The Renewable Fuels Association says proposed regulations updating California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard are “fundamentally flawed” and could significantly restrict the future use of low-carbon ethanol in the state. In comments submitted last week to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman asserts that renewable fuel producers and California consumers will both suffer if CARB moves …
Congress Proposes Extension of Clean Fuels Tax Credit
Bipartisan and bicameral legislation has been introduced in Congress that would require the Treasury Department to restrict the eligibility of the 45Z Tax Credit to renewable fuels made only from domestically sourced feedstocks and extending the tax credit to make it a full ten-year credit. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH)introduced the Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act in …
USDA Working on Tracking Carbon Intensity
USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie is confident that sustainable aviation fuels hold great promise for American agriculture if we can get the rules right. “This is a real opportunity for American agriculture to create a marketplace that will reward them from the for the stewardship they have been doing and the stewardship they are and …
Gevo to Acquire Red Trail Energy Assets in North Dakota
Net-zero hydrocarbon fuels leader Gevo this week announced the acquisition of the ethanol production plant and carbon capture and sequestration (“CCS”) assets of Red Trail Energy in North Dakota for $210 million. In a conference call announcing the acquisition, Gevo CEO Dr. Patrick Gruber said it will provide an ideal Net-Zero site for future sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) production that …
Summit Carbon Evaluating SD Supreme Court Ruling
The South Dakota Supreme Court dealt a blow to Summit Carbon Solutions Thursday in a ruling that sends its claim to be a common carrier back to the lower court. The designation as a common carrier is necessary to use eminent domain to survey on private property. Summit Carbon said in a statement it is “evaluating the South Dakota Supreme …
Summit Carbon Continues to Make Progress
Summit Carbon Solutions continues to make progress on the pipeline project that has a footprint in five states. Summit Carbon CEO Lee Blank told attendees at the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) annual meeting this week that he believes the project will get to completion. “I know what this pipeline means to the ethanol industry today, and I know what …
Farmers Touting Tech to Lower Carbon Score
Farmers discussed the potential for technology to help lower their carbon intensity (CI) scores at the recent Tech Hub LIVE conference in Des Moines. Brad McDonald, an Iowa farmer and Chief Operating Officer of Continuum Ag, talked about how incentives for adopting regenerative agriculture practices such as cover crops and no till to lower CI scores could generate a new …
USDA Seeks Climate Smart Biofuel Feedstocks Data
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking information on procedures for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the effect of climate-smart farming practices on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with U.S.-grown biofuel feedstock crops with the goal to qualify for the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the request during the Clean Fuels Alliance America June …
Iowa Grants Approval for Summit Carbon Pipeline
The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) granted approval this week for the Summit Carbon Solutions base pipeline project in the state. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw applauded the decision, which follows a public docket open almost three years and the longest public hearing in the history of IUB. “Today’s decision creates monumental opportunities for Iowa farmers faced with …
Ethanol Industry Reacts to SAF Guidance
Now that the 40B sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit guidance and modified GREET model has been released, the ethanol industry may have scored a ticket to fly but there’s still a few mechanical problems to sort out before take off. The new 40B GREET model will recognize GHG reductions from carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), renewable natural gas, and …