Back to back hearings on topics related to small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard brought ethanol supporters out to explain how EPA’s abuse of the waivers is hurting farmers and producers and how the new proposed rule is insufficient to fix the problem. In this edition of The Ethanol Report, we hear from some of those who testified …
Ethanol Opportunities in West Africa
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Steve Censky is on a trade mission to West Africa this week to help United States exporters unlock new opportunities in a region where strong economic growth is driving demand for imported food and farm products, including ethanol. “Here in West Africa they are using another product as an octane enhancer rather than ethanol,” said …
Biofuels Groups Express Concerns at EPA Hearing
Representatives from multiple ethanol and biodiesel stakeholder organizations and companies delivered basically the same message to the Environmental Protection Agency during a hearing Wednesday on the proposal to make up for volumes lost under the Renewable Fuel Standard due to small refinery waivers – nice try, but you still need to follow the law. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig …
EPA Hearing in Michigan Today
Ethanol and biodiesel producers and industry representatives are back in Ypsilanti, Michigan for the second time in three months to provide comments on an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) proposed rule. On July 31, it was the rule to set 2020 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) and the 2021 RVO for biomass-based diesel, where the majority of comments …
Ethanol Technical Information Forum Held in Juárez, Mexico
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty returned to Mexico last week to speak at the first technical ethanol information forum to be held in Juárez, Mexico, just across the border from El Paso, Texas. “Like Tijuana, Juárez is one of the top destinations for U.S. ethanol in the short-run because El Paso and Juárez are basically …
Biofuels Industry Testifies on Harm Done by RFS Waivers
Biofuels industry representatives testified during a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing Tuesday on how the increase in small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard has hurt ethanol and biodiesel producers and farmers. “EPA’s secretive and underhanded approach to the SRE provision in recent years has destabilized the RFS, reduced the production and use of clean renewable biofuels, …
Registration Open for 2020 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit
The 2020 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit will take place at the Prairie Meadows Conference Center in Altoona, Iowa on January 16, 2020, just days before the Iowa Presidential Caucuses. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper will keynote the annual event gathering biofuels industry representatives together in the Midwest with the theme Empower, Promote, and Advocate. In the …
Witnesses Scheduled for RFS Waiver Abuse Hearing
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper will lead off a panel of witnesses for a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing today on “Protecting the RFS: The Trump Administration’s Abuse of Secret Waivers.” Testimony will also be presented by Gene Gebolys, President and CEO, World Energy; Kelly Nieuwenhuis, President, Siouxland Energy Cooperative; and Chet Thompson, President and CEO, …
MN State Commissioners Tour Guardian Energy
Seven Minnesota state agency commissioners toured the Guardian Energy ethanol plant last week to learn about the plant’s production capabilities and how the ethanol industry helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost the state’s economy. Guardian Energy is located in Janesville, about 75 miles southwest of Minneapolis. The commissioners who participated in the tour were Steve Grove (Minnesota Department of …
RFA Receives Grants for Ethanol Safety Education
The Renewable Fuels Association has received new grants to support its safety education program through on-site seminars and on-line webinars via the association’s work with TRANSCAER, a voluntary national effort that focuses on hazardous material transportation incident preparation for communities. “One of the strengths that sets our association apart is our whole-industry focus that includes high-quality technical assistance such as …