The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) has launched its Drive Flex Fuel video contest to kick off its 2016 Maryland Drive Flex Fuels advertising campaign. Winning-worthy videos will be 30 seconds and educate and encourage drivers to choose ethanol fuels including E15 and E85 at the pump as well as to purchase flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) when they are …
RFA: #Ethanol Plays Vital Role in National Security
This Memorial Day holiday, the Renewable Fuel Association (RFA) has a message for American consumers: ethanol plays a vital role in national security. While the holiday marks the official start of summer with people piling in to cars on cross country vacations and trips to beaches and pools, the purpose of the holiday is to thank our armed forces for …
More 2017 RVO Reacts from #Ethanol Industry
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its draft proposed renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2017 as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) yesterday and the biofuels industry is reacting to numbers that remain under statute levels. For first generation biofuels, that includes corn-based ethanol, the numbers were increased from 2016 but still remain 200 million gallons below what …
Long-Term Biodiesel Tax Incentive Bill Introduced
U.S. Representatives Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) have introduced legislation to extend the biodiesel tax incentive through 2019 and modify the program to become a domestic production credit. The $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax credit has been lapsed and reinstated multiple times. It is scheduled to expire yet again on December 31, 2016. This bill would extend the incentive three …
Iowa Extends State Biodiesel Incentives
Iowa lawmakers have spent some time this week voting on renewable energy programs in the state. Earlier this week a resolution was passed in support of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) staying on track and now the Iowa House passed legislation that extends tax credits to biodiesel producers. One enables biodiesel facilities to remain competitive on a national scale and …
Senators Call for Increased RFS RVOs
This week Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and 17 others sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calling for them to follow the congressional intent of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by increasing blending targets (Renewable Volume Obligations/RVO) for 2017. The biofuels industry praised the senators for their call to action and released a joint statement. …
BioEnergy Bytes
REG Energy Services, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Renewable Energy Group, Inc., has secured a $30 million line of credit from Iowa-based Bankers Trust. The line is a one-year credit facility, with an accordion option to expand to $40 million, subject to customary conditions. Chad Stone, REG CFO noted, “This credit line gives REG Energy Services additional capital to expand …
US Ethanol Production Sets Records
New records were set in 2015 for U.S. ethanol production and blending according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Last year ethanol production hit a record high of 14.81 billion gallons while refiners and blenders integrated a record 13.69 billion gallons into the U.S. gasoline supply. The industry’s monthly average output in December 2015 also crested the 1 …
RFA: Revise RVP Rules to Level Playing Field
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is calling for more higher-level ethanol blends to enter the U.S. fuel supply. In a letter the ethanol organization called on Christopher Grundler, director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality for the Environmental Protection Agency, to update regulations to allow EPA to grant a 1-psi Reid Vapor Pressure waiver for other ethanol blends …
#Ag Industry Split on Final #RFS Rules
The #Ag industry is split on the final #RFS (Renewable Fuel Standard) rules that were released yesterday by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While the RVOs (renewable volume obligations) were an improvement over the proposed rules released in May of this year, the #Ag industry is calling on the EPA to further strengthen the legislation and increase the amount of corn …