The U.S. House of Representatives on May 15 voted 208 to 199 to pass a fourth COVID-19 stimulus package. The bill, known as the HEROES Act, would provide dedicated relief for biofuel producers by establishing the Renewable Fuel Reimbursement Program.
In a letter to the U.S. EPA's Science Advisory Board, Growth Energy urged members of a new COVID-19 Review Panel to examine the impact of toxic gasoline additives on respiratory health, as well as the potential benefits offered by ethanol.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on May 11 requesting that the agency exercise its waiver authority to reduce Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements.
The U.S. EPA has delivered its proposed rule to set 2021 renewable volume requirements (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard and the 2022 RVO for biomass-based diesel to the White House Office of Management and Budget.
The RFA on May 15 held a media call to discuss market impacts of COVID-19, recent polling results that show strong support for biofuels, the need for federal relief for biofuel producers, and barriers to hand sanitizer production.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky on May 15 announced that the USDA has launched an online portal to begin accepting applications for Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program grants.
NOVA Chemicals Corp. and Enerkem Inc. have entered into a joint development agreement to explore turning non-recyclable and non-compostable municipal waste into ethylene, a basic building block of plastics.
Attorneys for a broad alliance of ethanol, agriculture and clean fuel organizations filed their opening brief arguing that EPA regulatory barriers that prevent ethanol from competing for greater market share are illegal, according to the UAI.
Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is making a lot of traction. California's LCFS has recognized CCS as a viable pathway to reduce emissions from transportation fuels and Congress has expanded the 45Q tax credit for carbon capture projects.
BBI International and Biodiesel Magazine are pleased to announce that the agenda for the Biodiesel Production Technology Summit, set to take place Aug. 24-26, 2020, in Omaha, Nebraska, has been released and is now available online.
The U.S. EPA on May 14 officially opened the public comment period on its recently announced proposed rule to streamline and modernize its existing fuels regulations. Comments must be received by June 29.
Eric McAfee, chairman and CEO of Aemetis Inc., discussed steps the company is taking to produce pharmacopeia- and food-grade alcohol and provided updates of the company's advanced biofuel projects during a first quarter earnings call held May 14.
SCS Global Services is now approved by CARB as a verification body for the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. CARB recently added third-party verification requirements to the LCFS to ensure data completeness, accuracy, and conformance with the regulation.
The Renewable Fuels Association has announced ClearFlame Engine Technologies as the organization's newest associate member. The company makes modificaitons to diesel engines that allows them to use 100 percent fuel ethanol.
Patrick Gruber, president and CEO of Gevo Inc., said on May 12 he expects the company's biorefinery in Luverne, Minnesota, to remain idle for the remainder of the year. The company's plant in Silsbee, Texas, however, continues to operate.
LucasE3 has announced an agreement with Brazil-based Maracajá Bioenergia to build a new corn ethanol plant in the northern region of the state of Mato Grosso near the municipality of Matupá. Construction is expected to start later this year.
Neil Koehler, president and CEO of Pacific Ethanol Inc., announced on May 13 the company is gradually increasing production as fuel demand increase and margins improve. The company is now operating at approximately 50 percent capacity.
U.S. ethanol production was up more than 3 percent the week ending May 8 while ending stocks of fuel ethanol fell by nearly 6 percent, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on May 13.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration increased its forecast for 2020 ethanol production, but lowered its prediction for 2021 ethanol production in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released on May 12.
The USDA is predicting 5.2 billion bushels of corn will go to ethanol production during the 2020-'21 crop year, up 250 million bushels when compared to the estimated volume of corn that went to ethanol production during the 2019-'20 crop year.
A fourth COVID-19 stimulus package known as the HEROES Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 12. The bill includes dedicated relief for biofuels producers by establishing the Renewable Fuel Reimbursement Program.
The Colombian Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism (MINCIT) has announced it will impose duties of $0.1997/gallon on U.S. ethanol exports to Colombia. The USGC, Growth Energy and RFA said the duties are unjustified.
Midwest AgEnergy Group, the parent company of the Blue Flint, is evaluating alternative thermal energy and utility options after plans were announced to close Coal Creek Station, a power plant that provides water and steam to Blue Flint.
The Biogenic CO2 Coalition is asking lawmakers to direct the U.S. EPA to promptly publish a rule that states neither agricultural biomass nor woody biomass contribute to excess greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere.
A group of 70 mayors representing cities and towns in the Midwest sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on May 11 urging him to reject any requests to waive 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements.
A group of 11 ag and biofuel groups sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on May 11 asking congress to provide COVID-19 relief for ethanol and biodiesel producers.
The USDA has released guidance on the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association is offering support and encouraging Iowa fuel retailers to take steps now to streamline the application process.
Leaders of the Governors' Biofuels Coalition sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on May 8 urging the agency to reject a recent request from five oil state governors to waive 2020 Renewable Fuels Standard blending obligations.
Three dozen electric cooperatives and rural electric associations send a letter to 20 federal lawmakers on May 7 asking Congress to provide much-needed economic relief for rural America, which continues to suffer from the impacts of COVID-19.
The USTR recently issued its 2020 National Trade Estimate, an annual report detailing foreign trade barriers faced by U.S. exporters of goods and services and USTR's efforts to reduce those barriers. Ethanol and DDGS are among the products addressed.
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