As the COVID-19 spreads across the U.S., threatening American lives and adversely impacting the nation's economy, the transportation fuel sector will be especially hard hit. Declines in consumer gasoline use will shrink demand for corn ethanol.
Ethanol producers are being impacted by the pandemic, oil war, trade disputes and small refinery waivers. With prices reaching as low as 94 cents per gallon as of March 18, ethanol producers are bracing for difficult decisions and possible closures.
Officials from Gevo Inc. discussed plans to produce renewable aviation fuel and upgrade the company's biorefinery in Luverne, Minnesota, to produce low carbon ethanol during a fourth quarter earnings call, held March 17.
Coalition urges EPA to not appeal Tenth Circuit Court decision
By Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association, American Coalition for Ethanol and National Farmers Union
March 18, 2020
The coalition that won a unanimous court decision against the U.S. EPA continued its call for the agency to not appeal the decision by launching a new social media campaign aimed at encouraging policymakers and the EPA to do the right thing.
Mike Jerke, president and CEO of Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, dicusses ways in which his company is working to help flatten the curve of the COVID-19 outbreak while protecting employees and ensuring plant operations can continue.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, fielded questions on COVID-19 and the biofuels industry during a media call held March 16. In his comments, Grassley said the industry is “very nervous.� He also addressed the Tenth Circuit Court ruling on SREs.
The ethanol industry is being adversely affected not only by the economic constraints caused by the coronavirus, but also by the oil price war, ongoing trade disputes and EPA's small refinery waivers, according to the RFA.
The U.S. Department of Energy on March 16 announced it has canceled the open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee scheduled for March 24-25 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
In response to the developing situation with COVID-19, the USGC said it will postpone all international travel and carefully review all within country travel until the end of March. USGC's Washington, D.C., headquarters remains open.
A report from University of Illinois Extension shows weak demand for corn for ethanol use in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ethanol production will fall dramatically, it predicts, with gasoline consumption expected to be down about 20 percent.
The Canadian Parliament approved the U.S-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement on March 13. The trade pact, which replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement, has now been ratified by all three countries.
The U.S. Department of Energy has scheduled an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development and Technical Advisory Committee for March 24-25. The meeting will be held in Arlington, Virginia.
Aemestis Inc. released fourth quarter financial results on March 12, reporting increased revenues and progress with the development of its cellulosic ethanol and renewable natural gas (RNG) projects.
Gevo Inc. and partners Juhl Energy and Harrison Street Investors held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completed construction of two wind turbines that will supply up to 5.0 MW of fully renewable electricity to Gevo's biorefinery.
ACE announced today its annual Washington, D.C. Fly-in and Government Affairs Summit scheduled for April 2-3, 2020 has been canceled due to the number of congressional offices declining meeting requests in response to concerns about COVID-19.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration slightly increased its forecast for 2020 ethanol production in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released March 11. The 2021 forecast, however, was unchanged.
A new study releaesd March 11 finds despite challenges, Iowa biofuel production continues to have a significant impact on Iowa's economy, supporting over 48,000 jobs and more than $2.4 billion in household income.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed an executive order on March 10 that sets a new goal for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and outlines several steps the state will take to combat climate change, including expanding Oregon's Clean Fuels Program.
A group of rural leaders held a media call on March 11 urging the Trump administration to uphold the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on small refinery exemptions (SREs) and quickly apply it nationwide.
The U.S. exported 151.23 million gallons of ethanol and 976,688 metric tons of distillers grains in January, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on March 6. Exports of both products were up from the previous month.
The USDA maintained its forecast that 5.425 billion bushels of corn will be used to produce ethanol during the 2019-'20 crop year in its latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, released March 10.
Representatives of the biofuels industry are speaking out against the Trump administration's decision to seek an extension of the deadline to challenge the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals Jan. 24 decision that struck down three SREs.
Gevo Inc. has signed an agreement with Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd. to work collaboratively on activities in Australia to establish the technical and commercial feasibility of converting biomass into sustainable jet fuel and renewable gasoline.
Versalis, the chemical subsidiary of Italian oil and gas company Eni, announced in February that the cellulosic biorefinery it acquired from the Mossi & Ghisolfi Group in 2018 will restart operations during the first half of 2020.
The Trump administration will have 15 additional days to decide whether to challenge a Jan. 24 ruling by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals that struck down three small refinery exemptions (SREs) approved by the U.S. EPA.
The exhibition area at the India Auto Expo, India's largest auto show held every two years, covers an area equal to 15 football fields. The USGC and U.S. industry partners invited attendees of the event to learn more about the benefits of ethanol.
The USDA's Commodity Credit Corp. and Farm Service Agency published a final rule on March 2 implementing changes to the agency's Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), as required by the 2018 Farm Bill.
Representatives and supporters of the biofuels industry are speaking out against reports that President Trump will appeal a Jan. 24 decision handed down by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals that struck down three SREs approved by the U.S. EPA.
The USDA has announced it will offer $100 milion to support biofuel infrastructure. While the agency is expected to solicit applications for the funds this spring, ACE is encouraging retailers start preparing for the application process now.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Feb. 28 announced the appointment of Bette Brand to serve as USDA Rural Development Deputy. Brand replaces former Rural Development Deputy Donald “DJ� LaVoy following his retirement.
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