RFA Urges COP28 to Include Ethanol in Climate Change Fight

Cindy Zimmerman

As leaders from around the world convene this week in the United Arab Emirates to kick off the 2023 United Nations climate change conference (COP28), the Renewable Fuels Association is calling on U.S. delegates at the event to “prominently highlight the U.S. biofuels industry’s remarkable contributions to the fight against global climate change.”

RFA sent a letter to U.S. climate envoy John Kerry asking that U.S. leaders “…ensure renewable biofuels like ethanol are explicitly included in our nation’s plans to meet future greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction commitments.”

Along with the letter, RFA submitted a brief white paper providing details on ethanol’s low-carbon benefits, the substantial greenhouse gas emissions reductions achieved under the Renewable Fuel Standard, and the road ahead toward fully carbon-neutral ethanol.

“While biofuels like ethanol have already made extraordinary contributions in the fight against climate change, America’s farmers and biofuel producers have even more to offer,” RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper wrote. “A strong endorsement of biofuels by the U.S. delegation in Dubai would not only send a powerful signal to the global community, but it would also serve to unleash further innovation and investment in the U.S. biofuels sector. COP28 is a pivotal forum to outline the U.S. vision for low-carbon biofuels, and we look forward to continuing our work with you and the entire Biden administration to make that vision a reality.”

In the accompanying white paper on ethanol and carbon emissions, RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman laid out the groundbreaking 2021 net-zero pledge by RFA producer members and progress seen in the industry. He noted the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory estimates that ethanol reduces GHG emissions by up to 52% compared to gasoline, and that the carbon intensity of corn ethanol fell 23% from 2005 to 2019.

biofuels, Carbon, Environment, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Flex Fuel Fairness Act Introduced in House

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Angie Craig (D-MN) this week introduced the Flex Fuel Fairness Act of 2023, designed to level the playing field for vehicles running on low-carbon liquid fuels, like ethanol.

“As we look toward a cleaner energy future with options to lower carbon emissions, it’s imperative to amplify solutions like flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) and ensure that they are included as a low-carbon option,” said Miller-Meeks. “FFVs provide more options for consumers and the U.S. supply chain and unlock increased use of lower-carbon liquid fuel blends containing higher levels of ethanol, like E30 and E85. I am proud to lead the ‘Flex Fuel Fairness Act of 2023,’ and level the playing field for FFVs as a practical alternative to Electric Vehicles.”

“Renewable fuels are a solution we can implement to combat climate change right now, and we know that flex fuel vehicles help Minnesotans save money at the pump, support family farmers and producers and help protect the environment,” said Craig. “That’s why I introduced this bipartisan bill with my colleague Rep. Miller-Meeks to expand flex-fuel vehicle production – and I’ll keep working to get our bill passed.”

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the legislation acknowledges the important emissions benefits of flex fuel vehicles and promotes the continued production of these popular automobiles. “This legislation would provide more clean vehicle options for consumers and give automakers more ways to comply with increasingly stringent vehicle emissions standards,” said Cooper. “By leveling the playing field for all clean vehicle technologies, this bill allows low-carbon liquid fuels like ethanol to work alongside clean electricity, electric vehicles, and other technologies to reduce emissions from transportation.”

The bill would help to level the playing field for FFVs by properly recognizing the emissions benefits associated with using E85 flex fuels (which contain 51-83 percent ethanol). A Senate version was filed this past summer by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE).

Cosponsors of the House bill include Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), and Brad Finstad (R-MN).

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Continuum Ag Launches Billion Bushel Challenge

Cindy Zimmerman

With an estimated six billion bushels expected to be used for ethanol production next year, Continuum Ag has set their sights on helping the industry SCORE (Carbon Intensity Score) over a billion bushels in 2024 with the Billion Bushel Challenge to help a million farmers improve their profitability via improved soil health.

“This is the start of something very big, and we are excited to partner with our fellow farmers to help them see the value in what we already are doing today, now is the time to be rewarded for producing low CI grain,” said Continuum’s VP of Sales & Seventh generation Iowa Heritage farmer, Chad Scebold. “Together, we will help empower their data and control the narrative – visibility and rewards make it worth a growers effort to implement sustainable farming practices to their operation.

With the Section 45Z Tax Credits biofuel manufacturers can earn 2025 tax credits by creating low carbon fuel, AND grain carbon intensity is the number one driver of this. The Billion Bushel Challenge drives awareness and participation around low carbon grain needed for biofuel producing, giving Farmers the visibility they need, the control of their premiums & the reward they deserve for growing low CI grain.

