No. 60, Dec. 06, 2018 
IN REGULATIONS EPA Released Final 2019 RVO Targets Last Friday
Last Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency released the final Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) targets for 2019.
The targets maintained a commitment to 15 billion gallons of starch ethanol and set advanced biofuels at 4.92 billion gallons, including 418 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol. In total, biofuels targets for 2019 were set at 19.92 billion gallons, with an additional target set for 2.43 billion gallons of biomass based diesel by 2020.
While the final 2019 RVO targets hold a strong promise for biofuels, EPA missed a critical opportunity to correctly account for billions of gallons of ethanol lost to small refinery waivers. Current Acting EPA Administrator, Andrew Wheeler, has a chance to reverse damage caused by small refinery waivers and reallocate lost gallons, ensuring the ethanol targets set by Congress are actually met in accordance with the law
Until these steps are taken, EPA is taking two steps backwards for every one step forwards and depriving farmers of the boost they need to keep the rural economy going.
Read Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor’s full statement here, as well as an op-ed she penned in Morning Consult here. Additionally, you can view the testimony given by our Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley here, and view Growth Energy's official RVO comments submitted to the EPA in August here. For more details, contact Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Chris Bliley.
WORKING FOR YOU IN POLICY AROUND THE GLOBE Canada's Province of Ontario Announces E15 Adoption as Soon as 2025AT THE PUMP Higher Ethanol Blend Infrastructure GrowingIN COMMUNICATIONS IN OUR ASSOCIATION UPCOMING EVENTS
National Biodiesel Conference
Jan. 24, San Diego, CA Growth Energy Executive Leadership Conference
Feb. 5-9, Palos Verdes, CA IN POLICY Skor to Testify on Protecting the RFS at House E&C Committee Hearing Next Week
Picture above: Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor during her previous testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in April, 2018. Next Tuesday, December 11, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor testify before the House Committee on Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment next week. The hearing will discuss U.S. Representatives John Shimkus (R-IL) and Bill Flores's (R-TX) draft legislation which would sunset the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and replace it with a higher octane fuel.
Skor will discuss the importance of keeping the RFS strong in addition to pairing it with high octane fuel standards that would improve the consumer experience. A sunset of the RFS would only turn the clock back on our nation's commitment to renewable biofuels and deprive consumers of the benefits of ethanol at the pump. Ethanol has a natural octane advantage over gasoline and brings consumers increased engine efficiency, environmental benefits, and cost savings when fueling up.
The hearing will be held on Tuesday, December 11, at 9 am CT/10 am ET and will be livestreamed on the committee's website here. For more details, contact Vice President of Government Affairs, John Fuher.
AROUND THE GLOBE Canada's Province of Ontario Announces E15 Adoption As Soon As 2025 Last week, the Canadian Province of Ontario released their new environmental plan entitled 'Preserving and Protecting our Environment for Future Generations: A Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan', a fuel requirement for conventional gasoline to be blended with 15 percent ethanol that could go in effect as early as 2025. Currently, Canada has a nationwide mandate for a 5 percent blend of ethanol, and Ontario itself has already committed to an E10 blend by January of 2020.
Last year, Growth Energy and the U.S. Grains Council submitted comments to the Canadian Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, urging them to look beyond E10 at higher blends like E15, and welcomed the commitment from the Ontario Province to an E10 blend.
As one of the largest markets for ethanol, this is a huge milestone for Canada and the people of Ontario. The province represents a 4.3 billion gallon per year gasoline market, nearly a third of the country's total market, and sits at a 7.9 percent blend rate for ethanol. Ontario recognizes the important environmental, economic, and health benefits that ethanol provides and we look forward to seeing this plan become a reality by 2025.
Read the full Ontario Environmental Plan here. 
For more details, contact Senior Vice President of Global Markets, Craig Willis.
AT THE PUMP Higher Ethanol Blend Infrastructure Growing
As of November 15, there are more than 1,667 retail sites offering E15 at the fuel pump with an additional 3,500 sites committed to adding E15 pumps long-term. The sites offering E15 sell more than 2.5 million gallons of gasoline on average each year – significantly higher than the average fuel sales for convenience stores in the United States. E15 retailers represent early innovators and market leaders pushing new products into their markets. Growth Energy has aggressively worked to expand market access for mid-level ethanol blends, like E15, through our Prime the Pump partnership. The close of 2018 will bring another year of impressive growth and, with the promise of E15 sales year-round, we expect that momentum to continue in the coming years. For more information about adoption of E15, please watch our "E15 Best Marketing Practices" webinar here. For more details, contact Vice President of Market Development, Mike O'Brien.
IN COMMUNICATIONS In Case You Missed It: Elizabeth Funderburk Joins Growth Energy as Vice President of Communications Growth Energy is thrilled to introduce our new Vice President of Communications, Elizabeth Funderburk, who joined us earlier this week.
In her role, Elizabeth will oversee communications and public affairs initiatives to help our team ensure a brighter future for biofuels on behalf of its producers and supporters across the United States. Elizabeth joins the team at Growth Energy, bringing over 20 years of experience in advocacy and communications - including advising Fortune 100 companies and influencing top government officials.
Prior to joining Growth Energy, Elizabeth was a senior leader at APCO Worldwide, a public affairs firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. At APCO, she served as one of the firm’s most recognized team leaders in executing strategic advocacy and communications campaigns at the state and federal levels through stakeholder engagement, coalition building, media relations, and consumer mobilization.
She also brings further experience from her time at the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, as well as from a decade on Capitol Hill working on legislative issues before the Energy & Commerce Committee. Elizabeth also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and English from Vanderbilt University. 
For more details, contact Vice President of Communications, Elizabeth Funderburk. 
IN OUR ASSOCIATION Growth Energy Hosts Workshop on Ethanol Education and Advocacy at 2018 National NAAE Convention
Growth Energy Communications Associate Alec Caso presenting to agricultural educators on the importance of education and advocacy. Last Friday, Growth Energy hosted a workshop entitled "Advocating for the Future of Biofuels" at the 2018 National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) National Convention. The workshop highlighted the importance of ethanol education and advocacy on behalf of our industry and rural communities. We also previewed our new biofuels curriculum for high school educators that will introduce students to the basic history and science behind the Renewable Fuels Standard and biofuels.
NAAE is a a federation of state agricultural educators associations with more than 7,800 members nationwide focused on advocating for agricultural education, providing professional development for educators and encouraging new educators to get involved in the profession. Their members include agricultural educators and leaders from the middle school to the college level, as well as state and federal agricultural leaders.
Growth Energy takes great pride in ethanol education, working with organizations like FFA and NAAE, and providing education resources to our nation's students and teachers to ensure a bright future for our industry and rural America. For more details, contact Vice President of Development, Kelly Manning.
The Weekly Rundown is the weekly newsletter for Growth Energy's members. It is published 51 times a year 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 © 2018 Growth Energy. |
