Waiting on E15 Summer Waivers

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

For the past three years, EPA has announced in April that waivers would be issued to allow nationwide summertime sales of 15% ethanol fuel, or E15. Last year, the announcement was made April 19, and the previous two years it was April 28 and 29, but the Trump administration has yet to take that action for this summer.

This week, 25 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter urging the Administration to lower prices at the gas pump by allowing the nationwide sale of E-15 this summer. The bipartisan letter, led by Reps. Angie Craig (D-MN), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) asked the Administration to extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver from June 1 through September 15, 2025.

“The administration’s efforts to unleash American energy independence is a long-term goal but can begin in the short term with preserving flexibility in our domestic energy production and supply through this emergency waiver,” they wrote. “As affirmed when you first allowed for year-round E15 in 2019, and those approved for the summers afterward, the sale of higher blends of biofuels during the summer months supports the domestic fuel supply, reduces consumer costs, and promotes American biofuels and agriculture feedstocks.”

On his first day in office, President Trump declared a National Energy Emergency which includes “issuing emergency fuel waivers to allow the year-round sale of E15 gasoline to meet any projected temporary shortfalls in the supply of gasoline across the Nation.”

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper thanked the lawmakers. “We join them in calling on the Trump Administration to take swift action to allow the nationwide sale of E15 through the coming summer,” said Cooper. “As geopolitical conflict continues to create uncertainty in global energy markets, it is important that drivers have access to an American-made supply of lower-cost, cleaner fuel.”

The ethanol industry remains optimistic that this will be the last year waivers for summer sales of E15 will be necessary. “Just from a common sense standpoint, E15 makes sense,” said RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman in the latest Ethanol Report podcast. “It’s approved in 2001 and newer vehicles, we’ve driven billions of miles on it, and in terms of air quality, the metrics around E15 are as good or better than E10…at this point, it’s why wouldn’t we just go ahead and do this?”

Ethanol Report 4-16-25 24:07

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ethanol Production Gains, Stocks Fall

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Per the Renewable Fuels Association’s analysis of EIA data, U.S. ethanol production for the week ending April 18, rose 2.1% to 1.03 million barrels per day (b/d), or 43.39 million gallons daily, up 8.3% from last year and 7.5% above the three-year average. While higher than the previous two weeks, the four-week average production dipped 0.5% to 1.03 million b/d, equating to 15.86 billion gallons annually.

Ethanol stocks fell 5.0% to a 14-week low of 25.5 million barrels, down 1.0% from last year but 3.3% above the three-year average, with declines across all regions. Gasoline supplied to the market, a demand indicator, jumped 11.3% to 9.41 million b/d (144.71 billion gallons annualized), the highest since October 2024, up 11.8% year-over-year and 5.9% above the three-year average.

Refiner/blender ethanol inputs increased 2.1% to a 25-week high of 921,000 b/d (14.16 billion gallons annualized), 2.4% above last year and 3.0% over the three-year average. Ethanol exports dropped 45.3% to 75,000 b/d (3.2 million gallons/day), with no imports reported for over a year.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

California Receives LCFS Comments

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

This week was the final deadline to provide comments to the California Air Resources Board regarding proposed modifications to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

The Renewable Fuels Association filed comments on the proposal Monday.

In its comments and an attached analysis, RFA said empirical data clearly undermine CARB’s rationale for including the new sustainability requirements for grain-based ethanol. CARB alleges the requirements are necessary to provide “guard rails” against “rapid expansion of biofuel production and biofuel feedstock demand…that could result in adverse land use change.” But as RFA pointed out, the number of corn acres needed to meet California ethanol demand has decreased by more than 700,000 acres—or 20 percent—since the LCFS program began in 2011. “This empirical data clearly invalidate CARB’s rationale for implementing its additional sustainability provisions,” writes RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman.

Additionally, RFA encourages California to continue moving toward the approval of E15 since it is the only state that does not currently approve the use of E15.

On November 8, 2024, the California Air Resources Board approved amendments to the LCFS regulation to maintain momentum for global, national, and local private sector investment towards increasing cleaner fuel and transportation options for consumers, accelerating the deployment of zero-emission infrastructure and clean fuel production to support clean vehicle regulations, and keeping the state on track to meet statutorily mandated air quality and climate targets.

