The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest nearly $75 million for 15 partner-led projects to address natural resource concerns on private lands. The projects include a $7.5 million investment in the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE)-led Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project to secure farmers premier access to low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) markets based on their adoption of …
Groups Sound Alarm Over Proposed RFS Cuts
Farm and biofuel groups are sounding the alarm over detailed reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to announce major cuts to biofuel blending requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “While a formal proposal has not been released, the expected standards would destroy a decade of progress on low-carbon biofuels and brazenly violate the promises that President …
Sustainable Aviation Fuels Plan Flaw Could Hurt Farmers
In the rush to get as much spending in the massive Build Back Better bill as possible, Congressional Democrats created a new tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) starting at $1.25 a gallon and increasing based on the carbon content of the biofuel, but the plan could favor foreign imports over American farmers and biofuel producers in its current …
USDA Projects Higher Corn and Soybean Production
Corn and soybean production are both forecast to be higher this year compared to 2020, according to the latest Crop Production report issued Friday by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). According to the report, corn production is up 6% from last year, forecast at 15.0 billion bushels while soybean growers are expected to increase their production 6% from 2020. …
State Corn Checkoffs Helping Build E85 in California
Corn growers in Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska are helping to build E85 infrastructure in the top U.S. market for ethanol. The corn checkoff programs in the three states are leveraging resources to provide California fuel retailers up to $1.25 million over the next year to increase availability of E85 (85% ethanol). Fuel will be supplied by Pearson Fuels, the largest …
#FPS21 Features Congressional Biofuels Summit
Six Republican members of Congress from Illinois, Iowa and Indiana held a Biofuels Summit at the Farm Progress Show on Wednesday to discuss the importance of ethanol and biodiesel to the region and the challenges being faced by the biofuels industry. House Biofuels Caucus Co-chair Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) was joined by Mike Bost (R-IL), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Randy Feenstra …
2021 Next Generation Fuels Act Introduced in House
Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and a bipartisan group of co-sponsors this week introduced the Next Generation Fuels Act of 2021, establishing a high-octane, low-carbon fuel standard. A similar bill was introduced last September. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the bill lays out an “innovative roadmap to more efficient, more affordable, lower-carbon fuels.” Specifically, the Bustos bill …
NCERC Seeks to Expand Corn as Industrial Feedstock
The National Corn to Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) recently submitted two grant proposals to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) FY21 Bioenergy Technologies (BETO) Multi-Topic Funding Opportunity Announcement that would expand the use of corn as an industrial feedstock, according to the National Corn Growers Association. The first proposal included NCERC as a Co-PI and was led by Marquis Energy. …
Low Carbon Ethanol Could Power Sustainability
Former USDA Under Secretary and previous Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey was part of the inaugural Tech Hub LIVE conference in Des Moines last week. Much of the focus at the event was incentivizing sustainability for farmers, and an increasing demand for ethanol as a low carbon fuel could provide some incentive. “I believe we will gravitate towards more …
New Campaigns Promote Ethanol in DC
Two new campaigns are taking aim at lawmakers in Washington D.C. with information about the environmental benefits of corn ethanol to reduce carbon emissions. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) launched a digital campaign including non-skippable video units on streaming services, video on local websites within Washington D.C. and social media marketing on Facebook and Instagram. In addition, NCGA was …