With a new waiver announced this week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has now granted a total of 35 small-refinery exemption (SRE) from the 2017 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) compliance year. Another 39 requests are still pending for 2018 exemptions. “If these exemption trends continue, they will fully and completely undermine the RFS at the expense of rural America and …
RFA Addresses Current Ethanol Issues
There’s been a lot going on in the world of ethanol recently – EPA just released its E15 RVP/RIN reform proposal, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler is expected to announce pending petitions for more small refiner exemptions, and EIA just released final 2018 data confirming ethanol demand destruction – just to mention a few. The Renewable Fuels Association held a media …
Ethanol Groups Pleased with EPA Rule Release
Ethanol groups are pleased EPA has finally released a proposed rule that would allow sales of 15% ethanol fuel year round, but with just 80 days to go until the start of the summer driving season, getting it done in time would be a record-breaking feat, especially since it is tied to controversial reforms for the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) …
Senator Angry Over Reported EPA Rule Breaking
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is upset about news reports last week that former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt broke the rules to expand the number small refinery exemptions (SREs) granted to oil refiners. “I am angry by reports that show what we long suspected: former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt ignored the law to …
Perdue Doubts E15 Rule will be Ready by Summer
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue appeared before the House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday to update members on the current state of the farm economy and what USDA is doing about it. Among the many topics Secretary Perdue addressed was whether EPA would get a rule allowing the year-round use of E15 ethanol-blended fuel in time for the summer driving season. …
Study Finds RFS2 Has Reduced GHG Emissions
A new study finds that the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) has succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions more than the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) original expectations. The analysis, conducted by Life Cycle Associates and commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Foundation, concludes that there has been nearly 600 million metric tons of GHG reduction since 2007, compared to EPA’s …
RFA Asks EPA to Use Reset Rule to Restore Lost RFS Gallons
With the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee scheduled vote next week on the nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be administrator of EPA, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) CEO Geoff Cooper sent a letter to Wheeler this week to provide input on the agency’s upcoming RFS reset proposal. RFA is asking Wheeler to use the reset rule as an opportunity to …
Ethanol Report from Biodiesel Conference
The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has played the most important role in the adoption of biofuels in the United States, both ethanol and biodiesel, making allies of both industries. At this week’s National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper was part of a panel discussion on the future of the RFS and how …
Biofuels Leaders Engage in RFS Discussion
The 2019 National Biodiesel Conference concluded Thursday with a panel discussion entitled “To 2022 and Beyond: Renewable Fuels in the Next Decade,” featuring renewable fuel industry leaders discussing the Renewable Fuel Standard and what is on the horizon for 2020. National Biodiesel Board chief operations officer Doug Whitehead moderated the discussion between NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen and his ethanol organization …
RFA Asks EPA to Prioritize E15 Over RIN Reform
With the government shutdown threatening to further delay approval of year-round sales of E15, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to focus first on rulemaking for year-round E15 provisions and wait to address RIN reform measures in a separate action. With just 133 days remaining before the summertime prohibition on E15 sales begins, RFA …