The Renewable Fuels Association is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to deny the latest attempt by the petroleum industry to circumvent the 10th Circuit Court decision which severely limits small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by seeking past-year waivers from renewable volume obligations. In a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper …
Senate Bill Would Help Biofuels Producers
Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MI) have introduced bipartisan legislation to provide emergency relief to ethanol producers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would allow USDA to reimburse biofuel producers through the Commodity Credit Corporation for their feedstock purchases in the first quarter of this year. According to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), as of May 19, …
RFA Hosting Webinars on USDA Retailer Infrastructure Grants
USDA began accepting applications Friday for grants from the new Higher Ethanol Blends Infrastructure Program, or HBIIP, and the Renewable Fuels Association is hosting two webinars this month to guide fuel retailers and others in the process. “U.S. ethanol producers today are facing the worst economic conditions in the industry’s 40-year history due to COVID-19; once the pandemic is over …
Ethanol Report 5-15-20
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on the U.S. ethanol industry, slashing production by half and leading to the idling of scores of plants across rural America. But there are positive signs that demand is starting to increase again. Meanwhile, Congress is considering a new aid package with help for biofuels, the Renewable Fuel Standard is facing …
Ethanol Production Continues Slow Recovery
Gasoline use is increasing as more cars gradually get back on the road with coronavirus restrictions easing in many states, which is helping ethanol production slowly increase. According to the latest EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending May 8, ethanol production expanded by 3.2%, to 617,000 barrels per day — equivalent to 25.91 million …
House Includes Aid for Biofuels in Relief Act
Help for struggling ethanol producers is included in the new COVID-19 legislative relief package, thanks to the efforts of Democratic Reps. Cindy Axne (IA-01), Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), and Angie Craig (MN-02). The Renewable Fuel Reimbursement Program included in the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act) would authorize USDA to provide assistance of 45 …
Ag and Biofuel Groups Ask Congress for COVID-19 Relief
America’s top biofuel and farm advocates are calling on Congress to ensure the next round of COVID-19 relief includes U.S. ethanol and biodiesel production. A joint letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was signed by the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, the National Biodiesel Board, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Corn Growers …
Senators Urge President Trump to Uphold RFS
A bipartisan group of 24 U.S. senators sent a letter to President Trump this week that strongly urges him to uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard and reject oil industry efforts to waive renewable fuel blending obligations. The effort was led by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). They expressed their concerns in …
Ethanol Production Gains a Little
Ethanol plants showed signs of new life last week, as production increased 11.4% from the previous week, according to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending May 1. However, production remains tempered due to COVID-19 disruptions, coming in 42.3% below the same week in 2019. The four-week average ethanol production rate declined 3.1% to 567,000 …
Biofuels Industry Welcomes USDA Infrastructure Funds
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making up to $100 million in competitive grants available to help expand the availability and sale of renewable fuels. The Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) consist of up to $100 million in funding for competitive grants or sales incentives to eligible entities for activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol …