The USDA's Commodity Credit Corp. announced July 1 that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2020, which runs from Oct. 1, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021.
NIFA invests $5.4M in bioprocessing, bioengineering research
By USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture
June 30, 2021
USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced on June 30 an investment of $5.4 million in bioprocessing, bioengineering, biofuels and biobased products research. A total of 18 projects were selected for funding.
In June, Oregon and Nevada became the 47th and 48th states to allow retailers and drivers alike to tap into the economic benefits this higher ethanol blended fuel has to offer, according to Growth Energy's Mike O'Brien.
The Renewable Fuels Association's Troy Bredenkamp applauds legislation introduced in late June that would provide a boon for fuel marketers looking to expand their retail operations into higher blends, such as E15.
ACE's Ron Lamberty explains that RINs offer indpendent fuel marketers an advantage over Big Oil by helping them sell higher ethanol blenders at lower prices while still improving profit margins through the sale of RINs they earn from blending.
Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; John Thune, R-S.D.; Michael Rounds, R-S.D.; Ben Sasse, R-Neb.; and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., on June 30 sent a letter to President Biden urging him to resist calls from Big Oil to undercut the RFS.
Reps. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, and Adrian Smith, R-Neb., on June 30 introduced the Low Carbon Biofuel Credit Act, a bill that aims to create a tax credit for each gallon of fuel containing 15 percent or greater ethanol content.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., on June 30 announced the introduction of a package of bipartisan bills to expand the availability of low-carbon renewable fuels, incentivize the use of higher blends of biofuels, and reduce GHG emissions.
Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, is encouraging House and Senate leadership to include provisions to help increase the use and production of biofuels in the final language of the upcoming infrastructure legislation.
The Clean Fuels Development Coalition called a recent letter from automakers in support of high-octane low carbon fuels further validation that ethanol has a key role to play in protecting public health and increasing the efficiency of vehicles.
The week of June 22, Renewable Industries Canada (RICanada) board members appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources meeting on the low-carbon and renewable fuels industry in Canada.
Representatives of the biofuels industry on June 28 called the U.S. Supreme Court's June 25 decision on SREs a setback but stressed that that ruling should not significantly increase the number of SREs approved by the Biden Administration.
The U.S. Supreme Court on June 25 reversed the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeal's January 20, 2020, decision on small refinery exemptions (SREs), ruling that the U.S. EPA can extend SREs to small refineries whose earlier temporary exemptions had lapsed.
The U.S. Grains Council emphasized ethanol as one of the most effective transportation fuels for achieving South Korea's carbon neutrality goals by 2050 during the Carbon Neutral Symposium held there on May 27.
The U.S. Senate on June 24 voted 92 to eight to pass the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which aims to break down barriers for farmers and foresters interested in participating in carbon markets so they can be rewarded for climate-smart practices.
Production and use of renewable ethanol from ePURE members reduced greenhouse-gas emissions by an average of more than 75 percent compared to fossil fuels in 2020, according to newly certified data released by ePURE.
The government of Canada on June 21 launched a C$1.5 billion Clean Fuels Fund with a call for proposals for projects that will increase the country's capacity to produce clean fuels, including ethanol, renewable diesel, SAF, RNG and others.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on June 22 signed an executive order to establish a carbon sequestration task force. Stakeholders representing the ethanol, biodiesel and biogas industries have been named as initial members of the new task force.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on June 23 signed a bill that clarifies the ability of retailers to sell E15. According to Growth Energy, Oregon has become the 48th state to approve sales of the fuel blend.
The government of New Zealand on June 13 opened a public comment period on a proposal to introduce a sustainable liquid biofuels mandate that aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation fuels.
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor on June 22 participated in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy hearing titled “Renewable Energy – Growth and Opportunities for our Rural Economies.â€�
In a letter to President Biden, 20 Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives urged the president to quickly and publicly affirm that his administration will not undermine clean renewable fuels.
President Biden on June 18 announced his intent to nominate Xochitl Torres Small to serve as under secretary of rural development at USDA. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has spoken out in support of her nomination.
The U.S. EPA has released data showing nearly 1.71 billion renewable identification numbers (RINs) were generated under the Renewable Fuel Standard in May, up from 1.26 billion generated during the same month of last year.
The Minnesota House of Representatives on June 19 voted 112 to 20 to pass an omnibus agriculture bill that includes $6 million to support the development of biofuel infrastructure to supply E15 blends of fuel.
Data published by the U.S. EPA on June 17 shows that no new SRE petitions have been filed under the RFS in the past month. The data also indicates no changes have been made to the status of 70 pending SRE petitions.
Fuels America, NFU, Growth Energy, RFA, NCGA, NBB and ABBC on June 17 sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese urging them to resist calls by the oil industry to waive or weaken the RFS.
A group of six senators on June 14 sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan urging him to allow renewable electricity made from biomass to participate in the Renewable Fuel Standard program.
The U.S. consumed a record 12 percent of renewable energy in 2020, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on June 16. Biofuels announced for approximately 17 percent of renewables.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, on June 15 delivered a speech on the Senate floor criticizing the Biden administration over reports that the U.S. EPA is considering a reduction in Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements to benefit Big Oil.
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