With planting season coming soon in many parts of the country, farmers and ethanol producers are looking for clear answers to take full advantage of the 45Z clean fuel production tax credit. Republican lawmakers sent a letter this week to the Secretaries of Treasury Scott Bessent, Energy Chris Wright, and Agriculture Brooke Rollins urging final rules that recognize on-farm conservation …
AI and the Ethanol Industry at NEC
At the recent National Ethanol Conference, Cornell University Professor Sarah Kreps, an expert in AI, national security, and geopolitics, addressed how artificial intelligence intersects with energy security and global competition. While admitting she’s “not an ethanol insider,” Kreps drew from her upbringing in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to connect AI’s challenges to the ethanol sector. Kreps emphasized that AI’s rapid growth …
Girls Auto Clinic Provides Ethanol Education
At the 2026 National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Membership and Marketing Manager Kendra Coulson highlighted a unique partnership with Patrice Banks, founder of Girls Auto Clinic, aimed at educating women about vehicle maintenance and the benefits of ethanol-blended fuels. Banks, a former DuPont engineer, shared her inspiring journey during a women’s leadership breakfast. Raised by a single mother …
E15 Still Struggling in Congress
The House Agriculture Committee passed a bipartisan Farm Bill in the dark of the night this week but failed to include an amendment with E15 language in it. Meanwhile, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee said this week that they hope it will be added in their version. Renewable Fuels Association Senior VP, Government & Public Affairs, Troy Bredenkamp …
Scholarship Winners Make the Most of NEC
Ten young people, either still in college or at the start of their careers, had the opportunity to attend the National Ethanol Conference last week in Orlando on a scholarship, courtesy of the Renewable Fuels Foundation. The recipients of the Robert Sather Memorial Scholarship included five college students and five members of the Renewable Fuels Association’s Young Professionals Network. The …
California Still Waiting for E15
It was October of 2025 when the California legislature approved the sale of 15% ethanol fuel in the state, which was intended to happen immediately, yet six months later E15 remains on the leash in the Golden State. The hold up is because of California’s unique stage two vapor recovery equipment, which the state Fire Marshall claims has yet to …
2025 Ethanol Production Sets Record Along with Exports
Ethanol production in the United States hit a new record last year, according to the latest data released by the Energy Information Administration, hitting 16.49 billion gallons (bg) in 2025, in response to stronger domestic consumption and record high exports. The Renewable Fuels Association reports that the U.S. ethanol blend rate jumped to a record 10.51 percent, as domestic usage …
Iran Conflict Shows Need for Year-Round E15
The conflict in the Middle East is causing crude oil prices to jump, increasing more than 8% Monday on reports that Iran closed the critical Strait of Hormuz, fueling concerns that higher gas prices are on the way for American drivers. The Renewable Fuels Association renewed its urgent call for Congress to pass legislation to allow the nationwide year-round sale …
USDA FAS Administrator Confirms Ethanol Exports Unleashed
U.S. ethanol exports hit record levels in 2025 and USDA Foreign Agricultural Service administrator Daniel Whitley told ethanol industry representatives last week that the Trump administration is delivering unprecedented public-private support to keep the momentum going. Speaking at the National Ethanol Conference, Whitley outlined the agency’s three pillars — trade policy, market intelligence, and market development — and highlighted a …
RFA Chair Optimistic for Ethanol Industry
At the National Ethanol Conference in Orlando last week, the chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association expressed optimism about the industry going forward despite the current challenges getting E15 legislation passed by Congress. “We all feel a little bit disappointed maybe where E15 is nationally and in California, but the reality is there’s so much optimism to be had if …