Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa wants EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to stop issuing “small refinery hardship exemptions” or step down from the job. Grassley was one of the four senators who met with President Trump last week to try and finally resolve differences over the RFS between corn ethanol and oil interests. In the call with reporters, EPA should make …
White House RFS Meeting Reaction from NCGA
News that the Tuesday meeting at the White House resulted in a commitment to allow year-round sales of 15% ethanol blends was tempered by a reported plan to reallocate Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) from exempted renewable fuel volumes using exported ethanol gallons. As Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley tweeted after the meeting, the devil will be in the details of the …
Reaction to Presidential Trade Tariff Actions
Following action by President Trump yesterday to impose tariffs on up to $60 billion in Chinese imports, China is making its list of what U.S. products will be the target of retaliation. The list reportedly includes agricultural products such as U.S. pork, modified ethanol, wine, fruits and nuts, and soybeans are expected to be as well. U.S. Grains Council (USGC) …
Industry Reacts to Proposed Biofuels Levels
New proposed levels for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) were released Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency. The 2018 RFS level for conventional biofuels, including corn ethanol, was maintained at 15 billion gallons, the maximum under current law, which Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen says will benefit both producers and consumers. In this interview, Dinneen …
#NAFB16 Trade Talk
Nearly 100 companies and organizations participate in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) annual Trade Talk, where they are interviewed by broadcasters from around the country. AgWired reporters at the NAFB convention this year interviewed dozens of Trade Talk participants, which are being compiled here with links to posts on various websites. General interviews from #NAFB16 can be found …
E15 Arrives Back at the Pump
Consumers will have the choice to purchase E15 at the pump again tomorrow, September 15, 2016. For drivers owning a 2001 or newer vehicle, E15 sales are restricted during summer months due to an arcane U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation on Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP). The 15th marks the end of EPA’s “volatility control season” opening the fuel back …
RFA Reaction to EPA Proposal
Agency (EPA) has released its proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2014, 2015 and 2016 and Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen is disappointed. In this interview, Dinneen talks about why he believes the proposal is a step backward for the RFS and how it places the potential growth in renewable fuels in …
Seventh Anniversary of RFS
This week marks the seventh anniversary of the signing into law of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 which expanded the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In this interview, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen remembers that day seven years ago and talks about its accomplishments so far and how EPA needs to move ahead with …
Interview with RFA CEO from DC
In this interview, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen discusses the latest from Washington DC, including what he is hearing about the EPA proposal to lower the RFS, the latest anti-RFS ad campaign from Big Oil, rail delays impacting ethanol shipments, getting the tax credits for advanced biofuels reinstated, USDA plans to continue to support ethanol, and enthusiasm …
RFA Comments on Corn Crop and E15
Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Research and Development Geoff Cooper on several timely topics, including corn and ethanol production this year, cellulosic ethanol, the importance of the RFS, and sales of E15 ramping up again as summer volatility requirements end. Cooper talks about how despite a slow maturing crop and adverse weather conditions, USDA is still calling for a …
Energy Independence and the RFS
Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper talks about how the RFS is helping to reduce imports of foreign oil, grow the economy with American jobs and keep the red, white and blue flying over a greener nation.
New Study on Food Prices and the RFS
ABF Economics released a new, detailed analysis, commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association, showing no direct correlation between the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the overall increase in food prices. Study author John Urbanchuk is managing partner of the agriculture and biofuels consulting firm ABF Economics. Read the full report here.
RFA Responds to RFS Waiver Request
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) expects the waiver requested this week by livestock and poultry groups of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) will be denied by the Environmental Protection Agency, despite the impact one of the worst droughts in history is having on the nation’s corn crop. Full Release
RFA President Bob Dinneen Comments on Senate Domestic Energy Promotion Act
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley today introduced bi-partisan legislation to reform the current Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) while still supporting the domestic ethanol industry. In this interview, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen explains what the bipartisan Domestic Energy Promotion Act of 2011 does and how it will benefit the industry, the federal budget and consumers at …
Study Finds Oil Driving Food Prices
Attached is an audio report and sound bites featuring comments from the Farm Foundation forum and report on “What’s Driving Food Prices?” Featured are Farm Foundation President Neil Conklin, Purdue University economist Wally Tyner, and University of Nebraska public policy analyst Brad Lubben. Full Release
