While the rest of us are filling up on E15 to fuel our summer vacations, the Renewable Fuels Association is having a busy summer keeping up with the latest EPA actions impacting ethanol. In this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper discusses preparing for the July 31 public hearing on the proposed 2020 volume obligations, …
Japan Receives First Shipment of ETBE from U.S. Ethanol
The U.S. Grains Council reports a new milestone in the effort to develop new export markets for U.S. ethanol with the first shipment of ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) made with U.S. corn-based ethanol arriving in Japan. The sale of ETBE, a gasoline component, was made following a policy change by the Japanese government recognizing the positive greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits. …
New Studies Show Ethanol GHG Benefits
Two new studies released this week provide further evidence that grain-based ethanol is significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and call into question the reliability of recent “land use change” analyses based on flawed satellite imagery-based methodologies, according to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The first new study, conducted by the Laboratory for Applied Spatial Analysis at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville …
Ethanol Report on 2020 RVO Proposal
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday issued proposed volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard program for calendar year 2020, with a total renewable fuel volume of 20.04 billion gallons, of which 5.04 billion gallons are advanced biofuel, including 540 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel. That leaves the 15-billion-gallon requirement for conventional renewable fuels like corn ethanol unchanged from 2019. …
Biofuels Groups Blast EPA for RFS Proposed Volumes
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday (EPA) issued proposed volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard program for calendar year 2020, leaving them basically unchanged and not reallocating gallons lost due to small refinery exemptions. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Geoff Cooper says the proposal “completely betrays President Trump’s commitment” to uphold the integrity of the RFS by …
Global Ethanol Summit Announced
Three global ethanol export organizations are teaming up this year to host the first-ever Global Ethanol Summit (GES), scheduled for Oct. 13-15, 2019, in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) are working together with the goal of engaging a broad array of global ethanol leaders about the benefits of expanding global …
Ethanol Report on 2019 Crappie Masters
With retail sales of E15, or 15% ethanol, now approved in the summer months, some oil industry-backed organizations are issuing dire warnings about damage to boat engines – but E15 is clearly labeled as NOT approved for marine use. However – 10 percent ethanol is perfectly fine and the Crappie Masters Tournament Trail has been educating boaters about ethanol use …
Renewable Fuels Association Features E85 Can-Am Conversion
During the Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) this year the Renewable Fuels Association featured a racing Can-Am X3 (2018 model) which has been converted to running on E85. This beautiful vehicle wrapped with the RFA’s “Fueled With Pride” image, has been racing this season. The extra horsepower provided by the E85 fuel has provided a performance boost as you’ll hear RFA’s …
Industry Hopes to Stop Small Refinery Waivers
Biofuel organizations are hopeful that legislation introduced last week by Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will help stem the tide of Small Refinery Exemptions that have caused demand destruction for both ethanol and biodiesel. The RFS Integrity Act of 2019 aims to provide “more certainty for rural America by bringing transparency and predictability to EPA’s small refinery …
Ethanol Report on Presidential Visit
The Renewable Fuels Association was thrilled to host President Donald J. Trump as he visited the Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) ethanol plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa on June 11 to celebrate year round sales of E15 (15% ethanol). This Ethanol Report podcast includes some of the president’s remarks at the plant and interviews with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper, SIRE …