All in all, 2017 was a pretty good year for the ethanol industry with a new advocate in the White House and record production. Among the highlights of the year, increased exports despite Brazil taking a protectionist stance against ethanol imports, EPA releasing new RVO numbers on time, and ethanol champions rally to protect the RFS and win. In this …
Iowa Biofuels Plants Help Fuel Monarch Butterflies
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has launched the Monarch Fueling Station Project to help ethanol and biodiesel producers across the state establish monarch butterfly habitats on green spaces surrounding their plants. “Because of their migratory patterns, monarchs need small patches of habitat throughout the state,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Iowa’s ethanol and biodiesel plants are scattered across …
EPA Proposes Grain Sorghum Oil for Biofuels
EPA has opened up the opportunity for grain sorghum oil to be used for making advanced biofuels and biomass-based diesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. EPA has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with biofuels that are produced from grain sorghum oil extracted at dry-mill ethanol plants and found no …
Ethanol Report on RFS2 10th Anniversary
Ten years ago this month, just days before Christmas, President George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act which greatly expanded the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to include up to 36 billion gallons of biofuels by 2022. The expansion became known as RFS2, like the sequel to a big movie that had just been released two …
MN Bio-Fuels Honors E15 Station Owner
The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association has presented its 2017 Distinguished Retailer Award to Drake Properties LLC, which owns three E15 stations in the Twin Cities metro. “This award recognizes Drake Properties’ commitment to offering consumers a clean and locally-produced choice at the pump. In under 12 months, E15 has been made available in three of its locations,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive …
A Decade of Progress with RFS2
It was ten years ago today that President George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act, which greatly expanded the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) established in 2005 so it became known as RFS2. In the decade since passage, significant progress has been made towards greater energy security, cleaner air and boosting local economies, according to a …
#ThankYouRFS for 10 Years of Biofuels Success
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was signed 10 years ago this week, with the intent of moving the United States “toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers” under the expansion of the Renewable Fuel Standard created in 2005 and known as RFS2. The Renewable Fuels Association is …
Biofuel Groups Thank Trump for RFS Support
Nearly 100 businesses and organizations representing biofuels sent a letter to the White House last week thanking President Trump for his support of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The letter also offered the president “some insights on how to maintain growth under the program while minimizing any potential for undue financial stress in certain parts of the refining industry” in …
Perdue Hopes For RFS Resolution
It’s been a long and busy year for Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, but here at the end he is still short-staffed at USDA and could use some help from Santa to get the job done. “I had no idea we would be delayed like this and it’s unfortunate,” said Sec. Perdue in a recent interview with Iowa Agribusiness Network‘s …
Ethanol Exports Up Despite Brazil Declines
Overall U.S. ethanol exports were higher in October compared to September, as shipments from Brazil declined sharply, according to government data released this morning and analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). Total exports were 93.6 million gallons (mg) in October, up 8% from September shipments. Canada was again the top destination importing more than one-third of total exports, up …