The comment period on EPA’s supplemental proposal for 2020 renewable volume obligations ended on Friday, and the Renewable Fuels Association’s message in comments submitted was simple when it comes to implementing blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard: Just follow the law RFA’s comments highlight the fact that the Clean Air Act requires EPA to “ensure” that the RFS volumes …
Comments Rolling in on RFS Rule
Comments are rolling in this week proposed supplemental rulemaking to the 2020 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The deadline is Friday, November 29, which is a federal work day, but many groups are getting their comments in early this week to take two days for Thanksgiving. Most comments from biofuel supporters basically center on three …
RFA Reviews 2020 Vehicle Models for Ethanol Usage
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) finds good news for E15 but bad news for higher blends of ethanol in its review of 2020 model year vehicles. The RFA analysis of vehicle owner’s manuals and warranty statements reveals that nearly all new 2020 automobiles are explicitly approved by the manufacturer to use gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol (E15). However, RFA’s annual …
Governors’ Biofuels Coalition Takes Aim at Gasoline Aromatics
The Governors’ Biofuels Coalition is asking President Trump to take action on removing toxic aromatics from gasoline. In a letter to President Trump, coalition chair and vice chair Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem asked him to enforce a provision of the Clean Air Act that requires the reduction and elimination of toxic carcinogenic aromatics from …
E85 Flex Fuel Wrangler is Off-Road Ready
The Renewable Fuels Association/Hauk Designs Flex Fuel E85 Jeep Wranger is complete and designer Kenny Hauk is pretty proud of the monster machine that can run on up to 85 percent ethanol. “What I’ve learned is that E85 has incredible performance potential,” said Hauk. “You can have incredible horsepower gains, an engine that runs much cooler than normal and has …
ACE Elects Executive Committee
During its fourth quarter meeting, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Board of Directors elected its Officers and Executive Committee for 2020. Re-elected to serve as officers on the 2020 Executive Committee are: Duane Kristensen, serving as ACE’s Board President. Kristensen is the General Manager and Vice President of Operations of Chief Ethanol Fuels, which owns a 70 million-gallon-per-year (MGY) …
Presidential Hopeful Says Waivers are “Killing” Ethanol
Ethanol and small refinery waivers came up in the middle of a trade question during the Democratic presidential candidate debate Wednesday on MSNBC. South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg was asked whether he would continue the “farm subsidies” that President Trump has authorized to help farmers struggling from the impact of the trade war with China. “We shouldn’t have to …
National Biodiesel Board Elects New Leaders
The National Biodiesel Board held its annual fall meeting this week in Washington D.C. to focus on policy initiatives and moving the industry forward. During the meeting, the membership elected representatives to serve on the Governing Board to help the development and success of biodiesel. NBB members voted to fill seven board member spots for two-year terms: Kent Engelbrecht, Archer …
New York Approves Sales of 15 Percent Ethanol Fuel
Drivers in the state of New York will soon have the liberty to choose 15 percent ethanol blended fuel (E15) under a rule finalized Wednesday by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets. “Consumers in the Empire State can now enjoy the economic and environmental benefits of E15, and the opening of the state’s fuel market represents a growth …
Proposal Would Extend Biodiesel Tax Incentive
The Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now (GREEN) Act was introduced this week by Democrats on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures led by Chairman Mike Thompson (CA-05). The draft legislation is called “a comprehensive approach to tackling climate change by using the tax code to extend and expand renewable energy use and reduce greenhouse gas …