May is Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska and high school students took on the mission of educating their peers about reducing their energy use and carbon footprint through the Field to Fuel student social media contest. Students were tasked with planning a one-week social media campaign to promote Renewable Fuels Month – a celebration recognized in May by Nebraskans and …
EPA Administrator Regan on Agri-Pulse Newsmakers
The latest episode of Agri-Pulse Newsmakers is out and the featured interview is with EPA Administrator Michael Regan. EPA sent its proposed biofuel blending requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard to the White House Office of Management and Budget for final review this week in an effort to get those finalized by June 3. Agri-Pulse host Spencer Chase asked Regan …
RFA Celebrates Safety Recognition Milestone
The Renewable Fuels Association has received its 10th consecutive TRANSCAER National Achievement Award for training first responders and others in ethanol emergency response and safety, marking a decade of leadership in the area of ethanol industry safety. The award recognizes RFA’s work in 2021, when more than 1,500 attendees received hands-on instruction via 35 training opportunities supported by the association. …
Nominations Sought for Ethanol Awards
Awarding of the annual High Octane Award and Award of Excellence is a tradition for the Fuel Ethanol Workshop, coming up next month in Minneapolis. Nominations for the awards are being accepted through May 6. The Award of Excellence, established by BBI International in 2000, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the fuel ethanol industry through their research, …
EPA Issues Emergency Fuel Waiver for E15 Sales
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing an emergency fuel waiver to allow E15 gasoline—gasoline that uses a 15 percent ethanol blend—to be sold during the summer driving season. EPA’s emergency fuel waiver will go into effect on May 1 when terminal operators would otherwise no longer be able to sell E15 in the effected regions of the country …
Ethanol Report on E15 Action & Energy Analysis
Good news for the ethanol industry continues this week as governors from eight Midwest states take action to allow the year-round sale of lower-carbon, lower-cost E15 in their states. And a new analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) shows that corn ethanol’s energy balance keep getting better. In this edition of The Ethanol Report podcast, we talk with RFA …
Eight Midwest States Request Permanent E15 Waiver
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and seven other Midwest Governors sent a joint letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan Thursday formally requesting a permanent Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver that will allow each state to continue selling E15 year-round without restriction. The federal Clean Air Act gives governors the specific authority to make this formal request. Joining Gov. Reynolds were Pete …
New Study Shows Impact of RFS on Biofuels Production
Purdue University recently released the first comprehensive study on the impact of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on the expansion of biofuels production in the U.S. The RFS was established in 2005, and was expanded and extended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Purdue agricultural economist Farzad Taheripour led the study which examined the economic impact of …
Rail Disruptions Impacting Ag and Biofuels
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) heard about how agricultural and biofuels producers are being impacted by rail service challenges during a two-day hearing this week. USDA Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh told the board how rail disruptions are impacting farmers, ranchers and consumers. “Elevators are full and therefore cannot purchase more grain from farmers, and livestock operations are unable to …
Iowa Biofuels Access Bill Heads to Governor
The Iowa legislature yesterday passed the Iowa Biofuels Access Bill, sending it to Governor Kim Reynolds for signing. Gov. Reynolds originally proposed the bill this year to increase consumer access to higher biofuel blends like E15 and B20. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw called it a victory for consumers in the state. “Every person in Iowa deserves …