Renewable Energy Group and Optimus Technologies recently partnered to help Ames, Iowa grow its fleet of sustainable vehicles. The City of Ames is adding seven new all-purpose dump trucks to their fleet that have the Optimus Technologies advanced fuel system integrated into their new vehicle specification. The Optimus system enables the engines to operate year-round on 100 percent biodiesel (B100) …
COVID Relief Bill Passes with Aid for Biofuels Producers
Agricultural and biofuels groups as well as farm state lawmakers are pleased that the new COVID relief package passed by Congress last night includes help for producers excluded from previous aid legislation. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) says relief includes the Paycheck Protection Program for Producers Act. “The bill also includes funding to allow the Department of Agriculture to provide additional …
COVID Deal Includes Previously Excluded Biofuels
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) says the latest COVID relief deal moving through Congress this week has new provisions to provide help for food and agriculture sectors impacted by the pandemic restrictions, including biofuels. In addition to a 15 percent increase in benefits for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for six months, Peterson pointed specifically …
Biofuels Groups Pleased with Vilsack Nomination
Tom Vilsack has officially been nominated to serve as Secretary of Agriculture in the Biden Administration, reprising the role he held under President Obama for eight years, and the biofuels industry is quite happy with that decision. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says Vilsack is an excellent choice. “We are especially happy to have someone in the …
Biofuels Coalition Challenging Small Refinery Waivers in 2018
A coalition of six biofuel and farm organizations filed a brief Tuesday challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s August 2019 decision to exempt 31 small refineries from their obligations to comply with the Renewable Fuel Standard in 2018. The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, National Biodiesel Board, American Coalition for Ethanol, and National Farmers Union, collectively known …
Renewable Energy Group Announces Changes
Renewable Energy Group, Inc. this week announced organizational changes in its senior leadership team intended to “accelerate the company’s performance as a leader in a rapidly growing industry.” Chad Stone will move from the Chief Financial Officer position into a newly created role of Senior Vice President, Commercial Performance, overseeing the company’s planning, scheduling and optimization functions to drive commercial …
NBB Communications Director to Head KS Soybean
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is losing a great communications director, but Kansas soybean growers are gaining a great new CEO for their organization. NBB director of communications Kaleb Little has been named Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas Soybean Association and Administrator of the Kansas Soybean Commission. Little, who is a native of Kansas, follows in the footsteps of …
Farm & Biofuel Groups Ask Court to Enforce EPA Ruling
Farm and biofuels leaders say it’s way past time for EPA to act on a court order from 2017 and they are going back to the court to make it happen. A coalition of biofuels and agricultural trade groups filed a motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia Monday asking the court to enforce its …
National Biodiesel Board Elects New Governing Board Virtually
Members of the National Biodiesel Board members met virtually this week to elect new Governing Board leaders, and also met virtually with farm broadcasters to do interviews. NBB members voted to fill eight board member spots for two-year terms: Troy Alberts, Ag Processing Inc. Greg Anderson, Nebraska Soybean Board Tom Brooks, Western Dubuque Biodiesel, LLC Tim Keaveney, Lake Erie Biofuels …
NAFB Session Focuses on Ag and Energy
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) is holding its annual convention this week, and like everything else it is virtual. One of the newsmaker sessions on opening day of the convention focused on ethanol and biodiesel and “Agriculture’s Contributions to the Energy Market.” Carey Martin with Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network moderated the discussion with Tom Verry, Director of …