Two days before he appeared at the Commodity Classic last week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told the House Agriculture Committee that rules allowing the use of E15 year round “probably will not be out for the driving season,” but he says newly confirmed EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler has “figured out” how to get it done by June 1. Perdue says …
Perdue Doubts E15 Rule will be Ready by Summer
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue appeared before the House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday to update members on the current state of the farm economy and what USDA is doing about it. Among the many topics Secretary Perdue addressed was whether EPA would get a rule allowing the year-round use of E15 ethanol-blended fuel in time for the summer driving season. …
GROWMARK Offers Pre-Blended E15 at More Terminals
GROWMARK Energy is adding to the number terminals around the Midwest offering pre-blended E15, according to the Renewable Fuels Association, which has worked closely with the farmer-owned cooperative on related issues such as regulatory compliance and adoption of RFA’s Misfueling Mitigation Plan (MMP). GROWMARK will now offer pre-blended E15 at Magellan terminals in – Bettendorf and Des Moines, Iowa; Carthage, …
USDA Deputy Secretary Stresses Ethanol Support
USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky visited the 2019 National Ethanol Conference in Orlando this week to stress the administration’s strong support of ethanol. “You have very strong advocates in Sec. Perdue, myself and all of us at USDA who are working on your behalf as well as President Trump, who has also been a strong supporter – as you all …
Groups Submit Comments on E15 by 2025 in Ontario
Growth Energy and the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) jointly submitted comments to the Canadian Province of Ontario supporting the expansion of biofuels blending to implement a 15 percent renewable content in gasoline by 2025. “For decades now, North American farmers and ethanol producers have continued to benefit from tariff-free borders,” the comments noted. “With an existing North American supply chain, …
ACE Urges Senators to Press Wheeler on Ethanol Issues
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) wants senators to get some promises from Andrew Wheeler before they vote to confirm him as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. ACE CEO Brian Jennings sent a letter to U.S. Senators this week asking them to “secure tangible documentation on two critically important ethanol issues” – finalizing a Reid vapor pressure (RVP) rule …
EIA Report Makes Case for Higher Ethanol Blends
Forecasts calling for higher fuel prices in the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) newly released Annual Energy Outlook 2019 (AEO2019) makes the case for higher ethanol blends and lower cost options like E15 at the pump, according to Chris Bliley, vice president of regulatory affairs at Growth Energy. “Consumers deserve cleaner, more affordable options, and that’s exactly what higher ethanol …
RFA Asks EPA to Prioritize E15 Over RIN Reform
With the government shutdown threatening to further delay approval of year-round sales of E15, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to focus first on rulemaking for year-round E15 provisions and wait to address RIN reform measures in a separate action. With just 133 days remaining before the summertime prohibition on E15 sales begins, RFA …
Ethanol Stakeholders React to Wheeler Hearing
Ethanol industry organizations commended Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler for his commitment to getting a rule allowing year-round sales of E15 (15% ethanol blended fuel) before the start of this year’s summer driving season but still expressed some concerns. “We were encouraged to hear Acting EPA Administrator Wheeler commit to completing the year-round E15 regulatory fix before the summer driving …
Wheeler Affirms Commitment to E15 Timetable
Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler confirmed the agency’s commitment to getting a rule on year-round E15 out in time for the summer driving season, as long as the partial government shutdown allows it to happen. “We’re still on schedule for that, (but) we’re not able to work on it during the government shutdown,” said Wheeler during a hearing before the …