The Renewable Fuels Association announced today that the 26th annual National Ethanol Conference to be held February 16-18, 2021 will now be an all virtual format. “As RFA prepares to enter its 40th year in operation in 2021, the upcoming NEC will hold special meaning for our organization and the entire industry,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “While …
RFA Congratulates President-Elect Biden
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is congratulating President-Elect Joe Biden on his victory, as projected by the Associated Press and others. RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper says they look forward to working with the Biden administration on issues important to the ethanol industry. “Mr. Biden made it clear as he was campaigning that he would put a stop to …
Ethanol Report 11-6-20
While some of the 2020 election results have yet to be decided, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Geoff Cooper says the ethanol industry will be ready to work with whoever ultimately wins the White House. In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, Cooper discusses how ethanol has support from both candidates and bipartisan support in Congress, as …
EPA Delay on Waivers Comes as a Surprise
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler has confirmed that the agency will delay action on dozens of outstanding Small Refinery Exemption petitions until after the Supreme Court rules on an appeal from refining companies over EPA’s waiver policy. That means it would be December 14 before EPA would decide on whether to approve or reject the pending waiver requests. …
MN Governor’s Biofuels Council Recommends LCFS
The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Biofuels this week released its consensus report on the steps needed to grow Minnesota’s biofuels industry and get the state back on track to meet renewable energy goals, including a plan for the adoption of a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). In the report to Gov. Tim Walz, the council recommends “a low-carbon fuel standard …
RFA Comments on Colorado GHG Reduction Plan
In September, Colorado released a public comment draft of its Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap which details proposed steps the state can take toward meeting the near-term goals of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution 26% by 2025 and 50% by 2030 from 2005 levels. Noting that transportation is one of the largest sources of GHG pollution, the Colorado plan suggests: …
Ethanol Groups File Motion for EPA Transparency
The Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy filed a motion this week for partial summary judgment in the federal District Court of the District of Columbia calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to make information about small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard available to the public. The ethanol organizations filed the motion in response to EPA’s “failure to …
Ethanol Stakeholders Comment on FFV Standards
Ethanol stakeholder organizations submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency this week regarding the E85 Flexible Fuel Vehicle Weighting Factor (F-factor) for Model Year 2021 and Later Vehicles. Comments from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) support EPA’s new approach to maintaining some level of certainty for automakers, but would like to see the agency “provide a long-term floor and “more …
RFA Urges Tariffs on Brazil Ethanol
While Brazil is still abiding by the 90 day extension of the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for ethanol announced last month, talks with the United States to eliminate the tariff stalled last week and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is asking President Trump to take action. In a letter to the president, RFA called on President Trump to move forward in …
Oil State Senators Ask EPA to Drop 2021 RFS
A group of 15 U.S. Senators representing oil refining states sent a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler this week asking him to simply waive the Renewable Fuel Standard requirements for 2021 to “account for the unprecedented collapse in demand for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.” The Renewable Fuels Association blasted the senators’ request, first noting that jet fuel is …