RFA: RFS Not to Blame for Refinery Bankruptcy

Cindy Zimmerman January 30, 2018

Philadelphia Energy Solutions, (PES) the largest oil refinery on the east coast, filed for bankruptcy protection last week, blaming the Renewable Fuel Standard for its financial problems, but Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen disagrees.

In an op-ed in The Hill today, Dinneen says PES has no one to blame but itself. “PES operates one of the nation’s oldest refineries, which is handicapped by hopelessly antiquated technology,” said Dinneen. “Like other refiners, PES could have eliminated its RINs-related costs by making investments in blending more renewable fuels. Instead, PES is blaming RINS for its financial woes.”

Read the whole op-ed here.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Opinion, RFA, RFS

Ethanol Report on RFA Educational Efforts

Cindy Zimmerman January 30, 2018

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is targeting boaters and future drivers in educational efforts for 2018 with the renewal of its co-title sponsorship of the Crappie Masters Tournament Trail, and the launch of an on-line Ethanol in the Classroom program.

In this edition of The Ethanol Report podcast, RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White talks about the importance of these target audiences for the ethanol industry.

Listen to it here: Ethanol Report on RFA Educational Efforts

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Boats, Education, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, RFA

New Report Highlights Biodiesel Sustainability

Cindy Zimmerman January 29, 2018

A new study on biodiesel’s lifecycle energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission effects updates and reaffirms the long-understood benefits of using the renewable fuel. Results confirm that biodiesel compared to petroleum diesel reduces GHG emissions by 72 percent and fossil fuel use by 80 percent.

The study, which was released as the National Biodiesel Conference kicked off last week, is the latest to conclusively quantify biodiesel’s widespread benefits. As a collaboration between Argonne National Laboratory, Purdue University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the study represents the most up-to-date and comprehensive lifecycle analysis of biodiesel ever produced.

“It’s encouraging to see the commitment to data and quality analysis brought together in this study,” said Don Scott, sustainability director for the National Biodiesel Board. “It’s not news that biodiesel is good for the environment. Where credible results are needed for sound policies, it serves us well to look at transparent, reliable science.”

This study represents the first time Argonne National Laboratory has published a lifecycle assessment of biodiesel including indirect land use change (ILUC). The improved model reduces ILUC emissions by more than 30 percent relative to the score adopted by CARB in 2015.

“Biodiesel’s emission-reduction benefits are so great that you can overapply penalties aligned with the most conservative models and biodiesel is still the cleanest alternative for today’s diesel engines and the heavy-duty transportation of tomorrow,” said Scott.

The study was a topic of a breakout at the biodiesel conference and you can learn more about it in this interview. Interview with Don Scott, NBB

2018 National Biodiesel Conference

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference

RFA Cites Small Refiner Exemption Concerns

Cindy Zimmerman January 29, 2018

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen sent a letter last week to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt expressing concern about a troubling “lack of transparency” in EPA’s management of the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) small refinery exemption provisions that could “destabilize the market for renewable fuels and undermine Congress’s goals for the RFS program.”

EPA has the ability to exempt small refineries with crude oil throughput of no more than 75,000 barrels of crude per day from RFS obligations if they demonstrate that the program would lead to “disproportionate economic hardship.” In the past, EPA has generally exercised restraint and judiciousness in issuing exemptions for small refiners, but recent reports suggest EPA has received requests for exemptions from dozens of small refiners, and RFA believes the public has a right to better understand EPA’s decision-making process for granting or denying exemption requests.

Driving Ethanol Policy Priorities

Cindy Zimmerman January 29, 2018

As attacks on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) have gotten more creative, the need for all segments of the industry to work together has become critical to maintaining the law as Congress intended.

We met up Growth Energy Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley for this episode of the Driving Ethanol podcast after he appeared on a panel at the National Biodiesel Conference to talk about how they worked together last year to fight back against the attempt to change the Point of Obligation and the Notice of Data Availability that threatened volumes of biodiesel and advanced biofuels.

The challenges continue in 2018 and Bliley talks about policy priorities including RVP parity and trade barriers. Listen to the podcast here: Growth Energy Podcast 1-29-17

Subscribe to the Driving Ethanol podcast

advanced biofuels, Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, Driving Ethanol podcast, Growth Energy

RFA Develops ‘Ethanol in the Classroom’ Program

Cindy Zimmerman January 26, 2018

The Renewable Fuels Association has developed a new on-line educational program designed to help tomorrow’s consumers get to know ethanol.

The new “Ethanol in the Classroom” course provides a fun and interactive way for students to learn about the renewable fuel. The e-Learning program is broken down into different grade levels and after selecting the appropriate level, students choose a vehicle that runs on ethanol and navigate through four stops: what is ethanol; ethanol’s environmental benefits; ethanol’s economic impact; and the overall use of ethanol. At each stop, students learn about ethanol and complete activities to see how much they have learned. Students earn badges after completing each stop.

