Ethanol Week - July 25, 2017

EPA opens comment period on RFS proposal On July 21, the U.S. EPA published its proposed rule to set 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard volume requirements in the Federal Register, officially opening a public comment period that runs through Aug. 31. READ MORE SHARE
Ethanol groups continue support for RVP bill to expand E15 sales The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has decided not to consider the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, S. 517, before August recess. The bill aims to extend the 1 psi RVP waiver to gasoline blends of more than E10. READ MORE SHARE
	EPA: 22.94 million cellulosic RINs generated in June The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) data for June, reporting 1.7 billion RINs were generated during the month, including 22.94 million cellulosic RINs. The EPA estimates 9.29 billion RINs were generated so far this year. READ MORE SHARE
USDA technology transfer report discusses biofuel research The USDA has released its annual technology transfer report, announcing its research generated 244 new inventions and 109 patent applications during fiscal year 2016. Biofuel research projects are among those discussed in the 559-page report. READ MORE SHARE
Skor to testify at House joint committee hearing on biofuels Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor is scheduled to testify during a joint subcommittee hearing in the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology July 25 that aims to examine federal funding of biofuel projects and the impact on the private sector. READ MORE SHARE
Trump announces nominations for 3 USDA posts President Donald Trump has announced nominations for three USDA posts, including deputy secretary and two under secretary positions. Ted McKinney has been nominated to fill the new under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs post. READ MORE SHARE
Growth Energy responds to Inhofe’s anti-ethanol claims Growth Energy has spoken out to a floor speech made by Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., in opposition to the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which aims to extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to fuel blends with more than 10 percent ethanol. READ MORE SHARE
California legislature passes bills extending cap-and-trade, LCFS On July 17, the California legislature voted in favor of a package of bills that extend the state’s cap-and-trade program for 10 years, through 2030, and codify the Low Carbon Fuel Standard into law. READ MORE SHARE
Romania expects to increase blending mandate by almost double Romania expects a drastic decline in bioethanol production in 2017, but will increase its bioethanol blending mandate, according to the European Renewable Energy Directive. READ MORE SHARE
CropEnergies has successful first quarter in 2018. Global bioethanol producer CropEnergies has increased its production by 38 percent in the first quarter of 2017, based on sales of bioethanol, food and animal feed products, as well as the reopening of a plant in Wilton, United Kingdom. READ MORE SHARE
DOE: Membrane technology will improve biofuel production Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory set out to determine what could increase production speeds and improve the quality of biofuels and bioproducts. What they discovered is a new class of porous membranes. READ MORE SHARE
Praj-Gevo development agreement to enter commercialization phase Praj Industries Ltd. and Gevo Inc. have announced that Gevo’s proprietary isobutanol technology will be available for licensing to processors of sugarcane juice and molasses. The two companies entered development and licensing agreements in 2015. READ MORE SHARE
Study on photoprotection may benefit biofuel feedstock yield Researchers from MIT and the University of Verona have discovered how the key protein in the photoprotection process allows moss and green algae to protect themselves from too much sun. The findings could benefit biofuel feedstock development. READ MORE SHARE
USGC: US DDGS exports up 16 percent to Southeast Asia U.S. exports of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to Southeast Asia have increased 16 percent so far this marketing year, according to data from the USDA and analysis by the U.S. Grains Council. READ MORE SHARE
Funding allows ORNL to accelerate biofuel, bioproducts research The Center for Bioenergy Innovation, led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is one of four bioenergy centers chosen by DOE to advance a new biobased economy with the production of fuels and other products directly from nonfood biomass. READ MORE SHARE