Ethanol Week - January 2, 2018

Brazil establishes national biofuels policy Brazilian President Michel Temer has approved legislation creating RenovaBio, a new national biofuels policy. The law was published in the official federal gazette of Brazil on Dec. 26. The Brazilian Senate approved the bill on Dec. 12. READ MORE SHARE
EPA qualifies distiller sorghum oil as advanced biofuel feedstock The U.S. EPA has released a notice of proposed rulemaking related to fuel pathways using distiller sorghum oil as feedstock for biofuel production. A 30-day comment period on the proposal is set to close Jan. 26. READ MORE SHARE
	EPA: 21.9 million cellulosic RINs generated in November The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for November, reporting that nearly 1.64 billion RIN were generated during the month, including more than 21.9 million cellulosic RINs. READ MORE SHARE
USDA: No FY 2018 actions under Feedstock Flexibility Program On Dec. 28, USDA Commodity Credit Corp. announced it does not expect to purchase sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for fiscal year (FY) 2018. The CCC is expected to release its next quarterly estimate for the FPP by April 1. READ MORE SHARE
Bolivia plans E10 mandate in 2018 Bolivia announced a plan this week to implement an ethanol blend mandate for gasoline in 2018. The mandate would begin at a 10 percent blend and increase as the industry increases production capacity in Bolivia. READ MORE SHARE
USGC’s corn quality report see record yields The U.S. Grain Council released its latest corn quality report Dec. 21. The seventh annual survey showed a record corn yield and overall great crop quality due to an outstanding growing season. READ MORE SHARE
USGC explores potential for ethanol use in Indonesia, Thailand Representatives from the U.S. Grains Council recently traveled to Indonesia and Thailand to visit with ministry and industry officials and gain a better understanding of the opportunities for and challenges to expanded ethanol use in both markets. READ MORE SHARE
ePURE against EU’s roll back of ethanol use The European renewable ethanol association, ePURE, issued a statement decrying the recent agreement by EU energy ministers to roll back plans to use renewable energy in transportation, calling it a step in the wrong direction. READ MORE SHARE
Minnesota continues as leader in alternative fuel in 2017 Minnesota again led the region in the growth and use of cleaner alternatives to traditional petroleum fuels last year, according to the American Lung Association in Minnesota. In 2017, 40 new E85 stations opened throughout the state. READ MORE SHARE
FCIC to fund projects to improve biomass handing To accelerate innovation and adoption of new practices and technologies to determine the root cause of biomass handling failures and designing solutions, the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium is overseeing a directed funding opportunity call. READ MORE SHARE
EERC, Red Trail Energy continue to reduce CO2 emissions The University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center has been awarded $345,000 of North Dakota Renewable Energy Program funding to continue work with Red trail Energy LLC to investigate the use of CCUS technology at ethanol plants. READ MORE SHARE
IRFA announces monarch fueling station project The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association recently launched the Monarch Fueling Station Project to help ethanol and biodiesel producers across the state establish monarch butterfly habitats on green spaces surrounding biofuels plants. READ MORE SHARE