The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to reveal just how many small refiner exemptions have been granted from blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and how many are still pending but the reduction in ethanol blending over recent months and a sharp drop in the price for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) indicate the impact they are having. …
Role of Corn Farmers in High Octane Fuel Future
During a House Committee on Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on “High Octane Fuels and High Efficiency Vehicles” Friday, an Illinois corn grower outlined how farmers are now growing what can be the the high-octane fuel of the near future. Illinois farmer Paul Jeschke testified that high-octane midlevel ethanol blends would “benefit society and rural communities by lowering prices at …
Evidence Shows Waivers Reducing Ethanol Demand
Evidence is mounting that the Environmental Protection Agency’s granting of numerous “small refiner exemptions” from blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard is indeed working to destroy demand for both ethanol and corn. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Executive Vice President Geoff Cooper lays out the evidence in a column on the E-Blog detailing the reduction in ethanol blending over recent …
House Hearing to Focus on High Octane Fuels
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment will be holding a hearing this morning on “High Octane Fuels and High Efficiency Vehicles: Challenges and Opportunities.” The hearing will take a look at the potential for high octane fuels and the vehicles designed for them to further the goals of the Renewable Fuel Standard and Corporate Average Fuel Economy/Greenhouse Gas …
Ethanol Industry Pleased with POTUS Support of E15
President Trump’s comments Thursday confirming that the administration is working on allowing year-round sales of 15% ethanol blends (E15) sparked a flurry of press releases from ethanol supporters. Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen called it “welcome news to consumers across the country, farmers who have worked to build value-added markets here at home in the face of …
President Trump Supports Year Round E15 Sales
At a White House meeting with governors and members of Congress Thursday, President Donald Trump said he supported allowing the year-round use of 15% ethanol blended fuel (E15). “This is no guarantee, but we’re going to raise it up to 15 percent, which makes a lot of people happy,” said the president prior to a meeting with lawmakers on agricultural …
Biodiesel Board Wants EPA Records
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to end the “secrecy” surrounding small refiner exemptions requested and issued under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to find out more. “The EPA’s decision to grant upwards of 25 exemptions, with at least one significant waiver in the …
Ag Secretary Says RFS Waivers Create Demand Destruction
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue had the opportunity to give his opinion about the EPA granting numerous Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) waivers to refiners during a Senate Agricultural Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Wednesday. While the purpose of the hearing was to review USDA’s FY2019 budget request, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) brought up the RFS waiver issue and pointed out that he …
Crappie Masters Showcases Ethanol in Texas
The seventh stop on the 2018 Crappie Masters Tournament Trail was in Emory, Texas this past weekend, showcasing the use of E10 (10 percent ethanol) fuel in fishing boats. Texas is home to four ethanol biorefineries, including two owned and operated by White Energy in Plainview and Hereford. White Energy CEO Greg Thompson is proud that the Renewable Fuels Association …
#RFSWorks Takes Twitter by Storm
The hashtag #RFSWorks was trending on Twitter yesterday morning as farmers, ethanol and biodiesel producers, organization leaders, and dozens of other stakeholders sent on-line messages to President Trump and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to support the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as promised. Quad County Corn Processors was one of many ethanol plants that joined in the Twitter storm. “@realDonaldTrump, please …