Congressional Biofuel Champions Urge Federal Action on Year-Round E15 |
On Monday, 31 Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle sent a letter to party leaders and the House Energy and Commerce Committee urging action on a legislative solution to allow for the year-round sale of E15. The letter, led by Reps. Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Budzinski (D-Ill.), Smith (R-Neb.), and Pocan (D-Wisc.), comes after EPA’s recently announced plans to grant the request made by eight midwestern states to sell E15 year-round starting in 2025.
“Passage of legislation supported by all stakeholders allowing the voluntary year-round sale of E15 nationwide would provide parity in treatment of E10 and E15 across the country, increase consumer choice for those who choose to purchase E15, and avoid the inflationary impact of state-specific or regional fuel specifications,” wrote the coalition of Members. You can read the full letter here.
Growth Energy applauds efforts on all fronts from our Champions to fight for year-round sales of E15. Upon EPA’s announcement of its eight-state waiver approval for 2025, CEO Emily Skor said, "While this is great news, drivers will need a solution for this summer to minimize disruptions and make sure they have the same access to E15 that they’ve had for the past five summers." Our team is continuing to work with Congress and the Biden administration to ensure access to E15 this summer and represent biofuels voices in negotiations for an E15 legislative solution. Be on the lookout for a way to make your voice heard.
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For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher. |
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Last week, domestic ethanol demand was 14.2 BGY, up 0.3% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was up 0.3% from last week, at 138.6 BGY. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 13.6 and 133.1 BGY (-1.3% YoY).
Ethanol production was 15.7 BGY last week, down 3.1% versus the week before, and 0.6% more than the 4-week average in 2019. Midwest production was down 3.5% (-10.3 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was up 4.1% (+0.6 MG). Capacity utilization of plants online was 88.7% overall, 90.1% in the Midwest, and 68.9% on average, elsewhere, excluding 1,197 MGY of capacity shutdown at 25 ethanol plants for other than maintenance. On an installed capacity basis, utilization was 83.1% overall, 87.7% in the Midwest and 41.4% in the other regions.
Exports were an estimated 29.4 MG last week based on 130 MG of exports forecast for March. The EIA reported no ethanol imports last week.
Overall inventory was down 4.8 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks decreased 11.3 MG, and regional changes were: East (+16 MG), Gulf (-12 MG) and West (-7 MG) Coasts and the Midwest (-8 MG). In-transit inventory increased 6.5 MG.
Based on the total inventory of 1,881 MG on March 8th and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 50.2 days of supply, down 0.8 days versus a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, there were 45.2 days of supply, down 0.6 days versus a week ago. |
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Growth Energy CEO Speaking at CERAWeek 2024 |
Growth Energy Welcomes Data Showing Record Sales of E85 in California for 2023 |
Growth Energy Submits Testimony on Kansas E15 Incentive Bill |
Growth Energy SVP at Clean Fuels Sustainability Workshop |
Next Week: Growth Energy Hosts Retailer Fly-In on the Hill |
Send Us Photos of E15 Cost Savings in Your Area |
| Get Bioethanol NASCAR Paint Out Austin, Texas
March 24, 2024 Celebration of Modern Agriculture on the National Mall
Washington, D.C. May 6-8, 2024 2024 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop Minneapolis, Minn. June 10-12, 2024 |
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Growth Energy CEO Speaking at CERAWeek 2024 |
Next week, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor will be on a panel at CERAWeek, an annual energy conference hosted by S&P Global. The event is hosted in Houston, Tex. and will feature the world's top energy industry leaders, experts, government officials, and policymakers, as well as leaders from the technology, financial, and industrial communities.
CERAWeek is one of the preeminent energy conferences that often sets the agenda for the entire industry, influencing decisions, investments, and policies. As the first major global energy gathering post-COP28, CERAWeek 2024 is a timely opportunity to share learnings, plans, and perspectives on the road map ahead. Skor is taking part in the Agora Innovation series and will speak on a panel titled "Business Models to Scale Biofuels Supply" alongside Ricardo Mussa, CEO of Raízen and Jeremy Zidek of BASF. Together, they will discuss success and conflict with business models relating to the biofuels and biodiesel industries.
