Growth Energy to EPA: We Need E15 in 2023 |
Yesterday the EPA responded to a petition from Midwest governors seeking to ensure that retailers in their states can continue to offer year-round access to E15. The proposal addresses the regulations and makes it possible for E15 to be sold year-round, but only starting in 2024--leaving E15 availability for this year in limbo. “American drivers have been able to purchase E15 every summer since 2019, and this summer should be no different," said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. "EPA can ensure that access continues in 2023, and should take whatever steps are necessary to do so, including through the use of an emergency waiver." Read the full statement here.
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Last week, domestic ethanol demand was 14.2 BGY, up 2.3% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was up 2.3% from last week, at 139.7 BGY. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 13.5 and 133.1 BGY.
Ethanol production was 15.4 BGY last week, down 2.5% versus the week before, and 0.7% less than the 4-week average in 2019. Midwest production was down 2.6% (-7.6 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was unchanged. Capacity utilization of plants online was 88.6% overall, 90.5% in the Midwest, and 61.9% on average, elsewhere, excluding 1,355 MGY of capacity shutdown at 27 ethanol plants for other than maintenance. On an installed capacity basis, utilization was 83.3% overall, 88.4% in the Midwest and 37.4% in the other regions.
Exports were an estimated 27.5 MG last week based on 110 MG of exports forecast for February. The EIA reported no ethanol imports last week.
Overall inventory was down 9.3 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks decreased 34.1 MG, and regional changes were: East (-3 MG), Gulf (-35 MG) and West (+4 MG) Coasts and the Midwest (-1 MG). In-transit inventory increased 24.8 MG.
Based on the total inventory of 1,941 MG on February 24th and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 52.4 days of supply, down 0.7 days versus a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, there were 47.4 days of supply, down 0.6 days versus a week ago. | |
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Nebraska Sen. Ricketts Highlights Benefits of E15 in EPW Hearing Bipartisan Group of Senators Calls on Biden Administration to Allow Year-Round E15 Captured Carbon Utilization Parity Act Introduced in Senate Send Us Photos of E15 Cost Savings in Your Area |
Growth Energy CEO Discusses New Research on AgriTalk |
California Air Resources Board LCFS Hearing: What You Missed |
Less than a Month Away - ELC 2023! |
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Nebraska Sen. Ricketts Highlights Benefits of E15 in EPW Hearing |
During the U.S. Senate EPW Committee hearing on the nomination of Joe Goffman to be Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Water, Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) championed ethanol's role in reducing prices at the pump and emissions of cars on the road today. Senator Ricketts questioned Goffman about the status of an E15 emergency waiver for the 2023 summer driving season. Watch the clip here.
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Bipartisan Group of Senators Calls on Biden Administration to Allow Year-Round E15 |
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) led a bipartisan group in urging President Biden to permit the year-round sale of E15 fuel in 2023 in order to reduce the United States’ reliance on foreign sources of energy and utilize American agriculture as an energy solution. “We’re grateful to these 17 Senators for sending a bipartisan letter to President Biden asking him to again grant those savings to American drivers this summer," said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor in the release. "Higher blends of biofuels not only offer immediate cost benefits but also play a strong role in a clean energy future.” Read more here.
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Captured Carbon Utilization Parity Act Introduced in House and Senate |
U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and U.S. Representatives David Schweikert (R-AZ) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) introduced the Captured Carbon Utilization Parity Act in both chambers of Congress this week. The bill would create parity between the credit value for utilization and sequestration in the 45Q carbon capture tax credit. “This legislation would further encourage investment in the utilization of carbon for everything from creating fabrics and bioplastics to carbonating beverages, taking advantage of the 99.9% pure carbon created during the ethanol fermentation process to do so," said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. "We applaud this bipartisan effort and urge Congress to act quickly to unlock the potential benefits—both economic and environmental—of carbon utilization.” Learn more here.
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Send Us Photos of E15 Cost Savings in Your Area |
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As we 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 ones 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 kwebster@growthenergy.org.
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For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher. |
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Growth Energy CEO Discusses New Research on AgriTalk |
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor sat down with Chip Flory on AgriTalk last week to discuss our two new pieces of research and how they rebut yet another false report published by perennial biofuels opponent Tyler Lark. Listen/share here.
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California Air Resources Board LCFS Hearing: What You Missed |
Last week, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) held another in a series of workshops on their low carbon fuel standard (LCFS). The presentation from the workshop can be found here and the draft regulatory text and other materials can be found here. Growth Energy SVP of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley attended the workshop where staff from CARB discussed a number of important subjects related to the upcoming revision of the state’s LCFS. CARB does not intend to change or notably further analyze indirect land use change values further than what they did a few years ago. The agency also continues to note concerns about crop-based biofuels, specifically on the biomass-based diesel side as ethanol is already limited.
During the stakeholder participation, Bliley pushed for approval of E15 as a means to help the program succeed and noted concerns about the modeling that CARB showed during the presentation that showed the decline of ethanol in the state. Additionally, Growth pushed for inclusion of carbon intensity reduction innovation and technology at biorefineries as well as on the farm and noted that this was important for ethanol-fuel blends in the current light-duty fleet as well as the potential for sustainable aviation fuel. The workshop has a comment period open until March 15 – we will again be submitting comments on the importance of approving E15, on the farm and other plant innovations for appropriate LCFS credit among other issues.
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For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. |
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ELC 2023 Is Just Two Weeks Away! |
For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Development Kelly Manning. |
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