Perdue Confirmed as Agriculture Secretary

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Senate has formally confirmed the nomination of George Ervin “Sonny” Perdue III to serve as the 31st Secretary of Agriculture. The final vote Monday was 87 to 11. Perdue, an agribusinessman, veterinarian, state legislator, and former governor of Georgia, grew up working on his family farm in central Georgia, making him the fourth agriculture secretary who has worked …

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFA, USDA

Biofuels Stakeholders Comment on Oral Arguments

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) presented oral arguments to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Monday on the petition for review of the Renewable Volume Obligations for 2014-2016 filed by Americans for Clean Energy, et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in January 2016. The NBB challenged EPA’s interpretation and use of its waiver authority …

ACE, advanced biofuels, biofuels, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA, RFS

RFA Tells EPA to Keep RFS on Track

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) sent a letter today to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt urging him to keep the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on track in 2018. “The ethanol industry was highly encouraged by your commitment to ‘administer the [RFS] program according to the intent of Congress’ and to keep the program’s rulemakings on schedule,” RFA President and CEO Bob …

EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, RFS

Biodiesel to Present Arguments Against EPA

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) will present oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s interpretation and use of its waiver authority regarding the 2014-16 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS). David Salmons of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP will present NBB’s case, arguing against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s …

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NBB, RFS

Global RFA Urges Renewed Pledge to CO2 Reduction

Cindy Zimmerman

On Earth Day 2017, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) called for a renewed global commitment to reducing CO2 emissions in the year ahead. GRFA president Bliss Baker notes that nearly 200 countries have signed on to the world’s first binding agreement on climate action. “What needs to happen next is the implementation of policies across the globe aimed at …

Environment, Ethanol, Ethanol News, International

Enerkem Earns Lowest BC Carbon Intensity Value

Cindy Zimmerman

Enerkem Inc., a waste-to-biofuels and renewable chemicals producer based in Canada, has received the lowest carbon intensity value ever issued by the British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines for its ethanol product. The confirmed carbon intensity of Enerkem’s waste-based ethanol is set at -55 gCO2e/MJ. As a comparison, gasoline has an intensity of +88 gCO2e/MJ. This approval under the …

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Production Drops

Cindy Zimmerman

After six months of daily ethanol production topping a million barrels a day, the streak finally came to an end two weeks ago, according to the latest analysis of EIA data from the Renewable Fuels Association. Ethanol production dropped below a million barrels to its lowest level since October to 986,000 barrels in the week ended on April 7. Last …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

RFA Earns 5th TRANSCAER Award for Ethanol Safety Seminars

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has received the TRANSCAER® National Achievement Award for the fifth year in a row in recognition for a series of seminars last year on ethanol safety and emergency responders. The award is for extraordinary achievement by an individual person, company, organization or a team in support of the TRANSCAER® initiative. In 2016, RFA held 20 …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Data Shows Ethanol Broke the Blend Wall in 2016

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data for 2016 shows that gasoline consumed in the United States last year contained more than 10% ethanol on average for the first time ever, according to an analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), demonstrating that the so-called “blend wall” is no constraint on ethanol consumption. According to EIA data, finished motor …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

AFV Day Odyssey Highlights Propane Autogas

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Day Odyssey, sponsored by Alliance AutoGas and the Propane Education and Research Council, kicks off today in Dallas, Texas in advance of Earth Day activities. National AFV Day Odyssey is a nationwide celebration conducted to educate the public about the importance of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and to promote their widespread adoption. …

autogas, Propane