The bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act has been reintroduced in both Houses of Congress. The legislation led by Senators Deb Fischer (R-ND) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) in the Senate, and Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Angie Craig (D-MN) in the House would extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to enable the year-round, nationwide sale of …
Brooke Rollins Confirmed as Agriculture Secretary
Brooke Rollins of Texas was confirmed as the 33rd Secretary of Agriculture Thursday by a vote of 72-28. Rollins served in Trump’s previous administration as acting director of the Domestic Policy Council and oversaw the White House Office of American Innovation. She since co-founded and served as president and chief executive officer of the America First Policy Institute. She has …
Biofuels Groups Pleased with Zeldin Confirmation
The U.S. Senate Wednesday confirmed the nomination of Lee Zeldin to become administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and biofuels groups are happy with the decision. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said they are looking forward to working with Administrator Zeldin. “As noted during his Senate confirmation hearing, Mr. Zeldin understands that ethanol and other renewable fuels …
Biofuels Supporting Senators Question EPA Nominee
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for EPA Administrator faced questions from members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Thursday on a number of topics, including the Renewable Fuel Standard and year-round E15. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) received a commitment from Zeldin to provide more certainty to the biofuels industry by following the law as it relates to the timeline …
Groups React to Climate Smart Ag Rule and GREET Model
Biofuel organizations welcomed the release Wednesday of USDA’s interim rule on Technical Guidelines for Climate-Smart Agriculture Crops Used as Biofuel Feedstocks, in addition to a beta version Feedstock Carbon Intensity Calculator, and the Department of Energy release of the 45ZCF-GREET model The rule establishes guidelines for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of corn, …
ACE Plans 2025 DC Fly-in
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is gearing up for its 14th annual DC Fly-in and Government Affairs Summit which will be held March 27-28, 2025. As one of the biofuels industry’s longest-running and most impactful events, the fly-in provides a unique platform for ethanol advocates to connect directly with policymakers. “We invite ethanol supporters to join us in Washington, …
ACE Vows to Continue Fight for Year-Round E15
As 2024 rides off into the sunset, the American Coalition for Ethanol vows to continue the fight for year-round, nationwide E15 into the new year. Getting so close to victory in the year-end legislation adopted by Congress was disappointing but ACE CEO Brian Jennings says the fact that Congressional leadership initially included it in the continuing resolution (CR) to fund …
Funding Bill Includes Year-Round, Nationwide E15
The continuing resolution to fund the government into next year contains a provision that may finally succeed in making E15 available year-round in every state, something the ethanol industry has been working toward since it was first approved by the EPA in 2011. “We are very pleased to see that the long-awaited fix allowing year-round E15 is included in this …
Ethanol Groups Provide 45Z Tax Credit Input
In response to a request from the House Ways and Means Committee, ethanol groups last week provided input on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit, which was authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act and is scheduled to go into effect next year. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper told the committee that, with the right implementation, 45Z …
ACE CEO Sees More Questions than Answers on 45Z
The biofuels industry has been waiting for the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit for a long time now, and the wait is likely to get even longer with a new administration taking over. Will the Biden Administration try to rush rules out before the inauguration? Will Congress extend the tax credits 45Z was supposed to replace before the end of …