As officials with the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture were preparing for a meeting today on the Renewable Fuel Standard, reports surfaced that the nation’s second largest oil refiner has requested a “hardship waiver” for one of its facilities. Marathon Petroleum is in merger talks with Andeavor, one of the first large oil companies reported to …
RFA Comments on Brazil RenovaBio Program
Since Brazil’s new RenovaBio program will likely cause significant growth in the country’s biofuels consumption, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) wants to make sure their methodology for estimating carbon intensity correctly reflects the emissions impacts of corn ethanol. Under RenovaBio, which was approved in late December 2017, the average carbon intensity (CI) of gasoline must be reduced by 10.1% by …
Asia Pacific Ethanol Summit Meeting in Minneapolis
Industry and government officials from the United States and 17 countries in Asia and Oceania are meeting in Minneapolis this week at the Ethanol Summit of the Asia Pacific, focused on current and future prospects for expanded ethanol use throughout the region. The event, sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), is …
RFA Plans 2nd Ethanol Summer Contest
Beginning Memorial Day, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is re-launching the “Ethanol Days of Summer” contest, allowing both fuel retailers and consumers to report prices posted for E85 and other higher ethanol blends for the chance to win $50 in free fuel per day. “This contest was a huge success last year and we expect this year to be even …
Ruling in DSM vs Lallemand Patent Case
A Federal Court in Wisconsin this week ruled that that all glycerol-reducing ethanol yeast products sold by Lallemand infringe on US Patent 8,795,998 held by Royal DSM. “We are happy with the outcome of the case. Our focus is to bring customers the latest in yeast technology allowing them to deliver the best fermentation results,” says Atul Thakrar, President of …
ACE CEO Keynotes Indiana Ethanol Forum
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings keynoted the 2018 Indiana Ethanol Forum this week in Indianapolis, providing a state of the industry update to those in attendance and sharing what ACE and its allies are doing to expand market access for ethanol. The forum, organized by the Indiana Corn Growers Association, brought together ethanol plants, fuel retailers, ag …
POET Ethanol Plant Plans Monarch Project
POET Biorefining is establishing a Monarch Fueling Station at its plant near Coon Rapids, Iowa. The Monarch Fueling Station Project was established by Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) in partnership with the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium in December 2017. The monarch habitat will span half an acre and seeding is expected to take place within the next month. The plant …
Federal Fleets Double E85 Usage
A Renewable Fuels Association analysis of new Energy Information Administration (EIA) data shows that federally-regulated fleets more than doubled their usage of E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) and other flex fuels between 2010 and 2016. According to the EIA data, federally-regulated fleets, including government and transit agencies, used 17.9 million gallons of E85 in 2010, increasing to more than 38 …
Grassley Talks Tough on EPA Refinery Waivers
Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa wants EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to stop issuing “small refinery hardship exemptions” or step down from the job. “I’ve supported Pruitt but if he pushes changes to RFS that permanently cut ethanol by billions of gallons he will have broken Trump promise & he should step down & let someone else do the job of …
Educational Opportunities for Ethanol Plant Employees
Ethanol plant employees will have the opportunity to further their education this summer with two courses from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Partnership. The Process Control Essential Short Course is a two-day offering held June 25-26 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln intended for plant operators, maintenance personnel and engineers of any experience level. The Process Safety Boot Camp is a …