A new analysis shows how corn ethanol’s energy balance is positive and continues to improve. According to the Renewable Fuels Association’s analysis, corn ethanol now provides nearly three times the energy used to produce it, with some biorefineries approaching a four-to-one energy ratio. This continuing improvement in energy balance reflects improved efficiencies in corn production and ethanol processing. “Our nation’s …
Tennessee Corn Supports E15 Fuel
The Tennessee Corn Promotion Board is pleased with President Biden’s announcement last week that 15% ethanol fuel can be be sold this summer in an effort to reduce gasoline prices. “E15 can currently be found in the state of Tennessee at select gas stations in cities like Knoxville, Murfreesboro and Clarksville,” said George McDonald, president of the Tennessee Corn Promotion …
Ethanol Supporters Thank Biden for E15 Waiver
The ethanol industry breathed a collective sigh of relief this week when President Joe Biden announced an emergency waiver to allow 15% ethanol blended gasoline (E15) to be sold this summer. “We applaud President Biden and his administration for recognizing that low-cost, low-carbon ethanol should be given a fair opportunity to strengthen our energy security and reduce record-high pump prices,” …
EPA Denies Waivers But Still Gives Refiners a Break
The Environmental Protection Agency Thursday announced the denial of 36 small refinery exemptions (SRE) for the 2018 compliance year. The petitions were remanded to EPA by the U.S. Court of Appeals. At the same time, EPA announced an “alternate compliance approach” that allows 31 of those small refineries to meet their new 2018 compliance obligations “without purchasing or redeeming additional …
Gevo Testifies at House Ag Committee Hearing
Gevo CEO Patrick Gruber presented testimony before the House Agriculture Committee this week on the future of climate smart crops and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with updated carbon accounting and a system that rewards farmers for sustainable practices. “Net zero hydrocarbon drop in fuels are what the marketplace is interested in,” Gruber told the committee, outlining Gevo’s concept of a …
Groups Urge EPA to Use GREET Model
Ethanol organizations submitting feedback to the the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) request for comment on the current scientific understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) are asking for an update. Both the Renewable Fuels Association and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) recommend the agency adopt the Argonne National Laboratory GREET model, calling it the “gold standard” of lifecycle models. “The Agency’s …
USDA Report Expects More Soybeans, Less Corn
U.S. farmers expect to plant more soybeans and less corn acreage, according to the 2022 Prospective Plantings report released by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Producers surveyed say they intend to plant a record high 91.0 million acres of soybeans in 2022, up 4% from last year, at the same time decreasing corn acres by 4% to 89.5 million …
Ethanol Report on RFA and NCGA
The Renewable Fuels Association presented its annual Industry Award to the National Corn Growers Association this year in recognition of the close partnership between the two groups over the last 40 years in moving the ethanol industry forward. The award was presented at the 27th annual National Ethanol Conference in New Orleans in February, and last week RFA joined NCGA …
RFA Promotes Higher Ethanol Blends at #Classic22
The Renewable Fuels Association is back in New Orleans this week at the 2022 Commodity Classic promoting higher blends of ethanol at the trade show. For one, they are giving farmers a chance to sign a letter to President Biden urging him to use more ethanol to help moderate soaring gas prices. “Today ethanol is selling for about a dollar …
Biofuel Supporters Beg Biden for Higher Blends
As gas prices continue to skyrocket in response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis, six farm and biofuel organizations wrote to President Biden Friday urging his administration to use existing authority to allow for the year-round sale of gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol (E15). In a letter to the White House, the Renewable Fuels Association, American Farm Bureau …