California Governor Signs E15 Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

California Governor Gavin Newsom today signed legislation that could help bring down the cost of gasoline in California, making way for lower cost 15 percent ethanol fuel (E15) to be made available for the first time in the state.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says California was the only remaining state to not permit sales of E15. “Many other states have already seen the benefits of E15—healthier air, better engine performance, and cost savings at the pump. Now, California drivers are about to experience those same advantages for themselves, and we thank Gov. Newsom for voicing his support for E15 throughout the legislative process,” said Cooper.

The Governor signed Assembly Bill 30, which passed unanimously out of both the Assembly and Senate, allowing E15 to be sold immediately in the state while the Air Resources Board (CARB) completes its ongoing work to study whether the additional blend can meet the state’s clean air requirements.

Last October, the Governor directed CARB to accelerate studying how California could increase ethanol blending in gasoline while maintaining environmental protections. Authorizing the use of this alternative gasoline fuel blend reduces the state’s dependence on petroleum and further diversifies the state fuel supply, helping to avoid gasoline price spikes and costs to consumers at the pump.

RFA has been helping California retailers prepare for this moment in earnest over the past month, holding E15 workshops all over the state, starting in San Diego at the California Fuels and Convenience Alliance trade show.

RFA Senior Vice President of Industry Relations and Market Development Robert White says they have received tremendous response. “We believe that E15 value proposition is going to be even stronger than it is here in the Midwest and parts of the East Coast and Southeast so that when one retailer starts to do that blending we think it’ll take hold a little bit faster than we’ve seen in other areas,” said White. “So here’s this strange scenario where the last state to legalize E15 could really become the poster child for the rest of the country.”

RFA has set up a website to provide information about selling E15 in California called E15forCA.com.

Listen to White’s interview here.
Robert White, RFA - E15 for CA (12:35)

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

EPA Holds Hearing on SRE Proposal

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency held a virtual hearing Wednesday to get feedback on its recent supplemental proposed rule regarding small refinery exemptions and the reallocation of affected volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard and the biofuels industry was unanimous in its call for 100 percent reallocation of all exempted renewable fuel blending volumes.

Just two weeks ago, EPA co-proposed “additional volumes representing complete (100 percent) reallocation and 50 percent reallocation for SREs granted in full or in part for 2023 and 2024, as well as those projected to be granted for 2025, as part of the ongoing RFS rulemaking.”

In testimony to the EPA, the Renewable Fuels Association strongly disagreed with EPA’s decision to grant 140 small refinery exemptions (SREs) based on a new approach to determining “disproportionate economic hardship (DEH).”

“If EPA is going to resume granting SREs under its flawed notion of DEH, it must reallocate 100 percent of those exempted volumes,” RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said. “Without reallocating 100 percent of the exempted volumes, the volumes originally proposed cannot be achieved and any final volumes will be illusory.”

Cooper also objected to EPA’s reliance on the Department of Energy’s outdated small refinery study and “scoring matrix” in the SRE process. “EPA has a duty to independently evaluate petitions and assess whether a small refiner has experienced DEH,” he said. “EPA should not be deferring to the DOE’s long-outdated 2011 study and scoring matrix. In 2022, the Government Accountability Office faulted the DOE study as ‘critically flawed,’ and EPA itself asserted that the study fails to provide useful information.”

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings emphasized in his testimony that without full reallocation, obligated parties could use the oversupply of low-priced renewable identification numbers (RINs) to satisfy the 2026 and 2027 obligations without buying or blending physical gallons of ethanol and other renewable fuels.

“This type of demand destruction undermines the integrity of the RFS,” Jennings said, adding that demand destruction occurred in 2018 and 2019 when SREs and low RIN prices discouraged refiners from blending ethanol above E10 and artificially restrained sales of E15, E30, and E85.

Jennings commended EPA for working to reallocate volumes that should have been legally blended and stated ACE’s view that the Agency is bound by statute to finalize full and complete reallocation for 2026 and 2027. “In other words, the Agency must reallocate 100% of the 2023 through 2025 exempted RVOs – an estimated 2.18 billion gallons – to the final Set 2 rule,” Jennings said.

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

New EU Report Supports Use of Food Crops for Biofuel

Cindy Zimmerman

A new report out of the European Union extols the benefits of using crops to produce biofuels and essentially dispels the notion of food versus fuel.

The report released from the nova-Institute and the European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA) says using “first-generation agricultural biomass, i.e. crops like cereals, sugar and oil plants, to produce bio-based energy and materials in Europe results in important benefits for food security, biodiversity, agriculture and climate-change mitigation.”

