ACE Testimony Encourages EPA to Revise RFS Proposal

Cindy Zimmerman

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings testified on behalf of the organization’s members today during a virtual public hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rulemaking for 2020, 2021 and 2022 compliance years.

Jennings noted that they are pleased EPA proposed a statutory 15 billion gallons for 2022 and put forth a plan to remedy the 500 million gallons in remanded volume by the DC Circuit Court in 2017. However, ACE strongly opposes EPA’s proposal to retroactively waive 2020 volumes and reduce 2021 volumes. As currently drafted, the proposal does not guarantee 15 billion gallons of low carbon ethanol will be used in 2022.

“This approach essentially shifts more of the pandemic burden from refiners to ethanol producers and farmers by allowing gallons already sold to be counted against 2022 volumes,” Jennings explained.

ACE board president Dave Sovereign representing Golden Grain Energy LLC, and ACE board members Rick Schwarck of Absolute Energy LLC and Richard Syverson representing the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, along with members Jeff Oestmann of Granite Falls Energy LLC and Jerry Calease also testified at the hearing. EPA’s comment period on the proposed RVOs closes on February 4.

EPA RFS hearing - Brian Jennings, ACE (3:32)

ACE, Audio, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFS

NBB Voices Biodiesel Comments on EPA Proposals

Cindy Zimmerman

Five members of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) staff brought testimony to the Environmental Protection Agency during a virtual hearing today on proposed renewable volume obligations for 2020 through 2022.

Testifying on behalf of NBB were Kate Shenk, Director of Regulatory Affairs; David Cobb, Director of Federal Affairs; Donnell Rehagen, CEO; Matt Herman, Director of Environmental Science; and Scott Fenwick, Technical Director.

Rehagen highlighted the clean fuels industry’s readiness to meet higher volumes and thanked EPA for restoring improperly waived volumes from 2016. “During these past two years, the biodiesel industry worked hard to meet Americans’ growing demand for better, cleaner fuels,” Rehagen testified. “In 2020, the U.S. biomass-based diesel and renewable diesel market grew to 3 billion gallons — its highest volume ever — and generated more than 4.5 billion advanced biofuel credits. Through the first 11 months of 2021, the industry has maintained a sustainable production rate comparable to 2020.”

Shenk also welcomed proposed growth in 2022, adding, “We want to ensure that the BBD volume is fully met each year and continues to reflect growth in biomass-based diesel production. We also hope that EPA continues to create room for growth in the overall advanced pool, since some additional advanced biofuels are co-products of biomass-based diesel.”

NBB also emphasized the uncertainty created by EPA’s proposed reset of 2020 volumes and proposed, rather than outright, denial of small refinery exemptions. “The fact that this proposed rule opens another comment period for SREs just adds additional delays in finalizing a rule that is already late,” said Cobb.

NBB further urged EPA to quickly propose 2023 RFS volumes, which were due under the statute on November 30, 2021.

Listen to NBB’s testimony here:
EPA RFS hearing - comments from NBB (15:56)

Audio, Biodiesel, EPA, NBB, RFS

Ethanol Industry Testifies on EPA RFS Proposals

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency is holding a virtual hearing today with fuel industry stakeholders on proposed renewable volume obligations for 2020 through 2022.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper kicked off the hearing for the ethanol industry with his comments that EPA’s proposal marks “an important and long-awaited step toward restoring order, integrity and stability to the Renewable Fuel Standard program.”

However, Cooper noted that there is plenty of room for improvement. “RFA supports the proposed volumes for 2022 for all categories of renewable fuel, and we specifically commend EPA for proposing to set the implied requirement for conventional renewable fuels at the statutory level of 15 billion gallons,” Cooper said. “We also support EPA’s proposal to account for projected exempt volumes from small refineries when setting RVO percentages. And, RFA agrees with EPA that, ‘in the interest of transparency,’ the Agency should release basic information about entities seeking exemptions from RFS compliance.” Cooper also voiced RFA’s strong support for EPA’s related proposal to deny 65 pending small refinery exemption petitions.

