The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has launched the Monarch Fueling Station Project to help ethanol and biodiesel producers across the state establish monarch butterfly habitats on green spaces surrounding their plants. “Because of their migratory patterns, monarchs need small patches of habitat throughout the state,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Iowa’s ethanol and biodiesel plants are scattered across …
EPA Proposes Grain Sorghum Oil for Biofuels
EPA has opened up the opportunity for grain sorghum oil to be used for making advanced biofuels and biomass-based diesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. EPA has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with biofuels that are produced from grain sorghum oil extracted at dry-mill ethanol plants and found no …
GROWMARK FS Offers TOP TIER™ Biodiesel Blend
GROWMARK FS FAST STOP locations recently became among the first registered TOP TIER™ Diesel Fuel sites in the country, and the Illinois-based farmer cooperative is offering the additized diesel fuel blended with biodiesel. “By blending biodiesel into Top Tier Diesel Fuel, GROWMARK is providing customers with even more benefits,” said National Biodiesel Board Technical Director Scott Fenwick. “Biodiesel is cleaner …
ACE Urges Extension of Biofuels Tax Credits
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is urging the Conference Committee to include an extension of the Cellulosic Biofuel Tax Credit and Biodiesel Tax Credit as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. “Extension of these provisions is critically important and consistent with the stated purposes of the tax bill of ‘growing our economy, bringing jobs back to our …
Biofuel Groups Thank Trump for RFS Support
Nearly 100 businesses and organizations representing biofuels sent a letter to the White House last week thanking President Trump for his support of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The letter also offered the president “some insights on how to maintain growth under the program while minimizing any potential for undue financial stress in certain parts of the refining industry” in …
NBB Technical Director Elected ASTM Committee Chair
National Biodiesel Board (NBB) technical director Scott Fenwick was recently named the next chairman of the ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants. “I am honored to serve as chair of this important ASTM committee that is dedicated to ensuring high quality standards for petroleum products, fuels and lubricants, including biodiesel,” said Fenwick. “I would like to …
Biodiesel Board Announces New Federal Affairs VP
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has announced that Kurt Kovarik, a senior adviser for Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), has accepted the position of Vice President of Federal Affairs and will join NBB the week of January 8. “Kurt’s decades of experience in the United States Senate will serve us well as we navigate the federal policy issues that most affect …
Basse Bullish on Biofuels
Even if volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard are mostly stagnant or lower in 2018, agricultural economist Dan Basse of AgResource Company is bullish on growth in the sector next year. One reason is lower prices for corn, which is helping expand ethanol production plans. The other is the restriction of biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia, …
NBB Optimistic Despite Disappointing Biodiesel RVOs
Members of the National Biodiesel Board meeting in Washington D.C. this week were disappointed that EPA failed to increase the biomass-based diesel volumes under the Renewable Fuels Standard, but optimistic about the future for the industry. “We think it’s a missed opportunity, we’re disappointed,” said NBB chief operating officer Doug Whitehead, adding that they will continue to work with the …
Biofuels Industry Reacts to Final RVO Numbers
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released today its final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018. The agency finalized a total renewable fuel volume of 19.29 billion gallons, including 4.29 billion advanced biofuel – a slight increase from the proposal – and 288 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel. The agency maintained the requirement for conventional renewable fuels …