For the ninth year, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the Renewable Fuels Foundation (RFF) are joining to offer scholarships for students interested in attending the National Ethanol Conference (NEC), scheduled for Feb. 12-14, 2018 in San Antonio. Six scholarships are available to students in higher education to attend NEC. Scholarships cover the cost of the conference registration fee—a $925 …
PA Governor Seeking RFS Waiver
In a letter to President Donald Trump late last week, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf asked the administration to waive Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for Northeast refiners “unless or until the prices of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) deflate,” according to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). “Numerous studies—including some funded by the oil industry—show that merchant refiners recover …
Ethanol Trade Teams Tour Prior to Summit
The U.S. Grains Council took three ethanol trade teams to three states to learn about the ethanol value chain from the field to the pump ahead of the Ethanol Summit of the Americas last week. The three teams included representatives from 12 countries that explored the U.S. ethanol industry in Missouri, South Dakota and Ohio. Representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, …
Ethanol Summit Focuses on Trade in Americas
Industry and government officials from more than 15 countries in the Western Hemisphere got together last week at the Ethanol Summit of the Americas in Houston to discuss current and future opportunities for ethanol in the region. The Summit was sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, …
Industry Just Says No to EPA NODA
Ethanol, biodiesel, and agricultural organizations were united in their message to the Environmental Protection Agency in comments to a Notice of Data Availability (NODA) that would further reduce overall biofuels volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) – just no. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), which was chosen to participate in EPA’s new Smart Sectors program, urged the agency …
Ethanol Report: Industry Putting Pressure on EPA
With the deadline this week to comment on EPA’s recent Notice of Data Availability that would further lower biofuels volume levels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), industry supporters have been putting pressure on the agency to uphold President Trump’s campaign promises. In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen discusses …
Iowa Biofuels Interests Get White House Attention
President Donald Trump called Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Wednesday to assure her that he continues to support the renewable fuels industry. “He reached out to me,” said Gov. Reynolds during a press conference in Iowa. “He made it clear that he stood with the Renewable Fuel Standard.” Gov. Reynolds also got a call from EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who met …
RFA Receives Grant for Ethanol Safety Training
The Renewable Fuels Association has received a $50,000 federal grant to help continue the its ethanol safety training program efforts. The Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) grant, from the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, was awarded to the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). RFA is among several partners in the grant. The grant, …
Report Finds Opportunities for Ethanol and DDG Exports
A new report from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) says an increase in global ethanol mandates is creating additional export opportunities for the U.S. ethanol industry, but it depends on the ability to increase production and keep those markets open. According to Global Ethanol Mandates: Opportunities for U.S. Exports of Ethanol and DDGS, 26 countries have implemented blending mandates since …
Iowa Fighting to Protect RFS
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) met with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt Tuesday to express her concerns over the agency’s recent action to potentially lower biodiesel volumes in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2018 and 2019. After the meeting, Sen. Ernst said that while Pruitt has “insisted that the recent actions taken by the EPA are simply to …