A new report shows the potential for ethanol to make maritime shipping fuel more environmentally-friendly. “Ethanol as a marine fuel: exploring its usability” by the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center examines ethanol’s potential as a low-carbon fuel for global maritime shipping and concludes that “ethanol is a promising drop-in option for methanol-fueled vessels.” “Ethanol is emerging as a technically viable complementary …
US Ethanol and DDGS Exports Hot in August
U.S. exports of ethanol and the co-product dried distillers grains (DDGS) were hot in August, with ethanol increasing six percent to a five-month high and DDGS up by a whopping 18% in August to the highest monthly volume since August 2015. According to the latest Trade Monitor report from the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol exports totaled 211.8 million gallons (mg) …
RFA Holds Annual Membership Meeting in KC
The Renewable Fuels Association is holding its annual membership meeting this week in Kansas City, Missouri, where they elected officers and board of directors for the 2027 fiscal year. Derek Peine, CEO of Western Plains Energy in Oakley, Kan., was re-elected chairman and Thomas Harwood, CEO of Al-Corn Clean Fuel in Claremont, Minn., won re-election as vice chairman. Peine has …
Ethanol Report on 45Z Opportunities
U.S. ethanol producers are finally getting the chance to take full advantage of the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit, which was first created under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, then extended and modified in the One Big Beautiful Bill of 2025, and is in the last stages of a final rule. Earlier this month, the IRS published …
RFA Launches Premier Associate Membership
The Renewable Fuels Association has launched a new Premier Associate membership level, creating a fresh opportunity for leading companies across the ethanol value chain to engage more deeply with RFA’s producer members, leadership and industry priorities. Premier Associate membership officially begins Oct. 1 with the start of RFA’s new fiscal year and is designed for non-producer companies seeking a more …
California E15 Dream Closer to Reality
California drivers are one step closer to cleaner, less expensive E15 at the pump now that the California Air Resources Board approved rules to the state’s gasoline regulations following Governor Newsom’s direction to prioritize the rulemaking. Renewable Fuels Association past Chairman Neil Koehler presented testimony to CARB in support of the rules. “Recent studies show that E15 could reduce pump …
Registration Open for 2027 NEC
The Renewable Fuels Association has opened registration for the 32nd annual National Ethanol Conference, taking place in Las Vegas February 15–17 with the theme “The Next Wave” to explore the strong future direction of the U.S. ethanol industry. “Ethanol is riding a powerful wave of momentum, from booming export markets and strong RFS volumes to growing opportunities for higher blends …
RFA Files Challenge to Small Refinery Exemptions
The Renewable Fuels Association has filed petitions in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit challenging two rounds of small refinery exemptions (SREs) granted by the Environmental Protection Agency last month. On August 3, EPA granted SREs for the 2023 and 2024 RFS compliance years totaling 160 million RINs. Then on August 31, EPA granted 29 more SREs …
Governor Signs California E15 Bill
Over the weekend, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed new legislation to help Californians access lower-cost E15 fuel, 15% ethanol blended, an option that can diversify the state’s fuel supply. The Governor signed Senate Bill 795, the “E15 Clean-up Act,” into law following the legislature’s unanimous passage of the bill on August 31. The bill removes a regulatory barrier to implementing …
Farm Bill with E15 Reported Out of Senate Ag Committee
The Senate Agriculture Committee met Wednesday for the first time in over a month to re-vote on the Agriculture Act of 2026 – the farm bill, including E15 – and pass it along party lines by a vote of 12 to 11. Republicans prevailed on the vote this time with the presence of both Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. …