Michael Regan has officially been confirmed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with a 66-34 vote Wednesday by the U.S. Senate. Regan comes to EPA after serving as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. During his confirmation hearing, Regan emphasized that the “RFS is definitely a priority for this administration.” U.S. biofuels organizations are thrilled …
Dakota Ethanol Surpasses One Billion Gallons
Dakota Ethanol has surpassed one billion gallons of ethanol production at its 90 million-gallon-per-year facility in Wentworth, South Dakota. Dakota Ethanol began production in September 2001 with a nameplate capacity of 40 MGY by its parent company Lake Area Corn Processors, with a membership of over 1,000 local farmers, investors, and community members. The expansion to running at a 90-million-gallon …
ACE Opens Scholarship Program, Recognizes 2020 Winners
As the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Scholarship Program opens for 2021-2022 academic year applications, the organization congratulates the 2020 scholarship recipients who each received a $1,000 scholarship through the program to help further their education. Kaelyn Drury is from Blue Hill, Nebraska, and is attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she studies Nutrition Science. Kaelyn is …
Renewable Fuels Nebraska Names Interim Director
The board of Renewable Fuels Nebraska (RFN) has named Pam Miller interim executive director, effective earlier this month. Pam has been involved in the ethanol industry since 2004. At that time, she was an elected official, serving as a county commissioner in Northeast Nebraska. As such, she created the Dakota County Economic Development Committee. A thorough SWOT analysis of the …
EPA Supports 10th Circuit Decision
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced support for last year’s U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit decision and interpretation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) small-refinery exemption provisions. This conclusion, prompted by a detailed review following the Supreme Court’s grant of certiorari in the case, represents a change from EPA’s position before the Tenth Circuit. The change …
Summit Agricultural Group Announces Major Carbon Project
Summit Agricultural Group has announced the creation of Summit Carbon Solutions, expected to be the world’s largest carbon capture and storage project. The goal of Summit Carbon Solutions is to accelerate the transition toward sustainable, renewable energy by dramatically lowering the carbon footprint of biorefineries and other carbon dioxide emission sources throughout the Midwestern region of the United States. When …
Biofuels Caucus Introduces RFS Integrity Act
U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) led the Congressional Biofuels Caucus in introducing bipartisan legislation last week to ensure transparency and predictability to the Environmental Protection Agency’s small refinery exemption (SRE) process. The Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act would require small refineries to submit a petition for a Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) hardship exemption by June 1st …
Biofuels Groups Oppose General RFS Waivers
Biofuels organizations filed comments this week opposing requests from refiners, several state governors, and an environmental organization that the Environmental Protection Agency waive 2019 and 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard volumes. “None of the petitions provides the required evidence that the RFS itself is causing economic or environmental harm. In fact, the requests point to the continuing coronavirus emergency as the …
ACE Testifies on MN Bill to Set E15 Standard
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty shared his insights on E15 equipment compatibility with existing infrastructure during a virtual hearing yesterday in the Minnesota Legislature on a bill which would increase the state’s minimum biofuel content in gasoline to 15 percent. Lamberty’s testimony focused on clearing up misconceptions about equipment needed to sell E15, particularly underground …
ACE Elects 2021 Executive Committee
During its first quarter meeting this week, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Board of Directors elected its Officers and Executive Committee for 2021. Dave Sovereign, Chairman of Golden Grain Energy’s Board, accepted the nomination of President of the ACE Board. He replaces Duane Kristensen, who served as the President of ACE’s Board of Directors for the past three years. …