The Environmental Protection Agency announced it’s considering a new proposal to reduce 2018 biodiesel, advanced biofuel, and total Renewable Fuel Standard volumes, in addition to a prior proposal to cut 2019 volumes. that has ethanol supporters ‘hopping mad.’ Ethanol Industry groups swiftly responded with press releases that the EPA proposal was unjustified, unneeded, contrary to the RFS’s intent, and would …
UF Professors to Lead Grant Project to Turn Seed Into Jet Fuel
With help from University of Florida researchers, pilots will, in the future, fly jets with fuel made from a tiny seed grown in the Southeast. Besides helping the environment and boosting the economy as a source of renewable fuel, the seed can also be used to produce valuable bioproducts and feed for livestock. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute …
USDA/NIFA Announces Funding to Grow the Bioeconomy
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced six grants totaling nearly $21.1 million to support the development of new jet fuel, biobased products and biomaterials from renewable sources. Funding is made through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “Our nation has made great strides in promoting the …
Senators Want Action on Brazil Ethanol Tariff
A group of Midwestern Senators is urging U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to respond to Brazil’s 20 percent ethanol tariff on imports over 600 million liters, or 158 million gallons. Brazil recently reinstated the tariff that will apply to U.S. ethanol exports to Brazil. In 2016, the U.S. exported 264 million gallons of ethanol to Brazil and is poised for …
Agri View: Energy to Produce Food
Everett Griner talks about how much and the types of energy it takes to produce food and feed people in today’s Agri View. Once a month the electric bill is paid. Most Americans have little interest in energy use. A lot more than energy involved in energy production. You see, food production uses over 12 percent of …
American Biofuels Producers Demand U.S. Government Respond to Brazilian Tariff
The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, and the U.S. Grains Council are calling upon the U.S. government to develop an immediate response to Brazil’s newly implemented tariffs on U.S. ethanol imports, a trade barrier that threatens over $750 million in U.S. exports and American jobs. On August 23, 2017, Brazil’s Chamber of Foreign Trade imposed an immediate two-year tariff-rate quota …
Farm and Biofuels Groups Urge EPA to Comply With Federal Court Decision
Farm and biofuels groups are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to comply with a federal court decision and not reduce proposed 2018 targets for cellulosic and other advanced biofuels in the nation’s fuel supply. National Corn Growers, National Farmers Union, and the Renewable Fuels Association are urging the EPA to follow the law and a recent court decision, and boost, …
National Chicken Council to EPA: Reduce RFS Targets
As agriculture groups submitted their comments to the Environmental Protection Agency last week regarding the Proposed Renewable Fuel Standard, it should come as no surprise that the National Chicken Council urged further reductions. The National Chicken Council, long opposing the RFS, said in comments to the EPA: “As proposed, the RFS targets exceed the percentage of ethanol Congress envisioned being …
RFA: Full Potential of Fuel Regulations Waiver Should Include Relaxing Additional Restrictions on Sale of E15
In a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, the Renewable Fuels Association thanked the agency for its Aug. 30 waiver in 12 states and the District of Columbia of certain fuel regulations due to the fuel supply emergency caused by Hurricane Harvey. The waiver, which relaxes the RVP requirement such that E15 (15% ethanol) may be sold immediately in conventional gasoline …
EPA Approves Emergency Fuel Waivers for Gulf and East Coast States
As a result of the continuing impacts of Gulf Coast-area refineries and disruption to the fuel distribution system caused by Hurricane Harvey, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt exercised EPA’s emergency fuel waiver authority to help ensure an adequate supply of fuel throughout the South, Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic. EPA has waived requirements for reformulated gasoline and low volatility gasoline through September 15 …