Nicholas Defenbaugh, a senior at Orion Technical College and a maintenance technician at Big River Resources, was one of eight students and young professionals who attended the recent 2024 National Ethanol Conference under the Robert Sather Memorial Scholarship program. Nicholas is carrying on a family tradition working at the plant in Burlington, Iowa which was started by his grandfather Ray …
Groups Urge EPA to Issue E15 Emergency Waiver
With ongoing challenges to America’s energy security and summer just around the corner, advocates for agriculture and renewable fuels are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to authorize the summer sale of gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol before May 1. The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, and …
Lawmakers Pressure Administration on Brazil Ethanol Tariff
Last week, U.S. Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Darin LaHood (R-IL) led two letters to the Biden administration – one to President Biden and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai urging greater action in developing new markets for biofuels exports, and a second to Tai and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack specifically requesting work toward a full repeal of the Brazilian …
Farm and Biofuel Groups Urge Adoption of GREET Model
It has now been almost three weeks since Biden administration officials failed to meet a March 1 deadline to adopt the U.S. Department of Energy’s GREET model for the calculation of SAF tax credits (40B) under the Inflation Reduction Act, and groups representing farmers and ethanol producers who would benefit are getting impatient. A letter was sent this week to …
RFA Flex Fuel Hybrid EV Goes on Vacation
The Renewable Fuels Association’s flex fuel plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (FFPHEV) worked hard in 2023, so just ahead of the 2024 National Ethanol Conference in California last month, RFA’s Robert White decided to take it along on a family vacation as he drove from Kansas City to San Diego. White, who serves as RFA Senior Vice President for Industry Relations …
Volumes of E15 and E85 Set New Records in Minnesota
The latest data from the Minnesota Commerce Department shows sales of both E15 and E85 hit new records in 2023. The volume of E15 reported hit 127.6 million gallons, up 21 percent from 2022, while E85 sales were reported at 16.6 million gallons, up 8 percent from 2022 and the highest on record. When that news was released last week, …
Record E85 Sales Save California Drivers $99 Million
The record use of E85 (up to 85% ethanol fuel) in California last year saved the state’s drivers $99 million in 2023, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 370,000 metric tons, according to a new analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association. A record 118.5 million gallons of E85 were sold last year, up 14 percent over 2022 and nearly …
Lawmakers Push for Year Round E15
More than 30 members of the U.S. House of Representatives this week sent a letter to House leadership requesting a legislative solution to allow the voluntary sale of E15 year-round nationwide. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Adrian Smith (R-NE), and Mark Pocan (D-WI) led the letter to Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, Chair McMorris Rodgers, and Ranking Member Pallone. …
California Sets Another E85 Record
The state of California set another new record for use of E85 (up to 85% ethanol fuel) in 2023 at nearly 118.5 million gallons, up nearly 15% from 103.5 million in 2022, according to the latest data from the California Air Resources Board. California is the state with the largest consumption of E85 fuel, but is also the only state …
RFA Announces Staff Addition and Changes
The Renewable Fuels Association announces Kendra Coulson will be the new marketing and membership manager to promote the association’s mission and the benefits of ethanol, membership outreach and retention efforts, and cultivating partnerships with key stakeholders. Prior to joining RFA, Coulson served as communications and public relations manager for Navigator CO2, where she played a key role in shaping the …