New Analysis Shows E15 Savings for Consumers

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association has released a new analysis this week ahead of Wednesday’s House Agriculture Committee hearing with EPA Administrator Michael Regan that indicates American drivers have saved an average of more than 25 cents per gallon using E15 fuel over E10 since 2022.

RFA analyzed more than 3,000 actual pump prices for E15 and E10 submitted by drivers to E15prices.com from more than 550 retail gas stations in 30 states between January 2022 and early April 2023. The average of the 1,520 prices reported for E10 was $3.686 per gallon, while the average of the 1,520 corresponding prices for E15 was $3.413 per gallon. Thus, the average discount for E15 was $0.27 per gallon, or 7.4 percent.

“This review of actual pump prices submitted by drivers shows that lower-carbon E15 is providing real savings for American families,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “In nearly half of the price submissions, E15’s discount to E10 was between 15 and 50 cents per gallon. And in some special cases, E15 prices were $1 or more per gallon below the price of E10. At a time when U.S. drivers were facing record-high gas prices, this report confirms that E15 delivered relief at the pump. We urge the Biden administration to carefully review this data as it considers options for allowing the continued sale of E15 this summer.”

In a letter to the Committee accompanying the report, Cooper noted that American families will face higher fuel prices at the pump on June 1 unless swift action is taken to save the lower-cost E15 ethanol blend. “The market conditions that warranted emergency waivers for the 2022 summer driving season still exist today,” Cooper wrote. “In fact, nationwide gasoline inventories are 6 percent lower today than they were at this time a year ago when EPA issued the first emergency waiver. Now more than ever, American families need the economic relief offered by lower-cost, lower-carbon E15. Without swift action by EPA, American families will lose access to the lowest-priced fuel available for most cars on the road beginning June 1.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

E15 Ethanol Blend Now Available in New York

Cindy Zimmerman

Drivers in New York state now have at least one location where they can purchase E15, the low-cost, lower-carbon fuel blend containing 15 percent ethanol.

According to the Renewable Fuels Association, one of the first locations offering E15 in the Empire State is the Dandy Mini Mart and Travel Plaza in Nichols, where drivers recently reported purchasing the fuel for $3.29 per gallon, which was 20 cents less than the price listed for regular gasoline.

The state of New York gave E15 fuel blends the green light in November 2019 after years of work by the Renewable Fuels Association and others to educate state regulators, policymakers, retailers, and consumers about the benefits of the fuel, Cooper said. Drivers in the state consume nearly 5.5 billion gallons of fuel every year, which already includes more than 500 million gallons of ethanol. A new study by economists at the University of California-Berkeley and elsewhere found the presence of ethanol in the U.S. fuel supply is responsible for reducing gas prices by as much as 77 cents per gallon in recent years. A move to E15 would further extend those economic benefits statewide.

New York is also home to RFA member Western New York Energy in Medina, a biorefinery that produces 65 million gallons of ethanol each year.

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

Senators Urge EPA to Strengthen RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) led a bipartisan group of 14 colleagues in a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to strengthen the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

The senators specifically request EPA strengthen the RFA by maintaining the blending requirements for 2023; denying all pending Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs); eliminating proposed retroactive cuts to the renewable volume obligations (RVOs); and setting RFS volumes at the statutory levels.

“The clean fuels industry thanks the bipartisan group of Senators for highlighting to EPA Administrator Regan that biofuels lower fuel prices and strengthen economies across rural America,” said Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs with Clean Fuels Alliance America. “The biodiesel and renewable diesel industry is providing a crucial supply of fuel that is needed to keep consumer prices in check right now. The growth of the biodiesel and renewable diesel industry is also bolstering confidence among farmers and rural communities for their economic future.”

Biodiesel, biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Report on E15 in Limbo

Cindy Zimmerman

With only weeks until the summer driving season starts, the future of E15 retail sales for the summer remains in limbo, and the clock is ticking. A plan was already in place by this time last year and at this point the only solution requires immediate action by the Biden administration.

