The latest data from the Energy Information Administration show U.S. ethanol production hit a record 16.22 billion gallons (bg) in 2024, spurred by rising domestic consumption and record exports of 1.92 bg, according to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). Domestic usage increased to 14.26 bg, the highest level since 2019, reflecting the continued expansion in the number of retail stations …
Farm to Fly Act Reintroduced in House
The bipartisan Farm to Fly Act was reintroduced in the U.S. House last week to foster the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) within existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, allow for greater collaboration, and ensure USDA’s SAF definitions reflect eligibility for American agricultural crops. The bill was introduced by Reps. Max Miller (R-OH), Mike Flood (R-NE), Brad Finstad …
Ohio and South Dakota to Delay E15 Implementation
Now that the Environmental Protection Agency has finally allowed eight states the ability to sell E15 year-round by April 28, two of those states have decided they’re not ready yet. On Friday, EPA announced it would act on “requests from South Dakota and Ohio seeking a one-year extension of the current implementation date to remove the 1-psi volatility waiver for …
Liquid Fuel Stakeholders Urge EPA to Set RFS Volumes
A diverse group of stakeholders, including petroleum refiners, fuel marketers and retailers, biofuels producers, and farmers, sent a letter to urging Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin urging him to set robust, timely, and multi-year Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and beyond. “Since the enactment of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), our nation has benefited from increased energy security, an …
EU Court Dismisses SAF Challenge by Biofuels Producers
The General Court of the European Union this week moved to dismiss a challenge against the ReFuelEU Aviation regulations brought by European biofuel producers ePURE and Pannonia Bio which asserted the EU’s sustainable aviation fuel regulation improperly discriminates against crop-based biofuels. The court ruled they did not have the right to bring the challenge. The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, …
NASDA Adopts Pro-Biofuels Policy
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) members voted this week at their Winter Policy Conference to amend the organization’s biofuels policies to increase support for domestic and global demand for American produced biofuels. “NASDA recognizes the importance biofuels play in the future of agricultural production, energy independence and our economy,” NASDA CEO Ted McKinney said. “State agriculture departments …
OAL Rejects Portions of CARB LCFS Amendments
California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) last week notified the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that recently adopted amendments to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) were being rejected, preventing the changes from taking effect. According to CARB, the rejection was due to “inconsistencies of specific regulatory amendment provisions with the clarity standard.” CARB has 120 days to revise …
Ethanol Pioneers Get Back to Their Roots at #RFANEC
One of the most interesting panels at the 30th National Ethanol Conference was Back to the Beginning: Celebrating Our Roots where we heard from some of the pioneers who founded the modern-day ethanol industry. From Dave VanderGriend, who founded the design-build firm ICM, Inc. in 1995, to board members of four of the nation’s oldest ethanol plants, they told the …
Larson Engineering Attends NEC to Promote Acquisition
Larson Engineering recently announced the acquisition of Fagen Engineering the engineering arm of construction company Fagen, Inc., and attended last week’s National Ethanol Conference to introduce themselves to the industry. Doug Edwards needed no introduction since he has been in the ethanol industry for a long time, having managed Fagan’s engineering office in Greenville, SC for the last 17 years. …
RFA-Sponsored Angler Wins Major Event
The Renewable Fuels Association is proud to celebrate a major win for professional bass angler Ryan Armstrong, who used his E10-powered boat to secure first place at Major League Fishing’s Tackle Warehouse Invitationals – Stop 1 in Kissimmee, Florida. Sponsored by RFA, Armstrong dominated the competition while showcasing the exceptional performance of E10 in marine applications. “The RFA simply couldn’t …