Some of the VIPs attending this year's event include Bill Gates, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Senior Advisor to President Biden for International Climate Policy John Podesta, and former U.S. Energy Secretary Ernie Moniz, among others. Learn more about the event here. |
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Growth Energy Welcomes Data Showing Record Sales of E85 in California for 2023 |
Growth Energy this week welcomed the release of new data from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) showing that sales of E85 set a new record in the state in 2023.
“Californians used more E85 than ever last year, a fact that demonstrates how enthusiastic consumers are about higher biofuel blends, and their need for more ways to reduce their carbon footprint and save at the pump,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Everyone wants to help lower carbon emissions, and higher biofuel blends are one of the most affordable ways for them to do so."
Read more here. |
Growth Energy Submits Testimony on Kansas E15 Incentive Bill |
Earlier this week, the Kansas House Taxation Committee heard testimony on HB 2763, legislation to enact a five-cent per gallon tax incentive to fuel retailers selling E15 and higher blends. The bill, which would cap the annual cumulative tax credits at $5 million, would apply to taxable years 2025 through 2030. Growth Energy’s Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley provided written testimony to the committee, in which he argued that by incentivizing the sale of E15 and potentially increasing the state’s annual blend rate to the national average, the increased ethanol usage would create an additional one million pounds of nutrient-rich animal feed available for Kansas livestock farmers.
Bliley also noted “When the economic benefits to the consumer, the agriculture industry, and the bioethanol industry are considered in combination with there being no effect on Kansas’ fuel tax revenue, this proposed retail tax credit ultimately does not impact the state’s bottom line.” Bliley further added: “As more states consider incentivizing higher blends, we believe it is important the state does the same by ensuring a product made in Kansas using corn and sorghum grown in Kansas benefits drivers in Kansas.”
You can read the written testimony here.
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Growth Energy SVP at Clean Fuels Sustainability Workshop |
This week, Growth Energy's SVP of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley attended and moderated a panel at the Clean Fuels Alliance America's Sustainability Workshop in Kansas City, Mo. The panel, entitled "Capturing the Benefits of Working Lands to Scale Sustainable Biomass Production through Clean Fuel Incentives," featured speakers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Tennessee, and Argonne National Laboratory. The panel talked about the ability of farm practices to operate as an important means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and how the science supports the use of carbon sequestration. Bliley discussed the importance of this science in accessing the full potential of recently enacted federal tax incentives such as the Section 40B SAF credit and 45Z clean fuel production credit.
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For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. |
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Next Week: Growth Energy Hosts Retailer Fly-In on the Hill |
Pictured from Growth Energy's 2023 Retailer Fly-In: Growth Energy leadership and representatives from fuel retailers attend meetings on Capitol Hill. |
Next week, Growth Energy will welcome top retail leaders from NUVU Fuels, Sheetz, RaceTrac, and Musket/Love's to DC for a fly-in focused on driving pushing EPA for an E15 emergency waiver this summer. The group will meet with important Congressional and Biden administration officials, making it clear that ethanol supporters and retailers agree – we need year-round nationwide E15 in 2024.
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Send Us Photos of E15 Cost Savings in Your Area |
As we continue to make our argument for year-round E15 to the EPA, on Capitol Hill, and in state legislatures around the country, we've found that a picture really is worth a thousand words. If you see an example of significant cost savings at a fuel station near you, take a picture (like the one above) and share it with us! We'll put your photos to good use telling the story of how E15 saves drivers money. Email them to hcullen@growthenergy.org.
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For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher. |
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Growth Energy is the leading voice of America’s biofuel industry, delivering a new generation of plant-based energy and climate solutions. |
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