In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper discusses why the E15 situation is so urgent right now for both producers and consumers, and reaction to the administration’s proposed tailpipe emissions standards that would require more electric vehicles. In addition, RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman provides an analysis of E15 sales last year, which surpassed a billion gallons, as well as insight into the oil production market situation and how E15 is needed this summer as much or more than last year.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report – and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Ethanol Report 4-14-23 35:47

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.

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

Ethanol Industry Pans Proposed Emission Standards

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol industry stakeholders panned the Environmental Protection Agency’s new proposed federal vehicle emissions standards released today as the deadline looms for taking action to allow uninterrupted sales of 15% ethanol fuel this summer.

“While we certainly share the Biden administration’s goals of increasing vehicle efficiency and reducing carbon emissions from transportation, we strongly disagree with policy approaches that arbitrarily pick technology winners and losers with no clear scientific basis,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Today’s EPA proposal would effectively force automakers to produce more battery electric vehicles and strongly discourage them from pursuing other vehicle technologies that could achieve the same—or better—environmental performance at a lower cost to the U.S. economy and American families. We urge EPA to reconsider its proposal and instead adopt a technology-neutral approach that treats all low-carbon transportation options fairly and equally.”

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings pointed to comments made last month by EPA Agriculture Advisor Rod Snyder to ACE members in Washington, DC. “There is no question we will be using liquid transportation fuels for a long time to come, our lifetimes probably,” Snyder told ACE members during the group’s annual fly-in.

“Appreciating this truth, ACE members are dedicated to producing domestic biofuels with net-negative carbon scores – something that EVs will never achieve,” said Jennings. “Rather than put all our eggs in the electric vehicle basket, a smarter and more achievable approach would be through a technology-neutral Clean Fuel Standard that ensures fair and accurate accounting and crediting of GHG reductions from climate-smart agriculture practices and unleashes homegrown fuel sources.”

ACE, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

With E15 in Limbo, Biden Backs EVs

Cindy Zimmerman

It was one year ago today that President Joe Biden visited an Iowa ethanol plant to announce an emergency waiver to allow 15% ethanol fuel to be sold across the United States during the summer months.

“(W)ith this waiver, on June 1, you’re not going to show up at your local gas station and see a bag over the pump that has the cheapest gas. You’re going to be able to keep filling up with E15. And it’s going to solve a whole problem,” said Biden on April 12, 2022. “Even if it’s an extra buck or two in the pockets when they fill up, it’ll make a difference in people’s lives.”

Despite the fact that EPA has proposed a permanent waiver to allow at least eight states to sell E15 year round, that rule would become effective until next year, leaving this summer driving season in E15 limbo.

Instead of taking action to make E15 available this summer, the Biden Administration today proposed tough new car emissions standards pushing the adoption of electric vehicles nationwide.

“As a car enthusiast and self-proclaimed car guy, President Biden is seizing the moment. His Investing in America agenda is expanding domestic manufacturing and accelerating adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV), including battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and fuel cell electric vehicles.”

In the first year of his Administration, President Biden set a goal that at least 50 percent of all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in 2030 be zero-emission vehicles, ultimately reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. A year ago in Iowa he said, “And you simply can’t get to net zero by 2050 without biofuels.”

E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News

RFA and Propel Promote E85 in California

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association held an event this week in Sacramento with Propel Fuels spotlighting the importance of the lower-carbon E85 Flex Fuel blend, which hit a record 103.5 million gallons sold in the state last year.

“Gas prices are on the rise again in California, and drivers are seeking out options at the pump that are both more affordable and better for the environment; E85 definitely checks both of those boxes,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “American-made E85 is a low-carbon, low-cost liquid fuel that is growing in popularity and availability. The fuel substantially reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline and helps insulate our nation’s fuel supply from the whims of the OPEC cartel and Russia. The record sales volume for E85 in 2022 clearly shows that, when the blend is made available and effectively promoted, FFV drivers will absolutely respond.”

Propel launched E85 in the Sacramento region in 2007 and CEO Rob Elam says it’s now the fastest-growing fuel in California. “We expect to see exponential growth as Propel expands its E85 wholesale offering across the west coast and beyond,” said Elam.

