As biofuel interests stepped up the pressure on the administration to end Small Refinery Exemptions this week, news reports say President Donald Trump has ordered a review of the policy that has resulted in dozens of waivers in the last two years causing the loss of more than two billion gallons of ethanol demand. The National Corn Growers Association is …
Industry Hopes to Stop Small Refinery Waivers
Biofuel organizations are hopeful that legislation introduced last week by Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will help stem the tide of Small Refinery Exemptions that have caused demand destruction for both ethanol and biodiesel. The RFS Integrity Act of 2019 aims to provide “more certainty for rural America by bringing transparency and predictability to EPA’s small refinery …
Ethanol Report on Presidential Visit
The Renewable Fuels Association was thrilled to host President Donald J. Trump as he visited the Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) ethanol plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa on June 11 to celebrate year round sales of E15 (15% ethanol). This Ethanol Report podcast includes some of the president’s remarks at the plant and interviews with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper, SIRE …
FEW High Octane Award Goes to Steve Vander Griend
Steve Vander Griend, Technical Director of the Urban Air Initiative, received the High Octane Award this week at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW). The High Octane Award is presented each year by BBI International and Ethanol Producer Magazine to a person whose passion and unstoppable pursuits have significantly benefited the ethanol industry. Vander Griend was recognized for his dedication and …
Behind the Scenes with President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) CEO Geoff Cooper and Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy CEO Mike Jerke shared their thoughts about President Donald Trump’s behind the scenes tour of the ethanol plant Tuesday. Jerke and Cooper met the president as he arrived at the plant and escorted him in to meet some local farmers and plant employees and learn more about ethanol. …
RFA Ready for President Trump Visit to Ethanol Plant
President Donald Trump will visit the Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) ethanol plant later this afternoon and the Renewable Fuels Association is ready to welcome him and thank him for supporting farmers and the industry. SIRE, an RFA member company, operates a state-of-the-art ethanol biorefinery that produces approximately 130 million gallons of high-octane fuel ethanol per year, along with more …
Husker Ag Hits Billion Gallon Milestone
Husker Ag LLC in Plainview, Nebraska recently produced its one-billionth gallon of ethanol, a milestone noted by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). “I couldn’t be more proud of the work that the staff has delivered over the last three years to achieve the goals set forth by the Board of Directors to increase gallons, improve our yield and lower our …
Elite Octane Celebrates Opening and E15
The grand opening of the Elite Octane ethanol plant in Atlantic, Iowa got an extra celebratory boost on Friday with the announcement that E15 can now be sold year round. Guest speakers including Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds welcomed the news just hours after it was announced. “Increased demand for E85 and E15 means that we …
E15 Retailer Pleased with EPA Rule
A fuel retailer who has been on the front lines of getting approval for E15 to be sold year round is one of over 1000 station owners around the country who did not have to re-label pumps over the weekend this year. “For the first time in six years that I’ve been handling the fuels, I can put an octane …
EPA Final Rule Details
EPA Assistant Administrator Bill Wehrum provided details to reporters Friday morning of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule related to retail sales of 15% ethanol blended fuel and renewable identification number (RIN) transparency. EPA finalized regulatory changes to allow gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) to take advantage of the 1-psi Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver …