EPA Grants Emergency E15 Waiver |
Growth Energy welcomed last week's announcement that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will grant an emergency waiver allowing for the summer sale of E15. EPA announced the decision following an intense campaign by Growth Energy and elected leaders.
“We commend EPA Administrator Regan, Secretary Vilsack, and the Biden administration for easing pain at the pump this summer by protecting access to lower-carbon, more affordable E15,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Given ongoing supply threats stemming from unrest in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Red Sea shipping routes, this waiver will serve as a valuable shield against volatile fuel costs and help more working families benefit from E15, which has been saving drivers 10 to 30 cents per gallon.
“We’re grateful to our steadfast champions on Capitol Hill who have fought hard for consumer access to E15, and, beyond this summer, we look forward to continuing work with them to find a permanent solution for year-round sales of E15.” |
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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 13.2 BGY, down 2.8% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was down 2.8% from last week, at 129.1 BGY. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 13.7 and 133.9 BGY (-3.7% YoY).
Ethanol production was 14.6 BGY last week, down 3.0% versus the week before, and 6.6% less than the 4-week average in 2019. Midwest production was down 2.3% (-6.2 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was down 13.6% (-2.4 MG), mainly in the USGC region. Capacity utilization of plants online was 82.7% overall, 83.8% in the Midwest, and 66.3% on average, elsewhere, excluding 1,247 MGY of capacity shutdown at 25 ethanol plants for other than maintenance (details on pg. 31). On an installed capacity basis, utilization was 77.2% overall, 81.2% in the Midwest and 41.3% in the other regions.
Exports were an estimated 32.7 MG last week based on 140 MG of exports forecast for April. The EIA reported no ethanol imports last week.
Overall inventory was down 10.0 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks decreased 14.6 MG, and regional changes were: East (-2 MG), Gulf (+15 MG) and West (-1 MG) Coasts and the Midwest (-26 MG). In-transit inventory increased 4.6 MG.
Based on the total inventory of 1,890 MG on April 19th and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 50.6 days of supply, up 0.5 days versus a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, there were 45.1 days of supply, up 0.2 days versus a week ago. |
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Growth Energy CEO: The Fate of Sustainable Aviation Fuel is in the Hands of Biden Regulators |
Growth Energy Holds Earth Day Community Tree Planting Event in Iowa |
Growth Energy Cheers New Nebraska SAF Credit |
USDA Announces More Funding for Higher Blend Infrastructure Grants
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Send Us Photos of E15 Cost Savings in Your Area |
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High Performance Low Carbon Liquid Fuels Summit Indianapolis, IN May 1-2, 2024 Get Bioethanol NASCAR AdventHealth 400 Kansas City, KS May 5, 2024 Celebration of Modern Agriculture on the National Mall Washington, D.C. May 6-8, 2024 2024 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop Minneapolis, MN June 10-12, 2024 | |
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Growth Energy CEO: The Fate of Sustainable Aviation Fuel is in the Hands of Biden Regulators |
In a recent op-ed in the Des Moines Register, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor urged the Biden administration to "put the right framework in place to catalyze production" of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
"Whether SAF reaches its full potential depends largely on regulatory decisions the president’s administration is making right now," Skor said in the op-ed. "A key flashpoint in this process is how pending revisions to the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Technologies — otherwise known as GREET — model will be used to calculate the total environmental impact and lifecycle greenhouse emission reduction from bioethanol-produced SAF."
"GREET stands to incentivize emission reduction, encourage further climate smart agriculture practices — by raising the value of low-carbon corn and soybeans for those farmers that utilize no or low-till farming, for example — and catalyze our domestic SAF production, all while helping our nation’s growers. What is there to lose?" she concluded.
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Growth Energy Holds Earth Day Community Tree Planting Event in Iowa |
In celebration of Earth Day this week, Iowa biofuel producers, farmers, retailers, and policy leaders gathered for a community tree planting event hosted by Growth Energy. Attendees included Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Grant Menke, and Polk County Conservation Office Director Richard Leopold.
“No one understands the importance of plant-based solutions better than Iowa’s biofuel sector,” said Growth Energy Vice President of Market Development Jake Comer. “This industry is constantly working to lower carbon emissions while saving consumers money and supporting rural communities—we’re proud to celebrate Earth Day alongside leaders who share that mission, including Secretary Naig, Deputy Secretary Grant Menke, and several of the nation’s top biofuel retailers. Together, we’ll continue to keep Iowa farmers and biofuel producers at the forefront of a low-carbon economy.”
The Earth Day event was held as part of a larger woodland restoration project coordinated by Polk County Conservation and Iowa Woodland Owners Association and Bankers Trust. Joining the team from Growth Energy were volunteers from the Iowa Corn Growers Association, POET, assorted fuel retailers, and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. Read Growth Energy's press release here, and read coverage of the event in the Des Moines Register here.
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Growth Energy Cheers New Nebraska SAF Credit |
Growth Energy celebrated legislation signed today by Governor Jim Pillen that will speed investment in Nebraska’s SAF production. Originally introduced by state Sen. George Dungan and incorporated into a broader bill by Sen. Eliot Bostar, this Nebraska SAF tax credit (LB937) will provide a $0.75 per gallon tax credit for the production of aviation fuel that reduces lifecycle emissions by at least 50 percent, which may be calculated based on the most recent version of Argonne National Laboratory’s GREET model.
“We applaud Governor Pillen, Senator Dungan, Senator Bostar, and all the biofuel champions in Nebraska who worked hard to advance this exciting legislation,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “These incentives promise to propel Nebraska into a leadership position on SAF, which is the single most promising new market for low-carbon biofuels. With the right incentives and the best available science, as afforded by Argonne’s GREET model, this approach promises to fast-track investments in low-carbon aviation that will benefit our climate, our economy, and our rural communities.”
Learn more about the GREET model here. Learn more about SAF here. A full copy of the bill including the Nebraska SAF credit can be found here.
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For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. |
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USDA Announces More Funding for Higher Blend Infrastructure Grants |
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it was awarding more than $43 million in grants through its Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) to business owners to increase the availability of domestic biofuels in 15 states and give Americans cleaner, more affordable fuel options.
HBIIP provides grants to fueling station and distribution facility owners, including marine, rail, and home heating oil facilities, to help expand access to domestic biofuels, a clean and affordable source of energy. The USDA is making these HBIIP awards in California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. Since 2021, USDA has invested approximately $135 million to increase access to biofuels at fueling stations. In June 2023, USDA made $450 million available in Inflation Reduction Act funding through the HBIIP to expand the use and availability of higher-blend biofuels.
Last week, Growth Energy announced that it had helped write grant applications for 51 percent of all submissions from the most recent HBIIP application window, an effort which could result in more than 1,200 new E15 dispensers, nearly 450 new E85 dispensers, and nearly 500 new dispensers for biodiesel blends.
Applications are being accepted quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024. Retailers interested in learning more or getting help with higher blends infrastructure grants are encouraged to contact Growth Energy’s Market Development team at MarketDevelopment@growthenergy.org.
Read more here. |
For more information, please contact Vice President of Market Development Jake Comer. | |
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Send Us Photos of E15 Cost Savings in Your Area |
With an emergency waiver for summertime sales of E15 secured, we must 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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