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 …
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, …
Secretary Perdue Comments on RVO Numbers
During a visit to the Agricultural Retailers Association conference and expo in Phoenix on Thursday, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was asked to comment on the final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018. The Secretary noted that the requirement for conventional renewable fuels like corn ethanol is capped at 15 billion gallons, so that’s as high …
Representatives Support Advanced Biofuels
Representatives Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), and Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), along with 16 other members of the House, last week wrote a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt supporting increased blending targets for cellulosic biofuels and biodiesel in the final 2018 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs). The members represent largely urban and minority populated districts around the country. “Cellulosic ethanol is …
Biofuels Groups Hopeful EPA Keeps RFS Strong
Biofuels organizations are anxiously awaiting the release of the final Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) under the 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as they remind the White House and EPA of the promises they’ve made to rural America. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) placed a full page ad in the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call this week featuring South Dakota …
New TV Ad Recognizes President’s Support for Rural Communities
President Trump’s support for biofuels is getting some recognition. The nation’s top renewable fuel advocates have launched a new television ad recognizing President Trump’s steadfast support for rural communities, farmers, and workers in the biofuel sector. The ad responds directly to oil industry attacks on the president for his long-standing commitment to growth under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). …
Industry Just Says No to EPA NODA
Ethanol, biodiesel, and agricultural organizations were united in their message to the Environmental Protection Agency in comments to a Notice of Data Availability (NODA) that would further reduce overall biofuels volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) – just no. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), which was chosen to participate in EPA’s new Smart Sectors program, urged the agency …
Iowa Biofuels Interests Get White House Attention
President Donald Trump called Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Wednesday to assure her that he continues to support the renewable fuels industry. “He reached out to me,” said Gov. Reynolds during a press conference in Iowa. “He made it clear that he stood with the Renewable Fuel Standard.” Gov. Reynolds also got a call from EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who met …
Iowa Fighting to Protect RFS
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) met with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt Tuesday to express her concerns over the agency’s recent action to potentially lower biodiesel volumes in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2018 and 2019. After the meeting, Sen. Ernst said that while Pruitt has “insisted that the recent actions taken by the EPA are simply to …
Democrat Senators Offer Farm Bill Energy Package
Senator Al Franken (D-MN), together with Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) have introduced the Agricultural Energy Programs Reauthorization Act of 2017, to reauthorize Title IX programs and funding through 2023. “Each and every day, our nation’s farmers have our backs,” said Sen. Franken, a member of the Senate Energy Committee. “I believe we need to have theirs as …