Carbon, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Unleaded 88 Saved Minnesotans $24 Million in 2024

Cindy Zimmerman

Unleaded 88, or E15, saved Minnesota drivers over $24 million at the pump last year, with prices an average of 17 cents per gallon less than 87 octane, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association reports that the annual volume of Unleaded 88 sold in Minnesota last year hit a new record of 142.75 million gallons and Minnesota became the first state in the nation to have over 500 stations offering the blend.

“In partnership with the state of Minnesota, USDA, corn farmers, and fuel retailers, the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association has been aggressive in helping expand access to higher blends of ethanol fuels like Unleaded 88. These investments are now paying dividends, and Minnesota drivers can be confident that when they visit one of the over 500 retailers offering Unleaded 88 in our state, they will save money,” said Brian Werner, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels).

Over a three-year period from 2022 to 2024, Unleaded 88 saved Minnesotans $62.66 million at the pump.

MN Bio-Fuels is launching a seven-month Unleaded 88 promotional campaign at gas stations in the Twin Cities metro area next week to continue the momentum.

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Iowa E15 Momentum Continues

Cindy Zimmerman

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) awarded almost $1 million in grants this week to add E15 to 94 Iowa retail fuel sites throughout the state.

Momentum toward compliance with Iowa’s E15 Access Standard continues to build as these 94 grant follow the record 111 grants awarded just last month. To date, there have been a total of 297 E15 projects awarded this fiscal year, which began last July 1. The RFIP board is expected to hold at least one more meeting to award grants before the fiscal year ends on June 30.

“This continued momentum is reflected all across Iowa from retailers, to consumers, to farmers who are all asking for increased access to E15,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Monte Shaw. “Today’s grants follow the recent Higher Blends Infrastructure Program announcement of $537 million in grants and the release of the 2024 Iowa Retailers Motor Fuel Gallons Annual Report that showed an increase of E15 sales to 257 million gallons, up 45% year-to-year. This attests to the push to make E15 a standard option at the pump.”

For this fiscal year, RFIP has awarded just over $10 million in grants which includes 297 E15 projects and 39 biodiesel grants to date.

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA

Ethanol Report on E15 Optimism

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. sales of E15 reached a record 1.24 billion gallons in 2024, an increase of 11% over 2023, according to a Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) analysis of data released by state agencies in Minnesota and Iowa.

While it appears the Trump administration will have to continue the practice of issuing waivers this summer to keep E15 at the pump, there are several reasons for optimism that this will be the last year that will be necessary.

In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman discusses a recent blog post he authored on the current growth of E15 and the potential for boosting the blend nationwide.

Ethanol Report 4-16-25 24:07

Audio interviews, presentations and photos from the NEC can be found in the conference virtual newsroom.

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

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Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Rollins Talks Ethanol With Fox News

Cindy Zimmerman

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has taken a much more visible role in the new Trump Administration than previous agriculture secretaries, appearing three times this month already on Fox News, most recently this past Sunday.

In a wide-ranging interview with Shannon Bream, Rollins talked about a number of issues, from tariffs and trade to the price of eggs, and spent some time discussing the importance of ethanol.

“President Trump has been unequivocal in his support for ethanol and in his support for the year round sale for the E15. In fact, at the end of our last administration, we put that rule out. A court gutted that. So now we’re working on it again,” said Rollins. “We are hyper-focused on the energy independence and ethanol and biofuels is a very, very important part of that.”

Bream interviewed Rollins Sunday after spending time in White Cloud, Kansas interviewing former National Corn Growers Association president Ken McCauley and his family.

See the Rollins interview here or listen to the audio below.
Fox News Sunday interview with Sec. Rollins 9:03

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

Kansas Team Makes First ACE Fly-in

Cindy Zimmerman

LtoR: Doug Sommer and Tiffany Brooks, Rep. Mann, Jessica Monserrate with BASF and Taylor Williamson.

A group of ethanol supporters from Kansas made their first American Coalition for Ethanol DC Fly-in last month and were pleased to be able to have their voices heard on Capitol Hill.

