The Environmental Protection Agency released its final rule implementing new emissions standards for light and medium-duty vehicles that seeks to accelerate adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) by requiring approximately two-thirds of annual sales of new light-duty vehicles be EVs by the year 2032. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the new standards effectively disregard the carbon …
Volumes of E15 and E85 Set New Records in Minnesota
The latest data from the Minnesota Commerce Department shows sales of both E15 and E85 hit new records in 2023. The volume of E15 reported hit 127.6 million gallons, up 21 percent from 2022, while E85 sales were reported at 16.6 million gallons, up 8 percent from 2022 and the highest on record. When that news was released last week, …
Year Round E15 Bill Hits Roadblock
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) told members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) meeting in Washington D.C. this week that her bill to allow year-round sales of E15 has hit a roadblock, in the form of Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE). “Senator Carper, as you know, is chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee,” said Fischer. “We’ve reached out to …
Lawmakers Push for Year Round E15
More than 30 members of the U.S. House of Representatives this week sent a letter to House leadership requesting a legislative solution to allow the voluntary sale of E15 year-round nationwide. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Adrian Smith (R-NE), and Mark Pocan (D-WI) led the letter to Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, Chair McMorris Rodgers, and Ranking Member Pallone. …
Ethanol Volumes Up in 2023, Blend Rate Hit Record
The latest data from the Energy Information Administration show that U.S. ethanol production and consumption rose nearly two percent in 2023 to reach their highest levels since 2019, while the blend rate hit a record 10.39 percent, pushing further above the hypothetical 10-percent “blend wall,” according to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). Once again, the ethanol blend rate exceeded 10% …
Ethanol Report on 29th NEC
The 29th National Ethanol Conference held in San Diego California last week may go down as one of the best and most timely industry meetings ever, setting the stage for major decisions that hang in the balance this year, including year-round availability of E15 and a revised GREET model that will determine ethanol’s role in sustainable aviation fuel. The Renewable …
ACE Reacts to E15 Waiver Approval, Prepares for DC Fly-in
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) reacted to the Biden Administration’s EPA announcement this week to allow the sale of E15 year-round in eight Midwest states, but not until the summer of 2025. “As the saying goes, ‘better late than never,’ but EPA had a legal responsibility to approve E15 year-round in these states more than a year and a …
EPA Announces E15 Waiver Approval for 8 States in 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday approval of requests from state governors to remove the 1-psi volatility waiver for gasoline-ethanol blends containing 10 percent ethanol in their states, but delays the effective date to April 28, 2025. “After review of the emissions modeling results presented by the governors in their requests, EPA is removing the 1-psi waiver in the following …
#RFANEC 2024 Wraps Up in California
The Renewable Fuels Association wrapped up its 2024 National Ethanol Conference Wednesday in San Diego with RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper calling it one of the most successful ever. “This has been a great event, lots of energy, lots of enthusiasm coming out of this conference for the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Cooper. “We had the most people …
Iowa Awards $3.4 Million to Expand E15 Availability
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) has approved 74 project applications totaling more than $3.4 million in cost-share funding for Iowa fuel retailers for the first quarter to fund a record 73 ethanol cost-share projects to increase availability of E15 across the state. The board also approved one application for a new biodiesel terminal project. Once completed, these projects …