The latest Energy Information Administration update shows prices for regular gasoline averaged $4.68 per gallon in California last week, up more than $0.50 per gallon since the beginning of the year. E85 typically sells for 25 to 40 percent less in California and was priced at $2.99 per gallon Tuesday, compared to $4.69 for regular unleaded.

E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Couser Provides Grassroots Input to EPA

Cindy Zimmerman

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan recently appointed members for the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC), including Iowa livestock producer and ethanol investor Bill Couser. Established in 2007, the FRRCC provides independent policy advice, information, and recommendations to the EPA administrator on a range of environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural communities.

Couser, who frequently hosts tours of his operation to promote ethanol and agriculture, considers it an important duty to be involved in decisions that might impact the industry.

“It’s our voice that we get to sit down with the ag liaison to the administration,” said Couser. “It’s a think tank and they give us topics to work on…that’s our grassroots input to the administration. That’s why I feel so confident today that we finally have a seat at the table and are not on the menu.”

The committee’s focus for the next two years will be advancing climate mitigation and adaptation strategies for U.S. agriculture with specific topics including improved quantification of low-carbon biofuels’ reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the benefits of nutrient management practices for climate and water quality.

Couser was thrilled to once again take part in the recent American Coalition for Ethanol DC Fly-in where he had the chance to meet with members of Congress and feels very optimistic for ethanol right now. Listen to an interview with him below:
ACE-DC 23 Bill Couser, Iowa (3:47)

Photos

2023 ACE DC Fly-in Photo Album

Find more audio from the ACE Fly-in here:
ACE Fly-in Virtual Newsroom

ACE, Audio, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News

New Energy Blue Hires Davis as VP

Cindy Zimmerman

New Energy Blue announces the hiring of bioenergy veteran Kelly Davis as Vice President. Davis joins New Energy Blue after a decade as Vice President of Technical and Regulatory Affairs for the Renewable Fuels Association and she also brings three decades of biofuels experience in quality management, production, and marketing.

“We’re building our first biomass refinery here in the U.S., optimizing a process proven by a commercial operation in Denmark,” says Thomas Corle, CEO and co-founder. “Having Kelly’s counsel from this point forward will be invaluable. I’ve worked with her and witnessed the full spectrum of her abilities since the late ’90s. She knows the biofuels industry inside and out, and there’s almost nothing she can’t do.”

“I’ve never taken on an easy job,” says Davis of her move to New Energy Blue. “The irresistible challenge here is turning corn stalks into cellulosic ethanol—and doing it profitably at commercial scale. That’s the holy grail of the bioenergy business. That’s what excites me.”

Davis joins the team planning the New Energy Freedom Biomass Refinery for a site outside Mason City, Iowa. The project can keep over one million tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere every year–equivalent to taking 200,000 cars off the road, achieved in part by replacing fuels and chemicals now produced from oil and gas refining.

advanced biofuels, biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News

First Timers at ACE Fly-in

Cindy Zimmerman

L-R: Benjamin Bremmer, IL FFA officer; Kathy and Bill Howell, and Rep. Eric Sorenson (D-IL)

This year was the first time Bill and Kathy Howell attended the American Coalition for Ethanol DC Fly-in and they welcomed the opportunity to meet with Congressional lawmakers and staff to talk about ethanol.

Howell just became manager and CEO of Adkins Energy, an ethanol and biodiesel production facility in northwest Illinois, about six months ago after a four year hiatus from the ethanol industry. “In some respects it feels like its a rebirth for biofuels,” he said. “With the carbon intensity issues and how we can get that carbon down in our gen one plants and what does the future look like as we start to talk about aviation fuels and other fuels in the future.”

One of the visits the Howells were able to make on the Hill was to freshman Congressman Eric Sorenson (D-IL) who was appointed to the agriculture committee.

Listen to an interview with the Howells.
ACE-DC 23 Bill and Kathy Howell, Adkins Energy (3:31)

2023 ACE DC Fly-in Photo Album

Find more audio from the ACE Fly-in here:
ACE Fly-in Virtual Newsroom

ACE, Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News