Doug Sommer and Tiffany Brooks from East Kansas Agri-Energy were joined by Taylor Williamson, Kansas Corn Growers, and Jessica Monserrate with BASF on their Hill visits, which included getting to meeting with Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS) of the state’s 1st district. “That surprised me, I didn’t know we were going to do that,” said Brooks of being able to meet with members of Congress.

The team visited other Congressional offices that were not as favorable toward ethanol as Rep. Mann. “It was good to see the other perspective of critics and have the potential to change their minds,” said Sommer.

Williamson, who is in charge of regulatory affairs for the Kansas Corn Growers, says their opposition meetings included the offices of representatives from West Virginia, Utah, and Montana. “We did have one meeting that was a little more combative but we weathered it through and it’s always good to hear the opposition instead of just listening to the champions all the time.”

2025 ACE Fly-in Kansas team 4:04

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Exports Top One Billion Gallons in 6 Months

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. ethanol exports have already topped one billion gallons just halfway through marketing year 2024/2025, up 27 percent increase from the previous year, according to the latest information from USDA.

U.S. Grains Council (USGC) director of global ethanol export development Alicia Koch says the sharp rise in ethanol sales contributed to an 11 percent increase in U.S. grains in all forms (GIAF) exports compared to last year’s data. “It’s a sign that the U.S. ethanol industry is ready and willing to handle increased global demand and the Council is effectively implementing its international marketing strategies to generate interest in biofuels across consumers and policymakers around the world,” said Koch.

Canada is maintaining its place as the top importer of U.S. ethanol, purchasing 19 million more gallons than at this point in the last marketing year, and the European Union is showing strong appetite for U.S. ethanol by importing 78 million additional gallons.

Other notable improvements include the development of exports to Brazil and Nigeria, nations that previously imported little to no U.S. ethanol. Ethanol exports to Mexico are up 68 percent, launching it into seventh place among U.S. ethanol’s largest trading partners.

“Building new demand is a pillar of the Council’s commitment to U.S. producers because of the financial benefits derived from diversified markets for U.S. ethanol, and we certainly see the potential for further breakthroughs in countries like Brazil, Nigeria, the Philippines and others,” Koch said.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, USGC

Stakeholders and Congress Want 45Z Extension

Cindy Zimmerman

Wednesday was the deadline to submit comments to the U.S. Treasury on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit and some members of Congress commented by introducing legislation that would extend the tax credit and limit it to renewable fuels made only from domestically sourced feedstocks.

Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) reintroduced the bipartisan and bicameral Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act, as Representatives Tracey Mann (R-KS) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) introduced an identical bill in the House. The bill would extend the 45Z tax credit until December 31, 2034.

Additionally, this bill fixes the glaring flaw in 45Z that negatively impacts farmers wanting to sell feedstocks to the biodiesel and renewable diesel industry. If 45Z continues as-is, taxpayers are at risk of further subsidizing Chinese-used cooking oil and undermining the use of soy, canola, sorghum, and corn oil in renewable fuels.

Biofuels organizations that provided input to the Treasury agreed there needs to be an extension for the tax credit, which is already supposed to be in effect and is due to expire at the end of 2027.

“Thus, the three-year window intended by Congress is already closing and taxpayers do not yet have the clarity and certainty needed to make decisions about how best to position themselves to claim the 45Z tax credit,” wrote Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper in his detailed comments. “Given Treasury’s lengthy delay in proposing, finalizing, and promulgating 45Z regulations, we are encouraging policymakers to consider extending the duration of the 45Z tax credit.”

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings wrote, “Treasury should rapidly finalize 45Z guidance and include the technical guidelines for biofuel crops and carbon intensity calculator developed by USDA in the final 45Z rules, so ethanol producers and farmers can unlock new market opportunities,” and also called on Treasury to fully adopt USDA’s Feedstock Carbon Intensity Calculator (FD-CIC) and technical guidelines for biofuel feedstocks into 45Z.

Clean Fuels Alliance America urges Treasury to ensure a level playing field for American farmers, by eliminating penalties for speculative indirect effects assigned to U.S. crop feedstocks. Clean Fuels also urges Treasury to adhere to the legislative language indicating that co-processed fuels do not qualify for the credit.

ACE, aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA