Business

January 23, 2020

DOE offers $96 million for bioenergy R&D projects

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Feedstocks, Coproducts, Cellulosic, BusinessThe Department of Energy on Jan. 23 announced it will award up to $96 million for bioenergy research and development to reduce the price of drop-in biofuels, lower the cost of biopower, and enable high-value products from biomass or waste resources. READ MORE

January 23, 2020

RFA mourns industry pioneer Raymond Defenbaugh

BY Renewable Fuels Association Found In:BusinessThe Renewable Fuels Association mourns the loss this week of longtime board member Raymond Defenbaugh, who was a founding member, president, CEO, and chairman of Big River Resources. Defenbaugh served on the RFA board since 2005. READ MORE

January 23, 2020

In Depth: The Versatile Ethanol Molecule

BY Susanne Retka Schill Found In:Operations, Markets, BusinessFROM THE FEBRUARY ISSUE: Ethylene, with a similar molecular structure to that of ethanol, has enormous market opportunity around the world. READ MORE

January 23, 2020

Opinion: Versatile and Newsworthy

BY Lisa GibsonFound In:Operations, Markets, BusinessFROM THE FEBRUARY ISSUE: Editor Lisa Gibson previews the magazine, including feature articles about ethylene's diverse industrial uses, challenges to EPA's limitation of mid-level blends, retailer workshops in Nebraska, and more. READ MORE

January 22, 2020

Peru’s ethanol consumption, production expected to increase

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Operations, Markets, Business, PolicyA report recently filed with the USDA FAS's Global Agricultural Information Network shows Peru was expected to produce and consume more ethanol in 2019 than it did in 2018. The country currently has a 7.8 percent ethanol mandate in place. READ MORE

January 22, 2020

A new model of metabolism draws from thermodynamics and 'omics'

BY École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Found In:Cellulosic, BusinessMathematical models that describe how cells use enzymes to transform sugar have helped improve second generation biofuel production, but have failed to account for metabolic cost of producing those enzymes. A new model is helping solve that problem. READ MORE

January 22, 2020

In Depth: Roadblock to Higher Blends

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Operations, Business, Policy, RetailerFROM THE FEBRUARY ISSUE: The U.S. EPA’s rule allowing year-round sale of E15 is a monumental achievement for the ethanol industry, but might also stymie growth for higher blends. Challenges to the rule could take the issues to court. READ MORE

January 21, 2020

UK liquid biofuel use up in Q3, ethanol consumption down slightly

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, BusinessAn estimated 696 million liters (183.86 million gallons) of liquid biofuels were consumed the by the U.K. transportation sector during the third quarter of 2019, up 18 percent from the same period of 2018. READ MORE

January 21, 2020

US Water, CTE Global settle litigation related to pHytOUT patents

BY U.S. Water Services Inc. Found In:BusinessU.S. Water Services Inc. and CTE Global Inc. have entered into a settlement agreement resolving their litigation involving U.S. Water’s patents relating to the use of phytase to control mineral deposits in fuel ethanol plants. READ MORE

January 21, 2020

USGC: Phase one trade deal with China promises ag sales

BY U.S. Grains Council Found In:Markets, Coproducts, Business, PolicyThe phase one trade deal signed with China on Jan. 15 includes confidential sales targets for a full range of U.S. agricultural products, including grains, distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol, according to the USGC. READ MORE

January 21, 2020

In Depth: Blended Curriculum

BY Lisa GibsonFound In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerFROM THE FEBRUARY ISSUE: The Nebraska Ethanol Board offers workshops to help retailers learn more about E15 and higher blends. Other states offer help with grant application processes, or are pushing for for mid-level blends. READ MORE

January 20, 2020

EPA: 19.75 billion RINs generated in 2019

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Cellulosic, Business, PolicyThe U.S. EPA has released updated renewable identification number (RIN) generation data showing more than 1.74 billion RINs were generated under the Renewable Fuel Standard in December, bringing total RIN generation for 2019 to 19.75 billion. READ MORE

January 20, 2020

Iowa retailers recognized with Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards

BY Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Found In:Business, RetailerIowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented the 2020 Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards to Elliott Oil Company of Ottumwa, Iowa, and Diamond Oil Company of Des Moines at the FuelIOWA Annual Meeting. READ MORE

January 20, 2020

Opinion: All the Wrong MOVES

BY Dave VanderGriend Found In:Business, PolicyFROM THE FEBRUARY ISSUE: EPA's MOVES model contains serious flaws and could heavily impact the industry as EPA conducts anti-backsliding study. READ MORE

