A newly released study published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics finds no evidence to support concerns about large indirect land use change effect of corn ethanol causing expansion in cropland and reduction in grasslands and forests. Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) members Madhu Khanna and Yijia Li from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Ruiqing Miao …
Kaffka Honored with Biodiesel Inspiration Award
Dr. Stephen Kaffka, Extension Agronomist with the Department of Plant Science at the University of California-Davis, is the recipient of this year’s Eye on Biodiesel Inspiration Award. Presenting the award to Dr. Kaffka were National Biodiesel Board Sustainability Director Don Scott and CEO Donnell Rehagen. Dr. Kaffka has served as an instrumental leader for many years in advocating for environmental …
Ethanol Conference Scholarship Winners
The Renewable Fuels Association and the Renewable Fuels Foundation have awarded two student scholarships for the 24th annual National Ethanol Conference next month in Orlando. This is the tenth consecutive year in which this scholarship has been made available to students. This year’s scholarship winners are Krista Russell and Devin Brand. Russell recently graduated with a degree in Agricultural Systems …
Ethanol Report from Biodiesel Conference
The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has played the most important role in the adoption of biofuels in the United States, both ethanol and biodiesel, making allies of both industries. At this week’s National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper was part of a panel discussion on the future of the RFS and how …
Biofuels Leaders Engage in RFS Discussion
The 2019 National Biodiesel Conference concluded Thursday with a panel discussion entitled “To 2022 and Beyond: Renewable Fuels in the Next Decade,” featuring renewable fuel industry leaders discussing the Renewable Fuel Standard and what is on the horizon for 2020. National Biodiesel Board chief operations officer Doug Whitehead moderated the discussion between NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen and his ethanol organization …
RFA Asks EPA to Prioritize E15 Over RIN Reform
With the government shutdown threatening to further delay approval of year-round sales of E15, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to focus first on rulemaking for year-round E15 provisions and wait to address RIN reform measures in a separate action. With just 133 days remaining before the summertime prohibition on E15 sales begins, RFA …
Ethanol Production Back Up
Weekly U.S. ethanol production recovered after the holidays to more like what we were seeing throughout 2018. According to Energy Information Administration data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production for the week ending January 11 increased over five percent to the largest volume in six weeks at an average of 1.051 million barrels per day (b/d)—or 44.14 million …
Iowa Budget Includes $3M for Biofuels Infrastructure
Governor Kim Reynolds released her 2019 Iowa budget proposal this week, including $3 million for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP), which provides cost-share grants to help Iowa retailers incorporate blender pumps, storage tanks, and other necessary equipment to offer higher blends of biofuels. “IRFA members want to thank Gov. Reynolds for prioritizing funding for blender pumps through Iowa’s …
Ethanol Stakeholders React to Wheeler Hearing
Ethanol industry organizations commended Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler for his commitment to getting a rule allowing year-round sales of E15 (15% ethanol blended fuel) before the start of this year’s summer driving season but still expressed some concerns. “We were encouraged to hear Acting EPA Administrator Wheeler commit to completing the year-round E15 regulatory fix before the summer driving …
Wheeler Affirms Commitment to E15 Timetable
Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler confirmed the agency’s commitment to getting a rule on year-round E15 out in time for the summer driving season, as long as the partial government shutdown allows it to happen. “We’re still on schedule for that, (but) we’re not able to work on it during the government shutdown,” said Wheeler during a hearing before the …