Officials from the Biden administration faced over 11,000 farmers and agricultural industry representatives today at the Commodity Classic in Houston and announced that they will miss a self-imposed March 1 deadline to complete modifications to the GREET model for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). “We’re going to take a few more weeks – and I mean weeks, not months – to …
Fifth Circuit Asked to Rehear RFS Oil Refinery Exemption Case
The Renewable Fuels Association this week requested that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rehear the challenge brought by certain oil refineries seeking exemptions from the Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In November 2023, the Fifth Circuit determined it was the proper venue to hear a challenge brought by six small refineries who saw their RFS compliance exemption …
Lawmakers Demand Action on E15 Waiver Request
A bipartisan, bicameral group of 22 lawmakers sent a follow up letter to the White House this week seeking swift action on regulations that would allow year-round sales of 15% ethanol blended fuel (E15) in eight Midwest states, as requested in April 2022 by the states’ governors. Congressman Brad Finstad (R-MN), Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), and …
EPA Fines Iowa Ethanol Plant Under Clean Air Act
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined POET Biorefining – Menlo LLC a $89,860 penalty for alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act. According to EPA, the Menlo facility is a “major air emission source” that failed to comply with federally enforceable permit provisions intended to limit harmful releases of air pollution. After reviewing POET Biorefining facility records …
Iowa and Nebraska Push EPA for Final E15 Rule
The attorney generals of Nebraska and Iowa this week filed a motion for summary to force the Environmental Protection Agency to finalize a rule allowing eight Midwest states to sell E15 year-round. The motion says EPA’s lack of action on the waiver request filed by the states in April 2022 causes harm to the “public interest…public health…(and) also creates economic …
Ethanol Industry Reacts to Waiver Ruling
Farmers and ethanol producers are disappointed in last week’s ruling against EPA’s rejection of refinery waiver requests. A coalition of groups including the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, American Coalition for Ethanol and National Farmers Union reacted to the decision of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals remanding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency its rejection of six small refinery …
Report Claims White House is Stalling Summer E15
A Reuters story out the day after Thanksgiving cites anonymous sources claiming the Biden administration is stalling any action on a petition from Midwestern governors to allow year round sales of E15 beginning in summer 2024. According to the Reuters report, “The two sources familiar with the administration’s thinking, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the White House decided to …
EPA Official Highlights Agency’s Biofuels Support
EPA’s Senior Advisor for Agriculture Rod Snyder talked about the agency’s commitment to biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) during an appearance Monday at the Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City. “In June, EPA finalized the largest renewable volume obligations in the history of the RFS,” said Snyder. “We project the new standard will require nearly seven billion RINS …
Ethanol Report on Environmental Benefits
One might think that after nearly two decades of the Renewable Fuel Standard that the environmental benefits of corn ethanol would be accepted, but one might be wrong. According to a draft report from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board (SAB), the effectiveness of the RFS in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions “remains highly uncertain from a scientific perspective” …
Ethanol Groups Challenge EPA Board Over Climate Benefits
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) heard testimony Thursday from ethanol organizations challenging a recent report on the climate impacts of corn ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The workgroup draft commentary was sent to EPA Administrator Michael Regan regarding the RFS “Set” Rule. Dr. Sheila Olmstead, University of Texas at Austin Professor of Public Affairs, …