The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the American Coalition for Ethanol submitted comments to the U.S. EPA on Oct. 26 regarding the E85 flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) weighting factor (F-factor) for model year (MY) 2021 and later vehicles.
RFA says it has become clear that Brazil no longer shares the American industry's desire for free and open biofuel markets. Thus, the association is urging Trump to move forward with reciprocal tariffs on ethanol imports from Brazil.
The U.S. EPA on Oct. 21 delivered its final rule that is expected to change how the agency considers the costs and benefits of regulations promulgated under the Clean Air Act to the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Two Iowa biofuel groups and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, on Oct. 22 spoke out against legislation introduced on Oct. 20 that aims to eliminate sales of internal combustion engine vehicles that can be fueled with biofuels.
Several oil state senators are urging the EPA to set the 2021 RVO for renewable fuel below the E10 blend wall. They also called for cellulosic, advanced biofuel, and biomass-based diesel RVOs be set at the level of demonstrated domestic production.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., on Oct. 20 introduced the Zero-Emissions Vehicles Act of 2020, which aims to end U.S. sales of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. Requirements would begin to phase in 2025.
The U.S. Grains Council teamed up with General Motors and SGS, the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, to conduct a virtual ethanol workshop in mid-September focused on policy, blending mandates and handling.
The U.S. EPA released data in mid-October showing 1.63 billion RINs were generated under the Renewable Fuel Standard in September, up from 1.61 billion generated during the same month of last year.
The U.S. EPA on Oct. 15 issued its final Fuels Streamlining Rule, which streamlines the agency's existing regulations for gasoline, diesel and other fuels. It does not, however, change the stringency of existing fuel quality standards.
The U.S. EPA released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data on Oct. 15, reporting two additional SRE petitions have been filed for Renewable Fuel Standard compliance year 2019. No other changes were made to the agency's SRE data.
A group of 14 senators sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on Oct. 12 urging the agency to promulgate a rulemaking that recognizes the de minimis character of biogenic carbon emissions from agricultural feedstocks.
Argonne National Laboratory's Systems Assessment Center on Oct. 9 released 2020 updates to its GREET Models. Updates include new pathways for a variety of biobased fuels and a new feedstock carbon intensity calculator.
The Manitoba government is proposing to increase the required renewable content in gasoline to 10 percent and the required renewable content in diesel to 5 percent, effective Jan. 1. A 45-day comment period on the proposal is now open.
The USDA on Oct. 8 announced an initial round of awards under its $100 million Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. The agency awarded $22 million to 40 recipients in 14 states. Additional awards are expected to be announced soon.
The U.S. exported more than 100.65 million gallons of ethanol and 1.02 million metric tons of distillers grains in August, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on Oct. 6.
The ethanol industry has a powerful voice when we speak as one. We need to use that voice. We need to demand our legislative representatives reign in EPA and require them to stop penalizing ethanol. It is on us to present a comprehensive plan.
Through expanded ethanol use, the U.K. has an opportunity to meet its decarbonization objectives and support the domestic facilities that have gone offline. The country should build on its established technical knowledge for E5 as it moves to E10.
The USDA announced on Oct. 1 it is now accepting applications for its four key loan guarantee programs under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative, which was launched earlier this year to make it easier for lenders to access those four loan programs.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 1 passed an updated version of the Heroes Act by a vote of 214 to 207. The $2.2 billion COVID-19 stimulus package includes direct support for certain processed commodities, including biofuels.
FDA guidelines for acetaldehyde content in sanitizers may be questionable given the compound's relative ubiquity. Independent consultants present a compelling challenge to the federal government's 'vague, unproven suspicion' of dermal toxicity.
A survey of ethanol plant CEOs and general managers shows the COVID-19 downturn had a significant impact on their operations. Most producers have substantially ramped up production since spring, but a full recovery is expected to take many months.
The U.S. EPA has approved an efficient producer pathway for Pine Lake Corn Processors' 80 MMgy ethanol plant in Steamboat Rock, Iowa. The approval allows the facility to generate RINs for non-grandfathered volumes of ethanol.
Two recent legislative advances and a presidential announcement promise to help not only the ethanol industry, but retailers who want to provide more smart fuel choices for consumers at the pump, according to the RFA.
The 121 applicants to the USDA's HBIIP are waiting to hear if they are going to get a portion of the program's $100 million in funding. Those who didn't apply, however, should know the cost to offer higher ethanol blends is likely affordable.
As Congress and the administration continue negotiations on another COVID-19 relief package, a new study by finds that ethanol producers will experience roughly $8 billion in losses this year due to the pandemic's impact on world fuel markets.
The Department of Energy on Sept. 23 issued its FY 2021 solicitation for the Technology Commercialization Fund, which aims to advance the commercialization of promising energy technologies and deploy lab-developed technologies to the marketplace.
The USDA is soliciting applications for two different cycles of the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program. The first cycle closes Oct. 1, while the second is open through April 1, 2021.
The USDA announced on Sept. 23 it is making $7 million available under the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program. The agency will accept applications from advanced biofuel producers during the month of October.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 24 passed the Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act, or H.R. 4447, by a vote of 229 to 187. The bill includes provisions of the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act.
Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., on Sept. 24 introduced the Next Generation Fuels Act, a bill that establishes a minimum octane standard for gasoline and requires sources of added octane value to reduce carbon emissions by at least 30 percent.
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