The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published the final 2013 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumetric blending requirements, or Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO). The EPA determined that based on an evaluation of the volumes of cellulosic biofuel expected to be available for 2013, the 2013 standard for cellulosic biofuel will be 6 million ethanol-equivalent gallons. The renewable fuels industry has come …
Quad County: Versatile Renewable Energy
“I’m listening to the presentation that Delayne [Johnson] gave you and looking around at the faces of the people I know that have stepped up for years – you put your capital on the line, you put your ideas on the line, and you put your hard work on the line,” began Congressman Steve King during his remarks at the …
ACE to Congress: Big Oil Manipulating RIN Market
In response to the release of the fifth white paper on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Executive Vice President of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Brian Jennings submitted comments showing how the RFS is working and Big Oil companies are desperate to repeal it so they can control the fuel market. …
ABFA Gives RFS Testimony
The Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA) gave testimony last week regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). One of the issues ethanol detractors are using in their attempt to modify or even repeal the RFS is the so-called blend wall. ABFA Executive Director, Michael McAdams said in response to this issue, “Calling for the full repeal of the RFS over a short …
RFA Says Flexibility is Key to RFS
Today, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) touted the flexibility of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) while responding to the last in a five part series of whitepaper questions posed by the House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee. The last whitepaper examines “implementation issues” of the RFS. Questions answered by RFA in the paper include: Does EPA’s annual (Renewable Volume …
EWG Has No Love for Corn Ethanol
During the recent Subcommittee on Energy and Power’s hearing to review the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) as well as during a recent RFS briefing sponsored by the Advanced Biofuels Association last week in D.C., the Environmental Working Group (EWG) made it very clear that they have no love for corn-based ethanol. Scott Faber, EWG senior vice president for government affairs …
Impact of RFS on Agriculture
Increased ethanol production has been good for corn growers, bad for poultry producers, but has overall helped increase farm income to record levels according to some testimony given in a House hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) this week. “The Renewable Fuel Standard is doing exactly what it was intended to do,” said National Corn Growers Association President Pam …
EPA Can Fix RFS Problems
There may be some issues with the Renewable Fuel Standard that need to be addressed, but they could be done at the administrative level, rather than repealing the entire law or having Congress make changes. That according to a Senior Scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists Clean Vehicles Program. Dr. Jeremy Martin testified at a House Energy subcommittee hearing …
Lawmakers Seek Compromise on RFS
Some lawmakers during a House Energy subcommittee hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) attempted to work toward getting some compromise between the two sides of the debate. One side, represented by the oil industry, wants to see the RFS completely repealed. The other side, represented by the biofuels industry, would prefer no change to the law. Congressman John Shimkus …
Vilsack Says Congress Only Works During Crisis
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Ames, Iowa this week and while there gave remarks during the Iowa Farm Bureau’s (#IFBF13) 2013 Economic Summit. The standing room only crowd wanted to hear what Vilsack would say regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the Farm Bill. Vilsack was not complementary of the current Congress saying that they …