Four Democratic U.S. senators are calling on President Trump to take actions to help lower gas prices, including protecting the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, was joined by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), in a letter …
USDA’s Northey Kicks Off Alltech ONE18
After the opening entertainment, USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey was first to take the stage Monday morning at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. He was just discussing the issue of agricultural trade with China when President Trump tweeted “China has agreed to buy massive amounts of ADDITIONAL Farm/Agricultural Products – would be one of the best …
Farm Bill Defeated in the House
House Agriculture Committee Chair Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX) delivered on his promise to get a farm bill written in a timely manner, but his colleagues in the House voted 198-213 Friday to reject his effort. Prior to the vote, Rep. Conaway expressed his frustration as a last minute amendment was introduced to recommit the bill with instructions to the Committee …
ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference 2018
The transformative power of ideas is the focus of ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference 2018, May 20–22, in Lexington, Kentucky An idea, even in its root meaning, is “to see.” Da Vinci, Einstein, Edison, the Wright brothers, Tesla, Bell, Borlaug and Fleming — they had the ability to see what others could not. Because they opened their eyes to possibilities …
Grassley Talks Tough on EPA Refinery Waivers
Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa wants EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to stop issuing “small refinery hardship exemptions” or step down from the job. “I’ve supported Pruitt but if he pushes changes to RFS that permanently cut ethanol by billions of gallons he will have broken Trump promise & he should step down & let someone else do the job of …
NCGA CEO Comments on White House RFS Meeting
Corn growers are pleased that the Tuesday meeting at the White House resulted in a commitment to allow year-round sales of 15% ethanol blends, but not so much by a reported plan to reallocate Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) from exempted renewable fuel volumes using exported ethanol gallons. During an interview with reporters Tuesday, National Corn Growers Association CEO Chris Novak …
EVs and Ethanol Mix Well Together
The future is bright for electric vehicles and ethanol to work together to increase future vehicle energy efficiencies and reduce costs for consumers, according to Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen who testified yesterday before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment. “Indeed, emerging technologies that utilize ethanol’s unique properties in hybrid electric technology, and even fuel-cell …
RFA to Testify at Electric Vehicles Hearing
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen is scheduled to testify today at a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment hearing on “Sharing the Road: Policy Implications of Electric and Conventional Vehicles in the Years Ahead.” The hearing begins at 10:15 am Eastern. “There are still many challenges to realizing the full potential of electric vehicles, especially …
Growth Energy Ads Urge E15 Action
Growth Energy has launched a new radio and digital ad campaign telling listeners in the Midwest that it’s “make or break time” for the rural economy. The ads encourage farmers and ethanol stakeholders to call on President Trump to lift federal restrictions on the sale of E15 fuel blends, a move that would boost farm income amid the sharpest agricultural …
B20 Makes Big Splash in Minnesota
Minnesota made history May 1, becoming the first state to transform virtually all of the diesel supply for sale in the state to B20, a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel. “We often refer to Minnesota as a ‘trailblazer,’ but somehow that just doesn’t seem adequate anymore,” said National Biodiesel Board (NBB) CEO Donnell Rehagen. “Upgrading …