Listen to Cooper’s comments here:
EPA RFS hearing - Geoff Cooper, RFA (3:34)

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, RFS

RFA’s Annual In & Out List

Cindy Zimmerman

By Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association Senior Strategic Advisor

It’s that time of year again, when with tongue firmly in cheek, I take a sardonic look at the year past with a hopeful eye on the year ahead. And after another turbulent year, with COVID’s persistence and seemingly intractable political dysfunction, I am pretty sure we are all looking forward to turning the calendar to a new year. Let’s do it with humor too. So, here’s my list of what is on its way out and what’s on its way in for 2022.

Ethanol, Opinion, RFA

RFA Grows Stronger in 40th Year

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) welcomed more than 20 new members during its 40th year anniversary celebration this year.

“For four decades strong, RFA’s member companies have worked together to move the renewable fuels industry forward,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Whether innovating new technologies, shaping policies and regulations, or opening new markets, RFA’s members remain at the forefront of the low-carbon bioeconomy. This record of achievement was underscored in 2021, as RFA saw a record number of new member companies join the association. We welcome them to the team and look forward to working together to chart the industry’s course for the next 40 years and beyond.”

New producer members include Calgren Renewable Fuels, Gevo, Heron Lake BioEnergy, LanzaJet, Lincolnway Energy and Mid America Bio Energy. New associate members include Antea Group, Booster, Chase Nedrow, Clariant, Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, Cozairo, Data Gumbo, EcoEngineers, Farmers Business Network/Gradable, Honeywell, Navigator CO2 Ventures, Next Wave Energy Partners, Sorghum Checkoff, StepOne Tech America, and Terracon.

RFA celebrated its 40th year in 2021 with a series of podcast interviews with some of the industry pioneers who were there at the beginning, including Ron Miller, Bruce Heine, Bob Reynolds, Bob Dinneen, Randy Doyal, and Kelly Davis.

In the final Ethanol Report of 2021, Geoff Cooper takes a look back on the headlines for the ethanol industry during RFA’s 40th anniversary year.
Ethanol Report 12-22-21 (24:48)

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Farm Broadcaster Mike Adams Retires

Cindy Zimmerman

Farm broadcaster Mike Adams, a powerful media voice for biofuel producers, hung up his headphones last week after nearly 50 years behind the microphone.

Adams has been a well-known face at national ethanol and biodiesel conferences over the past 20 years as host of daytime nationally syndicated agriculture talk shows. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper was proud to be invited as part of Adams’s final show, which aired December 23.

“Mike is a true professional who intimately knows his subject matter, and he always took an evenhanded and fair approach to reporting and analyzing the news of the day. He was never afraid to ask the tough questions, but always treated both his guests and his listeners with respect,” said Cooper. “Whether tuning in to his podcast, reading his insightful blog posts, or listening to his show live on their local station, listeners across the country have a better understanding of, and appreciation for, American agriculture and biofuels because of Mike Adams.”

Adams grew up on an Illinois grain and livestock farm abd started his radio career in Jacksonville, Illinois in 1974. He spent 27 years at the local station before becoming host of AgriTalk, a nationally syndicated program, in 2001. In 2018, Adams joined the American Ag Network to create a new syndicated program called Adams on Agriculture. Adams is a past recipient of the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year award, past NAFB President and a member of the NAFB Hall of Fame.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ethanol Report Reviews 2021

Cindy Zimmerman

2021 may have been a slight improvement over 2020 for the ethanol industry, but it will still be nice to put the year in the rear view mirror and focus on “Zeroing in on New Opportunities.”

That’s the theme of the 27th annual National Ethanol Conference, taking place February 21-23, 2022, in New Orleans. The Renewable Fuels Association just released the agenda for the conference which focuses on emerging ethanol markets, innovative new uses, and the role of renewable fuels in achieving net-zero carbon emissions.

In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper talks about some of the challenges the ethanol industry has faced in 2021, as well as the opportunities opening up in the net-zero future and excitement about the upcoming NEC. Find out more information about NEC at nationalethanolconference.com.

