Nearly 7,000 gallons of Nebraska-made sanitizer has been donated for use by USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) employees around the country responsible for ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, and egg products. There are 6,500 FSIS field offices across the nation. The USDA’s initial request included 6,500 gallons of hand sanitizer but deliveries have continued as the need remains …
Senate Bill Would Help Biofuels Producers
Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MI) have introduced bipartisan legislation to provide emergency relief to ethanol producers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would allow USDA to reimburse biofuel producers through the Commodity Credit Corporation for their feedstock purchases in the first quarter of this year. According to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), as of May 19, …
ACE to Co-Locate Annual Meeting with Fuel Ethanol Workshop
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) will be co-locating its 33rd annual conference this year in conjunction with the rescheduled International Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) & Expo on August 25, in Omaha, Nebraska. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the economic hardship it’s brought to bear on the ethanol industry, ACE believes hosting this year’s gathering in association with …
RFA Hosting Webinars on USDA Retailer Infrastructure Grants
USDA began accepting applications Friday for grants from the new Higher Ethanol Blends Infrastructure Program, or HBIIP, and the Renewable Fuels Association is hosting two webinars this month to guide fuel retailers and others in the process. “U.S. ethanol producers today are facing the worst economic conditions in the industry’s 40-year history due to COVID-19; once the pandemic is over …
Ethanol Report 5-15-20
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on the U.S. ethanol industry, slashing production by half and leading to the idling of scores of plants across rural America. But there are positive signs that demand is starting to increase again. Meanwhile, Congress is considering a new aid package with help for biofuels, the Renewable Fuel Standard is facing …
Higher Blends Infrastructure Program Grant Applications Open
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched an online portal to accept applications for Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) grants. USDA has up to $100 million in competitive grants available to help expand the sale and availability of ethanol and biodiesel fuels with approximately $86 million allocated for higher blends of fuel ethanol, and approximately $14 million for implementation …
RFA CEO Says Worst May be Over for Ethanol Industry
The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to have a devastating impact on the U.S. ethanol industry, slashing production by half and leading to the idling of scores of plants across rural America. However, the industry may be finally turning the corner, according to Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “We are starting to see some ethanol plants come …
Ethanol Production Continues Slow Recovery
Gasoline use is increasing as more cars gradually get back on the road with coronavirus restrictions easing in many states, which is helping ethanol production slowly increase. According to the latest EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending May 8, ethanol production expanded by 3.2%, to 617,000 barrels per day — equivalent to 25.91 million …
Brief Filed in Case Over EPA Limits on Higher Blends
An alliance of ethanol, agriculture and clean fuel organizations led by the Urban Air Initiative is challenging the EPA over regulatory barriers to higher blends of ethanol they say are illegal. An opening brief in the case was filed this week in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and oral arguments are expected this fall. Specifically, the brief argues that …
USDA Report Calls for Increased Ethanol Output
The May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate out from USDA this week is forecasting record high production and domestic use, greater exports, and larger ending stocks for corn. The corn crop is projected at a record 16.0 billion bushels, up from last year on increased area and a return to trend yield. The yield projection of 178.5 bushels per …