During a hearing last week before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler was pushed by senators on both sides of the Renewable Fuel Standard for a commitment to helping them. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), who spearheaded a letter to Wheeler from oil state senators, expressed his dissatisfaction with the 10th circuit court decision regarding small …
ACE Calls on EPA to Maintain RFS
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to resist calls for to waive or significantly reduce the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs). “None of the requests from governors, senators, and attorneys general for EPA to waive the RFS this year have been accompanied by the evidence, which is required by the law …
Illinois Zein Protein Plant Switches to Hand Sanitizer
Global Impact Innovation (GII) has switched from producing Zein protein to producing and delivering hand sanitizer at mass-scale in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Zein protein from corn has a variety of industrial and food uses. Since beginning production in mid-April 2020, GII has manufactured and delivered close to 100,000 gallons of sanitizer with a significant portion of its early …
USDA Food Safety Using Nebraska-made Sanitizer
Nearly 7,000 gallons of Nebraska-made sanitizer has been donated for use by USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) employees around the country responsible for ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, and egg products. There are 6,500 FSIS field offices across the nation. The USDA’s initial request included 6,500 gallons of hand sanitizer but deliveries have continued as the need remains …
Senate Bill Would Help Biofuels Producers
Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MI) have introduced bipartisan legislation to provide emergency relief to ethanol producers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would allow USDA to reimburse biofuel producers through the Commodity Credit Corporation for their feedstock purchases in the first quarter of this year. According to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), as of May 19, …
ACE to Co-Locate Annual Meeting with Fuel Ethanol Workshop
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) will be co-locating its 33rd annual conference this year in conjunction with the rescheduled International Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) & Expo on August 25, in Omaha, Nebraska. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the economic hardship it’s brought to bear on the ethanol industry, ACE believes hosting this year’s gathering in association with …
RFA Hosting Webinars on USDA Retailer Infrastructure Grants
USDA began accepting applications Friday for grants from the new Higher Ethanol Blends Infrastructure Program, or HBIIP, and the Renewable Fuels Association is hosting two webinars this month to guide fuel retailers and others in the process. “U.S. ethanol producers today are facing the worst economic conditions in the industry’s 40-year history due to COVID-19; once the pandemic is over …
Ethanol Report 5-15-20
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on the U.S. ethanol industry, slashing production by half and leading to the idling of scores of plants across rural America. But there are positive signs that demand is starting to increase again. Meanwhile, Congress is considering a new aid package with help for biofuels, the Renewable Fuel Standard is facing …
Higher Blends Infrastructure Program Grant Applications Open
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched an online portal to accept applications for Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) grants. USDA has up to $100 million in competitive grants available to help expand the sale and availability of ethanol and biodiesel fuels with approximately $86 million allocated for higher blends of fuel ethanol, and approximately $14 million for implementation …
RFA CEO Says Worst May be Over for Ethanol Industry
The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to have a devastating impact on the U.S. ethanol industry, slashing production by half and leading to the idling of scores of plants across rural America. However, the industry may be finally turning the corner, according to Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “We are starting to see some ethanol plants come …