A professor of economics at Harvard University claims that providing RVP parity for E15 would be the most direct way to lower RIN prices. A recent paper from economist Professor James H. Stock argues that providing RVP parity for E15 would facilitate increased ethanol blending, which in turn would drive increased generation and availability of RIN credits and ultimately lower …
Grassley Disputes Negative Impacts of RFS on Refineries
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is challenging claims that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was responsible in part for the recent bankruptcy filing of Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES). Grassley released an internal memo produced by his energy policy staff who analyzed the situation and found that the biofuels blending requirement and the cost of Renewable Identification Number credits (RINs) “have little …
Over 30 States Broke Blend Wall in 2016
The latest data from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) shows that gasoline consumed in 30 states and the District of Columbia in 2016 contained more than 10 percent ethanol on average, breaking through the so-called E10 Blend Wall. That compares to 2015 when the national average ethanol content was 9.91 percent and 25 states (plus the District of Columbia) …
RFA: RFS Not to Blame for Refinery Bankruptcy
Philadelphia Energy Solutions, (PES) the largest oil refinery on the east coast, filed for bankruptcy protection last week, blaming the Renewable Fuel Standard for its financial problems, but Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen disagrees. In an op-ed in The Hill today, Dinneen says PES has no one to blame but itself. “PES operates one of the nation’s oldest refineries, …
RFA Cites Small Refiner Exemption Concerns
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen sent a letter last week to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt expressing concern about a troubling “lack of transparency” in EPA’s management of the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) small refinery exemption provisions that could “destabilize the market for renewable fuels and undermine Congress’s goals for the RFS program.” EPA has the ability …
Ethanol Report on RFS2 10th Anniversary
Ten years ago this month, just days before Christmas, President George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act which greatly expanded the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to include up to 36 billion gallons of biofuels by 2022. The expansion became known as RFS2, like the sequel to a big movie that had just been released two …
A Decade of Progress with RFS2
It was ten years ago today that President George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act, which greatly expanded the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) established in 2005 so it became known as RFS2. In the decade since passage, significant progress has been made towards greater energy security, cleaner air and boosting local economies, according to a …
#ThankYouRFS for 10 Years of Biofuels Success
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was signed 10 years ago this week, with the intent of moving the United States “toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers” under the expansion of the Renewable Fuel Standard created in 2005 and known as RFS2. The Renewable Fuels Association is …
Biofuel Groups Thank Trump for RFS Support
Nearly 100 businesses and organizations representing biofuels sent a letter to the White House last week thanking President Trump for his support of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The letter also offered the president “some insights on how to maintain growth under the program while minimizing any potential for undue financial stress in certain parts of the refining industry” in …
Perdue Hopes For RFS Resolution
It’s been a long and busy year for Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, but here at the end he is still short-staffed at USDA and could use some help from Santa to get the job done. “I had no idea we would be delayed like this and it’s unfortunate,” said Sec. Perdue in a recent interview with Iowa Agribusiness Network‘s …