President Trump announced Wednesday that the administration is reinstating the Midterm Evaluation of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) standards for the automotive industry, which is good news for the ethanol industry. “Today’s actions allow the opportunity for EPA to slow down, remove politics from the process, and take a more comprehensive approach to fuel …
RFA Comments on DOE’s Innovative “Optima” Program
The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) had a call for information on Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Optima). The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments stating that the Association agrees that “co-optimization of future fuels and engines is an essential strategy for achieving national objectives related to energy conservation, carbon emission reduction, and energy security.” The comments …
Aemetis Upgrades Biodiesel Plant in India
A California advanced fuels and renewable chemicals company is now producing high-quality biodiesel in India. Aemetis, Inc. says its 50 million gallon per year capacity biodiesel and refined glycerin production facility in Kakinada, India will use advanced technology to produce the green fuel and glycerin by-product. “The new distillation production unit is fully commissioned and the India facility now produces …
Reactions to EPA Vehicle Emissions Proprosed Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has asked for comments regarding its proposed rule on Tier 3 Motor Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards and the industry responded in force. Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) noted that for the most part, the air toxics the EPA is reviewing pertain to refiners of gasoline and auto manufacturers, …
Ametis Takes Advantage of EPA Sorghum Pathway
California-based Aemetis is taking advantage of the new EPA approved grain sorghum along with biogas and combined heat/power pathway as part of the Renewable Fuels Standard as an advanced biofuel. The company says this ruling creates a “level playing field” for U.S. ethanol producers by providing the same RIN value that is received by Brazilian sugarcane ethanol producers selling biofuel …
Fuel Testing Reveals Higher Octane in Ethanol
Last July, the government announced plans to raise corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards to 54.5 MPG by 2025. The automotive industry responded saying the MPG number was an attainable goal by utilizing high-efficiency internal combustion engines that deliver lower CO2 emissions. However, one hurdle to address is that these high-efficiency engines need higher-octane fuel to realize their full fuel …
All Cars Should Run On E100
Last year, after President Obama gave his speech about increasing the CAFE requirements – in an effort to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over a 15-year period– a few ethanol advocates took their frustration to the streets and formed the E100 Ethanol Group. Why? Because as Don Siefkes, Executive Director of the organization points out, “Twenty gallons of gasoline …
New Fuel Economy Rules Applauded by Industry
A new National Fuel Efficiency Policy was passed today adding to recent efforts to curb America’s dependence on foreign oil while spurring development in new clean transportation technologies that will help curb greenhouse gas emissions. This new policy, which sets the toughest fuel economy requirements in the country’s history, speeds up, by four years, the fuel economy standards that were …