As Congress continues to negotiate a new COVID-19 aid package, the pandemic continues to batter the U.S. ethanol industry and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) wants lawmakers to know the challenges producers are facing. With losses from the pandemic nearing $4 billion, the ethanol industry continues to fight for implementation of the Tenth Circuit Court decision nationwide, and prepares to …
Ethanol Report 12-15-20
A new analysis released by the Renewable Fuels Association shows the devastating impact COVID-19 pandemic restrictions continue to have on ethanol producers, with losses nearing $4 billion. RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman authored the white paper which shows ethanol production dropped by two billion gallons between March and November this year, which meant a 700-million-bushel decline in the use of …
Ethanol Report 11-25-20
2020 has been the year of going virtual for meetings and conferences. In fact, one of the very last live, in-person events to be held this year was the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) 25th annual National Ethanol Conference in Houston. The 26th annual NEC however, will be an all digital format. Information about the conference can be found on the …
RFA Congratulates President-Elect Biden
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) congratulates President-Elect Joe Biden on his victory, as projected by the Associated Press and others. The following is a statement from RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper with audio sound bites: “We look forward to working with the Biden administration in the years ahead to ensure a strong and growing market for low-carbon renewable fuels …
Ethanol Report 11-6-20
While some of the 2020 election results have yet to be decided, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Geoff Cooper says the ethanol industry will be ready to work with whoever ultimately wins the White House. In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, Cooper discusses how ethanol has support from both candidates and bipartisan support in Congress, as …
Study Finds Gas Car Ban Would Hurt Agriculture
The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) has released a study on the impacts of increased electric vehicle penetration on U.S. biofuels, agriculture and the economy. Proposals to ban internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 and 2050 served as the economic models for the study, along with a base case provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook. The study …
Ethanol Report 10-16-20
October 1 began a new fiscal year for the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and brought a new chairperson for the board. Jeanne McCaherty, CEO of Guardian Energy Management, is the first female chair for the RFA and she is taking on the role during a challenging time with lots of optimism. In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, we …
Meet New RFA Chair Jeanne McCaherty
The new chairperson of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has only been CEO of Guardian Energy Management since 2016, but Jeanne McCaherty has become an industry leader in that very short time. In addition to serving on the board for RFA, she also serves on the Board of Directors for the Renewable Product Marketing Group and the Minnesota Biofuels Association. …
USDA Announces New Biofuels Infrastructure Grants
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue was in Albert Lea, Minnesota on Thursday to announce $22 million out of the up to $100 million in grants available to increase American ethanol and biodiesel sales under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) to recipients in 14 states. The initial $22 million in HBIIP investments are projected to increase ethanol demand by nearly …
Ethanol Report 9-30-20
The coalition of farm and ethanol groups behind the case against Small Refinery Exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that was decided in January is still waiting for EPA to implement the court decision after eight months. Meanwhile, ethanol producers and farmers are still waiting on the administration to make good on promises made a year ago. And at …
Ethanol Coalition Urges EPA to Fully Restore RFS
The coalition of farm and ethanol groups behind the case against Small Refinery Exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that was decided in January is still waiting for EPA to implement the court decision or even communicate the intention to do so after eight months. The four associations representing farmers and ethanol producers – the Renewable Fuels Association, American …
Ethanol Report 9-21-20
Last week brought a flurry of good news for the ethanol industry in three major areas – exports, expansion of higher blends, and protecting the renewable fuel standard. In this edition of the Ethanol Report, we hear ethanol industry leaders comment on EPA denial of retroactive refinery waivers, Brazil’s 90 day extension of its ethanol tariff rate quota, and the …
2020 Annual American Coalition for Ethanol Conference
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) 33rd Annual Conference is being held in conjunction with the 2020 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) & Expo as a virtual event, on September 16. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the economic hardship it’s brought to bear on the ethanol industry, ACE leadership believes a virtual event, paired with the FEW, will …
Ethanol Report 8-28-20
As the presidential election nears, the ethanol industry is watching closely to see which candidate will be more supportive of the Renewable Fuel Standard. While Democratic candidate Joe Biden released a strong statement of support for the industry this week, the Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency continues to drag its feet on important decisions like the 2021 Renewable Volume Obligations …
EPA Working on 2021 RVO, Waiver Requests
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler says they are working to get the 2021 Renewable Volume Obligations “done as quickly as possible” and promises they will not be as late as the previous administration. During a press call on Wednesday, Wheeler said EPA is also being very diligent in its review of retroactive small refinery waiver petitions, which now total …