Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper penned the following response to an article in The Atlantic this week by David Frum alleging that using less ethanol could help Ukraine. By Geoff Cooper In nearly 20 years of advocating for American renewable fuel producers and farmers, I’ve seen my share of baseless accusations, uninformed rhetoric, and outright misinformation about …
Ethanol Report on RFA and NCGA
The Renewable Fuels Association presented its annual Industry Award to the National Corn Growers Association this year in recognition of the close partnership between the two groups over the last 40 years in moving the ethanol industry forward. The award was presented at the 27th annual National Ethanol Conference in New Orleans in February, and last week RFA joined NCGA …
Secretary Vilsack Addresses #Classic22
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made only his second in-person appearance at a large agricultural event since taking office last year when he addressed the 2022 Commodity Classic in New Orleans Friday and thousands of corn, sorghum, soybean, and wheat farmers. He talked about the situation in Ukraine and being able to hear from the agriculture minister from that country …
RFA Promotes Higher Ethanol Blends at #Classic22
The Renewable Fuels Association is back in New Orleans this week at the 2022 Commodity Classic promoting higher blends of ethanol at the trade show. For one, they are giving farmers a chance to sign a letter to President Biden urging him to use more ethanol to help moderate soaring gas prices. “Today ethanol is selling for about a dollar …
Wisconsin Capital Moving Fleet to B100
The City of Madison, Wisconsin will soon be seeing emissions reductions after 17 fleet vehicles have been converted to operate on 100% biodiesel, thanks to a partnership with Optimus Technologies and Renewable Energy Group. Over the lifecycle of the fuel, biodiesel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 86% when compared with petroleum diesel. Utilizing Optimus Technologies proprietary Vector …
Senators Introduce Energy Independence Act
Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) have introduced a new bill that puts into law a ban on Russian oil and opens up the use and production of American biofuels, including ethanol and biodiesel. The Home Front Energy Independence Act combines parts of several of the senators’ past bills that would make E15 available year round, establish an …
Iowa Lawmakers Promote Biofuels for Energy Security
As gas prices soar, Iowa’s bipartisan congressional delegation this week magnified the voices of ethanol supporters telling the Biden administration to unleash the power of higher ethanol blends in strengthening American energy security and lowering record-high pump prices. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined Reps. Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Cindy Axne (IA-03), Ashley Hinson (IA-01) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks …
Biofuel Supporters Beg Biden for Higher Blends
As gas prices continue to skyrocket in response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis, six farm and biofuel organizations wrote to President Biden Friday urging his administration to use existing authority to allow for the year-round sale of gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol (E15). In a letter to the White House, the Renewable Fuels Association, American Farm Bureau …
UN Advisor Tells EPA Ethanol Reduces GHG Emissions
EPA hosted a virtual public workshop on biofuel greenhouse gas (GHG) modeling last week and heard from a number of experts, including Reid Detchon, Senior Advisor for Climate Solutions for the United Nations Foundation, who urged EPA to “stop dwelling on uncertainties in greenhouse gas (GHG) modeling and accept the extensive work that has already been conducted by the federal …
Iowa Biofuel Supporters Rally at Capitol for Access Bill
Over 200 Iowa biofuels supporters rallied at the Iowa State Capitol rotunda Wednesday to show support for the Iowa Biofuels Access Bill. The bill, proposed by Governor Kim Reynolds, would increase consumer access to higher biofuel blends including 20% biodiesel (B20) and E15 ethanol, as well as increasing infrastructure cost share for retailers. Iowa Biodiesel Board executive director Grant Kimberley …

