No. 107, December 05, 2019 TOP STORY Ensuring EPA Upholds the President's Promise for 15 Billion Gallons
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to uphold President Trump's commitment to rural America that 15 billion gallons means 15 billion gallons under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Growth Energy submitted comments to the agency on November 29 on its supplemental 2020 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) proposal, calling on regulators to fully account for biofuel demand lost to oil industry exemptions in the final biofuel targets for 2020. For more details, contact Growth Energy General Counsel Joe Kakesh.
WORKING FOR YOU IN OUR ASSOCIATION IN REGULATIONS Debunking Unsupported Claims on Endangered Species Growth Energy Submits Comments to EPA on Burdensome E15 Misfueling Mitigation Requirements AROUND THE GLOBE ON THE HILL ON THE TRACK UPCOMING EVENTS
Save the Date: Growth Energy ELC 2020
Feb. 5-8, Key Biscayne, Fla.
IN OUR ASSOCIATION Welcoming The Andersons Inc. as Growth Energy's Newest Member
Please join Growth Energy in welcoming The Andersons Inc. as our association's newest member. The Andersons have been a key influence in our industry for many years, conducting business in the grain, ethanol, plant nutrient, and rail services sectors. The addition of its four plants in Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, and Michigan brings Growth Energy's representation to 8.7 billion gallons of total U.S. annual ethanol production - a historic milestone.
Jim Pirolli, president of The Andersons, emphasized the company’s excitement in joining Growth Energy: “The Andersons is excited to join Growth Energy and its other members in supporting policy for a pro-ethanol market environment and boosting the accessibility of high-ethanol blends at the pump." For more details, contact Vice President of Development Kelly Manning. IN REGULATIONS Passage of Wisconsin E15 Legislation Clears Regulatory Path for Retail Expansion The popularity of ethanol fuels around the nation continues to grow every day, and Wisconsin is the latest state to recognize the benefits of higher ethanol blends by passing legislation to make it easier for retailers to offer E15 at the pump. On Nov. 25, 2019, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed Wisconsin State Senate Bill 349 into law allowing E15 to be dispensed on the same hose as E10. Additionally, enactment of this bill clears the way for an additional 100 Kwik Trip retail locations to dispense E15, again underscoring the market demand for higher blends of ethanol fuel when policy creates a level playing field. For more details, contact Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley.
Debunking Unsupported Claims on Endangered Species An important part of our job is to refute false and misleading arguments about ethanol, and we recently had the opportunity to do so in the context of a lawsuit regarding the environmental impacts of the RFS.
In that lawsuit, filed in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, environmental petitioners challenged EPA's failure to address whether the 2018 RVO “may affect” endangered species, as required under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. The court issued an opinion in favor of the petitioners and sent the 2018 RVO back to EPA to determine whether the 2018 RVO “may affect” such species and whether EPA must engage in a "consultation" with other government agencies on any such effects. For questions on our report, contact Growth Energy General Counsel Joe Kakesh.
Growth Energy Submits Comments to EPA on Burdensome E15 Misfueling Mitigation Requirements On Oct. 30, EPA sent out an additional information request related to E15 reporting and recordkeeping requirements, specifically those related to the E15 misfueling mitigation rule and associated misfueling mitigation plan requirements. In a comment letter submitted on Nov. 29, Growth Energy took advantage of this information request to let EPA know that existing labeling, hose configuration, and survey requirements for E15 were unnecessary burdens on the industry that unfairly hampered E15 expansion in the United States.
For more details, contact Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. AROUND THE GLOBE Demonstrating the Benefits of Biofuels to Fuel Retailers in Mexico Last month, ECR Engines’ Technical Director Dr. Andy Randolph presented at a workshop in Mexico City as part of a series hosted alongside the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the Mexican Association of Service Station Suppliers (AMPES) to educate Mexico's fuel retailers on the benefits of ethanol fuel. During the workshop, Randolph gave attendees a deep dive on the engine and performance benefits of ethanol and showed a brief demonstration on how ethanol burns cleaner and helps reduce tail-pipe emissions.
Randolph was joined at the workshop by Growth Energy's technical consultant Kristy Moore, who also met with fuel retailers in Mexico to share technical expertise on incorporating an E10 ethanol blend into their retail offerings. The Mexico workshop series has been a successful way for us to leverage experts like Moore and Randolph to help to dispel myths on ethanol fuel in the country and arm them with the tools and knowledge they need to offer E10 at their stations.
Growth Energy is currently participating in the final workshop in this year's series, but our efforts to open Mexico's fuel market to E10 nationwide will continue into 2020. For more details, contact Senior Vice President of Global Markets Craig Willis. ON THE HILL Growth Energy Submits Letter on Carbon Emissions to House Climate Committee
Last week, Growth Energy sent a letter to the U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis in response to the committee's request for stakeholder perspectives on how to reduce carbon emissions and address climate concerns. In addition to calling on Congress to uphold the RFS, the letter specifically cites the significant benefits that ethanol fuel provides in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air toxics, providing consumers with an economical option at the pump, and driving innovation for a low-carbon future through mid-level blends.
Additionally, our letter answered a range of further questions from the House Select Committee on topics including environmental justice, carbon pricing, land-use change, and more. For more details, contact Vice President of Goverment Affairs John Fuher. ON THE TRACK NASCAR Drivers Receive American Ethanol Awards
Growth Energy representatives helped close out the 2019 NASCAR season at NASCAR’s end of season awards ceremonies. For more details, contact Senior Manager of Communications Austin Dabney.
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 © 2019 Growth Energy. |