Ethanol Week - August 29, 2017

Comment period on EPA’s 2018 RFS proposal closes Aug. 31 Those who wish to file written comments on the U.S. EPA’s proposed rule to set 2018 volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard have until midnight on Aug. 31 to do so. To date, more than 30,000 comments have already been filed. READ MORE SHARE
Brazil to impose US ethanol import tariff A government official in Brazil recently tweeted that CAMEX, Brazil’s Chamber of Foreign Trade, has approved a recommendation to impose a 20 percent tariff on U.S. ethanol imports after a 600 million liter tariff rate quota. READ MORE SHARE
	Biofuel groups urge EPA to set stronger cellulosic RFS targets The American Biogas Council, Advanced Biofuels Business Council, Biotechnology Innovation Organization and Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas are urging the U.S. EPA to set strong cellulosic targets in the 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard rule. READ MORE SHARE
UNICA: Ethanol production rebounds slightly in early August UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association has announced sales of hydrous ethanol increased at mills in the south-central region of Brazil during the first half of August, while the ratio of sugar production decreased. READ MORE SHARE
RFA asks EPA to expand Hurricane Harvey fuel waiver In a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, the Renewable Fuels Association asked the agency to “take immediate action to expand the scope and geographic coverage” of the fuel waiver issued by the agency Aug. 26 in response to Hurricane Harvey. READ MORE SHARE
Growth Energy files NHTSA comments in support of ethanol blends Growth Energy recently filed comments with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as it prepares an environmental impact statement to analyze the potential environmental impacts of new CAFE standards for MY 2022-2025 light-duty vehicles. READ MORE SHARE
Report discusses future of ethanol market in Spain A report recently filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Information Network provides insight into the future ethanol market in Spain following the 2016 expiration of the ethanol-specific biofuel blending target. READ MORE SHARE
EPA posts materials for SAB review of biogenic CO2 framework The U.S. EPA has posted new materials related to a quality review scheduled to be conducted by the Scientific Advisory Board on the agency’s draft framework for assessing biogenic carbon dioxide emissions from stationary sources. READ MORE SHARE
Farmers Union to power transition to homegrown renewable energy National Farmers Union has begun an initiative to advance federal policies that support homegrown and home-produced renewable energy sources. NFU hired veteran energy, environment and agriculture policy specialist Anne Steckel to lead the effort. READ MORE SHARE
Researchers: Landfill sites aid in search for new enzymes Far from being a load of rubbish, landfill sites should be considered one of the great untapped resources in the search for new enzymes for biotechnology, and could fuel more efficient biofuel production. READ MORE SHARE
ePure: Study highlights benefits of higher ethanol blends A new report published by the European Commission highlights several benefits of higher ethanol blends in petrol, including reducing emissions of dangerous pollutants and boosting car engine performance. READ MORE SHARE
ACE staff, member plant help educate youth on biofuel The American Coalition for Ethanol staff and member plant, Siouxland Ethanol LLC, are partnering with the Northeast Nebraska Corn Growers to participate in an ag youth literacy festival and showcase plot Aug. 24 in Jackson, Nebraska. READ MORE SHARE
RFA: Mid-Missouri Energy goes green with flex-fuel mower Mid-Missouri Energy is the proud owner of a John Deere flex fuel mower that runs on E85. The commercial mower was donated by John Deere to the RFA, and Mid-Missouri Energy General Manager Chris Wilson won it at the 2017 National Ethanol Conference. READ MORE SHARE
DOE: Artificial intelligence helps improve biomass preprocessing Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory’s bioenergy program have successfully tested an adaptive, intelligence-based control system that increased the reliability of feedstock preprocessing equipment by more than 50 percent. READ MORE SHARE
Retailers discuss ethanol opportunity at ACE conference The American Coalition for Ethanol hosted its 30th annual conference in Omaha in mid-August, and for the fourth year in a row, the retailer panel was one of the highlights of the event. READ MORE SHARE
USTDA introduces LanzaTech technology to South Africa The U.S. Trade and Development Agency recently awarded a grant to Swayana (Pty) Ltd, a Pretoria-based energy project developer, for a feasibility study that will use innovative U.S. technologies to convert waste gas into ethanol. READ MORE SHARE
Vertimass completes intermediate technology validation with DOE Vertimass LLC recently announced completion of intermediate technology validation from the U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technology Office. The company believes BETO verification paves the way for it to move to the demonstration scale. READ MORE SHARE
USGC: Mexican trade team examines US DDGS production Mexican poultry and pork producers alike can benefit from utilizing distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in their rations. The U.S. Grains Council conveyed that message and more during a trade team visit to Minnesota and Kansas in July. READ MORE SHARE
DOE: BETO publishes tech blog on innovations in the bioeconomy The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office has announced the official launch of its new technical blog, Bioprose: Building the Bioeconomy through Technology & Communication. READ MORE SHARE