Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made good on the promise he made Friday and announced today that USDA will make up to $800 million available to support biofuel producers and infrastructure. Today’s announcement includes $700 million to provide economic relief to biofuel producers and restore renewable fuel markets affected by the pandemic. The Department will make the funds available through the …
Renewable Fuels in the Economic Outlook at #ASTACSS
AgResource Company president Dan Basse was back in person with his annual update on the global agricultural market at the 2021 ASTA CSS & Seed Expo on Tuesday. This is the ninth year Basse has presented at the event and, as always, he packed a lot of information into an hour. Among the trends he noted for the coming year …
RFA Mourns Sen. Dole as Ethanol Champion
The Renewable Fuels Association paid tribute to former Sen. Robert Dole (R-KS), who passed away Sunday at the age of 98, as a great patriot, war hero, national statesman, friend of farmers, and a champion of America’s renewable fuels industry. “Throughout his distinguished career in public service, Senator Dole always put his country first and worked tirelessly to improve the …
EPA Holds Hearing on Proposed RFS Compliance Deadlines
Biofuels groups had the opportunity to sound off to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its proposed extension of Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) compliance deadlines during a virtual hearing Friday. The Renewable Fuels Association voiced strong opposition to again delay annual RFS compliance deadlines. “EPA has had ample time to decide pending 2019 and 2020 SRE petitions following the Supreme …
Vilsack Expects RVOs and COVID Payments Soon
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Pennsylvania Friday to announce $633 million in investments to reduce the impacts of climate change on rural communities. Vilsack highlighted 791 investments that USDA is making in five programs specifically designed to help people and businesses in rural areas, including the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. Vilsack also answered questions from reporters, several focused …
ACE Participates in OPIS LCFS and Carbon Markets Workshop
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) consultant Jonathon Lehman was on a panel entitled “Reducing Carbon Intensity in Renewable Fuels with Climate Smart Farming Practices” with representatives from Gevo and the American Society of Agronomy at the OPIS LCFS and Carbon Markets Workshop this week in California. “USDA estimates U.S. farmers currently store 20 million metric tons of carbon per year …
Membership News from RFA
The Renewable Fuels Association has announced the selection of Mark Gouthro to lead the association’s Technical Committee. Gouthro has worked as lab manager at E Energy Adams in Nebraska since 2016. The Technical Committee is one of RFA’s four member committees on important ethanol industry topics, and focuses heavily on fuel specifications and standards such as ASTM International, National Conference …
MN Ag Commissioner Visits Granite Falls Energy
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen visited the Granite Falls Energy plant last week to gain a better understanding of the ethanol industry’s efforts in lowering its carbon footprint and its role in helping the state achieve its emission reduction goals. “Our industry plays a vital role in strengthening Minnesota’s economy and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. During the …
Sen. Grassley Sounds Off on RFS Deadline
Yesterday, November 30th, was the deadline for the Environmental Protection Agency to release blending obligations for the coming year under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says missing it is bad news for the biofuels industry. “The fact that this deadline is being missed is very unfortunate for farmers and biofuel producers because they’re facing uncertainty …
Green Plains to Establish Monarch Fueling Stations
Green Plains has announced monarch butterfly habitats will be established at its Shenandoah and Superior, Iowa biofuel facilities. The projects are part of the Monarch Fueling Station Project by Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium to create patches of native grasses and other pollinator-friendly plants for the monarchs as they migrate through the state. The initiative …