U.S. ethanol exports were down 10 percent in May to 113.2 million gallons (mg), mainly due to lower undenatured non-beverage, non-fuel ethanol shipments, including 12.6 mg lower exports to India, according to the latest analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). Canada was our largest destination for the 26th consecutive month and accounted for 45% of global ethanol sales. The …
Groups Urge Fairness in Tailpipe Emissions Standards
Seven national associations representing the renewable fuel supply chain sent a letter this week to EPA Administrator Michael Regan asking him to adopt a market-oriented, technology-neutral approach to transportation decarbonization in its upcoming final tailpipe emissions standards for 2027-2032 light- and medium-duty vehicles. The groups wrote that the proposed rule favors electric vehicles while failing to consider the decarbonization potential …
Celebrate Independence Day with Ethanol
With AAA projecting that a record number of Americans will hit the road for a long holiday weekend, the Renewable Fuels Association is reminding drivers that lower-cost, lower-carbon ethanol fuel blends are better for the environment and the family budget. “Across the country, the lowest-cost fuel available at the pump is the fuel with the highest content of ethanol, whether …
USDA Opens Fuel Retailer Incentive Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has officially begun accepting application for $450 million in grant applications for the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). The funding, which comes the Inflation Reduction Act, will have application windows that run quarterly from July 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024. Approximately $90 million will be made available each quarter to fueling stations, stores …
Ethanol Industry Leads in Military Vet Employment
According to a new Department of Energy (DOE) report, the military veteran workforce in the ethanol industry is triple the rate seen in the national workforce average and higher than the petroleum fuels and general energy workforce. According to the DOE report, veterans make up 15% of the corn ethanol fuels workforce, which is higher than the 9% energy workforce …
Praise for USDA Biofuels Grants
After last week’s disappointing final biofuel volume rule from the Environmental Protection Agency, stakeholder organizations this week are happy with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for announcing new infrastructure funding. Clean Fuels Alliance America says some of the new Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program grants will increase consumer access to biodiesel from California to New Hampshire, by companies such as …
Ethanol Report on RFA Reaction to EPA Final Rule
The final 2023-2025 Renewable Fuel Standard volumes released by the Environmental Protection Agency this week mark an unfortunate step backward from the volumes that were originally proposed, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. In this edition of The Ethanol Report podcast, RFA Senior Vice President for Government & Public Affairs Troy Bredenkamp discusses the final rule from EPA, as well …
Biofuels Groups Unhappy With Final EPA RFS Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday announced a final rule for biofuel volume requirements through 2025, displeasing major biofuel organizations. The final rule includes conventional renewable fuel requirements of 15 billion gallons for both 2024 and 2025, down from the proposed volumes of 15.25 billion for both years. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper called the reductions “inexplicable …
FEW Honors Ethanol Industry Leaders
Ethanol industry awards were presented this week in Omaha at the 2023 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Trade Show. Mick Henderson, General Manager of Commonwealth Agri-Energy and past chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association, received the FEW High Octane Award, which honors those whose passion and unstoppable pursuits have significantly benefited the ethanol industry. Henderson began his career in ethanol …
RFA CEO Keynotes #FEW23
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper offered the keynote address Tuesday at the 2023 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo. In his presentation, Cooper outlined the goals of the global “Energy Transition” and noted that many seem to believe electrification is the only way to decarbonize the transportation sector by mid-century. “For many, the ‘Energy Transition’ is simply …