Agricultural and biofuels groups as well as farm state lawmakers are pleased that the new COVID relief package passed by Congress last night includes help for producers excluded from previous aid legislation. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) says relief includes the Paycheck Protection Program for Producers Act. “The bill also includes funding to allow the Department of Agriculture to provide additional …
Bob Sather Scholarships Available for NEC
Scholarships for students to attend the National Ethanol Conference will be offered by the Renewable Fuels Association in partnership with the Renewable Fuels Foundation once again for 2021, but this time with a new name honoring an ethanol industry pioneer. Now in its 12th year, the program has been named in honor of Bob Sather, who was involved in education …
USDA Offers More Biofuels Infrastructure Grants
The U.S Department of Agriculture has announced another round of funding for its successful Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, or HBIIP. Approximately $22 million is being made available for retailers to add higher ethanol blends like E15 and E85. The application window will be open for 30 days starting December 21 and ending January 19. Ethanol organizations are offering help …
Brazil Tariff Decision ‘Devastating’ For US Ethanol
Brazil’s decision to impose a 20 percent tariff on all U.S. ethanol imports is devastating for the U.S. ethanol industry, according to organizations that work to promote ethanol exports. The leadership of the Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. Grains Council, Growth Energy, and the National Corn Growers Association say the action jeopardizes the future of cooperation and coordination between the U.S …
RFA Gives Ethanol Industry Update
As Congress continues to negotiate a new COVID-19 aid package, the pandemic continues to batter the U.S. ethanol industry and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) wants lawmakers to know the challenges producers are facing. With losses from the pandemic nearing $4 billion, the ethanol industry continues to fight for implementation of the Tenth Circuit Court decision nationwide, and prepares to …
Ethanol Report 12-15-20
A new analysis released by the Renewable Fuels Association shows the devastating impact COVID-19 pandemic restrictions continue to have on ethanol producers, with losses nearing $4 billion. RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman authored the white paper which shows ethanol production dropped by two billion gallons between March and November this year, which meant a 700-million-bushel decline in the use of …
Ethanol Industry Needs Support as COVID Losses Rise
As COVID-19 cases rise and travel is being limited again, the consumption of ethanol-blended gasoline is on the decline again. In the first week of December, consumption of both gasoline and ethanol fell to their lowest points since May, according to data from the Energy Information Administration. According to a new analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol industry losses …
Biofuels Groups Pleased with Vilsack Nomination
Tom Vilsack has officially been nominated to serve as Secretary of Agriculture in the Biden Administration, reprising the role he held under President Obama for eight years, and the biofuels industry is quite happy with that decision. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says Vilsack is an excellent choice. “We are especially happy to have someone in the …
DOJ Opposes Supreme Court Review of RFS Waivers Decision
The Department of Justice has recommended against a Supreme Court review of the Tenth Circuit Court’s ruling earlier this year that invalidated several small refinery exemptions issued by EPA under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The DOJ filed its response Wednesday to a petition submitted in September by oil refineries HollyFrontier Corporation and CVR Energy asking the Supreme Court to review …
US Ethanol Exports Explode in October
According to the latest analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. ethanol exports in October rocketed 64% higher to 126.5 million gallons (mg), the largest volume since March. Shipments crossing the border to Canada rebounded by 11% (35.6 mg), equivalent to 28% of total U.S. ethanol exports. The Netherlands purchased record gallons (24.2 mg) while sales to South Korea jumped …