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 …
EPA Administrator Gives Update on Retroactive SREs
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said Wednesday that the agency will not be making an announcement on proposed 2021 Renewable Volume Obligations this week. “There’s nothing coming out tomorrow on that,” Wheeler said during a press call to talk about environmental provisions under the USMCA. Since Friday is a federal holiday, that would mean it would be at least next week …
Ethanol Report 6-25-20
Ethanol production is slowly coming back now after reaching record lows due to coronavirus restrictions that took a toll on transportation fuel consumption. But recovery is still a long way off and the uncertainty posed by the threat of EPA granting more small refinery exemptions is making it even more difficult. The Congressional Biofuels Caucus is doing all it can …
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 …
EPA Dashboard Confirms 52 “Gap Year” Waiver Requests
The newly updated EPA Small Refinery Exemptions dashboard has revealed that 52 new petitions have been received from small refineries seeking retroactive exemptions from their Renewable Fuel Standard requirements in prior years dating back to 2011. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, refiners are filing these “gap year” waiver petitions as a way around the recent Tenth Circuit Court decision …
Biofuels Caucus Town Hall Talks Ethanol Issues
Members of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus held a virtual town hall Wednesday to discuss the challenges currently facing the ethanol industry and what can be done to help. Participating in the meeting were caucus members including Reps. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), and Rodney Davis (R-IL) as well as ethanol and agricultural group leaders. House Agriculture …