Ethanol Week - August 18, 2020

Court denies challenge to EPA’s corn fiber pathway guidance In a split decision, a federal appeals court on Aug. 14 denied a petition filed by Poet Biorefining last year challenging guidance issued by the U.S. EPA in May 2019 regarding the registration of corn kernel fiber pathways under the RFS. READ MORE SHARE
Wheeler discusses expected delays in 2021 RVOs, gap year SREs U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on Aug. 11 said work is ongoing to review gap year SRE waivers and issue a proposed rule to set 2021 RVOs under the RFS. He was unable, however, to specify when those tasks will be complete. READ MORE SHARE
	Trump considers reciprocal tariffs on Brazilian ethanol President Trump on Aug. 10 said his administration is considering reciprocal tariffs on Brazilian ethanol. The RFA expressed support for Trump's statement, but said it would prefer the return to a free and fair ethanol trade relationship with Brazil. READ MORE SHARE
EPA ‘reset’ recommendation addresses RFS, LCFS A group of six former U.S. EPA administrators are calling for a “reset” of the agency as it approaches its 50th anniversary. The RFS and a potential federal LCFS among the issues discussed in a report released on the effort. READ MORE SHARE
Aemetis prepares for transition to USP-grade alcohol production Eric McAfee, chairman and CEO of Aemetis, on Aug. 13 detailed upgrades the company is making to its Keyes, California, ethanol plant to enable the production of USP-grade alcohol. The plant's entire capacity could be transitioned to the product. READ MORE SHARE
Novozymes: Bioenergy sales down significantly Novozymes released financial results for the first half of 2020 on Aug. 11, reporting 4 percent organic sales growth despite a sharp decline in bioenergy sales caused by the impact of COVID-19 on the ethanol industry. READ MORE SHARE
EIA: Ethanol production down 1%, ending stocks fall by 3% U.S. ethanol production fell by more than 1 percent, while weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol fell by nearly 3 percent for the week ending Aug. 7, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Aug. 12. READ MORE SHARE
Pacific Ethanol focuses on high-quality alcohol, coproducts Mike Kandris, co-CEO of Pacific Ethanol Inc., announced on Aug. 12 that the company does not expect to reopen its idle fuel ethanol plants until it can better secure positive forward operating margins for the idle facilities. READ MORE SHARE
EIA increases 2020, 2021 ethanol production forecasts The U.S. Energy Information Administration slightly increased its forecasts for 2020 and 2021 ethanol production in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, which was released Aug. 11. Forecasts for ethanol blending were also revised up. READ MORE SHARE
WASDE: 2020-’21 corn use in ethanol forecast at 5.2B bushels The USDA maintained its forecast for 2020-’21 corn use in ethanol in its latest World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report, released on Aug. 12. Projections for corn production and yield were revised up, while corn prices were revised down. READ MORE SHARE
Gevo looks to acquire two additional plant sites Gevo CEO Patrick Gruber indicated on Aug. 10 that duress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may offer an opportunity for the company to acquire additional ethanol plant sites needed to meet expected demand for its renewable hydrocarbon products. READ MORE SHARE
New York ethanol plant wins hydropower allocation The New York Power Authority announced on July 28 that its board of trustees approved a 700-kilowatt (kW) hydropower allocation to Western New York Energy to support the creation of 10 jobs and $17.5 million in capital investments. READ MORE SHARE