During a visit to Wisconsin this week, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler was once again questioned about the status of so-called “gap year” waiver requests from refineries asking for relief from their Renewable Fuel Standard obligations from previous years. Because the petitions go back as much as eight years, Wheeler said he is not sure how long it will …
EPA Administrator Gives Update on Retroactive SREs
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said Wednesday that the agency will not be making an announcement on proposed 2021 Renewable Volume Obligations this week. Last year the 2020 RVO proposal was announced on July 5. Wheeler also provided an update on the status of the 52 requests for retroactive waivers from blending obligations in previous years during a press call July …
Farmers, Biofuel Producers Urge Trump to Support RFS
Farmer leaders and biofuel producers from the Midwest today expressed their concerns about news that the Trump administration has reversed course and decided to side with oil companies in their court battle against biofuels. The debate centers around a unanimous court decision that would halt the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) abuse of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel …
Partnership Testing 100 Percent Biodiesel in Fleet Trucks
A new partnership is conducting a year-long test project to demonstrate viability of 100 percent biodiesel (B100) in high-mileage fleet applications. Under this partnership, five trucks owned by ADM will be outfitted with Optimus Technologies’ Vector fuel system, an innovative technology that enables diesel engines to run almost entirely on sustainable biodiesel. The trucks will be used in daily fleet …
ZimmCast 635 – Biodiesel Blogging & Virtual Newsrooms
In this week’s program you’ll hear from the National Biodiesel Conference and some of the content we produced for the Biodiesel Conference Blog – our 15th year as the biodiesel bloggers! Among those featured are National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell Rehagen; NBB Chairman Chad Stone, REG; American Soybean Association CEO Ryan Findlay; Illinois soybean farmer Rob Shaffer; and Tom Slunecka, …
ZimmCast 634 – Questions About Growing Hemp
This week’s program includes several interviews from the inaugural Heart of American Agricultural Hemp Classic in Independence, MO. The event was organized by the Missouri Hemp Association. Farmers have a lot of questions about hemp and in the interviews you will hear from presenters and farmers who have some answers. You can find a lot more in our virtual ag …
National Biodiesel Conference “Vision 2020”
The National Biodiesel Board unveils its “Vision 2020” for the industry during the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Tampa, Florida on January 20-23. This virtual ag newsroom includes links to photos and audio content available free of charge for digital or print publication or broadcast. Full multi-media coverage of the conference can be found for the 15th year on …
Report Shows Importance of Biodiesel Tax Credit
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) released a new report on the “Importance of the Biodiesel Tax Credit” that highlights how uncertainty regarding extension of the biodiesel tax credit significantly increases business risks for biodiesel producers. The report was written by John Urbanchuk, managing partner of ABF Economics. “The current uncertainty surrounding reinstatement and retroactivity of the tax credit is a …
Biofuels Groups Express Concerns at EPA Hearing
Representatives from multiple ethanol and biodiesel stakeholder organizations and companies testified at an Environmental Protection Agency hearing Wednesday on the proposal to make up for volumes lost under the Renewable Fuel Standard due to small refinery waivers. Audio from some witnesses: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig – (5:42) Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper – (5:16) American …
Biofuels Industry Testifies on Harm Done by RFS Waivers
Biofuels industry representatives testified during a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing Tuesday on how the increase in small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard has hurt ethanol and biodiesel producers and farmers. Opening testimony: Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) – (5:00) Kelly Nieuwenhuis, Iowa farmer and Siouxland Energy Cooperative president, on behalf of Growth Energy (4:50) World Energy …
President Trump Praises Refinery Waivers
During a cabinet meeting on Monday October 21, President Donald Trump praised EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler for making small refineries happy by granting them waivers from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “And I know you’re working on the small refineries — getting that straightened away so that it’s going to be terrific for the small refineries,” President Trump said to …
Iowa Groups Outraged Over EPA Proposal
Representatives of Iowa’s corn, ethanol, biodiesel and soybean producers held a press conference Wednesday in response to the Supplemental Proposal for Renewable Fuels Volumes released Tuesday by EPA. Iowa Corn Growers Association CEO Craig Floss quoted one farmer who is outraged over the proposal. “No more Iowa Nice, now it’s Iowa Pissed.” Floss was joined by Iowa Soybean Association farmer …
Biofuels Groups Disappointed With EPA Proposal
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a Supplemental Proposal for Renewable Fuels Volumes Tuesday, following up on the administration plan announced October 4. Biofuel groups expressed disappointment in the proposal, which they say is different than what was presented to them. “If the Oct. 4 announcement from EPA was a big step forward, today’s supplemental proposal is a step backward,” said …
Biofuels Industry Reacts to Administration Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a plan Friday to promote biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard in an effort to make up for small refinery exemptions (SRE)that have caused many renewable fuel plants to halt production. Under the plan, EPA will propose and request public comment on expanding biofuel requirements beginning in 2020 and will …
Sen. Grassley Comments on Pending Biofuel Deal
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) answered a number of reporter questions about how President Trump will address the small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard in a way that will address concerns of farmers and biofuel producers. During a call with reporters, Sen. Grassley said the biofuel industry demands are very simple. “We want 15 billion gallons to be 15 …