The U.S. EPA on June 27 posted a document to its guidance portal that explains how fuel ethanol plants that are producing hand sanitizer to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic can do so without invalidating an existing efficient producer pathway.
The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on June 30 unveiled a climate crisis action plan that aims to serve as a congressional roadmap to help the U.S. reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The plan shows ethanol can help meet that goal.
Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley submitted written comments to the U.S. EPA on its proposed “Fuels Regulatory Streamlining Rule.� He cautioned against changes that could impact market access to E15 and E85.
Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, an ethanol plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa, has donated 1,000 bottles of its proprietary SIREtizer hand sanitizer to the Renewable Fuels Association, for free distribution at upcoming events.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on June 30 signed a bill that will extend Iowa's biofuel tax differentials for six years and announced her intention to use $7 million of Iowa's federal CARES Act funding to expand the Iowa's biofuel infrastructure program.
The National Grain and Feed Association, National Farmers Union, and Hemp Industries Association have joined the Biogenic CO2 Coalition, a group pressing the U.S. EPA for fair, science-based treatment of annual crops.
The Governors' Biofuels Coalition sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on June 29 urging the agency to deny the 52 gap year SREs oil companies have filed in an effort to circumvent the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeal's Jan. 24 ruling.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, announced she will block the nomination of Doug Benevento to serve as deputy administrator of the U.S. EPA until the agency discloses exactly how it plans to deal with gap year SRE petitions under the RFS.
Production and use of renewable ethanol from ePURE members delivered an average of more than 72 percent greenhouse gas (GHG) savings compared to fossil fuels in 2019, according new certified data released in June.
Six biofuel trade groups sent a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee on June 19 expressing support for the proposed extension of tax incentives for advanced biofuels that were included in the GREEN Act.
A bipartisan group of 16 senators sent a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on June 25 urging him to reject the 52 gap year SRE petitions recently filed by small refineries in an effort to circumvent the Tenth Circuit Court's January ruling.
Testimony offered during a June 24 hearing held by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to consider the Growing Climate Solutions Act explains how the bill could benefit the biofuel and bioproducts industries.
Japan has opened a public comment period on a proposal that aims to increase the GHG emission value for gasoline and expand the list of conditions under which an unfulfilled ethanol target can be carried into the following fiscal year.
The U.S. EPA on June 17 announced the appointment of 33 members to its Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee, which provides advice and recommendations to the agency on a range policy issues related to agriculture and rural communities.
The U.S. EPA on June 18 released updated small refinery exemption data that shows small refiners have filed 52 “gap year� SRE petitions for RFS compliance years 2011 through 2018 in an effort to circumvent the Tenth Circuit Court's January ruling.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, discussed issues related to the post-2022 Renewable Fuel Standard, retroactive small refinery exemptions (SREs), and COVID-19 relief for the ag community during a media call held June 16.
Several biofuel producers and trade groups are among the nearly 200 organizations that sent a letter to President Trump on June 16 calling on him to ensure the continued implementation of the U.S.-China Phase One Trade Agreement.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., has introduced a bill that aims to approve certain advanced biofuel registrations under the RFS that the EPA has failed to take action on and set a deadline for the agency to act on future pathway and registration petitions.
Top scientists, engineers, and analysts with the Department of Energy's Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines initiative are examining how simultaneous improvements to fuels and engines can improve efficiency and reduce emissions and costs.
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing Jun 16 focused on ways to revive the energy industry, which has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Biofuels were briefly discussed during the event.
On June 14, the Iowa legislature authorized another year of funding for Iowa's cost-share biofuel infrastructure program, a move that ensures access to biofuels will continue to grow throughout Iowa.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the U.S. Grains Council is working diligently to engage international stakeholders to convey the continued availability of U.S. ethanol. As travel restrictions ease, strategic in-country engagement will resume.
A roundup of the articles in the June issue of Ethanol Producer Magazine, including stories on hand sanitizer; the future of E30; carbon capture and storage; the CO2 market, ethanol's digital transformation and an alternative to CIP caustics.
on June 12, at an afternoon press briefing, Gov. Pete Ricketts officially designated June 2020 as Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska. The governor also highlighted three great reasons to use ethanol fuels when filling up a car or truck.
Five railcars of U.S. gasoline pre-blended at an E10 rate arrived in Guadalajara in May 2020, a direct success of the USGC's collaboration with the Mexican Association of Service Station Providers to demonstrate the benefits of increased ethanol use.
A 5-percent point reduction on import tariffs for ethanol is expected to create opportunities for increased ethanol trade with Vietnam. According to the U.S. Grain Council, the Vietnam government aims to achieve a 10 percent ethanol blend mandate.
The Biogenic CO2 Coalition sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on June 9 urging the agency to seek public comments on the regulatory treatment of biogenic CO2 from annual agriculture crops.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., on June 11 introduced legislation that aims to extend the Food and Drug Administration's temporary guidance on hand sanitizer production during the COVID-19 pandemic for at least two years.
The Renewable Fuels Association on June 11 marked the one-year anniversary of President Trump's visit to Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy by calling on him to reject requests from oil state governors to waive 2020 RFS blending requirements.
The U.S. ethanol industry saw a shift during the pandemic, as many plants sold or donated ethanol to be used in hand sanitizer production. While the temporary market provided cash flow for some, helping the nation in a time of need motivated all.
Advertisement
@ Copyright 2026 - BBI International - All rights reserved.