The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Thursday denied a petition for rehearing regarding the recent American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, et al. vs. EPA decision, in which the court vacated a 2019 regulation allowing year-round sales of a fifteen percent ethanol fuel blend (E15). Petitioners the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association released the following …
Vilsack Announces Renewable Energy Investments
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Thursday that USDA is investing $464 million to build or improve renewable energy infrastructure and to help rural communities, agricultural producers and businesses lower energy costs in 48 states and Puerto Rico. USDA is financing $129 million of these investments through the Rural Energy for America Program and $335 million through the Electric Loan Program. …
Billion for Biofuels in Build Back Better Bill
The initial draft of the U.S. House Build Back Better Act includes a billion dollars for biofuels infrastructure to support expanded availability and use of renewable fuels, according to Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA) who worked to secure the funding. “This is a great day for our rural communities, our agricultural economy, our planet, and for hundreds of thousands of Americans …
State Corn Checkoffs Helping Build E85 in California
Corn growers in Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska are helping to build E85 infrastructure in the top U.S. market for ethanol. The corn checkoff programs in the three states are leveraging resources to provide California fuel retailers up to $1.25 million over the next year to increase availability of E85 (85% ethanol). Fuel will be supplied by Pearson Fuels, the largest …
Groups Oppose Motion to Remand SREs without Vacatur
Six biofuel-supporting organizations filed a motion this week opposing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) motion to “remand but not vacate the 31 small refinery exemptions (SREs) the Trump Administration granted in August 2019.” The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, National Biodiesel Board, American Coalition for Ethanol, and National Farmers Union as a coalition are currently challenging …
USDA COVID Aid and Infrastructure for Biofuels Coming Soon
During a town hall style webinar with Farm Journal Editor Clinton Griffiths last week, USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said payments for biofuels producers impacted by the pandemic could come in the very near future. “We made the decision to put resources into the biofuel industry and I would expect and anticipate we’re going to be seeing announcements on …
ACE Urges Hearing on Next Generation Fuels Act
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is asking for a hearing to be held on the “Next Generation Fuels Act of 2021” (H.R. 5089) to address some concerns they have about the bill which was introduced by Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL). Specifically, ACE is requesting testimony on how the bill would remove market barriers to ethanol and improvements that should …
Ethanol Report from Farm Progress Show
The Renewable Fuels Association had a very visible presence at the 2021 Farm Progress Show, held August 31-September 2 in Decatur, Illinois. RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White said it was a great opportunity to see and talk with farmers, but it also proved to be a time to meet with members of Congress who are working to …
Rep. Bustos Talks Next Gen Fuels at #FPS21
Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) paid a visit to the Renewable Fuels Association exhibit at the Farm Progress Show on Wednesday and talked about her Next Generation Fuels Act introduced last week in the U.S. House. “It would require manufacturers of vehicles to make sure it could burn to start, E20, and go all the way up to E25 and E30 …
#FPS21 Features Congressional Biofuels Summit
Six Republican members of Congress from Illinois, Iowa and Indiana held a Biofuels Summit at the Farm Progress Show on Wednesday to discuss the importance of ethanol and biodiesel to the region and the challenges being faced by the biofuels industry. House Biofuels Caucus Co-chair Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) was joined by Mike Bost (R-IL), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Randy Feenstra …