Ethanol Week - June 5, 2018

Ethanol coalition sues EPA over small refinery exemptions The RFA, NCGA, ACE and NFU, with support of Farmers Union Enterprises, filed suit May 29 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit to challenge several waivers from the RFS that the U.S. EPA granted in secret to profitable refining companies. READ MORE SHARE
Farm and biofuel coalition demands EPA account for lost RVOs A coalition of biofuel and agriculture groups have petitioned the U.S. EPA to change its regulations to account for lost volumes of renewable fuel resulting from the unprecedented number of retroactive small refinery exemptions from RFS obligations. READ MORE SHARE
	Ag committee members advocate for Farm Bill energy title programs On June 4, a group of eight members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry sent a letter to committee chair Sen. Pat Roberts and ranking member Sen. Debbie Stabenow expressing support for the Farm Bill energy title programs. READ MORE SHARE
DOE seeks nominations for biomass R&D advisory committee The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking nominations for candidates to fill vacancies on the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. Nominations are due June 30. READ MORE SHARE
RFA: Poll shows consumers agree that E15 barrier is ‘ridiculous’ Starting June 1, gas stations across much of the nation will be forced to cease sales of E15, a fuel blend that is cleaner and cheaper than regular E10 gasoline. The summertime ban on E15 comes at a time gas prices are reaching a four-year high. READ MORE SHARE
Iowa official, IRFA ask Pruitt to lift E15 restrictions Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, recently called on U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to remove an unnecessary barrier to summer time sale of E15. READ MORE SHARE
ACE: Despite Trump’s repeated pledge, E15 barrier still in place Despite repeated public endorsements from the White House to allow the sale of E15 unleaded gasoline year-round, EPA has taken no action to lift the outdated regulatory barrier prior to the June 1 start of the low Reid vapor pressure (RVP) season. READ MORE SHARE
Growth Energy: RVP period to begin at time of high fuel costs June 1 marks the beginning of the RVP restriction on E15 sales across most of the country during the summer driving season—June 1 to September 15. The ban on E15 comes at a time when American drivers would most benefit from relief at the pump. READ MORE SHARE
UNICA: Ethanol sales up in first half of May UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, has announced mills in the south-central region of the country sold 1.13 billion liters (289.51 million gallons) of ethanol during the first half of May, up 17 percent from the same period of 2017. READ MORE SHARE
USGC: Ethanol Summit of Asia Pacific held in Minneapolis Industry and government officials from 17 countries in Asia and Oceania met in Minneapolis the week of May 21 to take part in the Ethanol Summit of the Asia Pacific, an event sponsored by the USGC, Growth Energy and the RFA. READ MORE SHARE
Rex American Resources reports increased ethanol sales in Q1 On May 23, Rex American Resources Corp. released first quarter financial results, reporting increased ethanol sales volumes and gross profit when compared to the same period of 2017. READ MORE SHARE
Valicor divisions set to become Trucent In 2017, the environmental services divisions of Valicor Inc.and the Valicor brand name were spun off and purchased by Wind Point Partners. The Dexter, Michigan-based portions of Valicor Inc. that were not sold are now operating at Trucent. READ MORE SHARE
New machine learning approach could accelerate bioengineering Scientists from the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a way to use machine learning to dramatically accelerate the design of microbes that produce biofuel. READ MORE SHARE
Growth Energy announces Rutter’s as newest E15 retailer Growth Energy and Pennsylvania-based Rutter’s announced June 4 that the convenience store chain will begin selling E15—a fuel with 15 percent biofuel—at seven of its locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. READ MORE SHARE
Purdue wins $1.8 million from DOE to solve biorefinery blockages A team led by Purdue University scientists will receive a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to solve one of the biggest problems facing biorefinery operations—the flow of biomass into and throughout the facilities. READ MORE SHARE
RFA announces $1 million Fuel Your Knowledge campaign The Renewable Fuels Association has launched a new $1 million consumer-focused educational campaign that will educate consumers about the proper use of ethanol-blended fuels in boats, motorcycles, lawn and garden equipment and other off-road engines. READ MORE SHARE
UTIA wins DOE grant to advance biofuels, bioenergy Researchers with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture continue to be at the forefront of the development of commercial applications for biofuels as well as biobased energy and biobased products. READ MORE SHARE