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 …
ACE Meeting Plans Change Due to COVID
As the coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating economic impact on the ethanol industry, meetings have also been changing to hopefully give more producers the ability to attend. The American Coalition for Ethanol‘s Annual Conference will now be held in conjunction with the 2020 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) & Expo in Omaha, Nebraska, on August 25. FEW had already …
ACE Calls on EPA to Maintain RFS
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to resist calls for to waive or significantly reduce the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs). “None of the requests from governors, senators, and attorneys general for EPA to waive the RFS this year have been accompanied by the evidence, which is required by the law …
ACE to Co-Locate Annual Meeting with Fuel Ethanol Workshop
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) will be co-locating its 33rd annual conference this year in conjunction with the rescheduled International Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) & Expo on August 25, in Omaha, Nebraska. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the economic hardship it’s brought to bear on the ethanol industry, ACE believes hosting this year’s gathering in association with …
House Includes Aid for Biofuels in Relief Act
Help for struggling ethanol producers is included in the new COVID-19 legislative relief package, thanks to the efforts of Democratic Reps. Cindy Axne (IA-01), Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), and Angie Craig (MN-02). The Renewable Fuel Reimbursement Program included in the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act) would authorize USDA to provide assistance of 45 …
Electric Cooperatives Urge Relief for Rural America
Over 30 rural electric cooperatives serving members across the Upper Midwest have signed on to a letter urging members of Congress to provide economic relief for rural America. The letter was addressed to members of Congress from Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska. Specifically, the letter calls for Congress to support additional stimulus package relief for food and …
Biofuels Industry Welcomes USDA Infrastructure Funds
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making up to $100 million in competitive grants available to help expand the availability and sale of renewable fuels. The Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) consist of up to $100 million in funding for competitive grants or sales incentives to eligible entities for activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol …
Coalition Opposes API Petition on 2020 RFS Obligations
A coalition of ethanol and farm groups sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday opposing the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) recent petition requesting reconsideration of the 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) final rule. API claims reconsideration of the 2020 RFS rule is necessary in light of the coalition’s recent Tenth Circuit court victory that overturned small refinery …
ACE Asks Administration to Help Ethanol Producers
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings is asking President Trump to “provide a much-needed boost to ethanol producers and rural America in response to the mounting economic harm as a result of the sudden and severe drop in ethanol demand” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “More than half of U.S. ethanol production capacity is already offline, high-skill jobs …