Growth Energy Welcomes Finalized EPA Rule on Year-Round E15 for Eight Midwestern States |
Growth Energy last week applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after it finalized a rule granting the request made by eight midwestern states to sell E15 year-round. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor issued the following statement in response: “We commend EPA for finalizing its rule, and we thank the eight midwestern governors who have now successfully secured a future for year-round E15 in their states. This is a win for the residents of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, and a win for biofuel producers and fuel retailers.
“While this is great news, drivers will need a solution for this summer to minimize disruptions and make sure they have the same access to E15 that they’ve had for the past five summers.
“E15 saves drivers money while helping them lower their carbon emissions. We look forward to working with policymakers to ensure that consumers can have permanent access to these benefits all year long.”
After EPA's announcement, Congressman Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) this week led the Iowa delegation in penning a letter to EPA and the Administration urging immediate implementation of year-round E15, rather than delaying until the 2025 summer driving season. The six co-signers stated in the letter that a delay in year-round E15 sales "put the hardworking farmers who feed and fuel this nation last." They are requesting that year-round E15 be implemented no later than March 31, 2024.
A copy of the Iowa delegation's letter can be found here. |
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For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher. |
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Last week, domestic ethanol demand was 13.3 BGY, up 3.3% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was up 3.3% from last week, at 129.8 BGY. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 13.2 and 128.9 BGY (-3.1% YoY).
Ethanol production was 16.5 BGY last week, down 0.6% versus the week before, and 6.7% more than the 4-week average in 2019. Midwest production was down 0.3% (-0.9 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was down 5.8% (-0.9 MG). Capacity utilization of plants online was 93.4% overall, 95.3% in the Midwest, and 66.2% on average, elsewhere, excluding 1,197 MGY of capacity shutdown at 25 ethanol plants for other than maintenance. On an installed capacity basis, utilization was 87.5% overall, 92.8% in the Midwest and 39.8% in the other regions.
Exports were an estimated 29.0 MG last week based on 120 MG of exports forecast for February. The EIA reported no ethanol imports last week.
Overall inventory was up 28.8 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks increased 21.8 MG, and regional changes were: East (+0.4 MG), Gulf (+22 MG) and West (+0.3 MG) Coasts and the Midwest (+0.6 MG). In-transit inventory increased 7.0 MG.
Based on the total inventory of 1,942 MG on February 23rd and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 52.3 days of supply, up 0.3 days versus a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, there were 46.9 days of supply, up 0.3 days versus a week ago. |
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Growth Energy Submits Comments on New York's Cap-and-Invest Program |
CO2 Pipeline Legislation Advances in South Dakota |
USDA Secretary Vilsack Addresses E15, SAF in Testimony Before Senate Ag Committee |
Send Us Photos of E15 Cost Savings in Your Area |
Growth Energy Attends Convenience Retailing University Event in Nashville |
| Get Bioethanol NASCAR Paint Out Austin, Texas
March 24, 2024 2024 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop Minneapolis, Minn. June 10-12, 2024 |
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Growth Energy Submits Comments on New York's Cap-and-Invest Program |
Later today, Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley will submit comments to New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) regarding proposals to establish a cap on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions via the Cap-and-Invest Program.
The comments urge DEC and NYSERDA to consider the need for biofuels' exemption in the program, pointing to the current exemption biofuels have in California’s program, and Washington state’s modified exemption.
"Providing an exemption for biofuels in New York’s Cap-and-Invest program creates regulatory synergy with existing carbon markets. It also provides New York the opportunity to link its own market with California, Quebec, and Washington in the future; the latter of which is currently in the process of pursuing linkage with California and Quebec," said Bliley.
You can read the full comments here.
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CO2 Pipeline Legislation Advances in South Dakota |
Yesterday the South Dakota House of Representatives approved an amended version of SB201, a bill that would impact CO2 pipelines in the state. The bill previously passed the South Dakota Senate last week with a provision that prevented counties and local governments from enacting ordinances on pipelines. That provision was removed from the House version, which was passed by the House Commerce and Energy Committee earlier this week, and ultimately approved by the full House yesterday. Among the provisions still in the amended bill are requirements that the pipeline would be buried at least four feet deep, that would ensure pipeline operators’ liability for agricultural damages like drain tile, and that would allow counties to impose a $1/foot of pipe/year surcharge during any year the pipeline operator claims a 45Q tax credit.
Now that two versions of the bill have passed both chambers, it goes to a conference committee to iron out the differences. Growth Energy will continue to keep you posted on the bill's status.
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For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. |
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USDA Secretary Vilsack Addresses E15, SAF in Testimony Before Senate Ag Committee |
Yesterday, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture. In his responses to questions from biofuels champions serving on the Committee Vilsack addressed items like year-round E15, feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and the GREET model.
On E15, Vilsack told Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) that he was confident EPA would announce another emergency waiver allowing for the sale of E15 this summer. On SAF, Vilsack told Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) that one of the USDA's roles as it pertains to SAF is to "advocate for a rule that allows a broad array of feedstocks, including the more traditional feedstocks that are used for biofuels to qualify for the [Inflation Reduction Act's] tax credits and the incentives, so that it's financially feasible to use ethanol for example."
He noted that "I think we’ve been successful in getting the GREET model incorporated in this process. We’re now in the process of talking about Climate-Smart Agriculture as well.
Watch a replay of the hearing here.
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Send Us Photos of E15 Cost Savings in Your Area |
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 one 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 hcullen@growthenergy.org.
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For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher. |
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Growth Energy Attends Convenience Retailing University Event in Nashville |
Growth Energy's Market Development team is in Nashville, Tenn. this week for Convenience Retailing University's (CRU) conference. CRU is an event dedicated to convenience managers, buyers, and decisionmakers, and Growth Energy is a gold-level sponsor. Growth Energy's Market Development team works closely with retailers across the country to help them gain a competitive advantage by offering higher bioethanol fuel blends like E15, and by helping them take advantage of available federal and state grants. Find out more here.
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For more information, please contact Vice President of Market Development Jake Comer. |
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