The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released proposed regulatory changes Tuesday that would allow gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) to receive a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver for the summer months, the same as E10. At the same time, EPA is also proposing regulatory changes to “modify elements of the renewable identification number (RIN) compliance system under …
Senator Angry Over Reported EPA Rule Breaking
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is upset about news reports last week that former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt broke the rules to expand the number small refinery exemptions (SREs) granted to oil refiners. “I am angry by reports that show what we long suspected: former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt ignored the law to …
New Data Confirms Ethanol Demand Destruction in 2018
New data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) and analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) reveals ethanol demand in 2018 was negatively impacted by EPA granting dozens of small refinery exemptions (SREs). Former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt granted 48 refiners waivers from their legal blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), resulting in a flood of Renewable Identification …
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. …
EPA Nomination Advances to Full Senate
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) voted 11-10 along party lines Tuesday to advance the nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. “Mr. Wheeler has served as deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency since April of 2018, when the Senate confirmed his nomination with bipartisan support,” said Committee Chair Senator John …
Growth Energy Sues Over Small Refinery Exemptions
Growth Energy has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) failure to address small refinery exemptions in its 2019 renewable volume obligation (RVO) rulemaking issued late last year. “EPA’s inaction on addressing lost gallons due to small refinery exemptions in this rulemaking is a clear violation of law,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “In doing nothing …
RFA Asks EPA to Use Reset Rule to Restore Lost RFS Gallons
With the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee scheduled vote next week on the nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be administrator of EPA, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) CEO Geoff Cooper sent a letter to Wheeler this week to provide input on the agency’s upcoming RFS reset proposal. RFA is asking Wheeler to use the reset rule as an opportunity to …
Independent Study Finds Vehicle Emission Testing Unreliable
The Urban Air Initiative (UAI) has released the results of an independent study that finds “many of the test fuels used in emissions research studies do not reflect the makeup of consumer fuels, limiting the ability of ethanol to be used to reduce emissions and improve vehicle efficiency.” The study, titled Effects of Ethanol Blends on Light-Duty Vehicle Emissions: A …
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 …
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 …