Mary Kay Thatcher, Senior Manager of Federal Government and Industry Relations for Syngenta, provided her perspective on the “churn of the election” during the company’s media summit this week. She does expect the presidential outcome to drag on for a while, but during her presentation, Thatcher used the assumption of a Biden presidency for her outlook. In the biofuels space, …
MN Governor’s Biofuels Council Recommends LCFS
The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Biofuels this week released its consensus report on the steps needed to grow Minnesota’s biofuels industry and get the state back on track to meet renewable energy goals, including a plan for the adoption of a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). In the report to Gov. Tim Walz, the council recommends “a low-carbon fuel standard …
RFA Comments on Colorado GHG Reduction Plan
In September, Colorado released a public comment draft of its Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap which details proposed steps the state can take toward meeting the near-term goals of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution 26% by 2025 and 50% by 2030 from 2005 levels. Noting that transportation is one of the largest sources of GHG pollution, the Colorado plan suggests: …
Field to Fuel Student Video Contest Open for Entries
The Nebraska Ethanol Board is now accepting entries for the 6th annual Field to Fuel video contest, which encourages Nebraska high school students to explore the importance and value of ethanol. With a focus on educating the public about renewable fuels, students are asked to research, film and edit a two-minute video for a chance to one of three prizes, …
MOU Aims To Expand Ethanol Use In Vietnam
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) signed an official memorandum of understanding (MOU) this week with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) aimed at expanding the use and availability of ethanol in Vietnam. The agreement promises to further a strong partnership between the two nations and encourage expanded ethanol use throughout Southeast Asia. “The Council stands ready to support …
Ethanol Groups File Motion for EPA Transparency
The Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy filed a motion this week for partial summary judgment in the federal District Court of the District of Columbia calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to make information about small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard available to the public. The ethanol organizations filed the motion in response to EPA’s “failure to …
Study Finds Gas Car Ban Would Hurt Biofuels and Farmers
*Updated with audio interview* The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) has just released a study on the impacts of increased electric vehicle penetration on U.S. biofuels, agriculture and the economy. Proposals to ban internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 and 2050 served as the economic models for the study, along with a base case provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s …
Pacific Ethanol Changing Brand and Focus
Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (PEI) has announced a strategic realignment to focus on specialty alcohols and essential ingredients, as well as its intent to change its corporate name. “Our company was founded to supply low carbon renewable fuel for the transportation market. While we will continue to participate in that market, transportation fuels are no longer our primary focus. Beginning with …
Ethanol Stakeholders Comment on FFV Standards
Ethanol stakeholder organizations submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency this week regarding the E85 Flexible Fuel Vehicle Weighting Factor (F-factor) for Model Year 2021 and Later Vehicles. Comments from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) support EPA’s new approach to maintaining some level of certainty for automakers, but would like to see the agency “provide a long-term floor and “more …
Ethanol Town Hall Meeting
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and Growth Energy will hold a free virtual town hall meeting about ethanol on Wednesday, October 28 at 11:00 a.m. Central/12:00 p.m. Eastern. Farmers, biofuel producers and leaders of both businesses and communities are invited to participate to discuss the latest policy priorities for the industry, opportunities for growth in the domestic and global …