In a virtual public hearing this week, the Renewable Fuels Association opposed the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed extension of the 2019 and 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard compliance deadlines, calling it a last minute favor to oil refiners made by former EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on his way out the door. In his testimony, RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman said, “All …
Commonwealth Agri-Energy Producing High Purity Alcohol
Kentucky-based Commonwealth Agri-Energy (CAE) is increasing production of high-purity alcohol that meets and exceeds U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)-Grade. General Manager Mick Henderson says CAE undertook a major expansion in 2018 to increase fuel ethanol production to 45 million gallons per year which allowed them to quickly transition a portion of production to higher purity. “When the pandemic came to our door, …
Ethanol Exports were Bright Spot in 2020
U.S. ethanol exports were the bright spot in an otherwise dark 2020 for the industry. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol exports totaled 1.33 billion gallons in 2020, down 9 percent from 2019 and the lowest volume since 2016, according to official government statistics released today. Still, the annual volume was the fourth-highest on record and nearly one out …
RFA’s Young Professionals Network Growing Fast
The Renewable Fuels Association Young Professionals Network is only six months old, but it has already hit 100 members. The YPN was formed last summer to bring together innovative and dedicated young professionals from across the country who are 39 years old and younger and employed full time by a company in the U.S. ethanol industry. Since its inception, the …
U.S. Ethanol Wins Appeal in Peru Tariff Case
The U.S. government has won an appeal on a countervailing duty case brought against U.S. ethanol in Peru, reversing a previous decision that applied a 15-cent per gallon duty and resulted in loss of market access in the country. The Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. Grains Council and Growth Energy participated extensively in this case, arguing at hearings in both the …
Ethanol Report 1-28-21
In this edition of the Ethanol Report, we hear from three Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) staff members about the organization’s efforts in advocacy, safety, and education. Troy Bredenkamp is RFA’s brand new Senior Vice President for Government & Public Affairs in the Washington D.C. office and he could not be coming on board at a more critical time for the …
RFA Celebrates Decade of Ethanol Safety Training
The Renewable Fuels Association recently celebrated 10 years of its industry-leading safety training program that has reached thousands of first responders, rail shippers, ethanol plant workers and others, protecting the industry’s employees and saving lives in communities around the world. RFA Director of Technical Services Missy Ruff says that over the past decade, RFA has hosted 328 training events reaching …
Court Stays EPA Action Granting Refinery Waivers
The last minute small refinery exemptions granted by outgoing EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on Tuesday night were put on hold by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit today. In response to an emergency motion filed Tuesday evening by the Renewable Fuels Association, the court ordered that EPA’s action to grant three small refinery petitions must be “administratively …
RFA Takes Action to Stop Last Minute Refinery Waivers
The Renewable Fuels Association wasted no time in taking action to stop the last minute small refinery exemptions granted Tuesday by the outgoing Trump Administration Environmental Protection Agency. RFA filed a petition for review and an emergency motion to stay the effectiveness of the waivers, which the organization says will “inflict substantial, immediate, and irreversible harm” to the U.S. ethanol …
What President Biden Can Do Now to Cut Carbon Emissions
Now that President Biden has been sworn in, the Renewable Fuels Association has a way the new administration can immediately cut carbon emissions by 12 million metric tons. RFA recently released an analysis that shows President Biden could cut 10.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions simply by rejecting the 66 pending waiver requests from oil refiners who …