President Donald Trump will visit the Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) ethanol plant later this afternoon and the Renewable Fuels Association is ready to welcome him and thank him for supporting farmers and the industry. SIRE, an RFA member company, operates a state-of-the-art ethanol biorefinery that produces approximately 130 million gallons of high-octane fuel ethanol per year, along with more …
EPA Approves Year Round Sales of 15% Ethanol
Ethanol industry stakeholders are thrilled with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule allowing retailers to sell gasoline containing 15% ethanol (E15) year-round. “E15 already has a proven track record for saving drivers money at the pump and reducing emissions, and today’s action will ensure that more Americans are able to enjoy those benefits. Year-round E15 will also provide …
RFA Welcomes New Communications Director
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) welcomes new Communications Director Ken Colombini to its staff this week. Colombini will work out of RFA’s headquarters in suburban St. Louis and will be responsible for the development and implementation of a broad range of communications strategies and tactics to support RFA’s mission and objectives. Colombini has been a free-lance communications consultant since 2016, …
Ethanol Report on Higher Gas Prices
The summer driving season is getting closer and gas prices are just expected to get higher, but don’t blame ethanol. A recent analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association found that gas prices have been getting higher mainly because of a surge in crude oil prices since the start of the year, combined with normal seasonal gasoline pricing, as well as …
Groups Submit Comments on E15/RIN Reform Proposal
Biofuel stakeholders want EPA to get rid of the excess baggage and get E15 to the finish line before summer driving season starts. he comment period on EPA’s proposed rule “Modifications to Fuel Regulations to Provide Flexibility for E15; Modifications to RFS RIN Market Regulations” ended Monday with major organizations sending theirs at the end of the day. Renewable Fuels …
Biofuels Advocates Testify at EPA Hearing
The Environmental Protection Agency held a hearing Friday on proposed regulatory changes related to retail sales of 15% ethanol blended fuel (E15) and the renewable identification number (RIN) compliance system Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. Biofuels advocates, organization representatives and company officials testified at the hearing about the proposal and other related topics. Below are links to audio files from …
Ethanol Report on Fueling Knowledge
Spring is here at last and after a rough winter in most of the country there are lots of people ready to hit the road and enjoy some warmer weather activities, like motorcycle riding and fishing, for example. In this episode of the Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White talks about some of the …
New Waivers Hurt Corn and Ethanol Producers
Much to the dismay of farmers and ethanol producers, the Environmental Protection Agency has approved five more 2017 Small Refinery Exemptions to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and is considering two more petitions for 2018 exemptions, bringing the total to 39. “It’s extremely disappointing and outrageous to see EPA once again allow oil refiners to undermine the RFS and hurt …
EPA Proposes E15 Waiver and RIN Market Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released proposed regulatory changes Tuesday that would allow gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) to receive a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver for the summer months, the same as E10. In the same rule, EPA is also proposing changes to the renewable identification number (RIN) compliance system under the Renewable Fuel Standard …
Ethanol Report with #RFANEC Highlights
Orlando was the site of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) 24th annual National Ethanol Conference February 11-13, 2019. As always, the event was loaded with headline speakers and information on the latest industry issues. In this edition of the Ethanol Report, we have some of the highlights from #RFANEC, including comments from RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper, former Sen. …