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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Green Plains Inc. is donating additional industrial grade alcohol from its facility in York, Nebraska, for the production of hand sanitizer to the states of Nebraska and Iowa.
Marquis Energy has announced it is now producing mass amounts of hand sanitizer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is also continuing produciton of fuel ethanol and dried distilelrs grains (DDGs).
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.
Novozymes has reported its bioenergy segment experienced 11 percent organic growth during the first quarter of 2020. Growth in the segment, however, is not expected to continue due to the impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. ethanol industry.
Green Plains Inc. on April 14 announced the successful startup of its high protein ingredient production facility and the first shipment of the product from its biorefinery in Shenandoah, Iowa, to a supplier in the pet food industry.
American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on April 13 urging the USDA to utilize funding in the recently-enacted CARES Act to provide emergency assistance to ethanol producers.
U.S. ethanol exports are up by 3 percent so far this year according to the USDA, but COVID-19 will impact demand for the rest of 2020. The USGC is working to keep end-users around the world informed on the status of the U.S. ethanol industry.
Lake Area Corn Processors LLC filed an 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13 announcing the company plans to reduce ethanol production at its 90 MMgy corn ethanol plant in Wentworth, South Dakota.
The U.S. EPA released a proposed rule on April 13 that aims to streamline and modernize the agency's existing fuels regulations. The proposed rule makes some slight modifications to the RFS, but idoes not make substantive changes to the program.
Valero announced on April 13 it has temporarily idled eight of its ethanol plants and is reducing production at its remaining six ethanol plants due to COVID-19. Valero's renewable diesel operations have been less impacted by the pandemic.
Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, is calling on the ethanol industry to rally together to ensure that financial assistance is available to farmers, workers, and rural businesses hit hardest by the crisis.
The House Biofuels Caucus sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on April 10 urging him to use funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide direct relief to the biofuels industry.
Granite Falls Energy LLC filed an 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 9 announcing it will extend the regularly scheduled annual shutdown of its 62 MMgy ethanol plant in Granite Falls, Minnesota, through at least April 17.
The U.S. Grains Council is soliciting applications for seven advisory teams (A-Teams), including the Ethanol A-Team. The application period is open through April 30. A-Team appointments for 2020-2022 will be announced in July.
More ethanol plants, including Big River Resoruces, Valero, Green Plains and KAPPA Ethanol, are helping combat the COVID-19 pandemic by aiding in the production of hand sanitizer and other disinfecting products.
U.S. fuel ethanol production fell 20 percent the week ending April 3 to an average of 672,000 barrels per day, the lowest level since the U.S. Energy Information Administration began reporting weekly ethanol production data in mid-2010.
Poet announced April 7 it will idle production at its bioprocessing facilities in Chancellor, South Dakota; Ashton, Iowa; and Coon Rapids, Iowa, and delay the start-up of its new plant in Shelbyville, Indiana, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Growth Energy issued a statement on April 7 discussing the continued economic hardship facing U.S. biofuel producers and farmers as ethanol plants are forced to idle due to market conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A group of 15 senators sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on April 6 urging the USDA to use funds allocated to the agency's Commodity Credit Corp. by the CARES Act to provide financial assistance to the biofuel industry.
The EIA on April 7 drastically lowered its outlook for 2020 ethanol production, predicting production will fall to 630,000 gallons per day during the second quarter and average 820,000 gallons per day for the full year.
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals on April 7 rejected two petitions filed by Wynnewood Refining and HollyFrontier on March 24 requesting a rehearing en banc of the court's Jan. 24 ruling that struck down three SREs approved by the U.S. EPA.
Gevo Inc. has engaged Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to assist the company in exploring financing for its operations, including its projects. Gevo is seeking financing to expand its production capabilities to supply renewable jet fuel and isooctane.
U.S. ethanol is helping meet fuel supply needs in Australia—the result of a domestic supply gap and engagement by the U.S. Grains Council and its ethanol industry partners, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association.
Rex American Resources announced on April 1 it has idled its Illinois-based One Earth Energy ethanol plant due to market conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The facility is the second owned by Rex to idle.
ACE sent a letter to the EPA on April 3 urging the agency to address the shortcomings in its implementation of the RFS and outlining three steps the EPA has the authority to take to mitigate the economic fallout from COVID-19 in the biofuels sector.
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