“Despite widespread concern and frequent policy pushback against the use of first-generation biomass for industrial applications, often originating from concerns of undermining food security, scientific evidence suggests that these concerns are largely misplaced,” the report states. “The debate is shaped by emotional and political arguments rather than robust data or a comprehensive understanding of the global food system.”

The new research highlights four key benefits to the EU from the use of biomass including food crops for non-food applications such as fuels, chemicals and materials:
Enhancing a resilient and competitive EU agriculture
Increased food security
Supporting climate change mitigation
Supporting biodiversity protection

Read the full report.

Biodiesel, biofuels, biomass, Ethanol, Ethanol News, International

RFA Elects 2026 Board and Leadership

Cindy Zimmerman

New RFA Chair Derek Peine, Western Plains Energy

At its annual membership meeting this week in Omaha, the Renewable Fuels Association elected Derek Peine, CEO of Western Plains Energy in Oakley, Kan., as chairman of the organization for 2026.

Peine has spent the last 25 years working in production, technical, and management roles within the agricultural processing and renewable fuels sectors. He also serves on the board of directors for the Renew Kansas biofuels association and the Collaborative Sorghum Marketing Transformation Program.

“I’m honored to serve as chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association and grateful for the trust our members have placed in me,” Peine said. “‘m excited to work alongside our members and stakeholders to expand biofuels’ role in driving economic growth, supporting rural communities, and strengthening America’s energy independence. Together, we’ll build on the progress we’ve made to capture the opportunities ahead.”

RFA Vice Chair Thomas Harwood, Al-Corn Clean Fuel

RFA’s board also elected Thomas Harwood, CEO of Al-Corn Clean Fuel in Claremont, Minn., as vice chairman.

Elected to continue in their RFA board leadership roles are Tim Winters, president and CEO of Western New York Energy, as board secretary, and David Zimmerman, CEO of Big River Resources, as board treasurer.

Elected to leadership of the Renewable Fuels Foundation for 2026 were Chairman Neal Kemmet, Ace Ethanol; Vice Chairman Eric Baukol, Redfield Energy; and Treasurer Wayne Garrett, Chief Ethanol Fuels. The foundation is dedicated to meeting the education, research and strategic planning needs of the U.S. fuel ethanol industry.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

POET Acquires 35th Processing Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

Biofuels producer POET recently finalized its acquisition of Green Plains Obion in Tennessee, which will now be known as POET Bioprocessing – Obion, making it the company’s 35th bioprocessing facility in now nine states, and bringing its annual production capacity to 3.1 billion gallons of bioethanol.

POET also produces 15 billion pounds of high-protein feed ingredients, 1 billion pounds of corn oil used for renewable diesel, and 800,000 tons of bioCO2 used in food, beverage, and industrial applications.

The Obion facility was commissioned in 2008. It has an annual production capacity of 120 million gallons of bioethanol and sits on 230 acres, with ample corn storage and rail infrastructure.

“This acquisition strengthens our ability to serve southeastern markets and expands opportunities for farmers and rural communities across the region,” said POET Founder and CEO Jeff Broin. “With this new addition, we reaffirm our commitment to providing high-quality, American-made biofuels and bioproducts that create strong markets for farmers, fortify rural economies, and ensure a more secure energy future for our nation.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News

CE+P Secures Contractor for California Bioethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

California Ethanol + Power (CE+P) has announced a contract with Hoffman Construction Company to design and construct Sugar Valley Energy, a new ethanol biorefinery campus near the city of Brawley in Imperial County.

“This agreement is the culmination of months of cooperation and review, and along with diligent financing efforts will advance the project to the final stages of our development process,” said Dave Rubenstein, President and CEO of California Ethanol + Power.

Located within the Imperial Valley’s vast agricultural basin, Sugar Valley Energy (SVE) is a shovel-ready multi-plant campus consisting of a sugarcane-to-ethanol biorefinery, bioelectrical power plant, and wastewater treatment and biogas production facility. The new campus will supply critically needed infrastructure for the region, excess power, biogas and wastewater treatment capacity for Imperial County communities. SVE also represents an economic boost for Imperial County and the region, with an investment of more than $1 Billion into its development and construction.

SVE will provide a long-term economically sustainable market for approximately 50,000 acres of sugarcane crop to produce the feedstock needed for its planned ethanol production. The project will secure long-term agreements with dozens of area farmers, providing a reliable and profitable crop for participating growers. Highly suited for growth in the Imperial Valley climate, sugarcane has a water requirement like the region’s existing dominant crops.

