Blog post by Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO In early 2022, University of Wisconsin researcher Tyler Lark published a study claiming that U.S. farmers had converted several million acres of pristine grassland and other “seminatural areas” to cropland in response to the Renewable Fuel Standard and growth in ethanol production. The study was accompanied by a well-funded, …
Corn Growers File CAFE Standards Challenge
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) joined the Texas Corn Producers Association (TCPA) and other groups in filing another lawsuit last week, this one challenging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard for model year 2027-2032 passenger cars and light-duty trucks. The CAFE rule mandates stringent new standards that appear designed to phase out liquid fuel-powered …
Farmers, Car Dealers and Oil Companies Sue Over EV Push
An unlikely coalition of farmers, car dealers, and the oil industry have joined together to push back against the push for mandated electric vehicles. The National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation and six auto dealers representing 16 brands and collectively operating dozens of dealerships in major markets across the country joined the American Petroleum Institute today in filing …
Iowa Corn Pumped for NASCAR Series Race
Iowa Corn is pumped up for the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race in the state, happening this weekend in Newton, Iowa. The Iowa Corn 350, Powered by Ethanol, will showcase the performance of ethanol at the fastest short-track on the planet, which is surrounded by corn fields. “As a farmer, seeing NASCAR run on ethanol is a proud moment. It’s …
Fluid Quip Installs New System at CVEC Ethanol
Fluid Quip Technologies (FQT) announces the installation of its Distillers Corn Oil (DCO) Technology™ at the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) plant in Benson, Minnesota. FQT’s DCO Technology™ enhances the mechanical separation of distillers’ corn oil from whole stillage, directing it into the thin stillage stream and clarifying the stream to reduce fine solids before reaching the evaporation and oil …
Verbio Begins Work on Indiana Biorefinery
Verbio has begun construction to convert its South Bend ethanol plant into the second integrated biorefinery plant in North America. The facility will incorporate both the production of renewable natural gas (RNG) and bioethanol using an innovative production approach. The company, a subsidiary of Europe`s leading biofuels and bioenergy producer Verbio SE, had received approval for its expansion proposal from …
Corn Growers Disappointed in GREET Model Update
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) farmer leaders are expressing concern about the final guidance on eligibility for the Sustainable Aviation Fuel 40B tax credits released by the Biden administration this week. Specifically, NCGA is concerned with updates made to the Department of Energy’s GREET model, which requires farmers to bundle the use of no-till practices, enhanced efficiency fertilizers and cover …
Farmer Consultant Digs Into SAF Tax Credit Guidance
Iowa farmer and consultant Mitchell Hora, Continuum Ag, spent some time Wednesday morning breaking down the 40B sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit guidance released this week for farmers hoping to be eligible. To qualify under the guidance, corn farmers have to do cover crop, no-till, and enhanced efficiency fertilizer, while soybean farmers are required to cover crop and no-till. …
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 …
Treasury Releases Guidance for SAF Credit
Late Tuesday afternoon the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) finally released guidance on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The guidance released today will “catalyze innovation in the aviation industry and incentivize the production of cleaner and more sustainable aviation fuels,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during …