The ethanol industry is continuing to feel the impact of COVID-19 as the pandemic enters a second year of global disruption. American Farm Bureau Federation chief economist John Newton, speaking Thursday at the virtual 57th annual Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Annual meeting, said ethanol production has taken a major hit in the last year. “From the beginning of 2020 …
Senators Reintroduce Adopt GREET Act
Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) this week reintroduced the Adopt GREET Act which would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its greenhouse gas modeling for ethanol and biodiesel. Specifically, the bill would require EPA to adopt the Argonne National Lab’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Model for both fuels. EPA …
EPA Administrator Nominee Says RFS is Priority
The nominee for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency says the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) will be a priority for the new administration. “You have my commitment that we will look at the RFS program and we will introduce some transparency into that program,” nominee Michael Regan said Wednesday at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works …
SIRE Board Elects New Director Kevin Ross
Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) has elected Kevin Ross as a member of the plant’s board of directors, effective last Friday. Following the resignation of The Honorable Hubert M. Houser from the Board in December 2020, the Board’s Nominating Committee invited SIRE unit holders to suggest persons to fill Mr. Houser’s Board vacancy for the remainder of his term, through …
Vilsack Addresses Plans for Biofuels
As Secretary of Agriculture during the entire Obama Administration, Tom Vilsack from Iowa was known to be a champion of biofuels. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee Tuesday, the former secretary pledged to continue his support of the industry – and make small refinery exemptions rare again. “The waiver system was designed for small refineries that were …
China Starting to Buy U.S. Ethanol
Reports that China is buying U.S. ethanol again sent a positive message to the industry Tuesday that the Phase One trade agreement promises may yet be met. During an investor call, Archer Daniels Midland Co-Chief Financial Officer Ray Young said they believe China has already made commitments “in the first half of the year for U.S. ethanol equal to the …
Iowa Governor Supports Higher Biofuels Blends
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds once again addressed the annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit this week, something she has done every year as governor, as well as multiple years prior as lieutenant governor, but the first time in a virtual format. Gov. Reynolds said she was looking forward to working with the new Biden Administration to grow demand for biofuels around …
Trump EPA Grants Last Minute Refinery Waivers
At an agricultural event last week, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said he would not resign from the Trump Administration before the inauguration because he believed it was important for him to stay on “in the best interests of the agency, in order to ensure a smooth transition to my successors.” On his way out the door on Tuesday, Wheeler gave …
Ethanol Supporters React to Reports of More Waivers
Reports that the Trump Administration is possibly planning to grant a number of 2019 small refinery exemptions this week have led to strong outcry from ethanol organizations and farm state lawmakers. Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA), co-chair of the House Biofuels Caucus, led a bipartisan letter urging President Trump to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to immediately reject the issuance …
Supreme Court Will Hear RFS Waiver Case
Late Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the 10th Circuit Court decision made a year ago this month that invalidated several small refinery exemptions issued by EPA under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The decision is in response to a petition submitted in September by HollyFrontier Corporation and CVR Energy, two of the refineries named in the case. The …