The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday released a proposed update to Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) regulations “to better align our standards with the current state of the renewable fuels market and to promote the use of ethanol and non-ethanol biofuels.” According to the agency, the proposed changes are the result of “recent developments in the marketplace resulting in increased production …
Minnesota #Biodiesel Mandate Stands Firm
Minnesota has been and continues to be a leader in the support of biofuels and was the first state to pass a biodiesel mandate requiring B20 (20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent diesel), to be used in 2018. Last year a motley group of oil, gas, trucking, auto manufactures and dealers and trade groups, sued four key Minnesota state legislators directly …
RFA Ad Says “Don’t Fall for Blend Wall”
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) ran an ad this week in political publications hitting back at House-sponsored legislation that would keep renewable fuels at less than 10 percent of the market. The ad in The Hill, Politico and Morning Consult said the 10 percent so-called “blend wall” is a myth and a bill sponsored by Reps. Bill Flores (R-TX) and …
Governors’ Biofuels Coalition Turns 25
The Governors’ Biofuels Coalition is celebrating its silver anniversary this month. “No one would have guessed that a meeting I had with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad 25 years ago this month, in the basement of the governor’s mansion in Lincoln, Nebraska, would lead to the formation of a group of governors who changed the nation’s energy history,” said former Nebraska …
MN Congressman Gets #Ethanol Education
Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN) recently spent some time learning more about ethanol production and its benefits to Minnesota and the country. He met with the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association, and during the meeting learned about the latest ethanol technologies along with hearing about some of the challenges facing the state’s ethanol industry and the entire industry. “Minnesota and America’s heartland are …
IA Sen Ernst Visits Quad County Corn Processors
Last week Iowa Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) took some time to learn more about ethanol production and the benefits of the biofuel when she visited Quad County Corn Processors along with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. On hand for the tour included reps from Syngenta, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa Corn Growers Association. One of Quad County’s claim …
GROWMARK Talks Ethanol Tax Credits
The upcoming Presidential election, and the potential changes to funding and regulation that the changing administration may bring, is a concern for many within the agriculture industry, and it was a major talking point during the 2016 GROWMARK Annual Meeting & Agribusiness Symposium. Chuck Spencer, Executive Director for Government Affairs at GROWMARK, is using the upcoming elections as an opportunity …
Former ACE President Reminisces at #ACE2016
Former American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) president Bob Scott likes being able to come to the annual meetings and just catch up with friends, instead of having to “work.” “It’s been seven of these years since I retired so I can come and relax and just enjoy myself,” said Scott during an interview at the 2016 ACE conference. The conference …
EPA OIG Finds Lack of Compliance on #RFS
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of the Inspector General issued a report today that finds the agency “has not met certain statutory requirements to identify environmental impacts of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).” According to the report, the EPA’s Office of Research and Development has not complied with the requirement to provide a report every 3 years to Congress …
#Ethanol at Sturgis is a Good Deal
As a past chairman and current board member of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Chuck Woodside of KAAPA Ethanol in Minden, Nebraska wants to make sure that the money the organization is well spent to serve the ethanol industry. After seeing the RFA presence promoting ethanol at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Buffalo Chip Campground, Woodside believes that fits the …