Austin and Evan Ludowese from south central Minnesota have been proud to help promote the good news about ethanol at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally since 2015. Austin, who was an intern with the Renewable Fuels Association in 2015, says a lot has changed since then. “I think you have more people who understand what ethanol is and are more willing …
EPA Reviewing RFS Gap Year Waiver Requests
During a visit to Wisconsin this week, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler was once again questioned about the status of so-called “gap year” waiver requests from refineries asking for relief from their Renewable Fuel Standard obligations from previous years. Because the petitions go back as much as eight years, Wheeler said he is not sure how long it will …
Ethanol Hand Sanitizer in Big Demand at Sturgis
The atmosphere is a little different this year for the 2020 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally at the Buffalo Chip Campground, but ethanol is still in big demand – especially hand sanitizer. Former Renewable Fuels Association Chairman Mick Henderson with Commonwealth Agri-Energy in Kentucky says the hand sanitizer gives them a whole new discussion point with motorcycle riders as they fill up …
RFA Promoting Ethanol at 80th Sturgis Rally
The 80th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally gets underway in South Dakota this weekend, and the Renewable Fuels Association will be setting up once again at the legendary Buffalo Chip Campground to spread the good news about ethanol and motorcycles. “We know things will look a little different at Sturgis this year, thanks to COVID, but one thing that remains the …
Ethanol Celebrates 15th Anniversary of the RFS
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) commemorated the 15th anniversary of President George W. Bush’s signing of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which created the Renewable Fuel Standard, by releasing a new report detailing how the policy has driven innovation in the ethanol industry to benefit the nation. President Bush signed the act August 8, 2005. “As you’ll see in …
Ethanol Report 7-31-20
Ethanol exports have taken a hit this year due to the pandemic, but there are still reasons to be optimistic about this important market for the industry. In this episode of The Ethanol Report, we hear from Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) General Counsel Ed Hubbard, who doubles as the organizations international trade expert. We also learn about a new program …
RFA Launches Young Professionals Network
To meet the needs of an evolving workforce in the ethanol industry, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has launched the Young Professionals Network (YPN), a new program geared toward members of the ethanol industry and stakeholder industries who are 39 years old and younger. The YPN is designed to bring together innovative and dedicated young professionals to build new relationships …
RFA Study Estimates Ethanol Industry COVID Losses
A new economic analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) shows the COVID-19 crisis has already led to more than $3.4 billion in lost revenues for the U.S. ethanol industry, and could ultimately reach nearly $9 billion. The new study by RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman uses empirical data to assess the actual impact of COVID-19 on the ethanol industry …
Ethanol Report 7-15-20
U.S. ethanol production is slowly clawing its way upward to more normal levels after reaching record lows in April, but it remains significantly lower than a year ago and the industry is hoping Congress will soon get a new stimulus bill passed to provide some aid. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency is not making decisions on important ethanol issues, such …
House Members Oppose “Gap Year” Waivers
The Congressional Biofuels Caucus has added its voice to the many calling for EPA to deny the 52 so-called “gap year” Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) petitions received last month. Co-Chairmen Rodney Davis (R-IL), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), and more than two dozen other members of the bipartisan Caucus sent …