Two years ago ethanol producers were in the middle of the worst downturn in the industry’s history as the new COVID-19 pandemic put the country at a standstill and production dropped by 50 percent in a month. Under the CARES Act, $700 million was approved to help make up for those losses to producers, but that money has yet to …
Senators Press EPA Administrator on E15
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan appeared before the Environment and Public Works Committee Wednesday to talk about the agency’s budget request, but some senators wanted to know what he was going to do and when he was going to do it to make E15 (15% ethanol fuel) available in the summer months this year. Both Sens. Joni Ernst …
Gevo Testifies at House Ag Committee Hearing
Gevo CEO Patrick Gruber presented testimony before the House Agriculture Committee this week on the future of climate smart crops and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with updated carbon accounting and a system that rewards farmers for sustainable practices. “Net zero hydrocarbon drop in fuels are what the marketplace is interested in,” Gruber told the committee, outlining Gevo’s concept of a …
E15 Sales Reach Record Levels in 2021
Sales of E15 (15% ethanol fuel) hit a record 814 million gallons in 2021, according to a new analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association. The 2021 volume represents a 62 percent increase over 2020 and was nearly double pre-pandemic sales volumes in 2019. The analysis is based on recently released data for Minnesota and Iowa that show sales of E15 …
RFA Issues ‘Pump Up the Savings’ Challenge
Snap a photo of lower-priced, higher-ethanol blends at the pump could get you some free fuel. The Renewable Fuels Association has kicked off a new “Pump Up the Savings” sweepstakes encouraging consumers to share pictures of fuel prices when they fill up at the pump, showing the savings associated with ethanol blends like E15 and E85. Qualifying entries will be …
Senator Says Administration is Considering E15 Year Round
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) gave hope to the ethanol industry that sales of 15% ethanol blends may yet be able to continue in the summer months despite last year’s devastating court ruling. “The Biden administration is considering summertime sales of E15. Praise the Lord!” said the senator during his weekly call with agricultural reporters on Tuesday. “The president needs to …
ACE Ready for Intense 35th Annual Conference
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has opened registration for its 35th annual conference taking place August 10-12 in Omaha, and it is going to be intense. As the biofuels industry focuses on driving down carbon intensity scores, this year’s ACE conference theme, “intensity,” not only embodies this efficiency quest, but also how the industry is concentrating on new markets …
Groups Urge EPA to Use GREET Model
Ethanol organizations submitting feedback to the the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) request for comment on the current scientific understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) are asking for an update. Both the Renewable Fuels Association and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) recommend the agency adopt the Argonne National Laboratory GREET model, calling it the “gold standard” of lifecycle models. “The Agency’s …
Pearson Fuels Meeting Demand for E85 in California
Sales of E85 (85 percent ethanol blended fuel) are soaring to new heights in California as drivers of flex fuel vehicles are finding out they can pay a lot less for a fill up. “People are looking for a lower-priced, low carbon fuel and they have that with E85,” said Greg Jones, Director of Business Development at Pearson Fuels, which …
White House Fuel Price Plan Overlooks Biofuels
Biofuel organizations are baffled by the White House “Plan to Respond to Putin’s Price Hike at the Pump” released Thursday that completely ignores increasing use of renewable fuels. The plan to address higher fuel prices resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine calls on petroleum companies to ramp up oil production and includes an unprecedented release of up to 180 million …