The summer driving season is getting closer and gas prices are just expected to get higher, but don’t blame ethanol. A recent analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association found that gas prices have been getting higher mainly because of a surge in crude oil prices since the start of the year, combined with normal seasonal gasoline pricing, as well as …
Reps Urge End to Abuse of Small Refinery Exemptions
A bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives is urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop issuing Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) for large or unqualified refiners under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) program. Reps. Cindy Axne (D-IA) and Adrian Smith (R-NE) led 35 other representatives in a letter sent to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, highlighting how the expansion of biofuel waivers …
Petition Urges Car Makers to Build More FFVs
A grassroots effort has begun to let auto manufacturers know American drivers want more flex-fuel vehicle options. In recent months, auto manufacturers have signaled they are pulling back on the production of flex-fuel vehicles, which can run on a variety of higher ethanol blends up to E85. Two members of the ethanol industry decided to let auto makers know how …
Indiana Corn Holds High Octane Fuel Summit
It was a full house last week at the Dallara IndyCar Factory for the Indiana Corn Growers High Octane Fuel Summit. The annual event was rebranded by the Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) to cover marketing and equipment topics in addition to policy discussions Among the presentations at the event was a panel discussion moderated by American Coalition for Ethanol …
U.S. Grains Council Board Names Next President And CEO
U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Director in Mexico Ryan LeGrand has been named as its next president and chief executive officer, effective next month. LeGrand joined the organization in Mexico in 2015 and has served as the director of the Council’s Mexico City office since 2016. In this capacity, he has overseen the expansion of the Council’s programming in that country …
Groups Urge EPA to Drop RIN Reform and Get E15 Done
Biofuel stakeholders want EPA to get rid of the excess baggage and get E15 to the finish line before summer driving season starts. The comment period on EPA’s proposed rule “Modifications to Fuel Regulations to Provide Flexibility for E15; Modifications to RFS RIN Market Regulations” ended Monday with major organizations sending in theirs at the end of the day. The …
RFA Submits Comments on E15/RIN Reform Proposal
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments on deadline day Monday for EPA’s proposal allowing 15 percent ethanol blends (E15) to take advantage of the 1-psi Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver that currently applies to E10 during the summer months. RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the organization “strongly supports” the proposed regulatory fix would allow year-round sales of …
Wisconsin’s Ace Ethanol Installs Whitefox ICE System
Ace Ethanol in Stanley, Wisconsin has become the fifth plant to install a Whitefox ICE system at Ace Ethanol’s plant in Stanley, Wisconsin. One-third of all Wisconsin ethanol plants now have a Whitefox ICE system installed, according to Whitefox Technologies Limited. Wisconsin is home to nine ethanol plants and is the ninth largest ethanol producing state in the country. Neal …
RFA Joins Field to Market
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has become the first biofuels organization to join Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, a leading multi-stakeholder initiative working to unite the agricultural supply chain in defining, measuring and advancing the sustainability of food, fiber and fuel production in the United States. As an active member of Field to Market, RFA will collaborate …
Iowa Funds Another Year of Blender Pump Program
The Iowa legislature has funded another year of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP). Commonly referred to as the state’s blender pump program, RFIP provides cost-share grants to Iowa retailers wishing to upgrade fueling infrastructure to offer E15, E85 and/or biodiesel blends. The program has led to millions of dollars of private economic investment and hundreds of new stations …