The theme of the recent 30th National Ethanol Conference was Back to Our Roots and it was a celebration of how the industry started and how it’s going. One panel featured a walk down memory lane with some industry pioneers who talked about the early days and how the roots of the ethanol industry were firmly planted by farmers. Included …
EPA Releases Final Rule for E15 Waiver Delay for SD and OH
The Environmental Protection Agency has released the final rule to extend the date for Ohio and nine counties in South Dakota for year-round E15. In response to a request from the Governors of Ohio and South Dakota, EPA renewed the extension of the effective date of the removal of the 1-psi volatility waiver because the agency “finds that there would …
RFA Promotes Flex Fuel Conversion Kits at #Classic25
Since most car makers stopped selling flex-fuel vehicles, it’s hard to find a new car or truck these days that is made to run on up to 85% ethanol fuel. But at Commodity Classic, the Renewable Fuels Association was demonstrating how you can do-it-yourself. Robert White, RFA Senior VP for Industry Relations & Market Development, had a brand new 2025 …
ACE Excited About Annual Fly-in
The annual American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Fly-in is coming up March 27-28 and CEO Brian Jennings says once again the number one topic is year-round, nationwide E15. “We really need a permanent, national solution from Congress because that’s what the courts have said, before the summer driving season starts,” said Jennings during an interview at Commodity Classic this week. …
Scholarship Winners Enjoy NEC Opportunity
The Renewable Fuels Foundation made it possible for eight young people interested in furthering a career in the ethanol industry to attend the 2025 National Ethanol Conference in Nashville recently. Most of this year’s recipients are already working in the industry and are members of the Renewable Fuels Association’s Young Professionals Network (YPN). The Robert Sather Memorial Scholarship is open …
Sec. Rollins Applauded for E15 Support
New U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins received a standing ovation from thousands of farmers across the country Sunday as she made an appearance at the Commodity Classic in Denver on the Trade Show Main Stage. Rollins brought a message from President Trump. “He wants all of you to know that he hears you. He knows that times have been …
Farm to Fly Act Reintroduced in House
The bipartisan Farm to Fly Act was reintroduced in the U.S. House last week to foster the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) within existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, allow for greater collaboration, and ensure USDA’s SAF definitions reflect eligibility for American agricultural crops. The bill was introduced by Reps. Max Miller (R-OH), Mike Flood (R-NE), Brad Finstad …
Liquid Fuel Stakeholders Urge EPA to Set RFS Volumes
A diverse group of stakeholders, including petroleum refiners, fuel marketers and retailers, biofuels producers, and farmers, sent a letter to urging Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin urging him to set robust, timely, and multi-year Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and beyond. “Since the enactment of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), our nation has benefited from increased energy security, an …
OAL Rejects Portions of CARB LCFS Amendments
California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) last week notified the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that recently adopted amendments to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) were being rejected, preventing the changes from taking effect. According to CARB, the rejection was due to “inconsistencies of specific regulatory amendment provisions with the clarity standard.” CARB has 120 days to revise …
Ethanol Pioneers Get Back to Their Roots at #RFANEC
One of the most interesting panels at the 30th National Ethanol Conference was Back to the Beginning: Celebrating Our Roots where we heard from some of the pioneers who founded the modern-day ethanol industry. From Dave VanderGriend, who founded the design-build firm ICM, Inc. in 1995, to board members of four of the nation’s oldest ethanol plants, they told the …