Diverse Groups Join to Oppose EPA’s Tailpipe Standards

Cindy Zimmerman

More than 55 parties representing diverse interests joined to submit a detailed brief to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals last week arguing that the Environmental Protection Agency “unlawfully exceeded its statutory authority and acted arbitrarily and capriciously by finalizing vehicle tailpipe emissions standards that would essentially phase out liquid-fueled engines and mandate increased production of electric vehicles.”

The brief filed Friday was submitted by the Renewable Fuels Association, National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Association of Convenience Stores, 14 state and national corn grower associations, as well as auto dealers, trucking and shipping company organizations, manufacturing groups, energy trade associations, and other parties.

“The Court should reverse EPA’s rule,” according to the petitioners’ brief, which notes that EPA projects at least 68 percent of new vehicles will need to be electric to comply with the standards by 2032. “EPA seeks to radically transform the nation’s vehicle fleet by effectively mandating a nationwide transition from internal-combustion-engine vehicles to electric vehicles. That bold assertion of regulatory power vastly exceeds EPA’s statutory authority. The Clean Air Act does not clearly authorize EPA to force Americans to buy electric vehicles.”

The brief also holds that EPA “…unreasonably treats electric vehicles as though they contribute zero emissions…” and “…refused to even consider renewable fuels as an alternative to its push for electrification, unreasonably deeming those issues outside the scope of its rule…Higher-octane fuels, biofuels, and flex-fuel vehicles are a documented solution to the issue of pollution from vehicle emissions.” In addition, EPA failed to consider how its tailpipe standards conflict with the Renewable Fuel Standard.

EPA’s response to Friday’s brief is due by November 26.

Meanwhile, Congress may be looking at a legislative way to overturn the tailpipe emissions rule via a Congressional Review Act resolution proposed in May by Rep. John James (R-MI) that would “disapprove” the rule.

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

Ethanol Exports Record High, DDGS Exports Up

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. ethanol exports have reached a record high of 1.10 billion gallons so far this year through July, running 38% ahead of last year’s pace, according to the latest trade monitor report from the Renewable Fuels Association.

While ethanol exports dropped seven percent in July compared to June, at 136 million gallons that was still significantly higher than a year ago. A mixed market in July saw Canada continued to be the top destination for the 40th consecutive month, accounting for an impressive 46% of all exports. Exports to Colombia increased by 16%, reaching a five-month high while in contrast, India reduced its imports by 23%. Exports to South Korea surged 11-fold, while the European Union dropped to an eight-month low. Additionally, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, and the Philippines experienced significant declines, and Brazil remained absent from the market.

RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper says the ethanol industry is having a very good year in the international market. “We’re on track to have a record year for ethanol exports somewhere between 1.8 and 2 billion gallons, we think,” said Cooper during an interview at last week’s Farm Progress Show. “That would be the highest share and the largest volume that we’ve ever exported.”

At the same time, U.S. exports of the ethanol co-product dried distillers grains (DDGS) are up 15% compared to last year, at 6.97 million mt as of July, when they jump 16% from the previous month driven by Mexico as the top market, boosting its imports by 23% to a five-month high of 247,903 mt. Shipments hit three year high with significant gains in markets such as South Korea (6%) and the European Union (56%), driven by a 161% rise in sales to Ireland. Cooper says DDGS exports will be highlighted at the upcoming Export Exchange, October 7-9 in Fort Worth, Texas.

“About one out of every three tons of distillers grains we’re producing is exported and we need to continue growing demand internationally for distillers grains,” said Cooper.”

RFA CEO Cooper supply/demand comments (2:17)

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Export Exchange, Exports, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

SAF Coalition Submits Comments on Energy Credits

Cindy Zimmerman

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition this week submitted comments on energy credits and incentives to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Ways and Means in response to a request for stakeholder input from the Supply Chain Tax Team.

In its comments, the Coalition stressed the economic benefits of SAF investment, as well as the need for long-term SAF incentives similar to biofuels.

To achieve this, the SAF Coalition urged the House Ways and Means Committee to consider the following legislative and regulatory solutions:

Provide a longer duration for the SAF tax incentives to support the SAF marketplace and agricultural sector;

Enhance the value of SAF tax incentives to support sustained investment in producing these new fuels and bolster U.S. SAF leadership;

Ensure tech neutrality of SAF tax incentives to encourage innovation;

Ensure complimentary actions at the Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) are consistent with the goals of the SAF tax incentives.

aviation biofuels, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, SAF

Ayrstone® Announces Higher-speed AyrMesh® HubDuo

Cindy Zimmerman

Ayrstone® announces availability of a new higher-speed AyrMesh® Hub – the AyrMesh® HubDuo.