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Senator Says E15 Should be Top Priority

Cindy Zimmerman

Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse, and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) at Ag Outlook Forum

When it comes to the price of corn right now, growing markets for exports is important, but Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) says year-round E15 should be the number one priority of the Trump administration right now.

“In an average year, we’re exporting two billion bushels of corn…this year we’re going to export 2.86 billion bushels of corn, so trade exports are up but the price of corn is still down, for a lot of different reasons,” said Marshall during the 11th annual Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City Thursday. “But, if we went to year-round E15, we would increase corn consumption by 2.5 billion bushels.”

Sen. Marshall says supporters in the Senate intend to get year-round E15 into some kind of must pass legislation this year, such as the National Defense Reauthorization Act or continuing resolution. “Anyone that cares about agriculture, that should be the number one ask of the White House right now is to support a year-round E15 bill,” said Marshall. “And it’ll pass if the president just says go.”

Marshall also commented on the future for sustainable aviation fuel and the 45Z tax credit, as well as a number of other topics during his conversation with Agri-Pulse Founder and Publisher Sara Wyant. Listen to the discussion here.
Sen. Roger Marshall at KC Ag Outlook Forum (34:05)

Agri-Pulse, Agribusiness, Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ag Secretary Highlights Pro-Biofuels Administration

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins headlined the 11th annual Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City this week, highlighting the Trump Administration’s work to benefit farmers and ranchers so far this year, including in the area of biofuels.

Rollins noted that ethanol continues to be a focus of new trade deals, such as the recent $700 million commitment from the United Kingdom. “In London, we arranged meetings between several of their largest ethanol buyers and our U.S. ethanol producers. Just in the short time we were there, our producers filled five percent more of the tariff rate quota just by us being in country on American ethanol. And in our meetings with importers, we heard that demand for American ethanol may increase as much as 50% in the coming year, most of that hitting early next year, which is good and welcome news for our farmers.”

In addition, Rollins says, they are working expeditiously on other ways to strengthen demand and new uses for biofuels here at home. “American corn and soybean growers fuel America and the world, and we will continue to ensure that they are able to do that, but at an even faster rate – we call it Trump time,” said Rollins. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we issued the highest RVO, the Renewable Volume Obligation proposal in history, which provides the most aggressive volumes for renewable diesel and ethanol ever seen and cuts the RIN credits in half for imported feedstocks, further showing our administration’s unprecedented commitment to this effort. We pushed our regulatory authorities as far as possible in April, when EPA Administrator Zeldin issued emergency E15 waivers, a move that our corn growers sure welcomed. And of course, supported extending the 45Z biofuel tax credits through 2029, while focusing the tax credits on North American sourced feedstocks, not Chinese used cooking oil and not Brazilian tallow.”

Listen to Rollins’ full comments at the event sponsored by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse here:
USDA Sec. Brooke Rollins at KC Ag Outlook Forum (35:04)

Agri-Pulse, Agribusiness, Audio, Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Production Drops as Stocks Increase

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. ethanol production hit a five month low last week, while ethanol stocks hit their highest level in almost two months, according to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending September 19.

RFA reports that ethanol production was down 2.9% to a 19-week low of 1.02 million barrels/day, equivalent to 43.01 million gallons daily. Still, output was 3 percent higher than the same week last year and 7.5% above the three-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate decreased 1.0% to 1.07 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.37 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks bounded 3.8% to 23.5 million barrels, the highest level since the start of August. Stocks were 0.2% less than the same week last year but 3.1% above the three-year average. Ethanol exports scaled up 8.7% to an estimated 112,000 b/d (4.7 million gallons/day).

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

USGBC Visits Japanese Biofuels Customers

Cindy Zimmerman

USGBC Director of Global Ethanol Export Development Alicia Koch (leftmost) attended the 2025 U.S. Bioethanol Supply Conference in Japan

Staff and members of the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) recently traveled to Japan to participate in the 2025 U.S. Bioethanol Supply Conference, meet Japanese industry stakeholders and visit key sites in the transportation and energy sectors.

“The Council is eager to build on Japan’s status as a reliable export partner for U.S. agriculture by continuing to grow demand for bioproducts in multiple sectors as the next frontier in the trade relationship,” said Alicia Koch, USGBC director of global ethanol export development.

“By leveraging existing market share and consumer loyalty to U.S. products along with engagement from Council members and other domestic industry leaders, the Council can help ensure U.S. bioproducts are at the forefront of the market in Japan.”

Koch was joined by representatives from Council members Cargill, Eco-Energy, Illinois Corn, the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Marquis Energy, Nebraska Corn and Zeeland Farm Services to connect with policymakers and potential customers for U.S. bioproducts.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, International