Western Dubuque Biodiesel is establishing a Monarch Fueling Station at its plant near Farley. The plant will start the process by spraying to eradicate non-native grasses this summer and again this fall. A dormant seeding of native plants and milkweed will occur this November. “Part of our mission at Western Dubuque Biodiesel is to create fuel that is environmentally friendly,” …
Biofuel Interests Increase Pressure to End Waivers
As biofuel interests stepped up the pressure on the administration to end Small Refinery Exemptions this week, news reports say President Donald Trump has ordered a review of the policy that has resulted in dozens of waivers in the last two years causing the loss of more than two billion gallons of ethanol demand. The National Corn Growers Association is …
Proposed Legislation Would Extend Biodiesel Tax Incentive
House Ways and Means Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee Chairman Mike Thompson (D-CA) has introduced legislation to extend expired tax incentives, including the biodiesel tax incentive, which is scheduled for mark up Thursday June 20. The proposal would provide U.S. biodiesel producers certainty through 2020 and incentivize investment and growth in domestic production capacity. “Biodiesel and renewable diesel producers across the …
Coalition Kicks Off Gasoline Public Education Campaign
The Clean Fuels Development Coalition has launched the nation’s first Gasoline Public Education and Consumer Awareness Campaign, focusing on the health threat of consumer gasoline. The campaign is the outcome of a year-long research project and the recently released publication What’s in Our Gasoline Is Killing Us: Mobile Source Air Toxics and The Threat to Public Health released last month. …
Industry Hopes to Stop Small Refinery Waivers
Biofuel organizations are hopeful that legislation introduced last week by Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will help stem the tide of Small Refinery Exemptions that have caused demand destruction for both ethanol and biodiesel. The RFS Integrity Act of 2019 aims to provide “more certainty for rural America by bringing transparency and predictability to EPA’s small refinery …
Ethanol Report on Presidential Visit
The Renewable Fuels Association was thrilled to host President Donald J. Trump as he visited the Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) ethanol plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa on June 11 to celebrate year round sales of E15 (15% ethanol). This Ethanol Report podcast includes some of the president’s remarks at the plant and interviews with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper, SIRE …
FEW High Octane Award Goes to Steve Vander Griend
Steve Vander Griend, Technical Director of the Urban Air Initiative, received the High Octane Award this week at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW). The High Octane Award is presented each year by BBI International and Ethanol Producer Magazine to a person whose passion and unstoppable pursuits have significantly benefited the ethanol industry. Vander Griend was recognized for his dedication and …
Behind the Scenes with President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) CEO Geoff Cooper and Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy CEO Mike Jerke shared their thoughts about President Donald Trump’s behind the scenes tour of the ethanol plant Tuesday. Jerke and Cooper met the president as he arrived at the plant and escorted him in to meet some local farmers and plant employees and learn more about ethanol. …
Biodiesel Industry on Capitol Hill This Week
Over 70 National Biodiesel Board (NBB) members are in the nation’s capital this week to meet with 130 Congressional offices and discuss the status of the biodiesel tax incentive and the Renewable Fuel Standard. Kurt Kovarik, NBB’s Vice President of Federal Affairs, stated, “Biodiesel and renewable diesel are produced, distributed and used across the United States. The industry supports more …
RFA Ready for President Trump Visit to Ethanol Plant
President Donald Trump will visit the Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) ethanol plant later this afternoon and the Renewable Fuels Association is ready to welcome him and thank him for supporting farmers and the industry. SIRE, an RFA member company, operates a state-of-the-art ethanol biorefinery that produces approximately 130 million gallons of high-octane fuel ethanol per year, along with more …