With the deadline this week to comment on EPA’s recent Notice of Data Availability that would further lower biofuels volume levels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), industry supporters have been putting pressure on the agency to uphold President Trump’s campaign promises. In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen discusses …
RFA Receives Grant for Ethanol Safety Training
The Renewable Fuels Association has received a $50,000 federal grant to help continue the its ethanol safety training program efforts. The Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) grant, from the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, was awarded to the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). RFA is among several partners in the grant. The grant, …
Study of RINs and Retail Gas Prices Finds No Relationship
A new study by Informa Agribusiness Consulting finds that prices of the Renewable Identification Number (RINs) credits used for RFS compliance have not caused changes in retail gasoline prices The analysis, commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), looked at trends in the prices for conventional biofuel RINs and retail gasoline from 2013 to the summer of 2017. “Based on …
Registration Open for 2018 National Ethanol Conference
Registration is now open for the Renewable Fuels Association’s 23rd annual National Ethanol Conference (NEC), to be held Feb. 12–14, 2018 in San Antonio. The theme for the conference in 2018 will be “Ethanol Strong: Empowering Dialogue to Grow Markets.” “RFA’s NEC is the preeminent and most widely attended policy conference for the ethanol industry,” said RFA Board Chairman Mick …
Senators Call on EPA to Keep RFS Strong
Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) are leading a bipartisan group of 38 senators in calling for a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as the Environmental Protection Agency works toward finalizing biofuels volume requirements for 2018. In a letter to EPA Scott Pruitt this week, the senators urged “the continued implementation of the RFS as intended by Congress …
Ethanol Industry Leader Calls on EPA to Maintain RFS
In an op-ed published this week in The Hill, the chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) urges EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to stick with President Trump’s vision for an America First energy policy and keep the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) strong. Pointing to EPA actions and rumors of actions in recent weeks to reduce volume obligations and lower demand …
Groups Urge Trump to Stop EPA Changes to RFS
Biofuels stakeholder organizations have sent a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to “act quickly to prevent actions” at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that threaten to undermine future growth of the biofuels industry under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “If the proposed changes are finalized, EPA’s actions would cause severe harm to our industry, undermining your efforts to …
Crappie Masters Tourney Educates Boaters on Ethanol
The Crappie Masters Tournament Trail recently ended its 2017 season with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) as co-title sponsor of the event in an effort to educate boaters, conservation enthusiasts and consumers about using ethanol in boats and other marine applications. The 2017 tournament trail kicked off in January and ran through late September, with 18 events in multiple states, …
Rumors Send RIN Markets Plunging
A news report this week that EPA was considering a policy change to count ethanol exports toward Renewable Identification Numbers (RINS) caused their prices to dive on the market. That, on top of EPA’s announcement this week that further cuts in the volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) were being considered, caused some to question the administration’s commitment …
Ethanol Report on EPA RFS Notice
The Environmental Protection Agency released its proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018 on July 5, the comment period just ended on August 31, and then this week EPA gave notice that it is seeking comment on options for further reductions in the biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel volumes. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) …