Thousands of farmers and ranchers across the United States and Canada have already discovered how easy it is to have an outdoor WiFi network on their property with Ayrstone AyrMesh products. The new AyrMesh HubDuo is the first Hub to use dual-band technology to deliver very high-speed outdoor WiFi to nearby devices, and standard high-speed WiFi at longer distances. Like the AyrMesh Hub2x2, using MIMO the AyrMesh HubDuo can provide broadband-class WiFi to hundreds or even thousands of acres of property. In addition, it also has a 5.8 GHz. signal to provide extremely high-speed WiFi – up to 100 Mbps – at short range. The transmit power of the HubDuo can also be adjusted significantly, allowing units to be placed much closer together than the existing AyrMesh Hubs.

“We have been talking to our customers, and they told us that they wanted two things: more speed from the AyrMesh Hubs and to place the Hubs closer together than the one-mile minimum spacing for our existing Hubs,” said Bill Moffitt, President of Ayrstone Productivity. “The new HubDuo combines much faster WiFi speed and the ability to work in smaller, more intensive operations like dairies and nurseries, but still having the same long range AyrMesh users expect. It’s ideal for security, professional, and leisure activities in a rural setting.”

The AyrMesh HubDuo is available now at the Ayrstone store – https://ayrstone.com.

Learn more in this interview with Moffitt.
Ayrstone president Bill Moffitt 2:21

Audio, communications

Ag Outlook Forum to Feature Biofuels Panel

Cindy Zimmerman

The upcoming annual Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City September 16 will feature a panel discussion on the Future of Biofuels.

Moderated by Kansas Corn CEO Emeritus Greg Krissek, the panel will feature Donnell Rehagen, CEO, Clean Fuels Alliance America; Jeff Davidman, Vice President – Government Affairs, Delta Air Lines; and Lee Blank, CEO, Summit Carbon Solutions. Together they will explore the complex landscape for biofuels including the push for electric vehicles and emerging tax credits that offer potential opportunities.

Ag Outlook Forum is presented annually by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse and this will be the 10th annual event featuring top economic, policy, business, and government officials presenting their current outlooks. In addition to the biofuels panel, there will also be an Ag Economy panel, and a list of distinguished speakers including Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation; U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, Kansas; U.S. Congressman Tracey Mann, Kansas 1st District; and Seth Meyer, USDA Chief Economist.

The forum will be held in person on September 16, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. central, at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, and a virtual attendance option is available. Find out more.

Agri-Pulse, Agribusiness, Biodiesel, Clean Fuels Alliance, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Verbio Showcases Green Energy Tech at FPS

Cindy Zimmerman

Verbio showcased its green energy and organic fertilizer technology at this year`s Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. The company recently announced the launch of ethanol production in addition to RNG production at its Nevada, Iowa plant location.

Operating as a full biorefinery, the plant has installed a total capacity to produce 60 million gallons of corn-based ethanol per year and 2.3 million MMBtu of renewable natural gas (RNG). It is the first plant of its kind in North America.

“We are excited to further tell our story about our game changing technology for creating climate-friendly bioenergy from crop residues and corn,” states Greg Faith, Verbio Nevada plant President and General Manager. “The integration of RNG, bioethanol and plant-based fertilizer production is what makes the Verbio technology stand out within the American energy market.”

Visitors to the Verbio booth were able to learn about the company’s technology of converting corn stover to renewable natural gas (RNG) and could sign up to contract acres with the Verbio team. “Working with us, Iowa growers can take their businesses to the next level with an innovative residue management solution that provides a greener path for agriculture and the environment at the same time,” said Faith.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Farm Progress Show

Clean Fuels Comments Crush CARB Proposal

Cindy Zimmerman

Clean Fuels Alliance America and the California Advanced Biofuels Alliance (CABA) joined to provide comments on a proposal from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that would put a cap on soy- and canola-based biodiesel and renewable diesel.

The groups say the proposal could raise prices of fuel and goods for California consumers and set back decarbonization efforts by years. The recently proposed amendments to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) would put a 20% cap on credits for vegetable-oil-based fuel, without sufficient scientific evidence to support such limitations.

