USDA’s 2020 Prospective Plantings report released Tuesday forecasts eight percent more corn acres this year compared to 2019 and ten percent more soybean acres. Corn planted area for all purposes in 2020 is estimated at 97.0 million acres, up 8 percent or 7.29 million acres from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage is expected to be up or …
EPA COVID-19 Response Delays Waiver Changes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday announced several steps being taken to protect the nation’s gasoline supply in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including making any changes in its policy of granting small refinery waivers as a result of the recent 10th Circuit Court decision. EPA does not intend to unilaterally revisit or rescind any previously granted small …
Energy Ag News 3-26-20
The Nebraska Ethanol Board (NEB) and Renewable Fuels Nebraska (RFN) have rescheduled the Ethanol: Emerging Issues Forum 2020 for July 15-16. The Forum will be held at the La Vista Conference Center in Greater Omaha if the threat of COVID-19 has subsided. The Renewable Fuels Association is pleased to welcome two new associate members, Barchart and Bion. Based in Chicago, …
National Biodiesel Foundation Offers Student Scientist Grants
Student scientists can qualify for an award of up to $2000 through the Beth Calabotta Sustainability Education Grant, established by the National Biodiesel Foundation in 2018 to help deserving full-time students interested in science, research, and biodiesel sustainability. “Beth Calabotta had a passion for student education and advanced biofuels,” NBF President Jeff Lynn shared. “The Foundation is honored to provide …
Administration Will Not Appeal Tenth Circuit SRE Ruling
Biofuels stakeholders are celebrating some good news today with word that the Trump administration had made the decision not to request a rehearing of the recent unanimous ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit that the EPA had “vastly exceeded its authority in granting exemptions from 2016 and 2017 RFS requirements to three refineries.” The challenge …
New Report Shows Ethanol Industry Fueled by Veterans
A new study on employment in the U.S. energy sector shows that America’s ethanol industry employs a significantly larger share of military veterans than any other segment of the energy industry. Nearly one in five ethanol industry employees is a veteran (19%), compared to a national average of 6% across all sectors of the workforce, according to the 2020 U.S. …
Senators Stress COVID-19 Relief for Agriculture
Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) led a Senate colloquy Monday to outline the importance of supporting farmers, ranchers and rural America in legislation to provide relief from the impacts of COVID-19. Hoeven worked to include $50 billion in funding authority for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Several senators …
Ankeny Casey’s Becomes 5,000th Station to Offer E85
The number of fuel stations now offering Flex Fuel E85 has reached an important milestone this week as a Casey’s store in Ankeny, Iowa, became the 5,000th station nationwide to sell E85. “Reaching the 5,000-station mark is a significant achievement for the ethanol industry and our partner in the retail sector,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. …
Iowa Biofuel Plants Donate Raw Products for Hand Sanitizer
On Monday, two Iowa biofuel plants sent the first donated shipments of ethanol and glycerin to be used by Iowa Prison Industries for the production of hand sanitizer during the national shortage. The donation was made by ethanol producer Absolute Energy and biodiesel producer Western Iowa Energy. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) worked with Iowa Prison Industries to secure …
Ethanol Report 3-23-20
Coronavirus is making its presence felt in the ethanol industry. Many ethanol plants are on the verge of closing as margins have become non-existent with lower gas prices and declining demand for transportation fuel nationwide. In this episode of The Ethanol Report, we hear from Renewable Fuels Association Chief Economist Scott Richman about the price and demand picture, three ethanol …