Can Rand Paul Pass the RFS Test?

Cindy Zimmerman

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul officially threw his hat in the ring for the Republican presidential nomination Tuesday, just a week after co-sponsoring the Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act of 2015 with Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. The legislation would allow 15% ethanol blends to be sold year round by requiring EPA to grant a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) volatility waiver for …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Nebraska Ethanol Producer Helps Retailers

Cindy Zimmerman

A northeast Nebraska ethanol producer has been working with retailers in that area to provide additional fuel choice for consumers. According to the Nebraska Ethanol Board, Husker Ag LLC in Plainview has provided grant money and ethanol for several retail locations in northeast Nebraska including Creighton, Crofton, Hartington, Osmond, Pierce at two locations, and Valentine. “Many Nebraska ethanol producers work …

Ethanol, Ethanol News

CARB Holds LCFS Workshop Update

Cindy Zimmerman

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) held a public workshop on Friday to discuss updates to the recently modified Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (CA-GREET 2.0) Model under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Stakeholder input was received at the workshop on the new model which made some changes to the Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) …

Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Indirect Land Use, Low Carbon Fuel Standard, RFA, UNICA

RFA Reports February Ethanol Export Record

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association reports that U.S. ethanol exports reached a new record in February, based on an analysis of the latest government data. According to RFA Research Analyst Ann Lewis, U.S. exports of denatured and undenatured ethanol in February totaled 85.2 million gallons, up 24% from January, the highest February export volume on record. Year-to-date exports at 153.9 million …

Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, RFA

Think Tank Ponders Cellulosic Ethanol Link

Cindy Zimmerman

A new report from centrist think tank Third Way ponders the quest for cellulosic biofuels and concludes that the pathway is via corn ethanol. “This report confirms what the biofuels industry has been saying for some time now – that you cannot have cellulosic ethanol without the continued production and support of grain-based ethanol,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. …

advanced biofuels, AEC, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA, RFS

Ethanol-Gas Price Difference Back to Normal

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol and gas have settled back into a more normal price differential after three months of being nearly the same once gas prices started to plummet late last year. Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen notes that “wholesale ethanol prices traded near parity with—or even above—gasoline prices intermittently in November, December, and January,” but since the end of …

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Growth Energy Applauds E15 Bill

John Davis

Growth Energy is applauding new legislation seen as favorable for E15 ethanol. This news release from the group says the Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act sponsored by Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) contains a provision to extend the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to E15, a moved welcomed by Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy: “We …

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Legislation

Another Successful ACE Fly-in

Cindy Zimmerman

The seventh annual American Coalition for Ethanol Fly-in, which included an appearance by Sen. John Thune (R-SD), was another success for the organization, according to Executive Vice President Brian Jennings. “We do this because we know lawmakers and their staff want to meet with people with a little dirt or grease under their fingernails who are doing things out in …

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Ethanol Supporters Counter Funding Request

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol and agriculture industry groups sent their own letter to House Appropriations leadership in response to a group of lawmakers calling for the elimination of funding for blender pumps or corn ethanol export promotion. The letter signed by the Renewable Fuels Association, American Coalition for Ethanol, National Farmers Union, National Corn Growers Association, and Growth Energy calls on the subcommittee …

ACE, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, NCGA, RFA, RFS

Retailer Takes Ethanol Story to Hill

Cindy Zimmerman

Fuel retailers who have had to fight battles with big oil companies to offer higher ethanol blends were among those joining the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Fly-in on Capitol Hill this week. Charlie Good has been in the fuel retailing business for 35 years as a convenience store operator and auto mechanic and he started offering higher ethanol blends …

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, Retailers