Biodiesel and renewable diesel have displaced nearly 75% of all diesel sold in the state and are responsible for 45% of California’s progress under the LCFS so far. Capping the use of vegetable oils to power trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles will slow down California’s effort to decarbonize them.

Clean Fuels, CABA and other stakeholders are urging CARB to reconsider the proposed caps on vegetable oils in the LCFS in part because it will delay decarbonization and increase the cost to comply with California’s lofty greenhouse gas reduction goals. For every 5 years of delay, 13 times more emissions reductions will be required to have the same climate impact.

Biodiesel, Clean Fuels Alliance, renewable diesel

Ethanol Industry Continues to Lead in Veteran Employment

Cindy Zimmerman

RFA’s Robert White and Geoff Cooper are both military veterans

Once again, the latest Department of Energy report shows the ethanol industry continues to lead in the employment of military veterans.

According to the United States Energy & Employment Report released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), veterans make up 16 percent of the ethanol industry workforce, which is three times the national private sector workforce average and 60 percent higher than in the petroleum fuels industry.

“The ethanol industry continues to offer good-paying jobs across rural America, and I am particularly proud of the industry’s longstanding record of employing thousands of military veterans,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper, an Army veteran. “Ethanol is an American-made fuel that bolsters our national energy security and reduces dependency on foreign energy sources, making the industry a natural fit for women and men who have served our country in uniform.”

RFA actually beats the national average, with military veterans making up 20 percent of its staff members. The Department of Defense recognized RFA with its Patriotic Employer award in April for “contributing to national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America’s national guard and reserve force.” RFA also has an initiative for military veterans and family members in the industry called Veterans for Renewable Fuels.

The ethanol industry also in notable for its employment of women and workers over 55 years old. Women represent 31 percent of the ethanol industry workforce, compared to 24 percent for the petroleum fuels industry and 26 percent for the overall energy sector. Nearly a quarter of the industry’s workforce is 55 or older, versus 19 percent for petroleum fuels and 18 percent for the energy sector. The DOE also estimated that workers with disabilities make up four percent of the ethanol industry workforce, which is at least double the average in the petroleum fuels industry and the overall energy sector and is close to the national average.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ethanol Report From Farm Progress Show

Cindy Zimmerman

It’s been a beautiful week in Boone, Iowa for the Farm Progress Show, the nation’s largest outdoor ag show. It is a show that the Renewable Fuels Association always attends because it brings out farmers from all over the ethanol-producing part of the country to see what’s new in the industry.

RFA displayed its custom Flex Fuel Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle and an off-road flex-fuel Can Am and had staff on hand to talk about ethanol issues such as the road to E15, record exports, 45 tax credit progress, and more.

In this edition of the Ethanol Report, Chuck Zimmerman interviews RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper and RFA Senior VP for Industry Relations & Market Development Robert White from the Farm Progress Show, which runs through 4 pm on Thursday so you still have a chance to stop by!

Ethanol Report 8-28-24 16:12

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.

Choose an option to subscribe

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

RFA Urges California to Adopt E15

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association this week filed comments with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) urging the state to allow the sale of lower-cost, lower-carbon E15 fuel blend, containing 15 percent ethanol, as part of its efforts to enhance the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

“E15 is a critical near-term strategy for decarbonizing liquid fuels, which will continue to dominate transportation in California for years, if not decades, to come,” wrote RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman in comments to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). “From a consumer perspective, E15 offers a unique opportunity to lower the cost of gasoline while cutting emissions of greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants.”

Richman cited a recent study indicating that E15 could shave 20 cents off the cost of a gallon of gasoline in California, which has the nation’s highest average fuel prices. This would equate to total statewide annual savings of $2.7 billion.

RFA also pushed back in its comments on expanded feedstock tracking requirements as both unnecessary and overly burdensome.

At the Farm Progress Show in Iowa this week, RFA Senior VP for Industry Relations & Market Development Robert White said even if CARB does decide to move forward with E15 at some point, it will still take years before California drivers could benefit from the advantages of E15. “California is the last holdout, the last state where you can’t sell E15 and ironically, given their low carbon fuel standard and our low carbon fuel that makes E15, we could sell it for anywhere from 20 to 25 cents a gallon less today in a state where fuel prices are well over $5 a gallon,” said White. “We recently had some discussions with the California Air Resources Board that has to approve E15 and unfortunately we couldn’t come to an agreement on many things. And so it it will at least be another handful of years before E15 is approved because we haven’t even started the rule making process.”

RFA's Robert White on E15 in California :40

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