Ethanol Report 12-22-21 (24:48)

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

RFA Disappointed with EPA Vehicle Emissions Standards

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized new emissions standards for passenger vehicles but failed to recognize the importance of the fuels in those vehicles in paving the way for a zero emissions future, according to the Renewable Fuels Association.

“It appears EPA has again failed to recognize that the fuels we put into our engines can have as much—or more—impact on fuel economy and GHG emissions as the engine technologies themselves,” said RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper in a statement. “EPA had the opportunity to use this rulemaking as a tool for moving toward the adoption of high-octane, low-carbon (HOLC) liquid fuels, but chose not to open the toolbox. Research has proven that HOLC fuels can significantly improve fuel economy and reduce emissions from the light-duty vehicle fleet, while also reducing the harmful tailpipe pollution linked to heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses. While this regulation is a missed opportunity, we will not give up on promoting an orderly transition to a higher octane fuels (98-100 RON) for all new internal combustion vehicles, establishing parity and consistency in the regulation of fuel volatility for ethanol and gasoline blends, and leveling the playing field for GHG emissions credit generation for all alternative fuel vehicles, including flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs).”

According to EPA, the final standards for Model Years (MY) 2023 through 2026 “leverage advances in clean car technology to unlock $190 billion in net benefits to Americans, including reducing climate pollution, improving public health, and saving drivers money at the pump.”

The ambitious standards through 2026 also set the light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) program on track to provide a strong launch point for the Agency’s next phase of standards for MY 2027 and beyond. EPA is planning to initiate a separate rulemaking to establish multi-pollutant emission standards under the Clean Air Act for MY 2027 and later that will speed the transition of the light-duty vehicle fleet toward a zero-emissions future consistent with President Biden’s Executive Order, “Strengthening American Leadership in Clean Cars and Trucks.”

EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

NBB Releases Study on Benefits of the Biodiesel Tax Incentive

Cindy Zimmerman

A new report released by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) calculates annual economic benefits of $15 billion and environmental benefits of $4.3 billion from U.S. biodiesel production. In 2020, the U.S. market for biodiesel and renewable diesel reached 3 billion gallons with support from the $1 per gallon tax incentive.

According to “The Economic Benefits of the Biodiesel Blenders’ Credit,” compiled by Capital Policy Analytics, letting the current tax credit expire at the end of 2022 “would harm the U.S. economy and the environment.”

“A significant body of research also demonstrates that the biodiesel tax credit easily passes a cost-benefit analysis, and that the environmental benefits alone from each gallon of biodiesel that replaces petrodiesel exceed two dollars a gallon, or more than double the cost of the credit,” the report continues.

The U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel industry supports 65,000 U.S. jobs and more than $17 billion in economic activity each year. Every 100 million gallons of production supports 3,200 jobs and $780 million in economic opportunity. The new report estimates that expiration of the tax incentive would eliminate as many as 3,000 jobs in the biodiesel and renewable diesel industry. The total employment loss throughout the supply chain associated with production would be between 7,500 and 9,000 jobs.

Read the report.

Biodiesel, Environment, NBB

New Ethanol Emergency Response Videos Unveiled

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has released a new series of ethanol emergency response videos aimed at ensuring effective responses to ethanol incidents. The eight-episode series was developed in conjunction with TRANSCAER and funded through a federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration ALERT grant.

“It is important for us to get this critical safety response information out to as many people as we can, and in as many ways as we can,” said Missy Ruff, RFA Director of Safety and Technical Programs. “Through in-person seminars around the country, online webinars with participants around the globe, and this newly updated online learning program, we are ensuring that emergency responders have the resources they need to react quickly and safely to any emergency situation that may arise.”

The videos are also posted on the TRANSCAER learning management system website where emergency responders and others can take the course and receive a certificate of completion for four hours.

In 2021, more than 1,500 attendees were trained via 36 training opportunities supported by RFA. Since its inception in 2010, RFA’s award-winning safety program is responsible for training over 14,000 individuals and conducting 355 training sessions and events. Attendees represented 49 U.S. states and 28 other countries. For more information on RFA’s work in this area, visit the Ethanol Emergency Response website at www.ethanolresponse.com.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, safety