Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan this week announced the appointment of 18 new members and reappointment of six members to the agency’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee, which provides independent policy advice and recommendations on issues affecting agriculture and rural communities. Among the new members from the biofuels sector are Alan Weber, Biodiesel Coalition of Missouri, …
RFA Elects New Leadership
The Renewable Fuels Association elected new officers and board members at its annual membership meeting this week in Milwaukee. Jeff Oestmann, CEO of Aztalan Bio, near Johnson Creek, Wisc., was elected chair. Oestmann’s long career in ethanol and agriculture includes leadership roles at Granite Falls Energy, Syngenta, and East Kansas Agri-Energy. “It’s a true honor to step into the role …
RFA Seeks Update on EPA Feedstock Audits
The Renewable Fuels Association is asking the Environmental Protection Agency for an update on the investigation into certain biofuel feedstock imports and also urged the adoption of stricter feedstock verification requirements for imported used cooking oil (UCO) and tallow. In a letter this week to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper noted that monthly tallow and …
Court Decision Impacts RFS Small Refinery Exemptions
Ethanol industry leaders are disappointed and surprised by a U.S. Court of Appeals D.C. Circuit order on Friday vacating most of the EPA’s 2022 denials of petitions for small refinery exemptions from Renewable Fuel Standard obligations, and remanding those petitions to EPA for further proceedings. While the court’s opinion remains under seal and is unavailable for public review the coalition …
Court Rejects Oil Industry Challenge to RFS
A D.C. Circuit Court ruling on Tuesday upholds EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standards for 2020-2022 and rejects the oil refining industry’s challenges to the rule. The Court found that EPA acted appropriately in setting RFS standards for those years, including a supplemental volume requirement to comply with a 2016 D.C. Circuit Court decision. “Once again, renewable fuel producers claim that EPA’s …
Coalition Urges EPA to Reject Petition
A coalition representing farmers, ethanol producers, fuel retailers and fuel distribution companies is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to reject a recent petition by CVR Energy to alter the Renewable Fuel Standard’s credit trading program, which they say would ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers. The organizations include the Renewable Fuels Association; National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS); NATSO, …
Clean Fuels CEO Optimistic as Industry Faces Headwind
On the MainStage at the 2024 Clean Fuels Conference, Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen, provided a state of the industry report noting that it is a very transformative time for clean fuels, biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. “We are facing a serious headwind right now with the low RVOs set by the EPA as part of …
EPA Data Shows Clean Fuels Industry’s Record Growth
Clean Fuels Alliance America this week welcomed the release of Public Data for the Renewable Fuel Standard by the Environmental Protection Agency, including final production volumes for 2023. EPA’s data shows that U.S. production of biomass-based diesel – including biodiesel, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and heating oil – reached 4 billion gallons in 2023. Both domestic production and …
Court Rules Against Refinery Waiver Rejections
A U.S. appeals court last week ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to deny biofuel blending waivers to small refineries. Six small refineries sued EPA earlier this year after the agency denied almost all requests for small refinery waivers under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The refiners claimed the RFS requirement to blend a certain amount of biofuel into …
Biofuels Groups Submit Final RFS Proposal Comments
Biofuels stakeholder organizations have submitted final comments on the proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2023, 2024, and 2025 to the Environmental Protection Agency prior to the deadline on February 10. The Renewable Fuels Association said the proposed renewable volume obligations for 2023-2025 will bolster the Renewable Fuel Standard and provide for sustainable growth in low-carbon renewable liquid fuels. “Moving forward, …