“Continuum Ag is working to activate and encourage farmers across the nation to better understand what’s going on under their feet and utilizing the power of technology to do so,” says Continuum Ag’s Founder & CEO Mitchell Hora.

Biofuels need low CI grain from farmers and farmers need biofuels, Continuum Ag believes that now is the time for farmers to lead the charge with the Billion Bushel Challenge to ensure visibility, control and rewards.

Continuum Ag launched the effort last week with a webinar. Listen to part of that here:
Continuum Ag Billion Bushel Challenge - Mitchell Hora and Chad Scebold (5:45)

Audio, aviation biofuels, biofuels, Carbon, Ethanol, Ethanol News

RFA Partners with Girls Auto Clinic for Ethanol Education

Cindy Zimmerman


The Renewable Fuels Association has just announced a new partnership with the Girls Auto Clinic (GAC) to bring ethanol education and promotion to a new and growing audience – women who are actively interested in auto purchasing, maintenance, and repair.

Founded in 2013 by entrepreneur Patrice Banks, Girls Auto Clinic builds and provides tools to drive knowledge and engagement to women, or “shecanics,” to own their automotive experiences. GAC empowers women to be fully engaged and confident in purchasing and managing their vehicles, while also increasing the presence of women successfully and happily employed within the automotive industry.

“The Girls Auto Clinic Car Care Workshop is an in-depth, interactive and fun way for women to learn about their cars, what maintenance they can do to prolong the life of their car (and save money), how to talk to a mechanic, and what to do in an emergency,” said Banks, GAC’s CEO and founder. “And now, with RFA’s backing, we can extend our reach, empowering more women across the country to become confident drivers and smart consumers.”

“We’re looking forward to working with Girls Auto Clinic, which does terrific work in expanding automotive knowledge and confidence to more women,” said RFA Vice President for Industry Relations Robert White. “It’s important for all consumers to understand the value of American-made ethanol, as it provides critical cost savings for families and benefits for the climate and the air we breathe. It’s also critical that all drivers understand the advantages and proper uses of higher-level blends like E15 and flex fuels like E85. Patrice and her team are the perfect partner for this effort.”

automotive, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ethanol Industry Reacts to Waiver Ruling

Cindy Zimmerman

Farmers and ethanol producers are disappointed in last week’s ruling against EPA’s rejection of refinery waiver requests.

A coalition of groups including the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, American Coalition for Ethanol and National Farmers Union reacted to the decision of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals remanding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency its rejection of six small refinery exemption requests.

“While we are disappointed by this decision, we will continue to vigilantly defend the Renewable Fuel Standard and fight against the illegal abuse of small refinery exemptions. As other Federal courts have determined, the RFS does not impose an economic burden on oil refiners because any compliance costs are passed down the supply chain. All refiners—regardless of their size or location—face equitable RFS obligations, and all of them pass through their costs to comply. This lawsuit was never really about purported economic hardship; rather, it was about a handful of entrenched oil refineries doing everything they can to dodge their legal obligations to blend renewable fuels and block consumer access to lower-cost, lower-carbon options at the pump.”

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

Report Claims White House is Stalling Summer E15

Cindy Zimmerman

A Reuters story out the day after Thanksgiving cites anonymous sources claiming the Biden administration is stalling any action on a petition from Midwestern governors to allow year round sales of E15 beginning in summer 2024.

According to the Reuters report, “The two sources familiar with the administration’s thinking, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the White House decided to delay action on the matter following the oil industry’s warnings in part because of concern that higher pump prices in certain states could hurt Biden’s re-election chances.”

The governors of eight Midwestern states petitioned EPA back in April 2022 to make the regulatory change allowing year round E15 sales and even though the Clean Air Act requiring the EPA to comply within 90 days, it was not until March 2023 that EPA proposed regulations to require fuel suppliers in these states to slightly reduce the volatility of gasoline beginning on May 1, 2024. EPA has yet to take final action on that proposal and in August the attorney generals of Iowa and Nebraska sued EPA for failing to meet a statutory deadline.

U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), who signed on to the original petition as governor of Nebraska, released the following statement in response to the report. “The Biden administration needs to follow the law and keep their commitments for this summer. President Biden has overlooked and underestimated the economic and environmental benefits of biofuels like ethanol as part of our energy portfolio. Ethanol saves consumers money at the pump, it is made in the USA and a boom to Midwest state economies, and it’s good for the environment.”

