Ethanol Week - February 9, 2021

Regan promises ‘no surprises’ in EPA’s administration of the RFS Michael Regan, President Biden’s nominee to serve as administrator of the U.S. EPA, said the RFS will be a priority the current administration and stressed agriculture will have a seat at the table when it comes to Biden’s climate objectives. READ MORE SHARE
Vilsack: Biofuels, bioenergy can help meet climate goals Secretary of agriculture nominee Tom Vilsack stressed the important role biofuels and bioenergy will play in meeting the Biden administration’s climate goals during a Feb. 2 hearing before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. READ MORE SHARE
	USDA: US ethanol exports at 1.33 billion gallons in 2020 The U.S. exported more that 1.33 billion gallons of fuel ethanol last year, down from 1.46 billion gallons in 2019, according to data released by the USDA on Feb. 5. Despite the pandemic, that level of exports is the fourth highest volume on record. READ MORE SHARE
Bill creates grant program to expand ethanol infrastructure Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, on Feb. 8 reintroduced legislation to create a renewable fuel infrastructure grant program and streamline regulatory requirements to help fuel retailers sell higher blends of ethanol. READ MORE SHARE
Legislation compels EPA to act on RFS pathways, registrations Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., on Feb. 4 reintroduced a bill that aims to compel the EPA to take action on submitted RFS pathway petitions and set a deadline for the agency to act on future pathway and registration petitions. READ MORE SHARE
	EIA: Ethanol production up slightly, stocks up 3% U.S. ethanol production was up slightly the week ending Jan. 29, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Feb. 3. Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol were up 3 percent. READ MORE SHARE
Iowa bill aims to speed adoption of higher biofuel blends Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Feb. 8 introduced a bill that aims to speed the statewide adoption of higher biofuel blends, including E15 and B20. Representatives of the ethanol and biodiesel industries are speaking out in support of the bill. READ MORE SHARE
Senators urge EPA to review the 3 SREs approved in January A bipartisan group of 15 senators sent a letter to Acting EPA Administrator Jane Nishida on Feb. 3 urging the agency to review the three small refinery exemptions (SREs) approved by the Trump administration on Jan. 19. READ MORE SHARE
Novozymes: Bioenergy sales fall 9% in 2020 Novozymes released fourth quarter financial results on Feb. 2, reporting that its bioenergy segment was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The reduction in bioenergy sales, however, improved in the fourth quarter. READ MORE SHARE
IRFA: Biofuels continue to have positive impact on Iowa’s economy A new study released Feb. 2 finds biofuels continue to have a significant positive impact on Iowa’s economy, but recent market challenges reduced the job and household income impacts of ethanol and biodiesel production in the state. READ MORE SHARE