Standard is Ethanol Victory

Cindy Zimmerman

ASTM International recently published a new high-octane fuel standard which creates a broadly accepted specification for high-octane fuel that could help drive engines that utilize ethanol’s octane boost with higher blends of 25 to 40 percent. The new standard, D8076-17, follows a year-long joint effort by the U.S. Department of Energy, engine manufacturers, ethanol industry representatives and others who contributed …

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Octane

Nebraska Drivers Save $17M With #Ethanol

Joanna Schroeder

Ethanol-blended fuels are saving Nebraska consumers money at the pump this year – nearly $17 million. According to data analyzed by the Nebraska Ethanol Board (NEB), these savings are due to lower-prices for ethanol as compared to wholesale gasoline along with the state’s projected yearly fuel consumption of 900 million gallons. Today the most common ethanol blend sold across the …

biofuels, Environment, Ethanol, Octane

Final RFA Octane Webinar Sept. 29

Joanna Schroeder

The Renewable Fuels Foundation is hosting its last of five webinars tomorrow (Thursday, September 29, 2016) focused on ethanol’s unqiue octane properties, its importance as a blend component in today’s gasoline supply, and its potential role as the low-carbon octane source of choice in future fuels. The fifth webinar will focus on the economics of high octane fuels, specifically the …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Octane, RFA