The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved more Small Refinery Exemptions Friday, prompting backlash from the renewable fuels industry. Acting on 16 individual SRE petitions from eight refineries seeking an exemption from their Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) obligations for compliance years 2021–2024, EPA is granting full exemptions to two petitions, granting partial exemptions to 12 petitions, and denying two petitions. Renewable …
New Report Finds California ILUC Score Obsolete
A new report from Life Cycle Associates on “Advances in Estimation of Land Use Change Emissions Associated with Ethanol” shows that the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) method of calculating hypothetical indirect land use change (ILUC) associated with ethanol is obsolete and should be revised. According to Life Cycle Associates, “The cumulative effect of methodological improvements has been a steady …
EPA Urged to Fully Reallocate Exempted RFS Volumes
Lawmakers and industry leaders are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to fully reallocate renewable fuel volumes impacted by granted Small Refinery Exemptions. Fifty members of Congress, led by Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA), sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin Thursday to express strong support for the reallocation of 100% of the waived gallons from any granted SREs, and …
National Ethanol Conference Scholarships Available
The Renewable Fuels Foundation is now accepting applications for college students and members of RFA’s Young Professionals Network interested in receiving a scholarship to attend the 2026 National Ethanol Conference, Feb. 24–26 in Orlando. The scholarships cover registration, hotel, and up to $500 in airfare, and a limited number will be awarded. Now in its 17th year, the program is …
Ethanol Report on the Trade Front
The United States is on track to export a record amount of fuel ethanol for the second year in a row in 2025, driven by growing international demand. That demand was evident at the recent Global Ethanol Summit, hosted by the U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council and supported by the Renewable Fuels Association, which drew more than 450 international buyers …
SIRE Celebrates Two Billion Gallons of Ethanol Production
Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE), based in Council Bluffs, Iowa, is celebrating production of two billion gallons of ethanol since its opening in 2009. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper congratulated the company for the milestone. “The investors and staff at Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, along with the entire Council Bluffs community, should be proud of this remarkable …
Ethanol Impact Tool Offers Global Insights
At last week’s Global Ethanol Summit in Washington D.C., the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) introduced an Ethanol Impact Tool which brings global data to life, offering insights into ethanol’s role in reducing emissions and particulate matter, supporting economies and advancing energy security. “I am excited to share that the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council is unveiling a new …
E15 Legislation Loses Oil Industry Support
The American Petroleum Institute (API) Tuesday came out against the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, which it had previously supported, citing “sweeping changes to federal biofuel policy, state volatility mandates, and market conditions (that) have upended the fuels landscape.” In a letter to congressional leadership, API urged “a more balanced and up-to-date approach to E15 legislation, …
RFA CEO Kicks Off Global Ethanol Summit
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper offered the opening keynote address Monday morning at the Global Ethanol Summit in Washington, taking a look at ethanol’s future by way of its past. “It’s a real privilege for me to start today’s program by sharing the U.S. ethanol industry’s history, our story, and our experience,” he said. “How did we …
Global Maritime Group Considers Reducing Ship Emissions
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is meeting this week in London to discuss a new set of international regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships. “The IMO Net-Zero Framework is not perfect. However, it provides a balanced basis for our further work on a number of elements ahead of its …