Iowa Biofuel Plants Seed to Fuel Monarchs

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA, pollinators

Farm & Biofuel Groups Challenge Retroactive RFS Waivers

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

ACE, AFBF, Ag group, ASA, Biodiesel, biofuels, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Fuels America, Growth Energy, NBB, NCGA, NFU

Members of Congress Defend RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Biodiesel, biofuels, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, RFS

Governors Ask Congress to Support Ethanol Relief Bills

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Higher Blends Infrastructure Program Grant Applications Open

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

Ag and Biofuel Groups Ask Congress for COVID-19 Relief

Cindy Zimmerman

America’s top biofuel and farm advocates are calling on Congress to ensure the next round of COVID-19 relief includes U.S. ethanol and biodiesel production. A joint letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was signed by the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, the National Biodiesel Board, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Corn Growers …

AFBF, ASA, Biodiesel, biofuels, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NBB, NCGA, RFA

Biofuels Industry Welcomes USDA Infrastructure Funds

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making up to $100 million in competitive grants available to help expand the availability and sale of renewable fuels. The Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) consist of up to $100 million in funding for competitive grants or sales incentives to eligible entities for activities designed to expand the sales and use of ethanol …

ACE, Biodiesel, biofuels, Bioheat, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, USDA

Ethanol Left Out of USDA Aid Plan

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. ethanol producers struggling with the largest downturn in the history of the industry were disappointed to hear that the new $19 billion USDA aid program will provide no direct help for them. “While we appreciate that USDA’s new program provides needed assistance to the nation’s farmers and ranchers, it is unfortunate and disappointing that the 350,000 workers supported by …

Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News

ASA Hires Biofuels & Infrastructure Policy Lead

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Soybean Association (ASA) has hired Alexa Combelic to lead biofuels and infrastructure policy on its government affairs team starting May 4. Combelic joins ASA as a Director of Government Affairs. Her portfolio will include biofuels and infrastructure, both of which are current priority issues for ASA. In her previous roles, Combelic has worked on a vast array of …

ASA, Biodiesel, biofuels, Soybeans

Coalition Launches Drop the Appeal Campaign

Cindy Zimmerman

The Trump Administration needs to make a decision by March 23 whether to appeal the unanimous 10th Circuit Court decision against the EPA’s small refinery exemption program, and the coalition that brought the case has launched a new social media campaign urging the administration to drop the appeal. The coalition, made up of the Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers …

ACE, biofuels, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA, NFU, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA