Oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court are scheduled for Tuesday morning in the case of HollyFrontier Cheyenne Refining, LLC, et al. v. Renewable Fuels Association, et al over small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The case was decided unanimously last year by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which held that only small …
Renewable Fuels Part of Climate Plan
Industry organizations are pleased to see renewable fuels are included in the 2030 Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Target under the Paris Agreement. The fact sheet for the plan includes “spurring research, development, demonstration, and deployment efforts that drive forward very low carbon new-generation renewable fuels for applications like aviation, and other cutting-edge transportation technologies across modes.” Renewable Fuels Association President …
Ethanol Industry Supports E15 Labeling Changes
Ethanol industry stakeholders filed comments this week generally supporting proposed changes to E15 fuel dispenser labeling requirements and underground storage tank regulations to accommodate the safe storage of E15 and other higher blends, with a few changes. The rule co-proposes EPA either modify the E15 label or remove the label requirement entirely; and to modify the underground storage tank (UST) …
RFA Safety Programs Win Award for 9th Year
The Renewable Fuels Association met the challenges of 2020 and received its ninth annuaol TRANSCAER National Achievement Award for training first responders and others in ethanol emergency response safety. “It’s a privilege to recognize the Renewable Fuels Association for their efforts in 2020,” said TRANSCAER Director Erica Bernstein. “While 2020 was unlike any year we have experienced before, it was …
RFA Provides Ethanol Industry Update
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) provided an ethanol industry update on Friday, presenting a history of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and its success, how small refinery waivers have undermined production, progress on recovery after COVID, a new consumer attitudes survey, and more. RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper discussed the RFS in an historical context and how the biofuels …
E15 in Court
The D.C. Circuit Court heard oral arguments this week in a case brought by oil refiners challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2019 rulemaking allowing the year-round sale of E15. The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association argued as intervenors in support of the rule that oil refiners are seeking to block American drivers from year-round …
Ethanol Exports Drop in February
After a big start to 2021, U.S. ethanol exports took a dive in February, dropping 38% after January’s volume set a record high for the month. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Senior Analyst Ann Lewis shared the numbers in RFA’s latest Trade Monitor report. Exports were 101.7 million gallons (mg), with half destined for just three countries. However, exports spiked to …
Iowa E15 Sales Set Record in 2020 Despite Pandemic
Higher ethanol blends seem to have weathered the 2020 pandemic well despite an overall drop in fuel consumption, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. In Iowa, sales of E15 (15% ethanol) jumped 24% and set a new record in 2020. Meanwhile, E15 and E85 flex fuel data from Minnesota and California show that 2020 sales volumes generally held steady, even …
Nebraska Ethanol: Emerging Issues Forum Features CEO Panel
The 16th Annual Ethanol: Emerging Issues Forum last week, hosted by the Nebraska Ethanol Board and Renewable Fuels Nebraska, featured an industry CEO panel that discussed some of the most pressing topics in the renewable fuels space. Renewable Fuels Nebraska (RFN) interim director Pam Miller moderated the panel with American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings, Growth Energy CEO Emily …
States File Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Case
The states of Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Virginia have jointly filed an amicus curiae brief in the Supreme Court case supporting the position of the Biofuels Coalition made up of the Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, and American Coalition for Ethanol. The Coalition welcomed the support from the states, as …