Reuters published an exclusive report today citing two anonymous sources who claim EPA granted a small refinery hardship exemption to CVR Energy, owned by billionaire Carl Icahn, the power behind last year’s attempt to dilute the Renewable Fuel Standard by changing the point of obligation. CVR Energy just released its 1st quarter earnings last Thursday, posting a net income of …
RFA Urges CARB to Use More Ethanol
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is urging the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to allow greater market access for ethanol blended fuel to help the state reach its climate policy objectives. According to comments submitted by RFA, ethanol has played a key role in the success of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and could do more if certain regulatory …
Ethanol Report on Pruitt and the RFS
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Scott Pruitt has been “unapologetic” under questioning this week about granting dozens of small refinery hardship exemptions, and Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen believes he will continue to do so unchecked. In this edition of the Ethanol Report, Dinneen talks about how the exemptions have effectively cut the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) …
Pruitt Provides Vague Answers About RFS Exemptions
The budget for the Environmental Protection Agency was the topic of two separate House hearings Thursday, but lawmakers spent the majority of the time addressing other concerns with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was brought up immediately by House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment Chairman John Shimkus of Illinois, who made it clear he would …
Cellerate® Can Help Ethanol Producers Access New Markets
As ethanol plants seek new ways to be more competitive, Cellerate® process technology offers an opportunity for ethanol producers to access new markets and increase ROI potential for co-products, which has been demonstrated by the success of Quad County Corn Processors (QCCP). According to Syngenta, performance results achieved at QCCP to date through combining Cellerate with Enogen® corn include: a …
EPA Data Shows Waivers Have Lowered RFS Obligations
An analysis of EPA data by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) shows that small refinery exemptions for 2016 and 2017 have cost at least 1.6 billion gallons of biofuels in lost blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The volume of lost blending obligations for these two years is 10 times the collective volume of lost volume from 2013-2015. …
Ag Reporters Grill EPA Chief on RFS Issues
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt faced a grilling from agricultural reporters Tuesday about the agency granting waivers exempting refineries from Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) obligations and why it is taking so long to decide on allowing year round use of 15% ethanol in all markets. The embattled administrator, who faces Congressional hearings this week where he will likely be questioned on …
ACE Addresses Ethanol Retailers in Mexico
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty was in Mexico this week to help Mexican petroleum equipment installers and retailers with the technical details of switching stations to E10 for the first time. It’s the second time this month that Lamberty headed south of the border to conduct seminars as part of a U.S. Grains Council series …
4th Plant to Install Whitefox ICE™ System
Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) in Benson, Minnesota will become the fourth U.S. ethanol plant to install a Whitefox ICE™ membrane dehydration system. Whitefox has already installed its membrane dehydration system at Fox River Valley Ethanol and at United Ethanol in WI, Pine Lake Corn Processor in IA, and Pacific Ethanol in CA. “With the installation of the Whitefox ICE™ …
Ethanol Blend Rate Drops
The latest Energy Information Administration data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) shows ethanol production is lower but still averaging a little over a million barrels a day, while the ethanol blend rate dropped to its lowest point since the beginning of this year. “Although ethanol demand was the most robust in 16 weeks, ethanol content in gasoline supplied …