It was ten years ago this month that Western New York Energy (WNYE) began production at its 62-million gallon per year ethanol plant as the first ethanol plant in New York State. The ethanol plant uses more than 20 million bushels of locally grown corn every year while also producing more than 160,000 tons per year of high-quality distillers grain. …
EPA Administrator Shows Support for RFS
The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency met with farmers and biofuels producers in Iowa on Friday to show his support for agriculture and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Administrator Scott Pruitt was a guest of livestock producers and ethanol supporters Bill and Nancy Couser on their farm in Nevada, Iowa. Since the visit came just one day after EPA …
NBB Optimistic Despite Disappointing Biodiesel RVOs
Members of the National Biodiesel Board meeting in Washington D.C. this week were disappointed that EPA failed to increase the biomass-based diesel volumes under the Renewable Fuels Standard, but optimistic about the future for the industry. “We think it’s a missed opportunity, we’re disappointed,” said NBB chief operating officer Doug Whitehead, adding that they will continue to work with the …
Secretary Perdue Comments on RVO Numbers
During a visit to the Agricultural Retailers Association conference and expo in Phoenix on Thursday, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was asked to comment on the final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018. The Secretary noted that the requirement for conventional renewable fuels like corn ethanol is capped at 15 billion gallons, so that’s as high …
Ethanol Report on Final 2018 RVOs
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018 as scheduled on November 30, with relatively little change from the July proposal, keeping the statutory 15 billion gallon requirement for conventional renewable fuels like corn ethanol. While that is good news, there is disappointment with volumes decreased or flatlined for cellulosic …
Biofuels Industry Reacts to Final RVO Numbers
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released today its final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018. The agency finalized a total renewable fuel volume of 19.29 billion gallons, including 4.29 billion advanced biofuel – a slight increase from the proposal – and 288 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel. The agency maintained the requirement for conventional renewable fuels …
Waiting for the Numbers
The biofuels industry is eagerly awaiting the highly anticipated release of 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) expected today. In July, the agency proposed a total renewable fuel volume of 19.24 billion gallons (BG), maintaining the conventional biofuel (corn ethanol) requirement at the 15 billion gallon level but reducing advanced biofuels (mostly biodiesel) to 4.24 billion gallons, …
Biodiesel Advocates Storming the Hill
With EPA set to release final volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), and Congress back at work on tax legislation, this week is a perfect time for members of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) to put biodiesel on the front burner in Washington D.C. Nearly 100 NBB members are storming the Hill to talk with lawmakers about the …
Corn Harvest Wrapping Up
The corn harvest is not quite finished, but weekly USDA crop progress reports are done for the year. According to the last report issued on Monday, 95 percent of the corn crop nationwide is in the bin, less than the 98 percent average for the end of November. Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin are dragging behind with less than 90 percent …
Ethanol Production Hits Weekly Record
Weekly U.S. ethanol production hit a new record high this month. According to Energy Information Administration data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), ethanol production for the week ending November 17 averaged 1.074 million barrels per day (b/d)—or 45.11 million gallons daily, up 20,000 b/d from the week before. That is the highest rate of output ever recorded, beating …