The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has halted a bill that would have allowed gasoline with 15 percent ethanol to be sold year-round. The bill was co-sponsored by Republican Senators Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, along with Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana. Despite the bipartisan support, the legislation was unable to muster enough support …
EPA To Hold RFS Hearing Next Month
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public hearing on its Renewable Fuel Standard volume obligations August first. The hearing, to be held in Washington, D.C., will take public comment on the 2018 renewable volume obligations, along with the 2019 RVO for biomass-based diesel, according to Ethanol Producer magazine. The agency released a prepublication version of the proposed rule …
NBB Considers Legal Action over Biodiesel Dumping
The National Biodiesel Board says it will consider all possible legal actions as it looks into what it calls a flood of biodiesel entering the country from Argentina. The N.B.B. says new data is out showing subsidized biodiesel imports from Argentina are still continuing to surge, pushing even higher in recent weeks. A June report from a business intelligence company …
Mexico Adopts E10 Fuels
Mexico will allow 10 percent ethanol blends of fuel, according to a recent announcement by the Mexican Energy Regulatory Commission. The announcement modifies standards for fuel blending from a maximum amount of ethanol at 5.8 percent to the 10 percent level. The change comes as part of ongoing energy reforms in Mexico and follows input from stakeholders in the government, …
Wind and Solar Energy Cover Over 10 Percent of U.S. Power Generation
Wind farms and solar panels that dot the map of rural America now account for more than 10 percent of U.S. power generation. Bloomberg News reports wind farms in Texas, Oklahoma and elsewhere accounted for eight percent of electric generation, while residential and commercial solar installations provided about two percent. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says that during 2016, wind …
Senate Committee to Consider E-15 Waiver Legislation
A Senate committee will consider legislation next week that would put in place a permanent waiver to Reid vapor pressure (RVP) requirements to allow E-15 sales year-round. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee announced the hearing set for Wednesday, June 14th. The hearing focuses on the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, introduced in March by Nebraska Republican Senator …
USDA Announces $6 Million for Sustainable Energy Research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced up to $6 million in available funding for research to support the next generation of sustainable biofuels and biomaterials. Funding is made through USDA’s Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI), a joint initiative with the Department of Energy. “Renewable energy is an important contributor to our …
EPA E15 Volatility Restriction Among Regulations Requiring Reform
Eliminating the unnecessary regulatory barrier to year-round sales of E15 is among a dozen recommended reforms the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should immediately undertake to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens on the U.S. ethanol industry and American consumers, according to comments submitted by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The comments responded to EPA’s request for input on burdensome, conflicting, or unnecessary …
Corn Prices May Not Improve, Even with Less Production
As farmers plant fewer acres to corn, will smaller supplies bring on better prices? This story from Gary Crawford answers that question. Seth Meyer, USDA Outlook Board Chairman, gives reasons for the USDA forecast for a 50 million bushel increase in the use of corn for ethanol in the coming marketing year…new projection, 5.5 million bushels. …
Methane Vote Agreement Offers path for E15 Bill
An agreement between Senators regarding a vote to reject the Obama-era methane rule has paved a path forward for year-round E15 sales. The agreement between Senators Deb Fischer, a Nebraska Republican, and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, means the E15 bill will head to the committee for markup within the next week or …