Ethanol production took a dive last week along with the temperatures as the polar vortex that hit most of the country led to electricity outages, major disruptions in the natural gas market, and transportation issues. According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production plummeted 27.8%, or 253,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 658,000 b/d—equivalent to 27.64 …
Renewable Fuels Nebraska Names Interim Director
The board of Renewable Fuels Nebraska (RFN) has named Pam Miller interim executive director, effective earlier this month. Pam has been involved in the ethanol industry since 2004. At that time, she was an elected official, serving as a county commissioner in Northeast Nebraska. As such, she created the Dakota County Economic Development Committee. A thorough SWOT analysis of the …
LCFS and RFS – Conflict or Complement?
Do Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) policies conflict or complement the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)? That was the question Dr. Jarrett Whistance with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri was called on to answer at last week’s National Ethanol Conference. Whistance, who is Program Lead for Biofuel Market and Policy Analysis at FAPRI-MU, said …
EPA Supports 10th Circuit Decision
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced support for last year’s U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit decision and interpretation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) small-refinery exemption provisions. This conclusion, prompted by a detailed review following the Supreme Court’s grant of certiorari in the case, represents a change from EPA’s position before the Tenth Circuit. The change …
Summit Agricultural Group Announces Major Carbon Project
Summit Agricultural Group has announced the creation of Summit Carbon Solutions, expected to be the world’s largest carbon capture and storage project. The goal of Summit Carbon Solutions is to accelerate the transition toward sustainable, renewable energy by dramatically lowering the carbon footprint of biorefineries and other carbon dioxide emission sources throughout the Midwestern region of the United States. When …
Biofuels Caucus Introduces RFS Integrity Act
U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) led the Congressional Biofuels Caucus in introducing bipartisan legislation last week to ensure transparency and predictability to the Environmental Protection Agency’s small refinery exemption (SRE) process. The Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act would require small refineries to submit a petition for a Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) hardship exemption by June 1st …
Ethanol Report 2-19-21
This edition of the Ethanol Report features highlights from the 26th annual National Ethanol Conference (NEC). First, we hear some of Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper’s annual State of the Industry address focusing on ethanol as essential energy. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) discusses her Next Generation Fuels Act, and former House Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson comments …
Biofuels Groups Oppose General RFS Waivers
Biofuels organizations filed comments this week opposing requests from refiners, several state governors, and an environmental organization that the Environmental Protection Agency waive 2019 and 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard volumes. “None of the petitions provides the required evidence that the RFS itself is causing economic or environmental harm. In fact, the requests point to the continuing coronavirus emergency as the …
New Uses for Ethanol Offer New Opportunities
Last year’s National Ethanol Conference featured a panel on new uses for ethanol that was such a big hit it was back again this year for an encore. Renewable Fuels Association Vice President for Technical & Regulatory Affairs Kelly Davis moderated a panel of innovators including: Randy Cortright, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Adam Belyamani, Saola Energy LLC Paul Nooijen, ArenaRED …
Ethanol Helps Cut GHG Emissions, Support Economy
The Renewable Fuels Association released two important studies in the past week related to ethanol’s impact on the environment and the economy. For the environment, a new analysis finds the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has slashed greenhouse gas emissions by almost a billion metric tons since it was implemented in 2008. The research was conducted for the Renewable Fuels Association …