The Environmental Protection Agency released its proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018 on July 5, the comment period just ended on August 31, and then this week EPA gave notice that it is seeking comment on options for further reductions in the biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel volumes. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) …
EPA Proposes Further Cuts in Biofuels Under RFS
The Environmental Protection Agency surprised the biofuels industry Tuesday by issuing a notice asking for comment on further reducing volume obligations for some fuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. The EPA Notice of Data Availability (NODA) suggests a reduction of the 2018 advanced biofuel volume requirement from the proposed level of 4.24 billion gallons to 3.77 billion gallons, …
USDA Trade Mission Heading to Brazil
A USDA Foreign Agriculture Service trade mission to São Paulo and Recife, Brazil, is underway this week with ethanol industry leaders looking to expand their agricultural exports and further develop their business relationships in Brazil. “Brazil holds significant untapped market potential for U.S. exporters,” said Mark Slupek, deputy administrator of the Office of Trade Programs for USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. …
Magellan to Offer E15 at all Iowa Fuel Terminals
Magellan Midstream Partners fuel pipeline and storage company is now offering pre-blended E15 at many terminals across the U.S., including all Magellan terminals that service Iowa. “This announcement from Magellan is game-changing,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “It is now possible for most retailers across the state to replace a low-demand product with E15 without …
New Zealand Triples U.S. DDGS Purchases
New Zealand is producing record amounts of milk this year and feeding triple the amount of U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) compared to last year, according to the U.S. Grains Council. New Zealand has purchased 113,000 metric tons of U.S. DDGS so far this year compared to just 37,000 tons imported the same time last year. While this …
Corn Stover Could Generate Electricity
Two new studies show that generating energy from corn stover biomass could create a new market for farmers and increase the value of ethanol by reducing its overall carbon footprint. The studies are based on the premise that the crop residue left behind in the fields after corn to be used for ethanol is harvested. Iowa-based Regional Strategic, Ltd. examined …
Corn Rep Appointed to NE Ethanol Board
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has appointed Taylor Nelson, a farmer from Jackson, to join the Nebraska Ethanol Board as the corn representative. Nelson earned his agriculture economics degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He returned to the family farm in 2012, and produces corn and soybeans in Dixon and Dakota counties with his father, Doug Nelson, and uncle, Jim Nelson. …
Al-Corn Clean Fuel Votes to Become LLC
By an overwhelming majority the membership of Al-Corn Clean Fuel has voted to convert from a cooperative to a Limited Liability Company (LLC), effective September 30. “Without our member’s willingness to grow and compete in an ever changing business environment, we wouldn’t be here today.” said Rod Jorgenson, President of Al-Corn Clean Fuel. “We have begun moving forward to allow …
Clariant Announces 1st License for Cellulosic Ethanol Technology
Clariant has signed its first license agreement for sunliquid® cellulosic ethanol technology with Enviral, the largest producer of bioethanol in Slovakia. Enviral has acquired a license to use Clariant’s sunliquid technology as part of its goal to realize a full scale commercial cellulosic ethanol plant for the commercial production of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues. This new plant will be …
E15 Waiver Helped Ease Gas Supply Issues
This was the year that summer vacation ended early for E15 (15% ethanol fuel) to help offset gasoline supply shortfalls and limit hurricane-related fuel price spikes. Normally, it would have been this weekend before EPA’s summer restriction on selling E15 in 38 states was lifted, but right after Hurricane Harvey hit, the agency issued emergency fuel waivers allowing the fuel …