The latest Energy Information Administration data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association shows a significant drop in ethanol production and stocks for the week ending September 25. According RFA, ethanol production scaled back by 2.8%, or 25,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 881,000 b/d—equivalent to 37.00 million gallons daily and the smallest output in fifteen weeks. The four-week average ethanol …
RFA Pleased with Progress on COVID Relief
The House of Representatives passed another COVID economic relief package last week which provides for $2.2 trillion in coronavirus relief and includes an important provision to help renewable fuel producers impacted by the pandemic. The package includes the Renewable Fuel Reimbursement Program provision which, if passed into law, would provide a 45-cent-per-gallon payment for qualified fuel produced by eligible producers …
Biodiesel Industry News
The National Biodiesel Board welcomes Matt Herman as the organization’s new Director of Environmental Science. Previously, Herman held positions with the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and as Manager of Sustainability for Renewable Energy Group. As Director of Environmental Science, Matt will work closely with NBB’s advocacy team and the membership to ensure that laws and regulations properly reflect the sustainable …
Ethanol Report 9-30-20
The coalition of farm and ethanol groups behind the case against Small Refinery Exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that was decided in January is still waiting for EPA to implement the court decision after eight months. Meanwhile, ethanol producers and farmers are still waiting on the administration to make good on promises made a year ago. And at …
Ethanol Again Fuels Crappie Masters National Champion
The Crappie Masters National Tournament Trail Championship was held this past weekend near Monroe, Louisiana where more than one hundred teams competed in the two-day tournament. Eric Cagle was crowned the National Champion for his haul of fourteen fish weighing a total of 28.81 pounds. For his efforts, Cagle took home a grand prize of $30,000, along with a $2,000 …
Study Pegs Ethanol Industry COVID Impact at $8 Million
A new study published in the Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization finds that ethanol producers will experience roughly $8 billion in losses this year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on world fuel markets. The study, conducted by agricultural economists from the University of Florida and Arizona State University, estimates ethanol producer losses due to COVID-19 …
Secretary Perdue Says Congress Must Approve Ethanol Aid
Despite estimates that ethanol producers could lose up to $8 billion this year, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue says he has no authority to make payments to plants through the Commodity Credit Corporation under the latest round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2). The secretary confirmed that he believes Congress has to approve any aid for ethanol …
Energy Bites 9/28
Chief Ethanol Now Producing USP Grade Ethanol – Chief Ethanol is now producing USP Grade Ethanol at its plant in Hastings, Nebraska. Chief Ethanol has modified its current process operations to produce higher grades of ethanol for use as the active ingredient in hand sanitizer and is able to provide long-term supply of higher grades of ethanol into industrial alcohol …
House Legislation Includes RFS Integrity ACT
The Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act passed by the U.S. House includes provisions of the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act put forth by Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN). The provisions set an annual deadline for refiners to request exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard and requires EPA to publicly release the name of refiners requesting a waiver, the number of …
Next Generation Fuels Act Introduced in House
U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) yesterday introduced the Next Generation Fuels Act, legislation that “leverages greater fuel octane to reduce carbon emissions from transportation, improve air quality by reducing the use of harmful aromatics and increase demand for biofuels.” Fuels with greater levels of octane are more stable and have the potential to make engines more fuel-efficient. This legislation establishes …