January 20, 2020

In Depth: An Ounce of Prevention

BY Matt Thompson Found In:Operations, BusinessFROM THE FEBRUARY ISSUE: With a global rise in cyber threats—including within the ethanol industry—experts offer security tips and best practices. READ MORE

January 17, 2020

USDA: November ethanol exports at 107 million gallons

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Coproducts, BusinessThe USDA Foreign Agricultural Service released November export data on Jan. 7, reporting the U.S exported approximately 107.28 million gallons of ethanol and 911,569 tons of distillers grains during the month. READ MORE

January 17, 2020

Mexico court rules against E10 implementation, not E10 product

BY American Coalition for Ethanol Found In:Markets, Business, PolicyThe Mexico Supreme Court has ruled against a regulation allowing for higher ethanol content in gasoline, based on the way in which the Energy Regulatory Commission implemented the change in 2017. The ruleing was not against E10 itself. READ MORE

January 16, 2020

USDA seeks input on new biofuel infrastructure incentive program

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, Policy, RetailerThe USDA on Jan. 16 launched a request for information (RFI) seeking public input to aid in the creation of its new Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, which aims to expand the availability of ethanol and biodiesel. READ MORE

January 16, 2020

Senate passes USMCA

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Business, PolicyThe U.S. Senate passed legislation implementing the revised U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement on Jan. 16 by a vote of 89 to 10. The legislation will now be sent to President Trump for his signature. READ MORE

January 16, 2020

EPA: 21 SRE petitions now pending for compliance year 2019

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicyThe U.S. EPA released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data on Jan. 16, reporting that five new SRE petitions have been filed under the Renewable Fuel Standard for compliance year 2019, up from 16 petitions that had been filed as of Dec. 19. READ MORE

January 16, 2020

Gov. Reynolds highlights recent wins in IRFA address

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Business, Policy, RetailerIowa Gov. Kim Reynolds highlighted recent positive developments for the biofuels industry during the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association’s 2020 summit. She also spoke about her plan to increase funding for the state's biofuel infrastrcuture program. READ MORE

January 16, 2020

Mexico’s Supreme Court rules against E10 regulation

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Business, PolicyMexico’s Supreme Court announced on Jan. 15 that it has determined the Energy Regulatory Commission’s unilateral move to modify the country’s fuel standard to allow 10 percent ethanol blends is unconstitutional. READ MORE

January 16, 2020

Censky discusses infrastructure grant program at IRFA Summit

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Business, Policy, RetailerDeputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky told attendees of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit that “there are some really positive things that are happening that are going to be great for the biofuels sector.” READ MORE

January 16, 2020

Shaw opens 2020 IRFA Summit with optimism

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Business, Policy, RetailerMonte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, kicked off the 2020 IRFA Summit in Altoona, Iowa, by acknowledging the difficulties 2019 brought to the biofuels industry, but also expressing optimism for recent policy changes. READ MORE

January 15, 2020

Trump signs phase one trade agreement with China

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Coproducts, Business, PolicyPresident Trump signed a phase one trade agreement with China on Jan. 15. The agreement will take effect within 30 days and includes a commitment by China to purchase agricultural products over the next two years, including ethanol and DDGS. READ MORE

January 15, 2020

EIA predicts ethanol production will remain flat through 2021

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, BusinessThe U.S. Energy Information Administration maintained its December forecast that U.S. ethanol production will average 1.03 million barrels per day in 2020 in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, published on Jan. 14. READ MORE

January 15, 2020

ePURE to EU: Don’t abandon existing biofuels

BY ePURE Found In:Markets, Business, PolicyAs the EU reframes important environment and energy legislation under the European Green Deal, it should not abandon clean, proven and cost-effective solutions such as sustainable renewable fuels and LPG. READ MORE

January 15, 2020

Gevo secures biogas supply

BY Gevo Inc. Found In:Coproducts, Cellulosic, BusinessGevo Inc. has contracted with three dairies to provide manure that the company will convert into renewable natural gas (RNG). Combined, these three dairies expect to generate approximately 350,000 MMBTU biogas each year. READ MORE

January 14, 2020

Aemetis acquires partially complete ethanol plant in Kansas

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, BusinessAemetis has purchased a partially complete ethanol plant in Kansas. While the company previously said it would convert the facility to cellulosic production, Aemetis Chairman and CEO Eric McAfee said there are currently no plans to build at the site. READ MORE

January 14, 2020

RenovaBio takes off

BY Gabriel Miranda, EcoEngineers Found In:Markets, Business, PolicyRenovaBio, Brazil’s new national biofuels policy, became official on Dec. 24. The program details a model for carbon emission reduction that improves the role of biofuels in Brazil’s energy matrix, according to EcoEngineers. READ MORE