The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has transmitted its Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rules to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review as one of the final steps before publishing the final 2014, 2015 and 2016 final RFS rules for renewable volume obligations (RVOs). While the details are not public, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is …
EPA Invites Comments on Jatropha Biodiesel
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants public feedback on its analysis of the greenhouse gas emissions from jatropha biodiesel. The plant is being made into biodiesel, renewable diesel, jet fuel, naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas. This notice explains EPA’s analysis of the production and transport components of the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of biofuel made from jatropha oil, and describes …
White Paper Released on Farm Income and the RFS
Leaders of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the National Farmers Union (NFU) jointly released a new white paper Thursday on how the EPA’s proposed rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is threatening farm income and rural economies across the United States. The paper cites the latest USDA data on net cash income for American farmers and ranchers, …
#ACE15 Success, Jennings Highlights What’s Next
The 28th Annual American Coalition for Ethanol’s (ACE) Ethanol Conference was a huge success. At times the room was stand-up only and the content was engaging and informational for attendees. I had a chance to sit down with Executive Vice President Brian Jennings who kicked off the conference and closed the conference and he said that there were a few …
Fuels America Ad Targets President Obama
In conjunction with the National Clean Energy Summit that took place in Las Vegas, Fuels America published a full-page ad in the Las Vegas Review-Journal aimed at President Obama. The theme of the ad is the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and a call to action to uphold the law as signed in 2007 by then President Bush. Obama was a …
NCGA CEO at #ACE15
The still new CEO of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) addressed the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) annual meeting last week with strong message that they stand behind the industry all the way. Chris Novak, who took over as NCGA CEO in October of last year, told the ACE members that the state corn grower organizations recently solidified their …
RFA to EPA: Provide Consumers Relief at Pump
In light of a refinery shutdown of the BP plant in Whiting, Indiana that produces 240,000-barrels-per-day, the Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen is asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide consumers relief at the pump. Late last week, gas prices jumped an average of 80 cents per gallon overnight in several states including Illinois, Michigan Indiana, …
EPA’s Ethanol Rules Pollutes Air Equal to 1 Mil Cars
The government’s proposal to cut the amount of ethanol to be blended into the nation’s fuel supply would pollute the air equivalent to one million more vehicles on the road. The Energy Resources Center (ERC) at the University of Illinois at Chicago conducted the analysis on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed ethanol blending rules. The findings come in the …
RFS Hits 10 Years, Celebrations Begin
Celebrations for the 10th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) began last Friday, with farmers and biofuels advocates beginning a series of grassroots events nationwide. Over fifty grassroots events will take place at state and county fairs throughout the month of August… Farmers and consumers will have the chance to inform and educate elected officials, and local and national …
EPA Releases Final Clean Power Plan Rules
Final rules for the Clean Power Plan have been released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as announced by President Obama. The plan calls for carbon reduction from the power sector (aka utilities) by 32 percent below 2005 levels in 2030. According to the EPA, power plants are the largest drivers of climate change in the U.S. emitting nearly one-third …