Over the past year, the Renewable Fuels Association has helped fuel retailers and distributors apply for more than $200 million in USDA grant funding under USDA’s Higher Blend Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) during the final application window for the program which closed September 30. The project applications facilitated by RFA represent the addition of nearly 6,300 higher-blend (E15-E85) dispensers in …
House Bill Introduced For Year-Round E15
Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Angie Craig (D-MN), together with Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Sharice Davids (D-KS), have introduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act which would extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to enable the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends up to 15 percent. The bill is …
Broad Coalition Urges President to Avert Port Strike
A broad coalition of organizations representing agriculture, biofuels, food and transportation is asking the White House to avoid a potential port operations disruption that could negatively impact the food supply chain. The labor agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance expires on September 30th and the groups say that if they are unable to come …
RFA Reports Membership Growth
The Renewable Fuels Association had a growth spurt this week, adding three new associate members to its rolls. The new companies are Nataqua, iRely, and Antora Energy Nataqua is an early-stage company transforming CO₂ into ethanol with innovative technology that utilizes CO₂ gas, liquid water, and affordable industrial electricity. Their efficient process converts CO₂ exhaust streams directly into ethanol, which …
Ethanol Report on Election Issues
No matter what happens in November, there will be a new president in January and a new administration that could be radically different than the current one, and that could mean a big difference in the outcome of policy issues for the ethanol industry. In this edition of the Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper discusses …
RFA Seeks Update on EPA Feedstock Audits
The Renewable Fuels Association is asking the Environmental Protection Agency for an update on the investigation into certain biofuel feedstock imports and also urged the adoption of stricter feedstock verification requirements for imported used cooking oil (UCO) and tallow. In a letter this week to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper noted that monthly tallow and …
Diverse Groups Join to Oppose EPA’s Tailpipe Standards
More than 55 parties representing diverse interests joined to submit a detailed brief to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals last week arguing that the Environmental Protection Agency “unlawfully exceeded its statutory authority and acted arbitrarily and capriciously by finalizing vehicle tailpipe emissions standards that would essentially phase out liquid-fueled engines and mandate increased production of electric vehicles.” The brief …
Ethanol Exports Record High, DDGS Exports Up
U.S. ethanol exports have reached a record high of 1.10 billion gallons so far this year through July, running 38% ahead of last year’s pace, according to the latest trade monitor report from the Renewable Fuels Association. While ethanol exports dropped seven percent in July compared to June, at 136 million gallons that was still significantly higher than a year …
Ethanol Industry Continues to Lead in Veteran Employment
Once again, the latest Department of Energy report shows the ethanol industry continues to lead in the employment of military veterans. According to the United States Energy & Employment Report released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), veterans make up 16 percent of the ethanol industry workforce, which is three times the national private sector workforce average and …
Ethanol Report From Farm Progress Show
It’s been a beautiful week in Boone, Iowa for the Farm Progress Show, the nation’s largest outdoor ag show. It is a show that the Renewable Fuels Association always attends because it brings out farmers from all over the ethanol-producing part of the country to see what’s new in the industry. RFA displayed its custom Flex Fuel Plug-in Hybrid Electric …