Policy

March 21, 2023

Biden, Vilsack and Regan celebrate National Agriculture Day

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, Markets, Feedstocks, Coproducts, Cellulosic, Business, PolicyPresident Joe Biden has proclaimed March 21 as National Agriculture Day. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Administrator Michael Regan issued comments recognizing the ag community for it work to provide the U.S. with food, fuel and fiber. READ MORE

March 21, 2023

DOE offers $14M to optimize production of biofuels, biochemicals

BY U.S. Department of Energy Found In:Coproducts, Cellulosic, Business, PolicyThe U.S. Department of Energy on March 21 announced $14 million in funding to support and optimize the production of affordable biofuels and biochemicals while significantly reducing carbon emissions. READ MORE

March 20, 2023

Nebraska bill aims to boost availability of E15

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Policy, RetailerLegislation recently introduced in the Nebraska Legislature aims to boost the availability of E15 fuel by introducing new requirements for fuel retailers and creating a grant program to support necessary upgrades at fuel retail locations. READ MORE

March 20, 2023

Minnesota ethanol industry contributes $2.7B to state’s economy

BY Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association Found In:Operations, Markets, Feedstocks, Coproducts, Business, Policy, RetailerMinnesota’s ethanol industry contributed $2.7 billion to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022, according to a new study by the University of Minnesota Extension that was sponsored by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association. READ MORE

March 17, 2023

RFA helps retailers win $36M in latest round of HBIIP grants

BY Renewable Fuels Association Found In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerThe USDA recently concluded the latest round of its Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, and once again the RFA helped dozens of retailers apply for, and win, grant awards that will expand the availability of higher ethanol blends. READ MORE

March 17, 2023

DOE announces $590 million to increase bioenergy research

BY U.S. Department of Energy Found In:Business, PolicyThe U.S. DOE has announced $590 million to renew its four existing Bioenergy Research Centers. This funding will help support the DOE's research into the next generation of sustainable, cost-effective bioproducts and bioenergy. READ MORE

March 16, 2023

EPA: 1.72 billion RINs generated in February

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, Cellulosic, Business, PolicyThe U.S. EPA on March 16 released data showing that nearly 1.72 billion renewable identification number (RINs) were generated under the Renewable Fuel Standard in February, up from 1.54 billion generated during the same month of 2022. READ MORE

March 16, 2023

EPA: 1 new SRE petition filed, 25 SRE petitions now pending

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicyThe U.S. EPA on March 16 released updated data showing that one small refinery exemption (SRE) petition has been filed under the RFS over the past month. A total of 25 SRE petitions are now pending, up from 24 that were pending as of mid-February. READ MORE

March 16, 2023

RFA: California E85 sales skyrocket past 100M gallons in 2022

BY Renewable Fuels Association Found In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerSales of E85 flex fuel in California in 2022 surged 66 percent over 2021 and more than doubled the pre-pandemic record set in 2019, according to new data released by the California Air Resources Board. READ MORE

March 16, 2023

Growth Energy kicks off 2023 Executive Leadership Conference

BY Growth Energy Found In:Business, PolicyGrowth Energy CEO Emily Skor kicked off Growth Energy's 14th annual Executive Leadership Conference with a speech that emphasized the hard-won progress made last year and ongoing innovation by the group's members. READ MORE

March 16, 2023

RFA comments on California LCFS compliance targets, modeling

BY Renewable Fuels Association Found In:Business, PolicyIn comments submitted to the California Air Resources Board on potential changes to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, the RFA identified several areas in CARB’s proposal and underlying analysis that need improvement. READ MORE

March 15, 2023

Growth Energy highlights ethanol benefits in LCFS comments

BY Growth Energy Found In:Markets, Business, PolicyIn comments submitted to CARB on March 15 following the latest LCFS workshop, Growth Energy highlighted the growing environmental benefits of bioethanol, in particular the steady decline in bioethanol’s average carbon intensity (CI). READ MORE

March 14, 2023

Bill to enable year-round E15 sales introduced in House, Senate

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerMembers of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives on March 14 reintroduced the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which aims to implement a permanent, nationwide solution to allow year-round E15 sales. READ MORE

March 14, 2023

USGC joins Duckworth in Japan to discuss ethanol possibilities

BY U.S. Grains Council Found In:Markets, Business, PolicyU.S. Grains Council staff and representatives from the Illinois Corn Marketing Board joined Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., in Tokyo in late February to discuss Japan's committment to double ethanol consumption by 2030. READ MORE

March 13, 2023

Bill aims to create clean transportation standard in Minnesota

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Cellulosic, Business, Policy, RetailerLegislation currently pending in Minnesota aims to establish a clean transportation standard that would require the state’s transportation fuels to achieve 100 percent reduction in carbon intensity (CI) by 2050. READ MORE