“We wanted to create a fun platform for children and young adults to learn about ethanol’s numerous benefits,” said RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White. “They are tomorrow’s drivers. Education is key and we want to make sure everyone, young and old, knows about the environmental, economic and energy security benefits of this renewable fuel.”

To view this new training program, visit: http://www.ethanolrfa.org/ethanol-in-the-classroom/.

Education, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

ZimmCast 572 – Biodiesel and More

January 25, 2018

This week has been about all things biodiesel in Ft. Worth at the National Biodiesel Conference. It marks the 13th year we have produced the biodiesel conference blog and the 25th anniversary of the National Biodiesel Board, so our ZimmCast this week celebrates all things biodiesel. We start with an interview on biodiesel with Willie Nelson in 2006, and also includes interviews from this week with USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky, National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell Rehagen, and former NBB CEO Kenlon Johannes.

We also hear from Chuck at the John Deere Developers conference this week and the Soil Health Summit last week.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: ZimmCast 572 on Biodiesel and More

Subscribe to the ZimmCast podcast here. Use this url in iTunes or your favorite news reader program/app.

The ZimmCast

sponsored by

Locally owned, globally strong.

AgWired Energy, Biodiesel, John Deere, ZimmCast

RFA Sponsors Crappie Masters for 2nd Year

Cindy Zimmerman January 24, 2018

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is back on as a co-title sponsor of the Crappie Masters Tournament for the second consecutive year. The first of 18 tournaments for the 2018 trail begins Friday, Jan. 26 in Deland, Fla., between Daytona and Orlando, at St. Johns River.

“We look forward to the continued education of the tournament Anglers, along with the general public, with an aggressive approach utilizing national television, social media, print, and grassroots face-to-face conversations,” said Crappie Masters President Mike Vallentine. “E10 is safe to use in outboards, as highlighted that in the past three years, every Crappie Masters tournament winning team has safely used E10 fuel with no reported engine issues.”

Listen to an interview with Mike from one of last year’s tournaments to learn more about his support of ethanol and farmers. Interview with Mike Vallentine, Crappie Masters

RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White says last year’s sponsorship really helped boost public awareness of ethanol use in marine engines. “For nearly 30 years, 10 percent ethanol has been used in all types of marine engines and the fuel blend is approved for use by all major marine engine manufacturers, helping to clean the air and water,” he said. Additional funding for the sponsorship came from the National Corn Growers Association.

Crappie Masters Television will also highlight each tournament on a weekly show that can be viewed on the Pursuit Channel, which is on DIRECTV 604, Dish Network 393, Verizon, CenturyLink and Roku. The next Crappie Masters Tournament Trail event is Feb. 2-3 at Lake Talquin in Gadsden County, Fla.

The 2018 Crappie Masters Tournament Trail season runs through Oct. 20.

Boats, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Censky Receives Biodiesel Pioneer Award

Cindy Zimmerman January 24, 2018

LtoR: NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen, Steve Censky, Kurt Kovarik and Doug Whitehead of NBB

USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky was presented with the Eye on Biodiesel Pioneer award at the 2018 National Biodiesel Conference Wednesday.

As the long-time CEO of the American Soybean Association, Censky was instrumental in the growth and advancement of biodiesel over the years. ASA’s primary focus as an organization is policy development and implementation of soybean farmer issues, including biodiesel. The organization, under Censky’s guidance as CEO from 1996 to 2017, played a critical role in passing the biodiesel tax incentive in 2005, and the inclusion of biodiesel in the revised Renewable Fuel Standard through their national network of farmer leaders and extensive grassroots advocacy power. As USDA Deputy Secretary, Censky continues to provide critical leadership on agricultural policies as he has done throughout his career. He has also served at USDA in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, including as administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service.

Listen to Censky’s remarks here – Steve Censky award remarks

Steve had time for a few questions from reporters – Steve Censky press remarks

2018 National Biodiesel Conference

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB, Soybeans, USDA

Eye on Biodiesel Initiative Award

Cindy Zimmerman January 24, 2018

This year’s Eye on Biodiesel Initiative award was presented to HERO BX founder Samuel P. “Pat” Black, III.

With a vision to help revitalize Erie, Pennsylvania with a return to a booming manufacturing sector, Black founded Lake Erie Biofuels dba HERO BX in 2005. HERO BX is the largest biodiesel plant in the Northeastern United States, and they operate a production facility in Moundville, Alabama, and a blending and distribution terminal in North Hampton, New Hampshire. This year, Black combined his philanthropic mindset with his passion for biodiesel and commissioned a book, “The Biodiesel Solution,” to help bring the biodiesel story to a mainstream audience and to capture the early history and numerous achievements of the industry as a collective.

Listen to the award presentation and Pat’s comments here: Pat Black award

2018 National Biodiesel Conference

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference

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