2012 was a challenging year for the renewable fuels industry. The biodiesel tax credit expired, the Renewable Fuels Standard was attacked, E15 continues to be attacked and there is yet to be a Farm Bill passed. With the fiscal cliff looming, many tax credits and incentives for wind, solar and advanced renewable fuels are set to expire. This uncertainty caused the wind energy industry to lay off thousands of workers, and several companies striving to produce advanced biofuels altered their business plans to begin producing biochemicals and biomaterials instead.

But on the positive side, the Domestic Fuel industry won the battle to keep the RFS in tact, E15 is now being sold in several states, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013 was passed ensuring the military can continue to use and develop biofuels and American Ethanol NASCAR driver Austin Dillion won Rookie of the Year. In addition, more energy was produced using renewable energy such as wind, solar and geothermal than ever before and President Obama was elected for a second term.  All of these stories, plus more, were some of the Top Stories of 2012 on DomesticFuel.

We now have more than 2,100 followers on Twitter (@DomesticFuel). There were over 1200 posts on Domestic Fuel this year, with nearly 175 with audio interviews, podcasts and recorded press conferences. We covered the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, National Biodiesel Conference, National Ethanol Conference, Automotive Service & Repair Week, Iowa Ethanol Day, Trade Talk, Farm Progress, the 25th Annual Ethanol Conference, RFA Sponsorship of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and more.

As we enter a new Domestic Fuel era, we wish all of our readers, sponsors and friends a healthy, happy, prosperous and blessed new year!