A bipartisan group of 16 senators sent a letter to President Trump on March 19 urging him not 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 U.S. government on March 18 relaxed regulations to allow producers of fuel ethanol and beverage alcohol to shift production to ethanol-based hand sanitizers. Days later, several ethanol plants are taking action to help combat COVID-19.
The bipartisan Biofuels Caucus sent a letter to President Trump on March 17 urging the administration to forgo an appeal of the Tenth Circuit Court's Jan. 24 ruling that struck down three small refinery exemptions (SREs) approved by the U.S. EPA.
Wynnewood and HollyFrontier filed a petition with the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals on March 19 announcing they will seek a rehearing en banc of the court's Jan. 24 ruling that struck down three SREs approved by the U.S. EPA.
The U.S. EPA released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data on March 19, reporting that two additional SRE petitions have been filed under the Renewable Fuel Standard for compliance year 2019.
The ethanol industry is struggling with demand destruction resulting from COVID-19, an oil price war, ongoing trade disputes, and SREs. “Folks, this is not going to be good, and our biggest concern by far is our people," said Al-Corn CEO Randy Doyal.
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.
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.
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.
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., announced March 11 that Red Trail Energy will begin the drilling of a stratigraphic well, designed with the intent to be permitted as a Class VI injection well and used to sequester CO2 from the company's ethanol plant.
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.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on March 11 to consider the nomination of Douglas Benevento to serve as deputy administrator of the U.S. EPA. During the event, Benevento was on the EPA's SRE policy.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., on March 3 filed an amendment to the American Energy Innovation Act that aims to cap RIN prices. On the same day, he led a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler urging the agency to continue to issue SREs.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue briefed the U.S. House Agriculture Committee on the state of the rural economy on March 4, and during the discussion spoke briefly about how USDA is supporting the country's ethanol industry.
The U.K. Department for Transport opened a public consultation on March 4 on a proposal to allow E10 to be sold within the country. The U.K. currently limits the ethanol content of gasoline to 5 percent.
U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said on March 4 that the agency will soon announce its response to a recent court ruling that struck down three SREs and expressed hope the announcement will quell recent RIN price spikes.
The UDSA recently made two important announcements related to ethanol that will have a positive impact on the future of the industry. The moves will both help drive demand for biofuels and assist retailers in delivering higher ethanol blends.
Legislation recently introduced in Minnesota aims to increase the minimum biofuel content in gasoline sold within the state to 15 percent. If signed into law, the bill would make Minnesota the first state to require the use of E15.
A group of 13 senators that represent states with oil production and oil refining interests sent a letter to President Trump on Feb. 27 asking him to appeal a recent court ruling that will make it more difficult for refineries to qualify for a SREs.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue issued a memo on Feb. 28 directing the USDA to acquire alternative fueled vehicles (AFVs), including those that can use E85 or biodiesel, when replacing conventionally fueled vehicles.
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