Farm and biofuel groups are sounding the alarm over detailed reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to announce major cuts to biofuel blending requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “While a formal proposal has not been released, the expected standards would destroy a decade of progress on low-carbon biofuels and brazenly violate the promises that President …
Iowa Senator Concerned About RVO Proposal
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is concerned about rumors the Renewable Volume Obligations the Biden administration is reportedly set to release on Friday. “You know what happens if something is unpopular it always happens at five o’clock on Friday,” said Grassley during his weekly press call with farm reporters Tuesday. “If we get a bad RVO out of EPA, the farmers …
Vilsack Discusses Sustainable Aviation Fuel
During an appearance before the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse Ag Outlook Forum Monday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack addressed concerns about the proposed tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel that it might leave out corn and soybean feedstocks. Agri-Pulse editor and president Sara Wyant asked the secretary if we can expect the administration to “weigh in …
Ethanol Report RFA 40th Anniversary – Randy Doyal
The Renewable Fuels Association was born in 1981 and RFA is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year by spotlighting some of the pioneers in the ethanol industry who were there at the beginning, like Randy Doyal. Doyal is CEO of Al-Corn Clean Fuel in Claremont, Minnesota and has been an RFA board member since 1995, serving as board chairman in …
Vilsack Announces Renewable Energy Investments
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Thursday that USDA is investing $464 million to build or improve renewable energy infrastructure and to help rural communities, agricultural producers and businesses lower energy costs in 48 states and Puerto Rico. USDA is financing $129 million of these investments through the Rural Energy for America Program and $335 million through the Electric Loan Program. …
USDA COVID Aid and Infrastructure for Biofuels Coming Soon
During a town hall style webinar with Farm Journal Editor Clinton Griffiths last week, USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said payments for biofuels producers impacted by the pandemic could come in the very near future. “We made the decision to put resources into the biofuel industry and I would expect and anticipate we’re going to be seeing announcements on …
ACE Urges Hearing on Next Generation Fuels Act
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is asking for a hearing to be held on the “Next Generation Fuels Act of 2021” (H.R. 5089) to address some concerns they have about the bill which was introduced by Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL). Specifically, ACE is requesting testimony on how the bill would remove market barriers to ethanol and improvements that should …
Ethanol Report from Farm Progress Show
The Renewable Fuels Association had a very visible presence at the 2021 Farm Progress Show, held August 31-September 2 in Decatur, Illinois. RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White said it was a great opportunity to see and talk with farmers, but it also proved to be a time to meet with members of Congress who are working to …
Rep. Bustos Talks Next Gen Fuels at #FPS21
Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) paid a visit to the Renewable Fuels Association exhibit at the Farm Progress Show on Wednesday and talked about her Next Generation Fuels Act introduced last week in the U.S. House. “It would require manufacturers of vehicles to make sure it could burn to start, E20, and go all the way up to E25 and E30 …
RFA Puts Ethanol on Display at #FPS21
Biofuels are getting a lot of attention at the 2021 Farm Progress Show this week in Decatur, Illinois and the Renewable Fuels Association is there for the first time as an exhibitor. RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White says they are there because the Commodity Classic where they normally exhibit to talk to farmers was a virtual event …