Two major trade deals in one week last week are giving the agriculture and ethanol industries reason to be optimistic as we move into the “Roaring ’20s.” In this episode of The Ethanol Report, we hear from Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper, President Donald Trump, USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and USDA …
USDA Under Secretary and RFA CEO at Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit
USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky had the pleasure of announcing the Senate passage of USMCA to the crowd at the 2020 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit Thursday in Altoona, Iowa, and also talked about the signing of the phase one trade deal with China. In addition, Censky discussed actions the Trump Administration has taken on behalf of the biofuel industry, including …
Ethanol Report on Badger State Billion Gallons
When Badger State Ethanol (BSE) began production in 2002 with a nameplate capacity of 40 million gallons per year, it would have taken them 25 years to hit a billion gallons – but they did it in 18, and with a current capacity of 85 million gallons a year they will celebrate the next billion in less than 12 years. …
Ethanol Report on 2019
No one in the ethanol industry will be sorry to see 2019 in the rear view mirror. To say it has been a rough year would be an understatement. Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper says it was one of the worst years – if not the worst – the industry has seen in its relatively short history. …
RFA Reacts to EPA Final Rule
The Renewable Fuels Association today expressed disappointment in the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule for 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements, arguing that the rule opens the door for small refinery exemptions (SREs) to continue eroding RFS volumes and destroying demand for America’s biofuel producers and farmers. “After EPA’s overwrought abuse of the SRE program in recent years, agency officials …
Flex Fuel Jeep Wrangler Debuts in Vegas
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Kenny Hauk of Hauk Designs unveiled a new project at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas this week that highlights the benefits of higher ethanol blends in high performance vehicles – a Flex Fuel Jeep Wrangler with more than 1,000 horsepower using a high-octane, low-carbon fuel containing up to 85 percent ethanol (E85). …
Ethanol Report on Hearing Highlights
Back to back hearings on topics related to small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard brought ethanol supporters out to explain how EPA’s abuse of the waivers is hurting farmers and producers and how the new proposed rule is insufficient to fix the problem. In this edition of The Ethanol Report, we hear from some of those who testified …
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 …
Ethanol Report on RFA Reaction to EPA Proposal
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is critical of the Supplemental Proposal for Renewable Fuels Volumes issued by EPA on October 15. “Simply put, this proposal is not what was promised by the administration (on October 4) and fails to answer President Trump’s personal call for a stronger conventional biofuel requirement of more than 15 billion,” says RFA president and CEO …
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 …
Ethanol Report on RFS Moving Forward
It was a year ago this week that President Trump announced he was instructing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to initiate a rulemaking process that would allow E15 to be sold year round. This year, it was proposed relief from small refinery exemptions announced last week to restore integrity to the RFS that is giving the ethanol industry renewed energy …
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 …
Farmers and Ethanol Producers Need Help Now
Ethanol producers and corn farmers held a telephone press conference Wednesday to spotlight recent research on the impacts of ethanol plant closings, a new survey on voter attitudes about ethanol, and a potential White House agreement to promote further renewable fuels use. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper hosted the call which included comments from: Neil Koehler, Chairman, …
Ethanol Report on Crappie Masters Championship
2019 has been another winning year for the partnership between ethanol and crappie fishing. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is wrapping up a third year as co-title sponsor of the Crappie Masters All American Tournament Trail with the national championship in Grenada, MS, concluding September 28. In this Ethanol Report, RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White talks about …