One of the most influential pioneers of the biodiesel industry now has an award named after him. The newly named “Kenlon Johannes Pioneer Award” will forever recognize and honor the Terry Bradshaw lookalike who was instrumental in the initial development of the biodiesel industry in the United States, serving as the first Executive Director of the National SoyDiesel Development Board, …
Haer Honored with Eye on Biodiesel Inspiration Award
Former National Biodiesel Board chair Gary Haer was honored Tuesday with the industry’s Eye on Biodiesel Inspiration Award during the 2021 virtual National Biodiesel Conference and Expo. Gary Haer is the Vice President, Special Projects for NBB member company, Renewable Energy Group (REG), one of the nation’s largest producers of both biodiesel and renewable diesel in the United States. As …
Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel Rise to Meet New Opportunities
The biodiesel and renewable diesel industry kicked off the 2021 Virtual National Biodiesel Conference and Expo Tuesday with an optimistic outlook for the future of America’s sustainable petroleum diesel replacement. The theme of this year’s conference is “Rise 2021” and in his annual state of the industry address, National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell Rehagen pointed to several factors contributing to …
Iowa Biodiesel Production Up in 2020 Despite COVID
Even with two plants out of operation for the year, Iowa biodiesel producers still managed to increase production in 2020, despite market challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and continued small refinery waivers. With nine of Iowa’s 11 biodiesel plants in operation, biodiesel production hit 351 million gallons in 2020, the second highest year of biodiesel production in Iowa history …
Focus on Biodiesel’s Environmental Benefits
The environmental benefits of both biodiesel and renewable diesel are in focus this week at the virtual National Biodiesel Conference and Expo. Matt Herman is the National Biodiesel Board‘s new Director of Environmental Science. Formally with the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the Renewable Energy Group (REG), Herman has plenty of experience using life cycle assessment to measure the environmental …
ACE Reacts to EPA Biofuels Proposals
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings was glad to see one of the last minute proposals released by the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday, not so pleased with the others. “ACE strongly supports EPA’s proposal to make E15 more accessible to retailers and motorists, but once again, the Trump EPA has chosen to bundle a promise to do …
Mixed Bag of Last Minute EPA Proposals for Biofuels
With just days before a new administration takes office, the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday issued a mixed bag of last minute proposals for biofuels producers. First, in Friday’s Federal Register, EPA proposed to extend compliance deadlines for 2019 and 2020 renewable volume obligations, stating that the agency would “take no position on the availability of SREs for the 2019 …
Ethanol Report 1-15-21
2021 is getting off to a whirlwind start for the ethanol industry. The year is barely started and the industry has already seen an unexpected Supreme Court unexpectedly taking up the Tenth Circuit Court decision from last January, heard rumors of last minute granting of small refinery waivers, and then got hit with four proposals from the outgoing EPA related …
Biodiesel Conference to Spotlight Policy
National Biodiesel Board Director of Regulatory Affairs Kate Shenk will be moderating a panel at the 2021 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo called “What to Expect When You’re Expecting an RFS Rule” and with all of the turmoil going on right now regarding what the Trump EPA may do before leaving office, that landscape is changing daily. Shenk says a …
EPA Proposal May Mean No Last Minute Waivers
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a new rule Thursday that would extend 2019 and 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard compliance year deadlines due to the “uncertainty” surrounding small refinery exemptions. EPA notes that the Tenth Circuit Court case, which is now pending on the Supreme Court’s docket, has the potential to impact the availability of SREs going forward. Because of …