America’s Renewable Future (ARF) released a 2016 Presidential Candidate midterm report card today during a press call putting candidates into three categories: good, needs work and bad. Scores were based on the candidates’ support of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and ethanol in particular. Candidates who received good grades included Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump (who is visiting an ethanol plant …
Poll: Rural Voters Support Pro-RFS Candidates
On a press conference call this afternoon, the National Farmers Union (NFU), released a poll that showed popularity and support within rural congressional districts for political candidates that support the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). NFU President Roger Johnson said that the poll demonstrates the importance of the Obama Administration getting the RFS back on track as it sets the RFS …
RFA CEO Comments on Ethanol News
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen comments on ethanol industry news this week. In this interview, Dinneen comments on the DuPont cellulosic plant opening, how USDA and Protec Fuel are helping to increase higher ethanol blend pumps, attacks on the RFS by the oil industry and the new Fuels America campaign to fight back, and Dr. Ben …
USDA and Protec Fuel Partner for More Biofuel Pumps
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was at a Citgo station in Kissimmee, Florida Wednesday to announce a USDA partnership to increase fueling pumps for biofuels in 21 states through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP). The investment will nearly double the number of fueling pumps nationwide that supply renewable fuels to American motorists. Vilsack was joined by Protec Fuel VP of Operations …
New Poll Shows Iowa Voters Support RFS, Ethanol
The results of a new poll released today find that a majority of caucus-goers from both political parties would be more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who supports the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and biofuels, specifically ethanol. The poll also found that 61 percent of Republicans and 76 percent of Democrats would be more likely to support a …
California Affirms Biodiesel’s Low-Carbon Impact
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is very pleased with the decision last week by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to readopt the Low Carbon Fuels Standard and the increased role biodiesel will play in that standard. The new standard finds that biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent and often by as much as 81 percent …
USDA Announces Biofuel Infrastructure Funding
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 21 states will receive grants through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) to help provide access to more renewable fuels for America’s drivers. USDA estimates that the BIP grants will support nearly 5,000 pumps at over 1,400 fueling stations across the country. “Our announcement will nearly double the number of pumps,” Vilsack said. According …
28th Annual ACE Ethanol Conference
The 28th annual American Ethanol Coalition (ACE) Ethanol Conference kicked off today in Omaha, Nebraska (August 20-21) with a great crowd of ethanol supporters. The theme this year: “Quite Ingenuity. Bold Advance.” This year also marks the one year anniversary of the “Power to the People” campaign. Topics this year included E15, ethanol and dried distiller grains (DDGs) export opportunities, …
RFA Statement on Senate Finance Markup
Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen commented on the markup Tuesday by the Senate Finance Committee of a tax extenders bill that contains several provisions of importance to the biofuels industry. The bill contains a two-year extension of the Second Generation Biofuel Producer Tax Credit, the Special Depreciation Allowance for Seond Generation Biofuel Plant Property, and the Alternative …
2015 Bioenergy Conference
On June 23–24, the U.S. Department of Energy hosted the eighth annual Bioenergy Conference: Opportunities in a Changing Energy Landscape. Co-hosted with the Clean Energy Research and Education Foundation (CEREF), this year’s conference focused on opportunities and challenges in our current highly dynamic energy ecosystem. View the 2015 BioEnergy 2015 photo album Sen Klobuchar: Time to Govern by Opportunity – …
America’s Renewable Future Announces Partners
America’s Renewable Future (ARF) today announced its diverse coalition of partners that includes state and national ethanol and biofuels associations and companies committed to educating presidential candidates in both parties about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The partners include the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA), Iowa Biodiesel Board, Iowa Ethanol Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, …
2015 Fuel Ethanol Workshop
The 31st annual Fuel Ethanol Workshop was held June 1-4 in Minneapolis. The big topic of the conference was the just released proposal from the EPA on volume requirements for biofuels under the RFS. The event featured a general session with comments from industry representatives and an ethanol producer panel, as well as breakout sessions on several tracks including cellulosic …
EPA Proposes RFS Volume Obligations
Beating the announced deadline of June 1, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed the volume requirements under the RFS program for 2014, 2015, and 2016 for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel. EPA is also proposing the volume requirement for biomass-based diesel for 2017. EPA is proposing to set the renewable fuel standards for 2014 …
Novozymes Part of UN Bioenergy Initiative
A new UN Sustainable Energy for All initiative was announced this week with the goal of “doubling the global use of renewable energy and ensuring universal energy access by 2030.” Co-chaired by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, the initiative includes Novozymes, a global technology provider for the biofuels industry, as a partner …
Biofuels Supporters Meet With Hillary Clinton
During her visit to Iowa this week, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton discussed the Renewable Fuel Standard with farmer leaders and America’s Renewable Future co-chair Patty Judge, former Iowa lieutenant governor and agriculture secretary. America’s Renewable Future, an Iowa-based coalition formed to educate presidential candidates about biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).