Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen always has an optimistic outlook when it comes to the ethanol industry, despite the challenges it continues to face, but the outlook seems especially rosy this new year. Dinneen believes 2017 might be the year that we “finally realize the full potential of the RFS” and he is looking forward to working …
Biodiesel Grows, Food Prices Fall
As Americans celebrate the holiday season, they are paying less for food according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Price Outlook. While biodiesel production is higher than ever, the Consumer Price Index for grocery store items is 2.3 percent less than 2015. “Food is a universal part of most holiday celebrations, and this year prices have dropped even as …
EPA Wins Biodiesel Suit
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when it included biodiesel from Argentina under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for obligated parties to use when meeting their volume obligations. Back in 2015, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) filed a petition with the EPA urging them to change their rulemaking …
Today in Energy Looks at RFS
With the final 2017 rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in place, a recent Today in Energy looks at a revised biofuels forecast through 2017 published by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) finds that the new rule will have the greatest impact on biomass-based diesel consumption. This category is expected to grow while ethanol …
Fuels America Sends Trump RFS Support Letter
The renewable fuels industry has come together, through Fuels America, to submit a letter to President-Elect Donald Trump congratulating him on his campaign and his vocal support of biofuels such as ethanol during his campaigning. The letter, signed by 17 organizations, also calls on the new administration to “stand strong against those who seek to undermine this vital program.” In …
#Ethanol Report on Cabinet Picks
Some ethanol interests may be getting a little nervous about the oil industry ties of several Trump administration cabinet selections. Those include former Texas Governor Rick Perry for energy secretary, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt for EPA administrator and ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. In this Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen says …
Trump Team Filling Up with Oil Interests
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry, the man who sought a waiver for his state from the Renewable Fuel Standard and was consistently ranked as bad for the ethanol industry during his two presidential bids, has been tapped by President-Elect Donald Trump to be Secretary of Energy. With ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson picked as Secretary of State and Oklahoma AG Scott …
Half of U.S. Breaks Through ‘Blend Wall’
New data from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) finds that nearly half of the U.S. has broken through the so-called “blend wall” in 2015. Gasoline purchased in 25 states as well as the District of Columbia, contained more than 10 percent ethanol on average. This, says the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), demonstrates that the spurious “E10 Blend Wall” is …
#ExEx16 Helps Create $460 Million in Sales
The 2016 Export Exchange was successful in achieving its goal of increasing exports of U.S. grain and ethanol co-products, according to officials with the U.S. Grains Council and Renewable Fuels Association. Buyers and end-users who attended the conference reported sales of approximately 2.6 million metric tons of grains and co-products worth $460 million traded in connection with the event, held …
Hearing Addresses #RFS Management
The Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management held a hearing yesterday examining two reports by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) released this week. The hearing included testimony from Frank Rusco, GAO Director Natural Resources and Environment and Janet McCabe, EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation …