The Renewable Fuels Association is back for the 11th year at the 79th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Aug. 2-11 in Sturgis, S.D., once again partnering with the Buffalo Chip Campground to provide free 10% ethanol for bikers along with the facts about ethanol use in motorcycles. In this edition of The Ethanol Report podcast, RFA Vice President of Industry Relations …
Coalition Goes to Court Over Biofuel Waivers
A coalition of seven agricultural and biofuels organizations is seeking court action to force the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to account for lost biofuel volumes resulting from small refinery exemptions granted by the agency. The coalition consisting of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Growth Energy (Growth), National Biodiesel Board (NBB), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), …
Biofuels Groups Testify at EPA RFS Hearing
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) heard concerns from many biofuels industry stakeholders during a public hearing Wednesday in Ypsilanti, Michigan on the proposed rule to set 2020 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) and the 2021 RVO for biomass-based diesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Much of the comments from both sides of the issues centered on whether or not EPA …
New Corn Hybrids Could Benefit Ethanol and Biodiesel Producers
Benson Hill Biosystems has entered into a partnership with Brownseed Genetics, a Wisconsin-based seed breeder of new corn hybrids that are higher in both oil content and essential amino acids offering added value for farmers, ethanol and biodiesel producers. “Brownseed’s focus on varieties with both quality and productivity benefits can generate greater profitability for growers, livestock producers, and the ethanol …
EPA Chief Urged to Visit Ethanol Plant
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler visited an oil refinery in Pennsylvania Monday at the request of Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), who just last week filed legislation in Congress to eliminate corn ethanol from the Renewable Fuel Standard. Now ethanol producers would like to see Wheeler visit one of their plants. “This refinery produces 200k barrels/day and is a great economic driver …
Quad County to Establish Monarch Fueling Station
Quad County Corn Processors is the latest Iowa biofuels plant to start working with Iowa Renewable Fuels Association to establish a Monarch Fueling Station. The monarch habitat will span roughly one acre. Today the land is used as a small corn field, but the plant will begin converting it to habitat after harvest with a mid-November seeding. “We see the …
RFA CEO Blasts RFS Reform Bill
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper criticized recycled legislation introduced last week by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) that “abolishes the corn ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).” “Perhaps Senators Feinstein and Toomey are confused about the RFS. There is no ‘corn ethanol mandate’ under the program and there never has been. …
RFA Partners with Hauk Designs to Take E85 Off-Road
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Kenny Hauk of Hauk Designs are partnering to highlight the many benefits of using ethanol fuel blends in high-performance off-road vehicles. Fans can watch the Hauk team design and build an RFA flex-fuel Jeep Wrangler JL in a special “Hauk Machines” Amazon Prime video series airing soon. But first, the series kicks off exclusively …
ACE Urges EPA to Use GREET Model for RFS Volumes
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to adopt the latest GREET model for the lifecycle analysis of corn ethanol. In a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, ACE CEO Brian Jennings highlighted the important role corn ethanol could have in further reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions if properly valued under the Renewable Fuel …
REG to Close New Boston, Texas Biodiesel Plant
Renewable Energy Group (REG) is closing its New Boston, Texas biorefinery “due to challenging business conditions and continued federal policy uncertainty, most notably the long-lapsed federal biodiesel tax credit.” The company acquired the 15-million gallon per-year biodiesel plant near Texarkana, Texas in October 2012 and began producing biodiesel there several months later. The facility is capable of running both high …