Policy

March 12, 2019

EPA releases proposed year-round E15 rule

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Operations, Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerThe U.S. EPA released today its proposed rule to allow the year-round sale of E15. The proposed rule also includes provisions for RIN reform. READ MORE

March 11, 2019

Pennsylvania retail chain adds more E15

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Markets, Policy, RetailerStores like Rutter’s, a Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain, have added the fuel despite the uncertainty surrounding year-round sales. READ MORE

March 07, 2019

UK: New labels to identify ethanol, biodiesel content of fuel

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Business, PolicyThe U.S. Department for Transport recently announced new labeling requirements that aim to help motorists identify the correct fuel for their needs while informing them of the biofuel content of both gasoline and diesel. READ MORE

March 07, 2019

ACE, retailers talk opportunities to increase E15 at NEB forum

BY American Coalition for Ethanol Found In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerACE Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty participated on a panel at Nebraska Ethanol Board’s 2019 Emerging Issues Forum with retailers about the opportunities and practical considerations to increase E15 and higher ethanol blends. READ MORE

March 06, 2019

Federal agencies release framework for advancing the bioeconomy

BY USDA Found In:Feedstocks, Coproducts, Cellulosic, Business, PolicyThe federal Biomass Research and Development (BR&D) Board unveiled a multi-agency strategy March 5 to accelerate innovative technologies that harness the nation’s biomass resources for affordable biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower. READ MORE

March 05, 2019

EPA delivers E15/RIN reform rule to OMB for review

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerOn March 4, the U.S. EPA delivered its proposed E15/RIN reform rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget. OMB review marks a final step before the proposal is released for public comment. READ MORE

March 05, 2019

ACE: Diverse coalition submits soil health comments to USDA

BY American Coalition for Ethanol Found In:Feedstocks, Business, PolicyOn March 1, the American Coalition for Ethanol joined a diverse coalition in submitting comments in support of the Soil Health Demonstration Trial in response to listening sessions by the USDA on implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill. READ MORE

March 01, 2019

EPA releases RIN data for December 2018, January 2019

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Cellulosic, Business, PolicyThe U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) data for December 2018 and January 2019 that shows nearly 19.5 billion RINs were generated last year. During the first month of 2019, RIN generation reached 1.48 billion. READ MORE

March 01, 2019

CropEnergies to restart UK ethanol plant

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, Markets, Business, PolicyEuropean ethanol producer CropEnergies has announced plans to resume ethanol production at its facility in Wilton, U.K., starting in March. The company said the facility will initially run at reduced capacity to supply orders from British customers. READ MORE

February 28, 2019

Perdue revises E15 remark; EPA says it will complete rule on time

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, Policy, RetailerThe EPA has issued a statement confirming plans to complete its E15 rule by June 1 in response to remarks made by Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue on Feb. 27 in which he said the rule would not be complete on time. Perdue has since revised his remarks. READ MORE

February 28, 2019

Senate confirms Wheeler as EPA administrator

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicyThe U.S. Senate has voted 52 to 46 along party lines to confirm Andrew Wheeler as administrator of the U.S. EPA. Wheeler has held the post of acting EPA administrator since July 9, 2018, following Scott Pruitt’s resignation earlier that month. READ MORE

February 28, 2019

Grassley, Wyden introduce tax extenders bill

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Cellulosic, Business, Policy, RetailerSenate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., have introduced a bill to extend 29 tax credits, including those that benefit producers of renewable diesel, second generation biofuels and bioenergy. READ MORE

February 27, 2019

Perdue says E15 rule not expected to be complete by June 1

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, Policy, RetailerAgriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said Feb. 27 that he does not expect the U.S. EPA to complete its E15 rulemaking by June 1, but added the USDA is encouraging the agency to announce discretionary enforcement of current regulations. READ MORE

February 27, 2019

UAI: Delay in SAFE Rule disappointing, but still an opportunity

BY Urban Air Initiative Found In:PolicyU.S. EPA’s decision to delay fuel economy rules until “later in the year” provides the Urban Air Initiative an opportunity to continue educating the agency on the benefits of clean octane from higher ethanol blends. READ MORE

February 25, 2019

EPA proposes to complete RFS anti-backsliding study by March 2020

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicyOn Feb. 22, the U.S. EPA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a proposed consent decree that would require the agency to complete an anti-backsliding study on the Renewable Fuel Standard by March 30, 2020. READ MORE

