Growth Energy Attends NAFB Washington Watch |
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley, and General Counsel Joe Kakesh were on hand at NAFB's Washington Watch event in Washington, D.C. this week to answer questions and talk about the issues facing the ethanol industry today and in the future, particularly as we wait for a decision on an E15 emergency waiver for this 2023 summer season. Check out this clip featuring Skor on Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network and watch for more stories emerging from this year's Washington Watch in the future.
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U.S. House Agriculture Committee Holds Hearing with EPA Administrator Michael Regan Growth Energy Welcomes Senate Call for Stronger RFS Act Now: Demand an E15 Emergency RVP Waiver for This Summer Save the Date: Spring Fly-Ins |
New Study from Minnesota Biofuels on Statewide Use of E15 Growth Energy Welcomes New State Government Affairs Director |
U.S. Grains Council Certification Series |
| GetBioethanol NASCAR Paint Out Dover, DE April 30, 2023 Growth Energy Spring Fly-Ins May 16-18, 2023 June 6-8, 2023 High Performance Low Carbon Liquid Fuels Summit Indianapolis, IN May 9-10, 2023 Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) Omaha, NE June 12-14, 2023 |
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U.S. House Agriculture Committee Holds Hearing with EPA Administrator Michael Regan |
The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing yesterday for the express purpose of receiving testimony from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan. Biofuels champions on the Committee took the opportunity to press Administrator Regan on the benefits of biofuels and to ask whether or not the administration planned to issue an emergency waiver for summertime sales of E15. Below are some excerpts:
Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD): "Last Congress on a bipartisan vote, this House voted to allow year-round E15 across the country. Does your agency or the administration have a view on whether or not that would be good policy?"
EPA Administrator Regan: "I think it would depend. I can’t speak to whether or not it would we have provided the technical assistance to that law or that proposed law that would take into account any air quality impacts. Listen, we have to do the appropriate modeling, which we are doing and have done for these eight states. We’d have to do that for the country and determine if there are any adverse impacts from year-round sale of E15 nation-wide. I can’t say we’ve done that technical analysis yet."
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Rep. Craig (D-Minn.): "I know that rising fuel and energy prices are impacting the budgets across the country. Let me just ask you this – because with the tailpipe emission standards that were just released – those goals were stronger than what the Biden administration even asked for. So, let me just ask you this. Given the dialogue today, the tailpipe emission standards, does the American biofuels market industry have a future in EPA policy?"
EPA Administrator Regan: "It absolutely does. In 2022 I finalized the strongest RVO in history. In 2023, 2024, and 2025, we’re maintaining that trajectory. It was a proposal, we’re taking comments on that rule wholistically, but also as you pointed out on the biodiesel side. And we’re going to make adjustments based on those comments and come out with a very strong final rule. From working with DOE and DOT and USDA to focus on how we can ensure that aviation fuels is a strong player in the market here, so I consider us walking and chewing gum at the same time. I don’t believe that these car rules are alienating agriculture or rural communities. I think that we have complimentary policy so to speak that will drive us to a low carbon future."
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Rep. Feenstra (R-Iowa): "Emergency waiver for just this summer – the reason I ask for an emergency waiver for this summer is that we can save families 90 cents a gallon on E15. Is this something we can still look at?"
EPA Administrator Regan: "It is and I want to be very careful because I think that prior administrations attempted to issue E15 waivers and they were overturned by the court, and that’s because when you do it in an emergency setting, the law is very prescribed; you have to look at conditions on the ground at a certain time and meet certain thresholds. So what the eight governors have done is they’ve petitioned us, which we’re going through a formal rulemaking process, so yes, at any time that we’re asked to consider E15, we do, but if it’s done through the emergency waiver, there are certain constraints."
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Thank you to Representatives Feenstra (R-Iowa), Johnson (R-SD), and Craig (D-Minn.), as well as Representatives Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisc.), Brad Finstad (R-Minn.), Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Mike Bost (R-Ill.) and Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA) for representing the interests of the biofuels industry and American consumers with your questions for Administrator Regan at the hearing yesterday.
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Growth Energy Welcomes Senate Call for Stronger RFS |
Growth Energy praised a bipartisan letter from U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and 14 other Senate leaders calling for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to chart “a path that provides stability and growth for the U.S. biofuel sector.” The letter addresses EPA’s proposed rule setting renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2023-2025.
“A strong RFS, rooted in the best available science, remains the single most powerful tool this administration has for decarbonizing transportation while delivering savings at the pump,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “We’re grateful to Senators Klobuchar, Grassley, and other rural champions for their ongoing efforts to ensure EPA unlocks the full potential of biofuels to reach our climate and energy security goals. The latest production cuts by Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members only reinforce how important it is to shield American drivers from continued global uncertainty. With an ambitious RFS, and unrestricted access to higher blends like E15, we can deliver greater security and savings for working families.”
For the full text of the Senate letter and a list of signers, click here. |
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Act Now: Demand an E15 Emergency RVP Waiver for This Summer |
Make your voice heard on behalf of American biofuels!
Last year, the Biden administration waived E15 restrictions on an emergency basis for the summer to deliver relief at the pump, and this year should be no different. As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to drive price volatility at the pump, the administration should act swiftly to ensure uninterrupted access to lower-cost, lower-carbon E15. Join us in calling on lawmakers to press the Biden administration for action on an emergency RVP waiver ahead of the summer driving season. |
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Save the Date: Spring Fly-Ins |
We look forward to hosting biofuels advocates in Washington, D.C. this spring for Congressional fly-in meetings! Participants will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with Members of Congress and congressional staff on our industry's most pressing issues. Registration will launch shortly with a detailed agenda and hotel information, but be sure to hold the following dates: May 16 - 18: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and North Dakota June 6 - 8: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin |
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For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher. |
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New Study from Minnesota Biofuels on Statewide Use of E15 |
In a recent study prepared by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association and ABF Economics, a statewide transition to E15 from E10 would "contribute $1.06 billion to Minnesota's gross domestic product (GDP)." It would also increase ethanol demand, save consumers $84 million, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. |
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Growth Energy Welcomes New State Government Affairs Director |
This week, Growth Energy happily welcomes the newest addition to our Government Affairs team, Dallas Gerber. Gerber, an Ohio native, is stepping into the role of Director of State Affairs and will be working alongside SVP of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. He will be working on many of the issues driving growth of higher biofuel blends at the state level and will be working with our state partners and stakeholders in this newly created role. |
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For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. |
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U.S. Grains Council Certification Series |
Are you a U.S. ethanol producer, feedstock supplier or farmer leader looking to gain access to the United Kingdom and European ethanol market or need to know more about the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) pathway?
Join the U.S. Grains Council’s virtual certification workshop on Monday, May 8, 2023, where you will learn more about market access requirements; certification avenues; ethanol market dynamics in the region; pricing opportunities and more.
The U.S. ethanol sector has an opportunity to access these markets with a combined sales potential of 600 million gallons. Participation in the ISCC certification system allows ethanol producers to demonstrate compliance with the legal requirements for the sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions savings criteria of the Renewable Energy Directive. Hear directly from ISCC regulatory officials in charge of program implementation and sign up for individual plant consultations on a first come, first served basis.
To register for the certification workshop, please use this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DtNwSYx3TvyjgV0BUxN4eQ
Should you have additional questions or need clarification, please contact USGC Director of Global Ethanol Market Development Mackenzie Boubin at mboubin@grains.org. |
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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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