Growth Energy Sides with EPA, Calls Out Oil Industry in RFS Case Brief |
Growth Energy filed an amicus brief this week in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in The San Antonio Refinery, LLC, et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The case pertains to a group of refineries seeking to avoid complying with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by alleging that the EPA’s “Alternative RIN Retirement Schedule for Small Refineries”—an adjustment made to allow refineries to meet their RFS obligations over an extended period of time—did not go far enough and should have allowed the refineries not to comply with the RFS at all.
Growth Energy’s amicus brief reiterates the fact that the oil industry continues to look for ways to avoid complying with the RFS. Across a range of cases, the industry has argued that EPA should not be allowed to enforce the RFS because the industry simply doesn’t want to comply, even with relaxed obligations.
“This case is no different than so many others brought by the oil industry,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Every time EPA denies an exemption, its decision is backed by reams of data that show the supposed economic hardship that refiners face for complying with the RFS is a fiction. They almost always recover whatever it costs them to blend biofuels into their fuel mix.”
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For more information, please contact General Counsel Joe Kakesh. |
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Last week, domestic ethanol demand was 14.0 BGY, up 0.9% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was up 0.9% from last week, at 137.0 BGY. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 14.1 and 138.5 BGY. Volatility of the EIA weekly demand data related to the holiday week has subsided, and the weekly and the 4-week average are similar.
Ethanol production was 16.8 BGY last week, up 2.2% versus the week before, and 2.9% more than the 4-week average in 2019. Midwest production was up 1.2% (+3.5 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was up 19.4% (+3.5 MG). Capacity utilization of plants online was 96.6% overall, 96.2% in the Midwest, and 100.4% on average, elsewhere, excluding 1,425 MGY of capacity shutdown at 28 ethanol plants for other than maintenance (details on pg. 29). On an installed capacity basis, utilization was 90.9% overall, 94.1% in the Midwest and 61.5% in the other regions.
Exports were an estimated 27.1 MG last week based on 120 MG of exports forecast for July. The EIA reported no ethanol imports last week. Overall inventory was up 23.0 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks increased 2.6 MG, and regional changes were: East (-9 MG), Gulf (+30 MG) and West (-9 MG) Coasts and the Midwest (-9 MG). In-transit inventory increased 20.4 MG.
Based on the total inventory of 1,749 MG on July 21st and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 44.6 days of supply, up 0.7 days versus a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, there were 40.4 days of supply, up 0.7 days versus a week ago. |
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Growth Energy Urges Action on SAF Accuracy Act after Bill’s Introduction in House |
Help Us Secure Year-Round E15: Send Us Photos of Cost Savings in Your Area |
Growth Energy Visits Indiana Corn and Soy’s Ag Policy Summit |
Growth Energy Joins American Carbon Alliance |
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Growth Energy Biofuels Summit Washington, DC September 11-14, 2023 |
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Growth Energy Urges Action on SAF Accuracy Act after Bill’s Introduction in House |
After its introduction in the Senate last month, this week a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Reps. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) and Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.) introduced the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Accuracy Act in the U.S. House.
“America’s biofuels producers will play a critical role in any successful effort to meet our nation’s goals when it comes to SAF," said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. "All they’re looking for is regulatory certainty, and that’s exactly what the SAF Accuracy Act would provide." |
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Help Us Secure Year-Round E15: Send Us Photos of Cost Savings in Your Area |
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E15/UNL88 is available at retailers across the U.S. this summer thanks to a successful campaign by Growth Energy and the biofuels industry to secure an emergency waiver from the EPA. This was a welcome development but Growth Energy continues to make the case for year-round E15 to the EPA, on Capitol Hill, and in state legislatures around the country. If you see an example of significant cost savings at a fuel station near you, take a picture (like the ones above) and share it with us! We'll put your photos to good use telling the story of how E15 saves drivers money.
Please email your photos to kwebster@growthenergy.org. |
For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher. |
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Growth Energy Visits Indiana Corn and Soy’s Ag Policy Summit |
Pictured from left to right: Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) Treasurer JR Roesner, ICMC Board Member Sarah Delbecq, Growth Energy Director of State Government Affairs Dallas Gerber, Indiana Corn and Soy CEO Courtney Kingery, and former National Corn Board Member Denny Maple |
Dallas Gerber, Growth Energy’s Director of State Government Affairs, attended the Indiana Corn and Soy’s Ag Policy Summit in Greentown, Indiana this week. Summit attendees heard from Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb on the department’s efforts to support the state’s corn growers and promote Indiana ethanol, Indiana Corn and Soy’s Senior Director of Industry Affairs Steve Howell with a review of federal and state legislative priorities, and closing remarks from Indiana Corn and Soy’s Chief Executive Officer Courtney Kingery. Growth Energy is working with our partners and members in Indiana to expand E15 access in the state, including advocating for legislation to provide a tax incentive for retailers selling E15.
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For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. |
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Growth Energy Joins American Carbon Alliance |
Growth Energy joined other biofuels trade associations this week as we joined the American Carbon Alliance (ACA), a new group formed by former Growth Energy CEO and current Growth Energy Board Member Tom Buis that aims to serve as a "unified voice for carbon capture pipelines, ethanol producers, landowners, farmers, construction trade workers and citizens that embrace this new energy future for America."
“We look forward to the success the American Carbon Alliance will have in telling the story of the economic and environmental benefits that can be realized by utilizing carbon capture and storage technology,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “As both the domestic and global markets demand more low-carbon fuels, especially in the aviation industry, America’s ethanol producers are uniquely positioned and ready to deliver low-carbon options on the road and in the sky.” |
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For more information, please contact Vice President of Development Kelly Manning. |
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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.
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