Registration is now open for Export Exchange 2018, Oct. 22-24 in Minneapolis. The U.S. Grains Council (USGC), the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), and Growth Energy are encouraging U.S. suppliers of coarse grains and co-products, industry representatives and members of the grain trade to plan on attending this biennial event which connects them with international grain buyers. The Exhange is expected …
Happy Independence from High Gas Prices
A record number of Americans are traveling this week for the July 4th holiday and as we celebrate our nation’s independence, we can also celebrate our independence from high gas prices thanks to ethanol. According to AAA, a record 39.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more by automobile for Independence Day, five percent more than a year ago. …
Ethanol Production Continues Strong
U.S. ethanol production is continuing at a strong and steady pace, hitting a new four week high for the year, according to the latest Energy Information Administration data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association. Last week, ethanol production averaged 1.072 million barrels per day (b/d) or 45.02 million gallons daily. Output grew 8,000 b/d over the week before, climbing to …
Report Contradicts EPA Chief
Yet another revelation in the Environmental Protection Agency small refinery exemption saga came to light this week, thanks to the investigative journalism of Reuters, reporting Tuesday that EPA “consistently ignored recommendations from the Department of Energy (DOE) to reject or limit waivers to oil refiners seeking exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).” This contradicts what EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt …
Ethanol Report on EPA RFS Proposal
At one time, the ethanol industry would have been thrilled with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal for 2019 RFS blending requirements, which maintains the 15 billion gallon statutory level for conventional biofuels and increases the levels for advanced biofuels. But that was before EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt started handing out small refinery exemptions like Halloween candy resulting in over …
EPA Releases 2019 Biofuel Proposal
The Environmental Protection Agency released its proposal for 2019 biofuel obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Tuesday, maintaining the statutory level for corn ethanol while increasing advanced biofuels, but failing to address the small refinery exemptions that have decimated demand and effectively lowered the required amount of biofuels to be blended. Under the proposed rule, conventional renewable fuel volumes …
House Democrats Demand Answers from EPA
Democratic members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Committee on Agriculture led by Reps. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Cheri Bustos (D-IL) are demanding that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt provide additional information regarding his agency’s “failed implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).” A letter signed by a dozen Democrats presents a series of questions seeking information …
RFA’s Cooper on EPA Actions
As EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt was kicking off his three state ethanol tour last week in Kansas, he was the main topic of a panel discussion on “Surveying the Health of Renewable Fuels Policy under the Trump Administration” was being held at Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Omaha. Renewable Fuels Association Executive Vice President Geoff Cooper was among the panel participants …
Pruitt’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Ethanol Tour
Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen channeled author Judith Viorst in an editorial post Friday summarizing EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s ethanol “Redemption Tour” last week. Day 1 of his Redemption Tour had Pruitt telling ethanol producers his role was to provide stability to the market only to be told the company he was visiting would be shutting down a brand …
Ethanol Report on Custom RFA Motorcycle
A custom motorcycle that runs on E85 stole the spotlight at the 2018 Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Omaha this week. The Renewable Fuels Association teamed up with master motorcycle designer Paul Teutul, Jr. to create the patriotic-themed bike that was revealed to the world on the Discovery channel series American Chopper June 11 and Paul Jr. spent time at the …