The fight over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was not in recess during the government shutdown and the accusations and arguing are ratcheting up in fervor this week as the introduction of new anti-RFS legislation is pending as well as a Dear Colleague letter being circulated by Representative Bob Goodlatte sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is causing a …
‘Cheap Corn Caucus’ Undermines American Biofuel Industry
A “Dear Colleague” letter is being circulated by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) with dozens of signatures calling for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Administrator Gina McCarthy to reduce the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending requirements. In the letter that energy.agwired.com obtained, Goodlatte writes: “Last month, EPA conceded that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) will soon require more ethanol be blended …
Minnesota Welcomes E15 With Open Arms
Minnesota welcomed its first E15 station with open arms this week. The Penn Minnoco service station in Minneapolis now has four dispensers selling E15 to drivers of vehicle model year 2001 or newer. The Penn Minnoco service station is located at 6001 Penn Avenue South in Minneapolis. When asked by DomesticFuel why E15, station owner Rick Bohnen, who is also …
Legislation to Eliminate Corn Ethanol A “Killer”
Senator Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Coburn (R-OK) are introducing legislation to eliminate conventional biofuels from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). According to a story first published by Greenwire, the impending bill would leave the advanced biofuel targets in place, but would eliminate the corn-based ethanol target. “I think the mandate for ethanol, which is forcing a lot of additional use, …
Ethanol Plant Offering Blending Pump Grants
Little Sioux Corn Processors (LSCP), a 110 million gallon per year ethanol plant based in Marcus, Iowa, is offering financial assistance to Iowa retailers who install blender pumps. The LSCP board of directors is making $75,000 available to retailers to offset the cost of blender pump installations. “There is a vital need for higher blends of ethanol and Little Sioux …
OPEI Launches Look Before You Pump
The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) recently announced their new national ethanol education and consumer protection campaign, called ‘Look Before You Pump’. OPEI said the campaign cautions consumers against the use of E15 or higher ethanol blends in outdoor power equipment such as mowers, chain saws, snow throwers, generators and other small engine products. E15 was approved by the Environmental …
EPA Response to Calls for Lowering RFS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a statement regarding the AAA call to lower the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), stressing that no decision has yet been made on for 2014. The Obama Administration remains firmly committed to furthering the development of all biofuels – including corn-based ethanol, cellulosic biofuel, and advanced biofuel – as part of the President’s commitment …
Dinneen: Lowering RFS Would be Mistake
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen fears “the Obama Administration is about to make a huge mistake” in lowering the volume requirements for ethanol under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In an interview for “The Ethanol Report,” Dinneen says it does appear that the Environmental Protection Agency is planning on changing the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) for …
Ethanol Industry Refutes AAA Claims
The American Automobile Association (AAA) is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to “lower the amount of ethanol required to be blended into gasoline for 2014” in order to “protect drivers by preventing a possible surge in gas prices or the increased use of potentially damaging E15 gasoline.” The ethanol industry wasted no time in responding. “The Energy Department and …
Farmers Harvesting Biomass for Project LIBERTY
Farmers are now harvesting and delivering cob bales for the 2014 opening of Project LIBERTY in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Project LIBERTY is POET-DSM’s 20 million-gallon-per-year biorefinery currently under construction. When the facility begins production, it will use corn crop residue – cobs, leaves, husk and some stalk – as the primary feedstock to produce cellulosic ethanol. With the 2013 harvest season …