The national average for diesel fuel hit another record $5.54 a gallon Monday but a new study released by Clean Fuels Alliance America shows prices would be four percent higher without current U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel production. The study, “The Offsetting Impact of Expanded Biomass Based Diesel Production on Diesel Prices,” was prepared by World Agricultural Economic and Environmental …
EPA Issues Emergency Fuel Waiver for E15 Sales
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing an emergency fuel waiver to allow E15 gasoline—gasoline that uses a 15 percent ethanol blend—to be sold during the summer driving season. EPA’s emergency fuel waiver will go into effect on May 1 when terminal operators would otherwise no longer be able to sell E15 in the effected regions of the country …
Iowa Biofuels Access Bill Heads to Governor
The Iowa legislature yesterday passed the Iowa Biofuels Access Bill, sending it to Governor Kim Reynolds for signing. Gov. Reynolds originally proposed the bill this year to increase consumer access to higher biofuel blends like E15 and B20. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw called it a victory for consumers in the state. “Every person in Iowa deserves …
Agri-Pulse Newsmakers Features E15
The latest episode of Agri-Pulse Newsmakers features last week’s big announcement on summer sales of E15. Host Spencer Chase interviews Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) on the announcement, followed by a panel discussion on the future of ethanol policy and agriculture’s current relationship with the EPA featuring Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper, Courtney Briggs with the American Farm …
Ethanol Supporters Thank Biden for E15 Waiver
The ethanol industry breathed a collective sigh of relief this week when President Joe Biden announced an emergency waiver to allow 15% ethanol blended gasoline (E15) to be sold this summer. “We applaud President Biden and his administration for recognizing that low-cost, low-carbon ethanol should be given a fair opportunity to strengthen our energy security and reduce record-high pump prices,” …
President Biden Announces Emergency Waiver for E15
President Joe Biden visited the POET Bioprocessing facility in Menlo, Iowa Tuesday to formally announce an emergency waiver to allow 15% ethanol blended gasoline (E15) to be sold this summer. President Biden said adding ethanol to our gasoline reduces our reliance on foreign oil and gives consumers a choice at the pump. “When you have a choice, you have competition, …
EPA Denies Waivers But Still Gives Refiners a Break
The Environmental Protection Agency Thursday announced the denial of 36 small refinery exemptions (SRE) for the 2018 compliance year. The petitions were remanded to EPA by the U.S. Court of Appeals. At the same time, EPA announced an “alternate compliance approach” that allows 31 of those small refineries to meet their new 2018 compliance obligations “without purchasing or redeeming additional …
USDA Says Ethanol COVID Payments Coming Soon
Two years ago ethanol producers were in the middle of the worst downturn in the industry’s history as the new COVID-19 pandemic put the country at a standstill and production dropped by 50 percent in a month. Under the CARES Act, $700 million was approved to help make up for those losses to producers, but that money has yet to …
Gevo Testifies at House Ag Committee Hearing
Gevo CEO Patrick Gruber presented testimony before the House Agriculture Committee this week on the future of climate smart crops and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with updated carbon accounting and a system that rewards farmers for sustainable practices. “Net zero hydrocarbon drop in fuels are what the marketplace is interested in,” Gruber told the committee, outlining Gevo’s concept of a …
White House Fuel Price Plan Overlooks Biofuels
Biofuel organizations are baffled by the White House “Plan to Respond to Putin’s Price Hike at the Pump” released Thursday that completely ignores increasing use of renewable fuels. The plan to address higher fuel prices resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine calls on petroleum companies to ramp up oil production and includes an unprecedented release of up to 180 million …