March 10, 2023

Opinion: It’s a Fact: Consumers Support Ethanol

BY Geoff Cooper Found In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerAmericans strongly support expanded use of lower-cost, lower-carbon renewable fuels like ethanol, want greater access to higher ethanol blends, and strongly oppose policies that remove options at the gas pump or the auto dealership. READ MORE

March 08, 2023

Ag Energy Coalition advocates for strong Farm Bill energy funding

BY Agriculture Energy Coalition Found In:Feedstocks, Coproducts, Cellulosic, Business, PolicyOn the inaugural National Biobased Products Day, the Agriculture Energy Coalition released a letter to Senate and House Agriculture Committee leaders urging them to preserve funding for Farm Bill energy title programs. READ MORE

March 08, 2023

USDA celebrates inaugural National Biobased Products Day

BY USDA Found In:Feedstocks, Coproducts, Cellulosic, Business, PolicyThe USDA on March 8 kicked off the inaugural National Biobased Products Day and highlighted the accomplishments of people and organizations working to improve sustainability within the federal government. READ MORE

March 07, 2023

Iowa, Nebraska signal intent to sue EPA over year-round E15 delay

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Business, PolicyThe attorneys general of Iowa and Nebraska on March 6 notified U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan of their intent to sue the agency over its illegal delay in issuing regulations to allow year-round sales of E15 within their states. READ MORE

March 07, 2023

Ethanol groups call for improvements on draft RFS impact report

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Business, PolicyThe RFA and Growth Energy have praised many elements included in the U.S. EPA’s Third Triennial Report to Congress on the environmental impacts of the RFS, but are calling on the agency to make several important improvements to the report. READ MORE

March 06, 2023

EPA to hold virtual public hearing on Midwest E15 rule March 21

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerThe U.S. EPA will hold a virtual public hearing on March 21 to gather comments on its proposed rule that aims to allow year-round sales of E15 in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin starting in 2024. READ MORE

March 06, 2023

Washington Senate passes bill to establish SAF tax credits

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Coproducts, Business, PolicyThe Washington State Senate on March 1 voted 46 to 2 in favor of a bill that aims to encourage the manufacture and purchase of SAF though tax incentives. The bill also directs WSU to convene a workgroup to further development of alternative jet fuel. READ MORE

March 03, 2023

Growth Energy cheers Arizona rule expanding E15 markets

BY Growth Energy Found In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerGrowth Energy on March 3 hailed a final rule by the Arizona Department of Agriculture Weights and Measures Services Division to allow the sale of E15 in the greater Phoenix area under the state’s Clean Burning Gasoline program. READ MORE

March 03, 2023

Iowa awards $1.1 million in renewable fuels infrastructure grants

BY Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Found In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerTwenty-three Iowa locations in 16 different counties were awarded more than $1.1 million in cost-share grants from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program during the latest quarterly application cycle. READ MORE

March 03, 2023

Reynolds receives RFA award, addresses NEC

BY Office of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds Found In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerOn March 2, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds received the RFA's All-Industry Award and addressed the National Ethanol Conference, where she announced plans to request an emergency waiver allowing E15 sales this summer. READ MORE

March 02, 2023

EPA approves efficient producer pathway for Iowa plant

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, Business, PolicyThe U.S. EPA on in February approved an efficient producer pathway for Green Plains Inc.’s 60 MMgy ethanol plant located in Superior, Iowa. The approval allows the facility to generate RINs for non-grandfathered volumes of ethanol. READ MORE

March 02, 2023

RFA: RFS slashed GHG emissions by 1.2B metric tons since 2008

BY Renewable Fuels Association Found In:Operations, Business, PolicyA new analysis from a renowned carbon accounting firm finds that the greenhouse gas emissions reductions achieved under the Renewable Fuel Standard far exceed the GHG savings originally projected by U.S. EPA. READ MORE

March 01, 2023

Cooper: Persistence, momentum key to ethanol industry success

BY Renewable Fuels Association Found In:Operations, Markets, Feedstocks, Coproducts, Cellulosic, Business, Policy, RetailerThe innate persistence of the U.S. ethanol industry and its champions can drive renewable fuels to new heights in 2023, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said in his annual “State of the Industry” presentation at the NEC. READ MORE

March 01, 2023

EPA responds to Midwest petitions seeking year-round E15 sales

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerThe U.S. EPA on March 1 released a proposed rule that aims to allow year-round sales of E15 in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin beginning on April 28, 2024. READ MORE

February 28, 2023

RFA release 2023 Ethanol Industry Outlook, Pocket Guide

BY Renewable Fuels Association Found In:Operations, Markets, Feedstocks, Coproducts, Business, Policy, RetailerThe RFA released its 2023 Ethanol Industry Outlook and Pocket Guide during the 28th annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando. The annual publications serve as the go-to source of ethanol industry information, facts, and statistics. READ MORE