The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expanded an emergency fuel waiver of the summer low volatility gasoline requirement to 12 states on Wednesday in response to concerns about fuel shortages from Hurricane Harvey. EPA has waived requirements for reformulated gasoline and low volatility gasoline through September 15 in Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Louisiana and Florida, …
Iowa RFA Urging Industry Comment on RFS
The comment period for the EPA’s proposed volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) ends tomorrow, August 31. For those ethanol and biodiesel industry stakeholders who have not yet submitted comments, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has an easy way to do so by signing petitions to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. It’s time to make your …
Mid-Missouri Energy Goes John Deere Green
Mid-Missouri Energy (MME) in Malta Bend, Missouri is home to a new piece of equipment that has helped make the grounds around the ethanol plant a little greener. MME General Manager Chris Wilson won the John Deere ZTrak Z925M Flex Fuel commercial mower during a raffle at the Renewable Fuels Association 2017 National Ethanol Conference. The E85 used in the …
ACE Provides Ethanol Education
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) staff and member plant, Siouxland Ethanol LLC, joined the Northeast Nebraska Corn Growers (NNCGA) last week participating in an ag youth literacy festival in Jackson, Nebraska. ACE staffers Liz Bunkers and Chuck Beck, along with Pam Miller of Siouxland Ethanol, showed students products of the ethanol production process and discussed how it works, in addition …
Ethanol Groups Comment on CAFE Review
Ethanol groups filed comments Friday with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the intention to analyze potential environmental impacts of new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for model year (MY) 2022-2025 light-duty vehicles. The Renewable Fuels Association submitted a letter and literature survey of technical papers and studies on the benefits of ethanol-based High Octane Fuel, noting …
Retailers Give Ethanol Industry Advice
A panel featuring higher ethanol blend retailers was a highlight of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) 30th annual conference in Omaha last week. Charlie Bosselman, owner of Nebraska-based Bosselman Enterprises and Pump & Pantry c-stores, and Bob O’Connor, owner of JETZ Convenience Centers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, shared their insights on how the ethanol industry can help retailers add E15 …
NFU Announces Biofuels Initiative
National Farmers Union (NFU) has announced an initiative “to advance federal policies that support homegrown and home-produced renewable energy sources.” “American family farmers and ranchers are facing a rapidly changing climate, a severely depressed farm economy, and deteriorating rural infrastructure and services,” said NFU President Roger Johnson during a press call to announce the effort. “Expansion of homegrown, renewable energy …
Japan Ag Ministry Rep Visits MN Ethanol Plant
The Deputy Director for Food Security at Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries toured Guardian Energy in Minnesota this week as part of a five-day visit to learn about the state’s agriculture industry hosted by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. During the tour, Kimihiko Eura learned about incoming grain handling, grain storage, liquefaction, fermentation, distillation, dried distillers grains (DDGs), …
Commerce Dept Finds Unfairly Subsidized Biodiesel Exports
The preliminary determination of the U.S. Department of Commerce is that exporters of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia did receive “countervailable subsidies” and may allow for collection of retroactive duties. “The U.S. values its relationships with Argentina and Indonesia, but even friendly nations must play by the rules,” said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. The department determined that both countries subsidized …
Brazil Corn Ethanol Plant Starts Production
FS Bioenergia, Brazil’s first large-scale corn ethanol production facility, is officially in production. The plant, located in Lucas do Rio Verde, Mato Grosso, is the result of an international collaboration between Brazilian agribusiness Fiagril and U.S.-based Summit Agricultural Group headquartered in Alden, Iowa. In its initial phase of operations, FS Bioenergia will annually process 22 million bushels of corn and …