E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Court Rules Against Refinery Waiver Rejections

Cindy Zimmerman

A U.S. appeals court last week ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to deny biofuel blending waivers to small refineries.

Six small refineries sued EPA earlier this year after the agency denied almost all requests for small refinery waivers under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The refiners claimed the RFS requirement to blend a certain amount of biofuel into their products would cause them financial hardship. In July, the EPA denied 26 petitions from 15 small refineries for waivers for the 2016-2018 and 2021-2023 compliance years.

The challenge was brought by Wynnewood Refining, Ergon, Calumet Shreveport, and Placid Refining Company. In its 38-page decision, the court ruled that the EPA’s rejection of the waiver requests was “impermissibly retroactive; contrary to law; and counter to the record evidence.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFS

ACE Talks GREET and HEFF at NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman

Representatives from the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) talked with farm broadcasters at the recent NAFB Trade Talk about a number of topics, including GREET and HEFF.

ACE CEO Brian Jennings says they support requiring EPA to update its outdated lifecycle modeling for ethanol and biodiesel, by adopting the latest Argonne National Lab’s Greenhouse Gas and Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Model.

“The top scientists in the world developed this model to help estimate the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of all sorts of transportation fuels and technologies,” said Jennings. “So this is the gold standard scientific model.”

2023 NAFB Trade Talk - Brian Jennings, ACE 6:18

ACE Chief Marketing Officer Ron Lamberty talked about his baby HEFF, which stands for Hybrid Electric Flex Fuel vehicle. “It’s a 2019 Ford Fusion hybrid that we had converted using converters Eflexfuel.com sells primarily just to see what the carbon intensity would be,” said Lamberty.

ACE launched the project in 2021 to disrupt the ‘EV-only’ narrative by showing a standard hybrid vehicle powered by ethanol blends can have lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions as low or lower than plug-in electrics.

Learn more in this interview with Lamberty.
2023 NAFB Trade Talk - Ron Lamberty, ACE 9:11

ACE, Carbon, Electric Vehicles, Ethanol, Ethanol News

The RFS Really Did Shatter the “Blend Wall” for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

By Scott Richman, RFA Chief Economist

Not so long ago, renewable fuel critics claimed that due to purported infrastructure and vehicle constraints, the ethanol content in gasoline simply could not exceed 10.0%. They referred to this supposed limitation as the “blend wall,” and for several years that terminology found its way into virtually every debate about ethanol, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), and higher-level blends.

But no one really talks about the “blend wall” anymore. Why?

Because ethanol’s blend rate has exceeded 10.0% every year since 2016 and hit a record 10.38% in 2022, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The experience of the past several years shows that the “blend wall” was nothing more than a fictional barricade. In fact, as this analysis shows, the U.S. market is on pace to consume some 630 million gallons of ethanol over and above the so-called “blend wall” this year, proving once again that the 10.0% threshold is not a real barrier.

Given this reality, critics changed their tune to say that the blend rate would not have exceeded 10% if not for the RFS, the primary federal program that has promoted the usage of biofuels since 2005. While this argument de-emphasizes other factors that have contributed to the rising blend rate, such as ethanol’s cost-competitiveness compared to gasoline and especially other sources of octane, it is consistent with the intent behind the enactment of the RFS.

Read more from the RFA Blog

Ethanol, Opinion, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Clean Fuels Conference Preview

Cindy Zimmerman

One of the first conferences of 2024 will be the Clean Fuels Conference, February 5-8, in Fort Worth, Texas.

The event, hosted by Clean Fuels Alliance America, is where the biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel industries will meet to learn the latest on the next generation of low-carbon fuel policies, feedstock development opportunities and decarbonization efforts from leading Fortune 500 companies, among other hot topics.

Clean Fuels Director of Outreach and Development Tom Verry was at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk last week in Kansas City where he gave a preview of the upcoming conference. “Our conference is really going to showcase how our industry has evolved, just over this past year,” said Verry. “Couple of industries we are really going to showcase are marine and rail, both getting a lot of pressure from their customers to reduce their carbon emissions.”

In this interview, Verry also talks about how the conference has evolved over the past 20 years.
2023 NAFB Trade Talk - Tom Verry, Clean Fuels 6:20

2023 NAFB Convention Trade Talk Photos

advanced biofuels, Audio, aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, Carbon, Clean Fuels Alliance