Leading biodiesel producer Renewable Energy Group, Inc. has revised its second quarter 2020 outlook, which is now expected to be between negative $12 million and negative $2 million. Previously, on April 30, REG estimated a range of $20 million to $35 million. Several factors contribute to the Company’s revised outlook, including inadvertent calculation errors and volatile markets during the second …
Biodiesel Board Urges EPA to Reject Gap Waivers
The National Biodiesel Board is urging EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to immediately reject the flood of 52 small refinery exemption petitions for previous years going back to 2011. Kurt Kovarik, NBB’s VP of Federal Affairs, states, “EPA’s consideration of small refinery exemption petitions going back to 2011 flies in the face of the recent 10th Circuit decision. By rolling back …
Iowa Biofuel Plants Seed to Fuel Monarchs
Absolute Energy ethanol plant and Western Dubuque Biodiesel both recently completed a seeding of Monarch Fueling Stations on their property to provide crucial habitat for monarch butterflies. The seed mixture included native grasses and other plants that attract pollinators but had a special emphasis on milkweed plants. Milkweed is the only plant monarchs can lay their eggs on. Both Absolute …
Farm & Biofuel Groups Challenge Retroactive RFS Waivers
Nine leading biofuel and farm organizations sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler Tuesday asking him for answers on what is seen as a new effort to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). During a Senate hearing last month, administration officials confirmed their consideration of retroactive small refinery exemptions (SREs) covering previous years. The “gap-filings” are …
Members of Congress Defend RFS
A bipartisan list of Congressional representatives sent a letter to President Trump today in support of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “We urge you to stand with our farmers and rural economies during this challenging time and deny any request for blanket statewide or nationwide waivers from the 2020 RFS blending requirements under the Clean Air Act,” the letter from …
Iowa Legislature Reauthorizes Biofuel Tax Differentials
The Iowa legislature this week reauthorized the Iowa biofuel tax differentials, helping boost biofuel demand and lower fuel prices, according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. Senate File 2403, which unanimously passed both chambers, extends and modernizes fuel tax differentials for E15 and higher ethanol blends and B11 and higher biodiesel blends, which are set to expire on June 30, …
June is Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska
Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska is normally held in May as a kick-off to the summer driving season. However, due to COVID-19 concerns, Renewable Fuels Month was postponed and is now being celebrated this month. To help promote locally-produced biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts recently declared June as Renewable Fuels Month. Since 2006, the acting …
Biodiesel Board Wants Transparency on “Gap” SRE Petitions
The National Biodiesel Board is asking EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to disclose any small refinery exemption petitions for RFS compliance years preceding 2019 that the Environmental Protection Agency received this year. In a letter to Wheeler, NBB also requests that EPA apply the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit’s ruling in Renewable Fuels Association v. EPA to all …
Governors Ask Congress to Support Ethanol Relief Bills
Members of the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition are urging Congressional leaders to provide relief for the biofuels industry in the latest COVID-19 emergency relief package being considered. Coalition chair and vice chair South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz sent a letter to Senate and House leadership this week urging them to support the Senate’s Renewable Fuel Feedstock …
Higher Blends Infrastructure Program Grant Applications Open
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched an online portal to accept applications for Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) grants. USDA has up to $100 million in competitive grants available to help expand the sale and availability of ethanol and biodiesel fuels with approximately $86 million allocated for higher blends of fuel ethanol, and approximately $14 million for implementation …