The Renewable Fuels Association submitted comments this week to oppose an EPA proposal to extend the deadlines for demonstrating compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2019 and 2020. “This proposal is unnecessary, and the timelines are excessive,” wrote RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “All that the extensions would do is to compound problems that the EPA itself created …
Broad Coalition Supports MN Clean Fuels Standard
A broad coalition representing automakers, biofuel producers, farmers, electric vehicles, and conservation advocates is endorsing new legislation that would implement a clean fuels standard statewide in Minnesota, which would be the first for a Midwestern state. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) are both members of the coalition, which is facilitated by the Great …
Michael Regan Confirmed as EPA Administrator
Michael Regan has officially been confirmed as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with a 66-34 vote Wednesday by the U.S. Senate. Regan comes to EPA after serving as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. During his confirmation hearing, Regan emphasized that the “RFS is definitely a priority for this administration.” U.S. biofuels organizations are thrilled …
US Ethanol Groups Support Canada Clean Fuel Reg
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), U.S. Grains Council and Growth Energy submitted joint comments regarding Canada’s proposed Clean Fuel Regulation. “The proposed regulation takes a market-based approach to driving carbon reductions in the Canadian fuels market, providing an attractive model for other countries to follow,” the organizations said. “Canada should be applauded for showing global leadership on the implementation of …
Ethanol Report 3-4-21
This edition of the Ethanol Report explores ethanol’s role as a “net-zero hero” with highlights from the 26th annual National Ethanol Conference (NEC). The report includes remarks from David MacIntosh, Environmental Health & Engineering Inc.; Stefan Unnasch with Life Cycle Associates; and Michael Berube, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation, who all spoke at the 2021 NEC. In addition, we …
CLEAN Future Act Includes RFS Provisions
Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday introduced the Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s (CLEAN) Future Act, intended to achieve net zero greenhouse gas pollution by 2050. The Renewable Fuels Association welcomed the inclusion of certain provisions in the legislature that would help bring more transparency and integrity to EPA’s implementation of the Renewable Fuel …
UK Embraces 10 Percent Ethanol Petrol
“Motorists across the UK are set to shift to a greener fuel with the introduction of E10 at petrol stations in September 2021,” announced a February 25 GOV.UK press release. That announcement is very welcome news to ethanol producers in the United States, according to a joint statement from Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the U.S. Grains Council. “The …
Year End EIA Data Show Ethanol Volume Declines
The Renewable Fuels Association reports year-end data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) show both the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resilience of the ethanol industry. U.S. ethanol production fell to 13.93 billion gallons last year, down 1.85 bg, or 11.7%, from 2019. It was the lowest production level since 2013. The data indicate that domestic ethanol consumption …
Frigid Weather Takes Toll on Ethanol Production
Ethanol production took a dive last week along with the temperatures as the polar vortex that hit most of the country led to electricity outages, major disruptions in the natural gas market, and transportation issues. According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production plummeted 27.8%, or 253,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 658,000 b/d—equivalent to 27.64 …
Renewable Fuels Nebraska Names Interim Director
The board of Renewable Fuels Nebraska (RFN) has named Pam Miller interim executive director, effective earlier this month. Pam has been involved in the ethanol industry since 2004. At that time, she was an elected official, serving as a county commissioner in Northeast Nebraska. As such, she created the Dakota County Economic Development Committee. A thorough SWOT analysis of the …