A freshman Republican representative from Kansas today blasted higher ethanol blends during a House subcommittee hearing that focused on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “Why don’t I hear my constituents screaming for E15 and E85 if it’s such a good thing to lower consumer prices?” Congressman Mike Pompeo asked Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen during the hearing. …
House Hearing on Future of Renewable Fuels Now
Just a quick note to let you all know we are listening in on the House Energy and Power Subcommittee Hearing on Renewable Fuels. I’ll have more details later, but I can tell you that there is some differences in opinion between those testifying today. Jack Gerard, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Petroleum Institute is making the …
Farm Group Opposes Bill that Would Weaken RFS
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is opposed to a bill introduced by Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ) that they claim would weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by requiring fuel companies to blend only the amount of cellulosic ethanol currently being produced into gasoline. “Basically any weakening of the RFS is not a good thing for the country going forward. …
RFA Refutes RFS Rumors
In an effort to shut down the rumor mill, the Renewable Fuels Association is setting the record straight on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). There have been rumors that EPA might attempt to scale back the RFS by 20% due to the deteriorating condition of the U.S. corn crop, but RFA officials say the statutory process relating to RFS waiver …
Canadian, US RFAs Praise Joint Clean Energy Plan
A plan by the United States and Canada to develop jointly clean energy technologies, including biofuels, garners praise from each country’s leading advocates for the green fuels. The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) and the U.S. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) sent a letter to leaders commending both governments for the United States – Canada Clean Energy Dialogue Action Plan II …
Biofuels Defense Investments Announced
The Obama administration today announced new investments in the biofuels industry as part of the Defense Production Act (DPA). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Navy and Department of Energy jointly announced $30 million in federal funding to match private investments in commercial-scale advanced drop-in biofuels. The Energy Department is also announcing a total of $32 million in new investments …
USDA, GE Combine Efforts for Biofuels for Jets in Ohio
The USDA and General Electric are a couple of the key collaborators on a biofuels for jets program at GE Aviation’s Cincinnati-area facilities. During remarks at an event today, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack highlighted the work, along with the Ohio Aerospace Institute, air carriers and producer groups, to develop a Midwest-regional strategy to provide renewable-jet fuel in Ohio: “We …
DF Cast: What’s in the Farm Bill for Biofuels?
The U.S. Senate has passed its version of the Farm Bill… or as Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack likes to call it by its more proper name, Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012, because of its all-encompassing nature (he even “fines” people in his office $1 for every time they give the shortened, less encompassing name)… and it …
Death of Ethanol-Killing Amendment Welcomed
A measure that would have killed ethanol and other renewable energy programs under the Farm Bill was stopped today in Washington, D.C. Senator Pat Toomey’s amendment to the Farm Bill that would have repealed the Biorefinery Assistance Program went down to defeat in a bipartisan 63-33 count. The vote was welcomed by Growth Energy CEO, Tom Buis: “The Biorefinery Assistance …
G20 Blasted for Not Lowering Oil Subsidies
As the G20 summit wraps up in Mexico and many of the members head off to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the group is being blasted for its failure to reduce the amount of subsidies for crude oil. This press release from the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) says a new Oil Change …