Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler says the recent 10th Circuit Court decision regarding small refinery exemptions may have a significant impact on the program. “That (court decision) has the potential to completely, of changing the small refinery program,” said Wheeler to reporters during a visit Friday to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) meeting in San Antonio. “We’re taking …
Packed Agenda for 25th National Ethanol Conference
With a theme of “Focus Forward,” the 25th annual National Ethanol Conference is shaping up to be an historic event next week in Houston, Texas, the “energy capital of the world.” “We’re thrilled to have such a terrific program this year, with speakers and panelists representing a wide range of interests and viewpoints from around the world,”” said Renewable Fuels …
Buttigieg and Sanders Show Strong Biofuels Support
Initial Iowa Caucus results are showing Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders in the lead, both of whom profess strong support for ethanol and biodiesel, according to Biofuels Vision 2020. In fact, all of the top candidates are friendly to biofuels, including Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Biofuels Vision 2020 spent months asking …
Ethanol Report 1-31-20
In this episode of The Ethanol Report, we hear about a new court ruling that could be a game changer for Small Refinery Exemptions, get a preview of the 25th annual National Ethanol Conference, learn about LCFS for the Midwest, and kick off the 4th year of ethanol sponsorship of the Crappie Masters Tournament Trail. The report includes interviews with …
Ethanol and Corn Back on Crappie Masters Tournament Trail
The Renewable Fuels Association and the National Corn Growers Association have signed on for the fourth year as co-title sponsors of the Crappie Masters Tournament Trail. The first tournament begins Friday, Jan. 31 at St. Johns River in Deland, Fla. This year, the competition is bigger than ever and includes state-level tournament trails in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Florida, …
Soybean Growers Show Biodiesel Support
American Soybean Association (ASA) CEO Ryan Findlay was on the program at the 2020 National Biodiesel Conference in Tampa last week, sharing his policy views for the new decade. A number of ASA directors were also in attendance showing their support for the biodiesel industry, which increases the value of U.S. soybean oil by 11 cents per pound and 63 …
Industry Celebrates Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension
Without question, the multi year biodiesel tax credit extension achieved at the end of 2019 was a tremendous victory for the industry. “No one is more relieved, excited and enthused to say we got it done – five years certainty through 2022!” said National Biodiesel Board Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik. “No other tax extender as large as …
Ethanol Industry Mourns Loss of Ray Defenbaugh
The ethanol industry is mourning the loss this week of pioneer and advocate Ray Defenbaugh, who was a founding member, president, CEO, and chairman of Big River Resources, with facilities in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Defenbaugh served on the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) board since 2005 and was a member of the Executive Committee. “Ray’s contributions to rural America, the …
New NBB Chair Optimistic for 2020
Renewable Energy Group (REG) CFO Chad Stone was elected as the new chairman for the National Biodiesel Board in November and he addressed the membership at the National Biodiesel Conference this week in Tampa. While 2019 was a disastrous year for the industry, which saw REG having to shut down a plant, Stone is very optimistic about biodiesel going forward. …
Plasma Blue Debuts at Biodiesel Conference
A novel process using electricity and liquid plasma to induce the transesterification process needed to produce biodiesel is generating a lot of interest at the National Biodiesel Conference this week in Tampa. The Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council saw the potential for the technology, developed by scientists at the University of Minnesota, which could produce six gallons of biodiesel …