BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicyThe USDA announced on Sept. 18 that Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Censky will step down on Nov. 8 to resume his post as CEO of the American Soybean Association, a position he previously held for 21 years. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicySen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., is speaking out to criticize the Trump administration over reports that it plans to use $300 million in USDA funding to bail out small oil refineries that are denied small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the RFS. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicyThe U.S. EPA has published updated SRE data that reflects the denial of 54 gap year SRE petitions announced by the agency on Sept. 14. The data also shows seven new SRE petitions have been filed in recent weeks, including five new gap year SREs. READ MORE

BY Lisa GibsonFound In:Operations, Markets, Feedstocks, Coproducts, Cellulosic, Business, Policy, RetailerDiscussions during the general session of the 2020 virtual Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo focused on the RFS, SREs, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. ethanol industry, its product mix and operations. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicySeven federal lawmakers sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on Sept. 15 expressing disappointment with the agency’s failure to cooperate with the Government Accountability Office’s investigation into the SRE waiver process. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerThe Kansas Department of Health and Environment has announced it will hold a public hearing on Nov. 4 to consider the revocation of an existing regulation that prevents the sale of E15 in the Kansas City area during the summer months. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Policy, RetailerPresident Trump on Sept. 12 posted a tweet stating that subject to state approval, the ethanol industry will be allowed to use E10 pumps to distribute E15. The U.S. EPA said it will update E15 labels as part of that effort. READ MORE

BY Carbon Capture Coalition Found In:Coproducts, Business, PolicyThe Carbon Capture Coalition, along with 72 other organizations, sent a letter to Senators on Sept. 11 urging them to pass the American Energy Innovation Act this Congress. In addition, 35 coalition members sent a letter to the House. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicyThe U.S. Senate on Sept. 10 failed to advance a $300 billion COVID-19 relief package that contained $20 billion in ag support and an expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program, two provisions that could have provided relief to biofuel producers. READ MORE

BY Renewable Fuels Association Found In:Business, PolicyThe U.S. EPA needs to take concrete steps immediately to support U.S. ethanol producers and rural America in these troubled times, according to testimony provided by the RFA to EPA’s Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory Committee. READ MORE

BY Biogenic CO2 Coalition Found In:Feedstocks, Business, PolicyThe Biogenic CO2 Coalition has filed a petition for rulemaking with the U.S. EPA providing a detailed explanation of the scientific and legal basis for the agency recognize the carbon neutrality of biogenic carbon emissions from crops. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicyMitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced on Sept. 8 the U.S. Senate will vote this week on a $300 billion COVID-19 relief bill. The bill does not contain dedicated relief for biofuels, but does contain provisions that could benefit some biofuel producers. READ MORE

BY American Farm Bureau Federation Found In:PolicyA new look into the priorities for rural America of President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden is revealed in responses to a questionnaire distributed by the American Farm Bureau Federation. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicyA group of 93 biofuel plant managers, farm organizations and biofuel stakeholders sent a letter to President Trump on Sept. 8 urging him to stand in defense of the RFS and call on the U.S. EPA to reject gap year SRE petitions. READ MORE

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Feedstocks, Business, PolicyThe USDA’s Commodity Credit Crop announced on Aug. 28 that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2020, which runs from Oct. 1, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021. READ MORE