No. 175 May 20, 2021
![]() TOP STORY EPA Administrator Regan: "I See Ethanol As a Significant Part of a Clean Fuel Future" As we shared earlier this week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan addressed Growth Energy members this month at our 12th Annual Executive Leadership Conference (ELC). Administrator Regan's participation at ELC, the first sitting EPA Administrator to address ELC in a decade, signals support from EPA for biofuels' role in the Biden Administration's climate agenda. While the conversation with Administrator Regan was closed to press, we are pleased to share this recording for our members' eyes only. Be sure to tune in for a fireside chat between CEO Emily Skor and Administrator Regan on climate change solutions, the Renewable Fuel Standard, carbon intensity, and expanded access to E15.
WORKING FOR YOU IN MARKET DEVELOPMENT E15 Equipment Compatibility FAQ IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS State Update: Washington
State Update: California IN OUR ASSOCIATION POET in Exclusive Discussions with Flint Hills Resources About the Acquisition of Flint Hills' Biofuels Business IN GLOBAL Success Stories in Decarbonizing Transportation IN LEGAL Growth Energy Applauds 10th Circuit Ruling to Vacate Three Improperly Granted SREs IN COMMUNICATIONS Setting the Record Straight on the Renewable Fuel Standard
IN MARKET DEVELOPMENT E15 Equipment Compatibility FAQs ![]() To help retailers determine if now is the right time to begin offering E15 -- and what adding the fuel to their site might entail -- Growth Energy's Northeastern Regional Sales Manager Will Beck spoke with CSP Magazine and answered questions about equipment compatibility.
Beck answered questions on approved E15 dispensers, cost of offering pre-blended E15, and EPA's current equipment requirements. When asked where a retailer can go to check material compatibility, Beck pointed to Growth Energy's retailer hub. "Growth Energy has a wealth of resources available on its Retailer Hub, including a quick material compatibility checklist, guidelines and more," said Beck. "There are also the Petroleum Equipment Institute warranty library for equipment warranties and U.S. Department of Energy resources on UST compatibility with E15.
"Correcting misinformation on compatibility is a critical part of expanding E15’s footprint, and Growth Energy’s Market Development team stands ready to assist interested retailers in navigating this process." For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Market Development Mike Lorenz.
IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS State Update: Washington ![]() On Monday, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed legislation that will create a state-wide Clean Fuel Standard which is intended to limit overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per unit of transportation fuel energy to 20 percent below 2017 levels by 2035. “Today we join the West Coast of the United States and British Columbia in adopting a clean fuels standard,” said Inslee. “We know that cleaner fuels give us cleaner air to breathe. We know that transportation is our largest single sector of air pollution, so cleaning up our fuels is the best thing that we can do for the breathing of our children…The clean fuels standard is an anti-asthma bill. Our children deserve to breathe, and our people deserve cleaner fuels at a reasonable price."
As the state’s Department of Ecology begins implementation and rulemaking, Growth Energy will continue to engage to ensure a role for biofuels.
State Update: California ![]() Earlier this month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) held a public workshop to collect input on the development of the Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) II regulations. The ACC II regulations will seek to reduce criteria and greenhouse gas emissions from new light- and medium-duty vehicles beyond the 2025 model year. Growth Energy has previously submitted information to CARB about the use of high-octane and higher ethanol blends as a means to achieve emissions reductions throughout the state. For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley.
IN OUR ASSOCIATION POET in Exclusive Discussions with Flint Hills Resources About the Acquisition of Flint Hills' Biofuels Business ![]() POET is in exclusive discussions with Flint Hills Resources about the acquisition of Flint Hills' biofuels business, the fifth largest ethanol producer in the U.S.
In an interview with Reuters, POET shared that the deal would increase its potential production capacity for ethanol by more than a third to 3 billion gallons per year. This growth, Reuters noted, could help POET tap into potential growth in the biofuels market as the Biden administration considers boosting biofuels as part of a broader strategy to decarbonize the nation's economy to fight climate change.
In addition to boosting ethanol capacity, the deal would lift POET's potential production of high-protein animal feed to 14 billion pounds annually, and increase its production of corn oil to 975 million pounds annually. For more information, please contact Vice President of Membership Kelly Manning. IN GLOBAL Success Stories in Decarbonizing Transportation ![]() Growth Energy's Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley joined the U.S. Grains Council and the Latin American Energy Organization for a "Success Stories in Decarbonizing Transportation" webinar yesterday. In his presentation, Bliley reviewed the current American market landscape for higher-blended fuels, the latest statistics on the environmental benefits of ethanol, and what will drive future growth and use of biofuels. Growth Energy continues to work with its international partners to share the economic and environmental benefits of ethanol. For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley.
IN LEGAL Growth Energy Applauds 10th Circuit Ruling to Vacate Three Improperly Granted SREs Yesterday, Growth Energy welcomed news that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit granted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) request to vacate three last-minute small refinery exemptions (SRE) granted by the Trump Administration on January 19, 2021. EPA moved to vacate the SREs on Friday, April 30. In response, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor made the following comment:
“We are glad to see the court move swiftly and agree with EPA’s motion to vacate and remand Sinclair’s improperly granted SREs. Going forward, SCOTUS should affirm the 10th Circuit’s opinion and affirm EPA’s authority to deny this and all other improper SREs outright, once and for all.” For more information, please contact General Counsel Joe Kakesh.
IN COMMUNICATIONS Setting the Record Straight on the Renewable Fuel Standard In response to a recent Wall Street Journal editorial piece on the Renewable Fuel Standard, Growth Energy set the record straight with the following letter to the editor:
At a time when consumers are suffering through yet another disruption in oil markets, this time with the Colonial Pipeline shutdown, policymakers should be looking to expand – not limit – access to homegrown biofuels that can help keep fuel prices in check and ease supply constraints.
However, a May 14 editorial on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) parroted the oil industry’s favorite talking points about biofuels, while ignoring their proven benefits. For example, the editorial board claimed that renewable fuels cost more at the pump, but the evidence shows that ethanol blends hold down gasoline prices, saving the average household $142 per year, according to the American Journal of Agricultural Economics. As a natural octane booster, ethanol in our fuel mix replaces expensive and toxic additives like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene and improves the air we breathe. The higher biofuel blend, E15, can be found in 30 states and consistently sells for five to 10 cents less per gallon than traditional E10 blends.
So instead of pushing tired oil industry talking points, the editorial board should fairly consider low-carbon, plant-based biofuels, like ethanol, as a cleaner and more affordable way to keep prices down at the pump.
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 © 2020 Growth Energy. |