February 22, 2019

Retailers discuss experiences with ethanol at NEC

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Business, Policy, RetailerThree fuel retailers who spoke at the Renewable Fuel Association's recent National Ethanol Conference in Florida told attendees that education is the key to growing the market for ethanol-blended fuels. READ MORE

February 21, 2019

EPA: 15 new small refinery exemption petitions filed for 2018

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicyOn Feb. 21, the U.S. EPA released updated data on small refinery hardship waivers filed under the Renewable Fuel Standard, reporting that 15 new waivers for the 2018 compliance year were filed between Dec. 18, 2018 and Feb. 10, 2019. READ MORE

February 21, 2019

Growth Energy, USGC, RFA comment on Canadian Clean Fuel Standard

BY Growth Energy, U.S. Grains Council, and Renewable Fuels Association Found In:Business, PolicyGrowth Energy, the U.S. Grains Council and Renewable Fuels Association jointly submitted comments to Environment and Climate Change Canada supporting their goal of reducing the carbon intensity of Canada’s fuel stream through the Clean Fuel Standard. READ MORE

February 20, 2019

Walz, Noem to lead Governors’ Biofuels Coalition in 2019

BY Governors’ Biofuels Coalition Found In:Business, PolicyThe Governors’ Biofuels Coalition announced Feb. 18 that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will serve as chair and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will serve as vice chair of the coalition during 2019. READ MORE

February 20, 2019

Opinion: Ethanol’s Global Growth

BY Craig Willis Found In:Markets, Business, PolicyFROM THE MARCH ISSUE: North and South America, as well as Asia,are strong markets for ethanol. READ MORE

February 20, 2019

In Depth: Planting The Seeds

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Markets, Business, PolicyFROM THE MARCH ISSUE: Agricultural organizations in Kansas and Ohio have programs aimed at ethanol education, training teachers and even providing funding to ensure the knowledge is passed on to students. READ MORE

February 19, 2019

Opinion: Campaigning on Climate

BY Andrea Kent Found In:Markets, Policy, RetailerFROM THE MARCH ISSUE: Ethanol is the right choice for Canada's environmental goals READ MORE

February 19, 2019

In Depth: The Big Picture

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Operations, PolicyFROM THE MARCH ISSUE: Chippewa Valley Ethanol Co.’s Bob Jewell shares what he’s learned about efficiency through biofilm control. READ MORE

February 18, 2019

Bustos: CCS bill would benefit ethanol producers

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Coproducts, Business, PolicyLegislation introduced this month in the U.S. House of Representatives that aims to support the development and demonstration of carbon capture and removal technologies could benefit ethanol producers, according to Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill. READ MORE

February 18, 2019

Randy Ives honored With USGC Lifetime Achievement Award

BY U.S. Grains Council Found In:Markets, Coproducts, Business, PolicyRandy Ives—a longtime agribusiness delegate to theUSGC and a key figure in the organization’s development of DDGS and ethanol market development programs—was honored last week with the Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award. READ MORE

February 18, 2019

Opinion: Will 2019 Finally be The Year of E15?

BY Ron Lamberty Found In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerFROM THE MARCH ISSUE: Correcting misconceptions about E15 to gain wider adoption. READ MORE

February 15, 2019

Spending bill urges EPA to quickly process eRIN applications

BY RFS Power Coalition Found In:Cellulosic, Business, PolicyThe RFS Power Coalition today applauded the spending bill passed by both the House and the Senate. The committee report of the Interior-EPA portion of the spending package includes a provision to encourage EPA to process eRIN applications. READ MORE

February 14, 2019

Durbin asks Wheeler to commit to finalizing E15 rule by June

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerSen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is urging the U.S. EPA to finalize a rule to allow year-round sales of E15. Due to the delay created by the recent government shutdown, he said he is concerned with the agency’s ability to complete the rule by this summer. READ MORE

February 14, 2019

Republican senators threaten Wheeler’s confirmation over RFS

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicyOn Feb. 11, five Republican senators sent a letter to Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler suggesting that his willingness to bend to oil industry interests over the Renewable Fuel Standard will impact their upcoming confirmation votes. READ MORE

February 14, 2019

DOE announces $66 million for research on plants, microbes

BY U.S. Department of Energy Found In:Feedstocks, Cellulosic, Business, PolicyThe U.S. DOE has announced a plan to provide $66 million for new genomics-based research on plants and microbes. The $30 million plant initiative aims to expanding knowledge of gene function in plants to be grown for bioenergy and bioproducts. READ MORE