Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig this week sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan urging him to immediately sign an “emergency waiver” to allow summer sales of E15 (15% ethanol fuel) this year. In February, the EPA approved a request by Governor Reynolds and seven other Midwest governors to allow the sale of E15 fuel …
U.S.-Japan Alliance Includes Ethanol as Carbon Reducer
President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last week announced several new strategic initiatives to further advance the U.S.-Japan Alliance, including the importance of ethanol as a decarbonization solution within the transportation sector. A Joint Leaders’ Statement issued by the White House stated, “We intend to advance widespread adoption of innovative new clean energy technologies, and seek to …
RFA Concerned About Loss of USDA Reports
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is urging USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to reconsider its plan announced last week to discontinue all County Estimates for Crops and Livestock beginning with the 2024 production year. “With the rapid emergence of state and federal climate policies that will compel ethanol producers to carefully track certain feedstock characteristics, the availability of robust …
More Voices Push for Summer E15 Waivers
This week, 46 members of Congress and 15 Iowa fuel retailers added their voices to those urging the Biden administration to issue waivers to permit the sale of E15 for the 2024 summer driving season. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and two dozen other members of the U.S. House sent a letter calling on President Biden to direct EPA to allow …
WASDE Increases Corn for Ethanol Use
USDA’s April World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) released Thursday forecasts greater corn used for ethanol and feed and residual use and smaller ending stocks. Corn used for ethanol is raised 25 million bushels to 5.4 billion based on data through February from the Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production report and weekly ethanol production data as reported by the …
Grassley Hearing GREET Model Update Rumors
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is unhappy with what he has been hearing about the GREET model updates for sustainable aviation fuel expected soon from the Biden Administration. “We understand that this model might say that you can use (corn as a) feedstock but it will have to be grown in one of three conditions – minimum tillage, cover crops, or …
Ethanol Industry Seeks Permanent End to Brazil Tariff
This week, the U.S. ethanol industry submitted comments to the Brazilian government seeking a permanent end to that country’s tariff on imported U.S. ethanol. The Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. Grains Council and Growth Energy jointly submitted comments within the Brazilian Chamber of Foreign Trade (CAMEX) regarding the 18% Brazilian tariff on all incoming U.S. ethanol, while Brazilian ethanol imports enjoy …
New Tailpipe Emissions Rules Would Impact Corn Demand
The National Corn Growers Association reports new tailpipe emissions rules would be a “major shock on demand for corn used to produce ethanol” that could result in potentially devastating impacts on farmers and the rural economy. EPA’s recently released final rule for multi-pollutant emissions standards for model years 2027 and later light-duty and medium-duty vehicles dictates that sales of non-electric …
Iowa Farmers Encouraged to Try Higher Biodiesel Blends
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is once again offering the statewide On-Farm Biodiesel Credit Program that offers farmers who buy a biodiesel blend up to 50 cents per gallon. “This is a great opportunity for farmers to try higher blends of biodiesel on their farm like B20, especially if they have previously used B11,” said IRFA Marketing Director Lisa …
RFA Provides Input to GREET Working Group
As the clock continues to tick, the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Interagency Working Group continues its work on a modified GREET model for the 40B SAF tax credit. The Renewable Fuels Association this week provided some input to the working group regarding what time period should be used for land use change (LUC) emissions accounting under the new model. In a …