Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced last week that former Republican Governor Pete Ricketts will fill the state’s U.S. Senate seat vacated when Ben Sasse resigned on Jan. 8 to become president of the University of Florida. Ricketts was an outspoken advocate for ethanol during his two terms as governor. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper congratulated Ricketts on …
Biofuels Groups Provide Comments on RFS Proposal
Biofuels groups offered testimony to the Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday during a virtual public hearing for the proposed rule to establish required Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes and percentage standards for 2023-25. “Overall, we believe the proposed ‘Set’ rule establishes a firm foundation for the future of the RFS and creates a pathway for sustainable growth in the production and …
ACE Plans DC Fly-in for March
For the first time since 2019, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is excited to be planning its 12th annual Washington, DC Fly-in and Government Affairs Summit to take place March 29-30, 2023. Event registration and sponsorship opportunities are available at ethanol.org/events/fly-in. “We encourage ethanol supporters to mark their calendars for the ACE fly-in March 29-30,” said Brian Jennings, ACE …
ACE Submits Feedback on IRA Implementation
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) submitted comments this week to the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) on how funding in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for key NRCS conservation programs should be implemented to encourage farmer adoption of climate-smart practices. ACE CEO Brian Jennings and Jonathon Lehman, founder of the consulting group Cultivating Conservation, provided comments to NRCS, …
Year Round E15 Legislation Introduced in the House
This has been a busy week for actions to get a permanent fix for year-hour E15. In the latest, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Adrian Smith (R-NE) introduced the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2022 to enable the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10%. The Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2022 would …
250 Groups Call for Senate Passage of Year-Round E15 Bill
Over 250 organizations and companies signed a letter to Congressional leaders this week calling for quick passage of S. 5145, the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2022, a bipartisan bill that allows for year-round of E15 by extending the 1-psi Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to fuel blends containing gasoline and over 10 percent ethanol. “Due to the …
Biofuels Industry Provides Input on IRA for IRS
Biofuel stakeholder organizations provided input this week to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on implementation of specific provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) related to credits for carbon sequestration and clean fuel production. In its comments to the IRS, the Renewable Fuels Association stressed that, if implemented correctly, the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z) could lead to “transformative investments” …
Ethanol Industry Relieved Rail Strike Averted
Since more than 70 percent of the ethanol produced in the United States is transported by rail across the lower 48 states as well as into Canada and Mexico, the industry breathed a collective sigh of relief Friday as President Biden signed legislation passed by Congress to avert a major national rail strike. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper …
EPA Proposes RFS Biofuel Standards for Three Years
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its proposed rule to establish required Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes and percentage standards for 2023, 2024, and 2025, as well as to propose a series of important modifications to strengthen and expand the RFS program. The proposal sets next year’s (2023) total RFS requirement at 20.82 billion gallons, including 5.82 billion in …
ACE Provides Feedback on IRA Biofuel Infrastructure Funds
In written comments submitted this week, American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Chief Marketing Officer Ron Lamberty provided expert feedback with the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) on implementation of funds for biofuel infrastructure under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The legislation provides for $500 million in grants for infrastructure for blending, storing, supplying, or distributing …