The Michigan Advanced Biofuels Coalition (MiABC) now represents land, air and sea with the addition of three new stakeholders that support sustainable carbon reduction solutions in three different transportation sectors. The new stakeholders are Gevo, Inc., Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision (SDEV) and Waterfront Petroleum Terminal Company. “Interest in advanced biofuels continues to grow in Michigan as communities seek to reduce …
EPA Fines Iowa Ethanol Plant Under Clean Air Act
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined POET Biorefining – Menlo LLC a $89,860 penalty for alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act. According to EPA, the Menlo facility is a “major air emission source” that failed to comply with federally enforceable permit provisions intended to limit harmful releases of air pollution. After reviewing POET Biorefining facility records …
Iowa and Nebraska Push EPA for Final E15 Rule
The attorney generals of Nebraska and Iowa this week filed a motion for summary to force the Environmental Protection Agency to finalize a rule allowing eight Midwest states to sell E15 year-round. The motion says EPA’s lack of action on the waiver request filed by the states in April 2022 causes harm to the “public interest…public health…(and) also creates economic …
RFA Urges COP28 to Include Ethanol in Climate Change Fight
As leaders from around the world convene this week in the United Arab Emirates to kick off the 2023 United Nations climate change conference (COP28), the Renewable Fuels Association is calling on U.S. delegates at the event to “prominently highlight the U.S. biofuels industry’s remarkable contributions to the fight against global climate change.” RFA sent a letter to U.S. climate …
Flex Fuel Fairness Act Introduced in House
U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Angie Craig (D-MN) this week introduced the Flex Fuel Fairness Act of 2023, designed to level the playing field for vehicles running on low-carbon liquid fuels, like ethanol. “As we look toward a cleaner energy future with options to lower carbon emissions, it’s imperative to amplify solutions like flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) and ensure …
Continuum Ag Launches Billion Bushel Challenge
With an estimated six billion bushels expected to be used for ethanol production next year, Continuum Ag has set their sights on helping the industry SCORE (Carbon Intensity Score) over a billion bushels in 2024 with the Billion Bushel Challenge to help a million farmers improve their profitability via improved soil health. “This is the start of something very big, …
RFA Partners with Girls Auto Clinic for Ethanol Education
The Renewable Fuels Association has just announced a new partnership with the Girls Auto Clinic (GAC) to bring ethanol education and promotion to a new and growing audience – women who are actively interested in auto purchasing, maintenance, and repair. Founded in 2013 by entrepreneur Patrice Banks, Girls Auto Clinic builds and provides tools to drive knowledge and engagement to …
Ethanol Industry Reacts to Waiver Ruling
Farmers and ethanol producers are disappointed in last week’s ruling against EPA’s rejection of refinery waiver requests. A coalition of groups including the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, American Coalition for Ethanol and National Farmers Union reacted to the decision of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals remanding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency its rejection of six small refinery …
Report Claims White House is Stalling Summer E15
A Reuters story out the day after Thanksgiving cites anonymous sources claiming the Biden administration is stalling any action on a petition from Midwestern governors to allow year round sales of E15 beginning in summer 2024. According to the Reuters report, “The two sources familiar with the administration’s thinking, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the White House decided to …
Court Rules Against Refinery Waiver Rejections
A U.S. appeals court last week ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to deny biofuel blending waivers to small refineries. Six small refineries sued EPA earlier this year after the agency denied almost all requests for small refinery waivers under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The refiners claimed the RFS requirement to blend a certain amount of biofuel into …