The weather is fabulous here in Las Vegas for the 18th National Ethanol Conference. About 100 of the attendees took part in the annual golf tournament under blue skies with the mountains as a backdrop. Pictured are Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen, Big River Resources general manager Jim Leiting, and Chris Standlee with Abengoa Bioenergy. The conference …
EPA Releases Proposed Rule for 2013 RFS Obligations
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released it proposed rules today for the 2013 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumetric requirements. Public comment is open until March 19, 2013. The proposal waives the cellulosic biofuel requirement from one billion gallons to 14 million gallons, but retains overall advanced and renewable fuel requirements. The ethanol industry responded today with statements and Bob …
RFA Condems UN Biofuels & Food Security Study
Earlier this month, the U.N. Committee on World Food Security (CFS) has released a draft study on biofuels and food security with a public comment period until January 30, 2013. Yesterday, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments about the report and its several policy recommendations. The authors write, “Our report has confirmed the central role of biofuels in provoking …
Ethanol Industry Responds to API E15 Study
The American Petroleum Institute (API), released a new E15 study today and representatives of all the major ethanol industry associations issued statements. In addition, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) held a media conference to discuss why the study oil-funded study was “flawed” and “misleading”. Ethanol experts Kristy Moore, Vice President for Technical Services for RFA, along with Bob Reynolds, President …
What Cellulosic Biofuel Ruling is Not
The American Petroleum Institute hailed today’s circuit court ruling to “vacate the 2012 cellulosic biofuel standard” as a “decision to end mandate for non-existent biofuels.” Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen says it is not. “The mandate for cellulosic ethanol is not ended by this decision by any way shape or form,” said Dinneen, calling API’s characterization “the …
EC Proposes Duties on Imported Ethanol
Following an investigation that concluded U.S. exporters sell ethanol to Europe at illegally low prices after receiving subsidies, The European Commission (EC) has proposed a rare duty on all U.S. producers of ethanol. In response, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office expressed its disappointment in the EC proposal, seeking anti-dumping duties of 9.5 percent on American ethanol. The EC distributed a …
RFA Urges CARB to Revise Land Use Change
It has been more than two years since the California Air Resources Board (CARB) committed to revise indirect land use change (ILUC) penalties assessed against certain biofuels as part of its Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS). Since it went into effect, a federal district judge has ruled the LCFS unconstitutional; however, CARB was able to move forward with the law …
Nebraska Student Awarded NEC Scholarship
Wade Hunt, a native of Sterling, Nebraska, has been awarded the National Ethanol Conference (NEC) Scholarship. Wade began his university academic career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a chemical engineering student. From there, he was accepted as a research internship for the Undergraduate Creative Academic Research Experience (UCARE) program. He also selected to participate in NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory …
Vilsack to Keynote Ethanol Conference Again
The ethanol industry will help Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack kick off his second term in the Obama administration when he visits the 18th Annual National Ethanol Conference of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) next month in Las Vegas. Vilsack was also the keynote speaker at the 2012 ethanol conference. “We congratulate Secretary Vilsack as he begins his second term. He …
Appeals Court Denies Challenge to 15% Ethanol
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today denied petitions for rehearing in the case of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, et al. v. EPA, which challenges the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to allowing commercial sales of 15% ethanol (E15). “Today’s order leaves in place an earlier decision by the Court denying challenges to the …