The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to resist calls for to waive or significantly reduce the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs). “None of the requests from governors, senators, and attorneys general for EPA to waive the RFS this year have been accompanied by the evidence, which is required by the law …
Brief Filed in Case Over EPA Limits on Higher Blends
An alliance of ethanol, agriculture and clean fuel organizations led by the Urban Air Initiative is challenging the EPA over regulatory barriers to higher blends of ethanol they say are illegal. An opening brief in the case was filed this week in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and oral arguments are expected this fall. Specifically, the brief argues that …
10th Circuit Court Rejects Request for Rehearing
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected the request for a rehearing that was filed by two oil refining companies in response to the court’s unanimous decision Jan. 24 in Renewable Fuels Association et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The court found that EPA abused its statutory authority in issuing Renewable Fuel Standard compliance exemptions to small refineries …
ACE: COVID-19 Exposes Flaw in RFS Rulemaking
The American Coalition for Ethanol is urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address a shortcoming in the implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) which has been exposed with the recent nosedive in gasoline use as a result of COVID-19. ACE CEO Brian Jennings explains that the world is very different today compared to the end of December. “At …
SAFE Vehicles Rule Misses High Octane Opportunity
Ethanol groups are calling the final Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule setting corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) and CO2 emissions standards for model years 2021-2026 passenger cars and light trucks a “missed opportunity to provide a pathway for high octane, low carbon fuel.” American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings said EPA specifically requested comments on the role …
EPA COVID-19 Response Delays Waiver Changes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday announced several steps being taken to protect the nation’s gasoline supply in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including making any changes in its policy of granting small refinery waivers as a result of the recent 10th Circuit Court decision. EPA does not intend to unilaterally revisit or rescind any previously granted small …
Farmers, Biofuel Producers Urge Trump to Support RFS
Farmer leaders and biofuel producers from the Midwest today expressed their concerns about news that the Trump administration has reversed course and decided to side with oil companies in their court battle against biofuels. The debate centers around a unanimous court decision that would halt the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) abuse of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel …
Still Waiting on EPA Response to 10th Circuit Court Ruling
No announcement yet from EPA on how the agency will address the recent 10th Circuit Court ruling regarding small refinery exemptions (SREs), but officials continue to promise it will be soon. “We are working through the issues on the court decision, trying to decide the right path forward,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing Wednesday. …
Wheeler Questioned About Decision on SRE Program
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler told a House subcommittee hearing on Thursday that there is no final decision yet on how they will respond to the recent 10th Circuit Court ruling regarding the Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) program. “We’re still in discussions with the Department of Justice trying to analyze the 10th Circuit opinion, we have no announcements …
25th #RFANEC Focuses Forward on Future
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) just concluded an annual meeting that will be remembered for many reasons, including an appearance by the 43rd President of the United States, and the celebration of recent significant victories for the ethanol industry as it focuses forward on the future. RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper says there is a lot of optimism and …