Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has updated its Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) dashboard, revealing six more retroactive “gap-year” petitions for compliance years 2011 through 2016 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), bringing the total now to 58. “We are already halfway through the year and instead of taking steps to comply with the January Tenth Circuit Court ruling to limit Small …
Fuel Ethanol Workshop to go Virtual in September
Yesterday it was a go for a live event in Omaha next month. Today BBI International announced that the 2020 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW) has been moved and will be virtual, due to COVID-19. The event will now take place September 15-17, 2020 and will be a live online event only. The virtual FEW will include a …
Corn and Ethanol Groups Challenge EPA to Correct Study
A coalition including the Urban Air Initiative (UAI), 10 state corn grower organizations and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) are pressuring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to correct its recent “Anti-Backsliding” study. The coalition says the study is based on faulty modeling data that fails to recognize the role of ethanol in reducing pollution. The study is required under …
ACE Launches Video Series on USDA HBIIP
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has launched a series of short fuel marketer-focused videos, along with a broader digital advertising campaign, to help fuel retailers understand and navigate the application process for USDA’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). The series on flexfuelforward.com is hosted by ACE Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty, a former convenience store owner who breaks …
ACE Disappointed With EPA Lack of Action
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings says he is disappointed in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to issue an interim final rule by July 1 to increase the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) for 2020 to ensure that the full 20.09 billion gallons required by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) are used due to the unanticipated drop …
House Committee Climate Crisis Plan Includes LCFS
The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis today released a comprehensive plan titled “Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America.” The Climate Crisis Action Plan, released as a majority staff report, has received the early support of agricultural organizations and biofuels groups pleased to see the …
RIP Ethanol Industry Leader Bob Sather
The ethanol industry has lost a good friend and industry leader in Bob Sather who passed away on June 16 after a long battle with prostate cancer. Sather entered the ethanol industry after retiring from a career in education in Wisconsin. He became a founding member of Ace Ethanol in Stanley, Wisc., and served as the Director of Government Relations …
Bill Would Push Biofuels Innovation
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) has introduced legislation, together with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), to approve some advanced biofuel pathways under the Renewable Fuel Standard, which have been delayed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Under the legislation, EPA would also be required to render a decision within 90 days on any registration application that has been pending for at least …
Senate Bill Would Allow Ethanol Hand Sanitizer for 2 Years
Senator John Thune (R-SD) this week introduced legislation that would extend for two years The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) “Temporary Policy for Preparation of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products During the Public Health Emergency.” The purpose of the bill is to grant additional certainty for ethanol plants that have made investments or changes in operations to serve the need …
Farm & Biofuel Groups Challenge Retroactive RFS Waivers
Nine leading biofuel and farm organizations sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler Tuesday asking him for answers on what is seen as a new effort to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). During a Senate hearing last month, administration officials confirmed their consideration of retroactive small refinery exemptions (SREs) covering previous years. The “gap-filings” are …