Ethanol Week - April 15, 2013

Industry reacts to RFS Reform Act introduced in House The ethanol industry reacted swiftly to the so-called RFS Reform Act, legislation introduced April 10 in the U.S. House of Representatives, which they said would gut the renewable fuel standard (RFS). READ MORE SHARE
The industry comments on proposed 2013 RFS volumes The public comment period on the U.S. EPA's proposed rule for the 2013 renewable fuel standard (RFS) is now closed. According to the rulemaking's docket folder on Regulations.gov, nearly 50 public comments were submitted on the proposal. READ MORE SHARE
	U.S. ethanol exports down, while maintaining net exporter title U.S. ethanol exports decreased by a third from January to February, landing at a total of 42.5 million gallons of denatured and undenatured (non-beverage) ethanol, according to the most recent government data. READ MORE SHARE
EIA predicts higher RIN prices could stimulate E85 sales The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the April 2013 issue of its Short-Term Energy and Summer Fuels Outlook. The report addresses projected gasoline prices, ethanol production levels, blending, and the impact of higher RIN prices. READ MORE SHARE
IEA publishes global update of advanced, cellulosic projects The International Energy Agency Bioenergy Task 39 group recently published a report that outlines progress on more than 100 advanced biofuel projects under development worldwide. READ MORE SHARE
The EIA publishes data on E85-capable vehicles The U.S. Energy Information Administration has published updated data on alternative fuels and vehicles through 2011. The analysis addresses several alternative transportation fuels, including E85, hydrogen, electricity, natural gas and propane. READ MORE SHARE
White House issues fiscal year 2014 budget request President Obama has sent his fiscal year 2014 budget to Congress. It includes increased spending on several renewable energy initiatives. READ MORE SHARE
Abengoa Bioenergy begins operations at demonstration plant Abengoa SA has announced its demonstration plant in Babilafuente, Spain, has begun operations. The facility uses Abengoa's waste-to-biofuels (W2B) technology convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into ethanol. READ MORE SHARE
Agrebon to co-locate nitrogen production at N.D. ethanol plant Project development is in the financing stage for a nitrogen fertilizer facility to be co-located with Tharaldson Ethanol Inc., a 153 MMgy facility located in Casselton, N.D. The fertilizer plant would produce urea, anhydrous ammonia and UAN. READ MORE SHARE
UK ethanol project gains momentum with US plant acquisition A United Kingdom company hopes the purchase of Appomattox Bio Energy, a failed U.S. ethanol plant, will be the boost it needs to start construction on a 200 MMly (52 MMgy) ethanol plant in Grimsby, England. READ MORE SHARE
CME to offer three contracts in RINs starting in late May CME Group is working on the specifications for three contracts to be offered on renewable identification numbers (RINs), including one for ethanol and one for biodiesel. The contracts should be available for trading on the NYMEX by the end of May. READ MORE SHARE
Iowa corn production costs to reach $777 per acre in 2013 Corn farmers have seen dramatically higher prices in recent years, increasing the profitability of farming and the prosperity of rural communities. A significant portion of this increase is being offset by higher production costs. READ MORE SHARE
Berkeley researchers catalyze more sugars from biomass Researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory through support from the Energy Biosciences Institute have literally shed new light on cellulase catalysis using an ultrahigh-precision visible light microscopy technique. READ MORE SHARE
IRFA: Baxter has driven around the world two times on E15 The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association has announced that after a month of E15 sales at Kountry Korner, Baxter residents have successfully driven the equivalent of more than two trips around the world on E15. READ MORE SHARE
EIA publishes RIN generation data for February The U.S. EPA has published data on renewable identification numbers (RINs) generated under the renewable fuel standard (RFS) during February 2013. READ MORE SHARE
Economists propose RFS ethanol mandate be frozen at 2013 levels Two University of Illinois economists are proposing to freeze renewable fuel standard (RFS) mandates in 2014 and 2015 at 2013 levels, arguing it represents a pragmatic way forward. READ MORE SHARE
WASDE: Corn stocks increase, feed use down, ethanol use up The April WASDE report increased feed grain ending stocks for 2012-'13, while projecting feed disappearance lower and increasing corn use for ethanol by 50 million bushels. READ MORE SHARE
Advanced biofuel feedstocks targeted in N.C. research awards The Biofuels Center of North Carolina recently awarded $684,000 for six projects to accelerate the renewable fuels industry in western North Carolina. Awards were determined through a competitive, peer-reviewed process. READ MORE SHARE
FCStone plans energy outlook conference INTL FCStone Inc. is planning its first energy outlook conference to address both oil and biofuel outlooks and discuss available risk management tools. READ MORE SHARE
SDSU extension offers safety training for ethanol producers A safety training course for ethanol producers will be held April 10-11 in Brookings, S.D., sponsored by the Engineering Extension Office, College of Engineering, at South Dakota State University. It qualifies as a 10-hour OSHA training course. READ MORE SHARE