Several recent media reports have reported that the “blend wall” cost refiners nearly $1.35 billion last year. The blend wall is the amount of ethanol that can be blended into the fuel supply. Today is this considered “E10” and for the most part this has been achieved. The next step to hurdle the so called blend wall is to either …
Genscape Brings Integrity to Biodiesel RINs
Confidence in the identification numbers for the government’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is key to the growth in biodiesel. This article from Biodiesel Magazine says the National Biodiesel Board-backed Genscape RIN (Renewable Identification Number) Integrity Network is helping keep up the confidence that those record-breaking biodiesel production numbers are legit. Genscape provides U.S. EPA preregistered [quality assurance plans] QAP services …
Analysis: RINs Price Drop Indicate EPA Reversal
A drop in prices for biodiesel and ethanol Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) could indicate that the government’s proposal to cut the amount of the green fuels to be blended into America’s fuel supply will be reversed. In an analysis by University of Illinois agricultural marketing expert Scott Irwin, lower RINs suggest the market believes odds are the Environmental Protection Agency …
Informa Study Shows E85, E15 Can Achieve RFS
According to a new study by Informa Economics, “Analysis of the Potential Use of Biofuels toward the Renewable Fuel Standard in 2014, shows intended Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) 2014 blending requirements as outlined by statute can be reached through expanded consumption of E85, E15 and carryover of RIN credits (Renewable Identification Numbers). According to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), the …
Feds Continue Crackdown in RIN Fraud Case
More charges are coming against an Indiana company that defrauded investors and the government over Renewable Identification Numbers. FuelFix.com reports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is bringing charges against Evansville-based Imperial Petroleum and its wholly owned subsidiary, Middletown, Ind.-based e-Biofuels for falsely generating more than 33.5 million invalid RINs. The EPA alleges that e-Biofuels generated more than 33.5 million …
RINS Had No Impact on 2013 Gas Prices
Despite all the “RINsanity” caused in early 2013 when gas prices spiked and the oil industry pointed fingers at volatile Renewable Identification Numbers, a report out today exonerates RINS from blame. The detailed statistical analysis conducted by Informa Economics and released today by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) finds that retail gasoline prices were “unaffected by the erratic surge in …
EPA Biodiesel Proposal to Impact RINs
The proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to cut the amount of biodiesel to be blended into the Nation’s fuel supply could have some pretty big impact on the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) situation in the coming year. In this piece in Biodiesel Magazine, the author looks at an analysis from the University of Illinois that shows how biomass-based …
No Changes Needed to 2014/2015 RFS
According to a new analysis from Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to reduce the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending requirements is unwarranted and economically irrational. “Feasibility and Cost of Increasing US Ethanol Consumption Beyond E10,” demonstrates that the 2014 statutory RFS requirements could be easily met with no …
EPA Invalidates 33.5 Million RINs from Indiana Co.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has invalidated 33.5 million Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) worth about $13.4 million sold by Indiana-based E-Biofuels LLC. This story from the Indiana Business Journal says while Big Oil has jumped on the announcement as an indictment of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), biodiesel advocates are quick to point out this is just an isolated incident …
How To Make E85 Sales Soar
A bottleneck of too few fuel stations that offer E85 (85% ethanol 15% gasoline), along with price incongruity are two major factors that reduce the ability of E85 to help meet increasing Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) biofuel mandates. Iowa State University economists Bruce A Babcock and Sebastien Pouliot state in “How Much E85 Can Be Consumed in the U.S.” that …