No. 197 October 28, 2021
TOP STORY White House Must Turn to American Biofuels
In response to climbing prices at the pump and recent claims from President Biden that he doesn't expect gas prices to decline until 2022, CEO Emily Skor penned an op-ed in AgriPulse highlighting why biofuels are a readily available option to drive down fuel prices for U.S. drivers today.
"Ethanol is a clean, homegrown biofuel that lowers fuel costs, increases octane, and displaces costly petroleum-based fuel additives linked to groundwater contamination, smog, and cancer," wrote Skor. "And, best of all, American renewable fuel producers and farmers are ready, willing, and able — right now — to ramp up the production of this low-carbon option to drive down fuel prices for U.S. drivers.
"At a time when both fuel costs and carbon emissions represent a clear threat to the nation’s future, American-grown, American-made biofuels are the solution. But to make it happen, the White House must send the policy signals rural America is waiting for - to boost homegrown energy and finally deliver consumers lasting protection from volatile oil markets." For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley.
WORKING FOR YOU IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Republican Senators Renew Request to Advocate for Commonsense Biofuel Policy
Growth Energy Slams RFS Repeal Legislation IN OUR ASSOCIATION ADM to Produce up to 500M Gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS State E15 Update: Indiana
State E15 Update: Oregon
Growth Energy Submits Comments on CAFE Standards IN MARKET DEVELOPMENT Environmental Benefits, Price Advantage Drive E15 Sales Nationwide UPCOMING EVENTS
Halloween October 31
November 2 - 4 (Scottsdale, AZ)
NAFB Trade Talk November 17 - 18 (Kansas City, Mo.)
Thanksgiving November 25
IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS Republican Senators Renew Request to Advocate for Commonsense Biofuel Policy On Tuesday, U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) led a letter to request a meeting with President Biden and representatives of his cabinet to discuss the Renewable Fuel Standard and promote biofuels as a key solution for America’s energy and climate agenda. In July, Thune led a similar effort to discuss this important issue with the administration, but President Biden ignored it without reason. Senators Ernst, Grassley, Moran, Fischer, Rounds, Blunt, Sasse, and Marshall joined in sending the letter. "Mr. President, biofuels are a readily available energy solution that deserve full consideration—not only for helping to stem the recent increase in fuel prices, which has subsequently accelerated inflation—but to serve as a foundational source of transportation emission reductions as part of your energy and environmental agenda," wrote the Senators. "We call on your administration to utilize the full capacity of American agriculture to deliver on both fronts, and we reiterate our request to discuss these matters with you in greater detail."
Growth Energy Slams RFS Repeal Legislation Amid a global energy crisis and rising fuel prices at pumps across the country, members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Emily Skor released the following statement slamming the legislation for trying to reduce Americans’ access to homegrown, low carbon biofuels:
“Now, more than ever, we need to be incorporating more homegrown, low-cost, and low-carbon biofuels into our fuel supply. It’s tone deaf to introduce legislation to repeal the RFS during a global energy crisis while Americans are facing rapidly rising fuel prices at the pump.
“The RFS was signed into law over a decade ago to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and increase the blending of low-carbon biofuels, saving consumers up to $0.10 per gallon at the pump. Additionally, a recent study conducted by ABF Economics shows that moving to a nationwide adoption of E15 — a fifteen percent ethanol blend — would save consumers $12.2 billion in annual fuel costs. We should be moving towards not away from homegrown solutions to lower fuel costs at the pump and fulfill our nation’s promise of more clean energy options.”
“We look forward to working with our champions in Congress to make sure this bill moves no further than introduction.” For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher. IN OUR ASSOCIATION ADM to Produce up to 500M Gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel News: ADM, a global leader in nutrition and agricultural origination and processing, and Gevo, Inc., a pioneer in transforming renewable energy into low carbon, energy-dense liquid hydrocarbons, announced on Monday that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other low carbon-footprint hydrocarbon fuels.
The MoU contemplates the production of both ethanol and isobutanol that would then be transformed into renewable low carbon-footprint hydrocarbons, including SAF, using Gevo’s processing technology and capabilities. About 900 million gallons of ethanol produced at ADM’s dry mills in Columbus, Nebraska, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as well as its Decatur, Illinois, complex, is expected to be processed utilizing this technology, resulting in approximately 500 million gallons of SAF and other renewable hydrocarbons. The isobutanol is expected to be produced at a proposed new facility in Decatur that would employ ADM’s carbon capture and sequestration capabilities.
Why it Matters: Demand for SAF is expected to increase as major U.S. airlines, airports, shippers and the U.S. government have agreed to work together to advance the use of cleaner sustainable fuels. The U.S. and the EU have set goals that together would support almost 4 billion gallons of annual SAF production in 2030, and more than 45 billion by 2050. For more information, please contact Vice President of Membership Kelly Manning. IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS State E15 Update: Indiana As you may recall, earlier this year Indiana Governor Holcomb vetoed legislation that would have stalled sales of homegrown biofuels by mandating confusing labels on E15 fuel dispensers and muddying key regulations on retailers seeking to offer the lower-cost blend. Growth Energy was actively involved in working with Hoosier biofuel producers and farmers to prevent this legislation from passing. Now, the Indiana Department of Health is proposing a rule to further facilitate the legal sale of E15. After reviewing the rule and finding no objections to the department's efforts, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley submitted comments on the rule simply offering two minor clarifications. We will continue to monitor further action.
State E15 Update: Oregon Back in June, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed HB 3051, clarifying the ability of retailers to sell E15 and changing Oregon's renewable fuel blending requirement from "10%" to "at least 10%". In response, the Oregon Department of Agriculture has issued a proposed rule to primarily make the change on blends higher than 10% as well as to clean up some other dated language on ASTM and related matters. The Department held a very brief public hearing last week and is accepting public comments until Friday. We plan on filing a written comment and will continue to monitor any movement.
Growth Energy Submit Comments on CAFE Standards Growth Energy's Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley submitted comments this week to the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the carbon benefits of biofuels as DOT proposes updated fuel economy standards.
Earlier this year, NHTSA proposed a rulemaking titled, Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Model Years 2024–2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks. The proposed fuel economy ("CAFE") standards aim to increase fuel efficiency 8% annually for model years 2024-2026 and increase the estimated fleetwide average by 12 miles per gallon for model year 2026, relative to model year 2021.
"While our comment for NHTSA appropriately focuses on the VCF and FFVs, it is critical that NHTSA and the Department of Transportation work closely with EPA on a number of policy items that expand the use of higher biofuel blends," wrote Bliley. For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. IN MARKET DEVELOPMENT Environmental Benefits, Price Advantage Drive E15 Sales Nationwide As many retailers seek to reduce their carbon footprint, adding E15 to their fuel lineup can help achieve that goal. Chris Bliley joined CSP Magazine to discuss how E15 is better for the environment, better for air quality, and why consumers prefer E15. For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Market Development Mike Lorenz. HAPPY HALLOWEEN Spooky Oil Facts There’s nothing scarier than what the oil industry does to our environment and economy. To get in the holiday spirit and amplify this message, we’re sharing some spooky facts about oil this week on social media. To join in, use these graphics or share Growth Energy's own posts on Twitter and Facebook. Happy Halloween!
The Weekly Rundown is the weekly newsletter for Growth Energy's members. It is published weekly by the communications staff at Growth Energy. For more information, email team@growthenergy.org or visit our website GrowthEnergy.org. You're receiving this newsletter because you've subscribed to Growth Energy's The Weekly Rundown. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. Copyright © 2021 Growth Energy. |