Pacific Ethanol Inc. announced April 16 it has closed on its agreement to sell its 74 percent ownership interest in Pacific Aurora LLC to Aurora Cooperative Elevator Co. for a total valuation of $52.8 million.
The RFA estimates half of U.S. ethanol production capacity is offline. During a conference call held April 20, representatives of the ethanol industry discussed the impact COVID-19 is having on biofuel producers and stressed the need for federal aid.
U.S. Gain on April 20 announced it has entered into a renewable natural gas (RNG) supply agreement with the Port of Seattle. RNG will be used to heat Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and power its fleet of busses.
As the COVID-19 pandemic and crude oil glut continue to ravage world fuel markets, U.S. ethanol sales in 2020 could fall by more than $10 billion and the industry's contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) could drop by nearly one-third.
Capstone Turbine Corp. has announced its first 800 kW C800 Signature Series order for a biogas project in Japan. The project will utilize organic biomass in the form of agricultural and animal waste to generate clean and efficient energy.
The governors of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on April 17 urging the agency to allocate funding to the biofuel sector to help address the economic harm caused by COVID-19.
The USDA on April 17 announced a $19 billion COVID-19 relief program to assist farmers, ranchers and consumers. Despite requests from representatives of the biofuels industry, the package provides no relief for ethanol producers.
Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) and Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition) announced on April 20 that 39 percent of all on-road fuel used in natural gas vehicles in calendar year 2019 was renewable natural gas (RNG).
Fluid Quip Technologies Maximum Stillage Co-Products MSC has begun operations at Green Plains' ethanol plant in Shenandoah, Iowa. The MSC protein separation system began operations producing 50 percent Still Pro 50 protein within 24 hours of startup.
The U.S. EPA released update small refinery exemption (SRE) data on April 16, reporting that one additional SRE petition has been filed under the Renewable Fuel Standard for compliance year 2019.
The oil refining industry's latest attempt to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard should be rejected immediately, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said in an April 17 letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service is offering to extend contract deadlines on certain timber sales, sale of property stewardship contracts and forest product permits awarded or issued before April 1, 2020.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill on April 14 that requires certain parties within the state to separate and recycle food waste. The legislation also expands the definition of Class I renewables.
Granite Falls Energy LLC filed an 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 17 announcing it's 62 MMgy ethanol plant in Granite Falls, Minnesota, will remain idle through the end of April.
The U.S. EPA released update small refinery exemption (SRE) data on April 16, reporting that one additional SRE petition has been filed under the Renewable Fuel Standard for compliance year 2019.
The governors of Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Utah and Louisiana have sent letters to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler asking the agency to waive 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements due to market impacts caused by COVID-19.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers and production staff at Poet have been working around the clock to produce an all-natural ethanol-based sanitizer to tackle the severe local shortage.
The governors of Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Utah and Louisiana have sent letters to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler asking the agency to waive 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements due to market impacts caused by COVID-19.
UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, is asking the Brazilian government to take action to help prevent the nation's sugar and ethanol industry from collapsing due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many ethanol plants have been forced to reduce or idle production capacity due to falling demand caused by COVID-19. However, several plants, including Tharaldson Ethanol, are continuing to operate at levels near full capacity.
Teams at GB Railfreight are continuing to work closely with Drax to maintain supplies of the sustainable biomass needed for the U.K.'s largest power station to generate electricity needed by millions of homes and business during the COVID-19 crisis.
The renewable natural gas (RNG) offloading station at Dane County's landfill is scheduled to receive its first load of biogas the week of April 13. The biogas will be brought from a Wisconsin digester that collects the methane from manure.
Drax Biomass is donating $30,000 to help families and businesses in northeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi who have been impacted by the Covid-19 crisis and recent tornadoes in the Monroe area.
The Energy Futures Initiative and the National Association of State Energy Officials recently published the 2020 U.S. Energy and Employment Report, which determined U.S. biofuel jobs grew by approximately 2 percent last year.
U.S. Gain recently completed a gas processing facility at Clover Hill Dairy in Campbellsport, Wisconsin. The result is good news for the renewable natural gas (RNG) industry, the environment and the farm.
European renewable ethanol producers have asked the European Commission to consider addressing challenges that have arisen from shifting market conditions as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis.
The Energy Futures Initiative and the National Association of State Energy Officials recently published the 2020 U.S. Energy and Employment Report, which determined U.S. jobs in woody biomass and biofuels were up 2 percent in 2019.
U.S. fuel ethanol production fell 15 percent the week ending April 10 to an average of 570,000 barrels per day, the lowest level since the U.S. Energy Administration began reporting weekly ethanol production data in mid-2010.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on April 13 unveiled a one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Simec Atlantis Energy Ltd. announced on April 14 that the target financial close date for its Uskmouth Power Station conversion project in the U.K. may be delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated ongoing workplace disruptions.
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