A study by Iowa State University (ISU) says the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) brings a net positive to the U.S. economy but fails to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally. The study, produced in June, was released by the Renewable Fuels Association recently, highlighting the net positive to the U.S. economy. Iowa State University’s Center for Agriculture and Rural Development developed …
Economic Study Shows Renewable Fuel Standard Added to Price of Corn
A new economic study shows the Renewable Fuel Standard has added a third to the price of corn and saved the U.S. nearly 18-billion in gasoline costs. The Iowa State University study to be published soon in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics shows specific benefits to farmers, consumers, and the environment, from the nation’s renewable fuels requirement. Renewable Fuels …
Ethanol Production May Outpace Demand in Future
A new report from Cobank says the ethanol industry could soon face declining slim-to-negative profit margins. The report is titled “Ethanol’s Growth Path: Output and Export Uncertainties Both Rising.” It outlines how an ethanol market fueled by corn prices at multi-year lows, together with reinvestment into expanding production capacity, will push supplies past demand growth. A Cobank senior economist says …
New Academic Journal Study: RFS Offers Substantial Benefits to U.S. Economy
A new economic modeling study that will soon be published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics finds that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has substantially benefited the U.S. economy by lowering gasoline and crude oil prices, cutting crude oil imports, adding value to U.S.-produced agricultural commodities, and reducing U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. “The results confirm that the current …
U.S. Feed Grain and Ethanol Exports Up
Feed grain exports from the U.S. are up 20 percent this year and could set a record high, according to the U.S. Grains Council. Exports of U.S. feed grains in all forms were up 20 percent year-over-year from September through June to 96.9 million metric tons, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The U.S. Grains Council says …
EPA to Reject Ethanol Rules Change
The Environmental Protection Agency will reject proposed changes to the point of obligation for complying with the Renewable Fuel Standard away from refiners. Politico reports that a Trump administration official said the EPA would reject the proposal by billionaire Carl Icahn, a key Trump supporter. EPA plans to formally announce the decision within the next two weeks and “President Trump …
Renewable Fuels Association Calls RFS Proposal for Conventional Biofuels Justified
Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen thanked the Environmental Protection Agency for proposing the volume requirement of convention biofuels at 15 billion gallons next year. However, Dinneen also urged the federal agency to increase its proposed cellulosic ethanol requirement to reflect growing technologies at existing ethanol plants. The EPA proposed to set the conventional biofuels volume under the Renewable Fuel …
Growth Energy Calls Court Decision on RVO’s a Win for Consumers
Growth Energy calls a court ruling against the Environmental Protection Agency a win for consumers. Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia struck down what Growth Energy calls a flawed methodology by the EPA to reduce the 2016 total Renewable Volume Obligations, or RVO’s, under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The court decision was in response to …
Wind Power Advancing in U.S.
A new report from the American Wind Energy Association finds 357 megawatts in new wind energy projects were brought online during the second quarter of the year. Nationally, the U.S. now has 84,405 megawatts of installed wind power capacity, with more than 52,000 commercial wind turbines currently operating in 41 states plus Guam and Puerto. Another 25,819 megawatts are under construction …
Delay of Decision to Impose U.S. Ethanol Import Tariff
The Executive Management Committee of CAMEX, Brazil’s Chamber of Foreign Trade, announced Tuesday a 30-day delay of a decision on a pending proposal to impose a 20 percent tariff on U.S. ethanol imports. The proposal would allow 500 million liters (132.1 million gallons) annually of U.S. ethanol imports before triggering the tariff. The following is a joint statement on this …