The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a final rule today that establishes required renewable volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2020 that is basically the same as the proposed rule that industry stakeholders say still falls short. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the rule fails to deliver on President Trump’s commitment to restore …
RFA Technical Expert to Lead Safety Coalition
Director of Safety and Technical Programs for the Renewable Fuels Association, Missy Ruff, has been selected to chair the executive committee of the National TRANSCAER Task Group, the managing body for the national outreach effort focused on assisting communities prepare for and respond to possible hazardous material transportation incidents. She assumes this key leadership role on January 1. Ruff leads …
Tax Extenders Also Help Ethanol and Advanced Biofuels
The deal reached by congressional leaders Tuesday for renewing and extending important renewable fuel tax provisions helps the ethanol industry as well as biodiesel producers. Specifically, the amendment would retroactively reinstate the second-generation biofuel producer credit, the special allowance for second-generation biofuel plant property and the alternative fuel refueling property credit for 2018 and 2019 and extend them through 2020. …
NBB Encouraged by Biodiesel Tax Incentive Action
Members of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) are encouraged by the introduction in Congress of a multiyear extension of the biodiesel tax incentive. If passed, the credit would be available to biodiesel blenders through 2022 to help to expand markets and support expansion of biodiesel and renewable diesel production. NBB Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik says the announced …
MN Biofuels Names Retailer of the Year
The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association has named Hutchinson Co-Op its Distinguished Retailer for 2019. “Hutchinson Co-Op was a recipient of the highly successful Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership program. It began offering E15 at the end of 2018 and today E15 sales comprise nearly half of its fuel sales,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director at MN Biofuels. Hutchinson Co-Op also offers E30 and …
Corn Yield Contest Winners Hit New Highs
Despite adverse growing conditions that impacted most farmers around the country this year, National Corn Growers Association 2019 National Corn Yield Contest were able to attain some impressive yields, with a new overall record that will be hard to beat. David Hula of Charles City, Virginia produced the highest yield on record at 616.1953 bushels per acre, beating his previous …
Nebraska Ethanol Helps Fuel the Cure
In the past two years, Nebraska fuel retailers and drivers have raised more than $13,000 for cancer research as part of Fuel the Cure, which has gone to fund efforts at centers in the state. During October, when drivers chose higher blends of ethanol fuel like E15, E30 and E85 at participating retail locations, gas stations donated 3 cents for …
Ethanol Industry Mourns Loss of Randy Ives
The ethanol industry lost a pioneer and a great friend this week as Randy Ives, 63, of Omaha, Nebraska has passed away after a courageous battle with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Ives was a U.S. Grains Council (USGC) delegate and a key figure in the development of distiller’s dried grain with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol market …
Corn Growers Seek Action on Ethanol and USMCA
Leaders of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and state corn organizations held a news conference Wednesday morning to urge the Trump Administration and members of Congress to finish the job on outstanding trade and ethanol issues important to corn farmers. The past year has presented a perfect storm of challenges for America’s corn farmers. While there have been positive …
Analyst Caps Ethanol Demand at 15 Billion Gallons
The most popular session at the annual ASTA CSS & Seed Expo is always the agricultural economy update by Dan Basse, AgResource Company, and this year was no exception as he opened the general session for the seventh year. Basse offered his insights on this year’s yields, impact of African Swine Fever in China, the ABU countries (Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine), …