Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds made corn growers and ethanol producers in her state happy today with her veto of a bill passed by the state legislature that would have limited the future for carbon sequestration pipelines. In her explanation for vetoing the bill, Gov. Reynolds said the bill would set a troubling precedent. “For example, the bill would block a …
FEW Panel to Highlight New Market Opportunities
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings will moderate a panel at next week’s 2025 Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) spotlighting how agricultural conservation practices can create new markets and profit opportunities for ethanol producers and farmers. Titled “Turning Agricultural Practices into Low-Carbon Farming Success,” the panel will explore how the ACE-led Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects are helping …
Iowa Awaits Governor Decision on Carbon Pipeline Bill
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds may hold the fate of the state’s ethanol industry in her hands as ethanol advocates and farmers are urging her to veto a bill restricting carbon sequestration pipelines. “It’s happening. Nebraska is doing it. North Dakota is doing it. Indiana is doing it. Illinois projects are moving forward. Brazil is doing it big time. It’s happening,” …
California Receives LCFS Comments
This week was the final deadline to provide comments to the California Air Resources Board regarding proposed modifications to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The Renewable Fuels Association filed comments on the proposal Monday. In its comments and an attached analysis, RFA said empirical data clearly undermine CARB’s rationale for including the new sustainability requirements for grain-based ethanol. CARB …
South Dakota Law Creates Concern for Carbon Pipeline
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden last week signed a law which prohibits eminent domain for a pipeline that carries carbon oxide, which would be the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline that ethanol producers are hoping will lower their carbon score. “It’s very unfortunate that, despite our approvals in Iowa, North Dakota, and Minnesota, South Dakota changed the rules in the middle …
OAL Rejects Portions of CARB LCFS Amendments
California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) last week notified the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that recently adopted amendments to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) were being rejected, preventing the changes from taking effect. According to CARB, the rejection was due to “inconsistencies of specific regulatory amendment provisions with the clarity standard.” CARB has 120 days to revise …
CARB Exec Defends State’s Strict Clean Air Rules
During remarks to the 2025 Clean Fuels Conference Tuesday, the executive officer of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) made it clear the state is willing to fight to defend its clean air regulations against expected challenges under the new Trump administration. “I don’t want to be adversarial,” said Dr. Steven Cliff, who was appointed to head CARB in September …
Annual Awards Honor Champions of Clean Fuels
Two of the Clean Fuels industry annual awards were presented Tuesday at the Clean Fuels Conference in San Diego. Floyd Vergara was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his transformative contributions to the clean fuels industry and environmental policy. As one of the chief architects of California’s groundbreaking Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), Vergara played a pivotal role …
Ethanol Groups Provide 45Z Tax Credit Input
In response to a request from the House Ways and Means Committee, ethanol groups last week provided input on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit, which was authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act and is scheduled to go into effect next year. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper told the committee that, with the right implementation, 45Z …
Summit Carbon Wins Permits in MN and ND
Summit Carbon Solutions announced permits granted in Minnesota and North Dakota on Thursday. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) granted a permit for the company’s 28-mile pipeline route through Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties. In North Dakota, the company received three Class VI sequestration permits from the North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC), marking a critical step forward in the Midwest …