Gasoline prices are high, but ethanol is not to blame. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Chief Economist Scott Richman penned an editorial this week on the RFA Blog putting the blame for high gas prices where it belongs. Gasoline prices are high—up 50% in 2021 and rising further this year, with California prices reaching record levels—but what’s worse is that they …
Senate Committee Hearing Looks at RFS
The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing Wednesday to examine the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) said the committee has not held an oversight hearing on the RFS since 2016. “Since the implementation of the program, we’ve come a long way toward achieving our goals. Economic growth in agricultural communities has expanded …
RFA Refutes Negative Ethanol Land Use Study
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper is challenging the results of a new study out of the University of Wisconsin that claims corn ethanol is worse for the environment than gasoline. Seeking to set the record straight, Cooper said the report, which was funded in part by the National Wildlife Federation, is based on “a series of worst-case …
Ethanol Report on New Hauk Designs Project
In the wake of the successful flex-fuel Jeep Wrangler project in 2019, the Renewable Fuels Association and the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council are working together with Hauk Designs on a new Can-Am X3 project running on low-carbon E85 fuel, to be featured on Season 4 of the popular Hauk Machines television program. In this edition of The Ethanol Report, we …
House Members Urge Support for RFS
U.S. Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) led several co-chairs of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus in sending a letter urging the Biden Administration to take steps to protect and strengthen the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The letter encouraged EPA Administrator Michael Regan to maintain the blending requirements for 2022, deny all pending Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs), reconsider proposed retroactive cuts to previously …
RFA Releases Ethanol and DDGS Export-Import Reports
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has just released the latest statistical reports on U.S. exports of ethanol and distillers grains in 2021. The ethanol trade summary report shows that 1.24 billion gallons were exported in 2021, representing 8.3 percent of total U.S. ethanol production. While this is 5 percent lower than 2020, it remains the fifth-largest export volume in history …
Strong Support for EPA to Deny Small Refinery Exemptions
The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to deny 65 pending small refinery exemption (SRE) petitions is strongly supported by the ethanol industry. In comments on the proposal, the Renewable Fuels Association noted that such an action would “restore confidence” in the Renewable Fuel Standard program, and would also ensure the SRE program complies with the Tenth Circuit Court’s 2020 decision moving …
Ethanol Groups Submit Comments on Proposed RVOs
Ethanol organizations submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency Friday on its Proposed Volume Standards for 2020, 2021, and 2022 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Renewable Fuels Association expressed strong support for the agency’s proposed 2022 renewable volume obligations (RVO) while opposing the proposed retroactive reduction of the previously finalized 2020 RVO requirements. RFA President and CEO Geoff …
RFA Partners with Hauk Designs on Flex-Fuel Can-Am UTV
The Renewable Fuels Association is once again working with Hauk Designs on a new project that takes higher blends of ethanol to new places. Following the successful flex-fuel Jeep Wrangler project in 2019, RFA and the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council are working together on a new Can-Am X3 project running on low-carbon E85 fuel, to be featured on Season 4 …
Senators Urge Support for RFS
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators led by Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) sent a letter this week urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prioritize the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and to support biofuels. Specifically, the lawmakers call on the Biden administration to maintain the blending requirements for 2022; deny all pending Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs); eliminate …