TOP STORY

Growth Energy Welcomes EPA Action on Summer E15 Fix for 2022

Growth Energy welcomed action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week to implement President Biden’s plan to hold down fuel costs for working families by lifting barriers on sales of E15 this summer.  
 
“We’re grateful to EPA Administrator Michael Regan for working quickly to fulfill President Biden’s commitment to deliver relief at the pump by ensuring unrestricted access to lower cost E15 this summer,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor, who joined President Biden for the April 12 announcement at the POET Biorefinery in Menlo, Iowa. “Not only has E15 been saving drivers as much as 60 cents per gallon, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and has lower fuel volatility and smog-forming potential, and supports economic growth across rural America.  
 
“America is the world’s largest producer of biofuels, and we should be making use of our full capacity in the push for greater energy security and a healthy climate. Unfortunately, outdated restrictions that are unsupported by science and drafted before E15 was available stand in the way of allowing consumers to enjoy a cleaner, more affordable choice at the pump.   
 
“We are grateful to President Biden and champions like U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, EPA Administrator Regan, and our bipartisan champions in Congress for supporting swift action on E15, but we know the fight isn’t over. Lifting outdated restrictions on E15 through this temporary waiver buys time for policymakers to implement a permanent fix, and it’s vital that this administration and leaders in Congress work swiftly to restore year-round access to E15 in the years ahead.”  

For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley.

IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Growth Energy Supports Governors’ Efforts to Secure Permanent, Year-Round Access to E15

Last week, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor thanked Governors Kim Reynolds (R-Iowa), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Doug Burgum (R-N.D.), Tony Evers (D-Wis.), Laura Kelly (D-Kan.), Kristi Noem (R-SD), JB Pritzker (D-Ill.), and Tim Walz (D-Minn.) for their efforts to secure permanent access to year-round E15, a fifteen percent ethanol blended fuel. The coalition of governors sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Regan calling for parity between E10 and E15 in their states fuels through Section 211(h)(5) of the Clean Air Act and included analysis of the environmental benefits of doing so.

“We are grateful to Governors Reynolds, Ricketts, Burgum, Evers, Kelly, Noem, Pritzker, and Walz for working to secure permanent, year-round access to cleaner, lower-cost E15 fuel,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “While President Biden’s recent decision to lift restrictions on E15 fuel nationally this summer was a welcome and exciting announcement, particularly as drivers across the nation continue to face high gas prices, we need a permanent fix to protect access to E15 next summer and beyond. The governors’ timely request to Administrator Regan would allow more drivers in their states to save money at the pump and reduce vehicle emissions as we work toward a national permanent solution.

“Our nation cannot let outdated regulations stand in the way of a clean energy future and we look forward to EPA’s affirmative response on this issue.”

For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley.

IN LEGAL

Growth Energy Files Complaint over Delayed 2023 Volumes 

On Friday, Growth Energy filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia regarding EPA’s failure to meet the statutory deadline for issuing the 2023 RVO final rule. 

The 2023 RVO is the first year under the RFS “Set”, in which EPA determines annual RVO volumes through a statutory six-factor analysis rather than by reference to volumes established by Congress, making it critical that EPA timely consider the climate, economic, and energy security benefits that biofuels provide, and to do so in a way that respects Congress’s intention that EPA continue to advance biofuels as part of our nation’s transportation fuel supply for years to come. This can’t happen if EPA continues to fail to meet deadlines. We look forward to reaching an agreement with EPA soon to ensure certainty for America’s biofuel producers and the obligated parties involved.

For more information, please contact General Counsel Joe Kakesh.

IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

U.S. EPA Administrator Regan Talks RVOs, SREs on Agritalk Radio

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan joined Agritalk Radio to discuss the latest news on SREs, RVOs, and the future of the RFS.

On EPA proposing to deny all pending SRE requests….

"I believe we need to be on course to grow biofuels in this country, and so when we look at some of these exemptions, it's our opinion, and the court's opinion, that these exemptions have not been done properly in the past and we look forward to making the right calls as we move forward."

On giving refineries an alternative avenue for blending compliance….

"The alternative path to compliance that was awarded to the first batch of SREs was done because these mistakes were made so far in the past and the market has moved forward and the conditions on the ground have shifted such that we made those special conditions or provisions for those. Moving forward, that is not a guarantee."

On finalizing the 2021 and 2022 RVOs by June 3rd….

"The alternative path to compliance that was awarded to the first batch of SREs was done because these mistakes were made so far in the past and the market has moved forward and the conditions on the ground have shifted such that we made those special conditions or provisions for those. Moving forward, that is not a guarantee."

For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher.

IN OUR ASSOCIATION

FQT Launches New DCO+ Corn Oil Separation Technology

Fluid Quip Technologies has unveiled DCO+, a new technology to achieve record-high low-carbon renewable corn oil recovery in drygrind biofuel facilities. A recent full-scale demonstration of DCO+ at Green Plains Wood River achieved a breakthrough 1.4 pounds per bushel low-carbon renewable corn oil yield when integrated in a full MSC system. As a standalone system, DCO+ can achieve up to a 40 percent increase in overall production of corn oil. FQT will offer this valuable solution to other biofuel plants throughout the industry.

“This new renewable corn oil capture technology comes from years of experience operating our MSC systems and is an immediate game changer for Green Plains and for the industry,” said Michael Franko, managing director, Fluid Quip Technologies. “With DCO+, independent plants looking for low-cost revenue enhancing projects can take advantage of up to 40 percent more corn oil, a valuable low-carbon feedstock for the rapidly expanding renewable diesel industry.”

Independent Study Confirms Cost Savings & Emissions Advantages for Heavy-Duty Trucks Running ClearFlame’s Engine Modification Technology

ClearFlame Engine Technologies announced the publication of an independent study that finds ClearFlame’s technology could help fleet owners and other heavy-duty truck operators lower total costs while meeting sustainability goals sooner than currently available alternatives. 

The study was conducted by Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA) and commissioned by ClearFlame. It analyzed the total cost of ownership (TCO) and expected emissions performance of ClearFlame’s proprietary engine modification technology in the over-the-road heavy-duty truck market versus other options.

Study Highlights:

• ClearFlame-enabled trucks are expected to have the lowest TCO when compared with diesel, natural gas, electric, and hydrogen platforms.
• ClearFlame’s cost per mile is expected to be substantially lower than electric and hydrogen platforms—40% less than electric and 30% less than hydrogen.
• ClearFlame can provide a quick and cost-effective path to substantial reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) and tailpipe emissions compared to other sustainable fuels and technologies, whose practical challenges, such as cost, range, infrastructure, and fuel availability, have slowed adoption.
• ClearFlame is estimated to provide a 42% lifecycle carbon reduction compared with diesel, as well as approximately 22% lower GHG than battery electric vehicles based on the national average grid mix.

For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Development Kelly Manning.

IN COMMUNICATIONS

Growth Energy Participates in NAFB's Washington Watch

This week, CEO Emily Skor and Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley attended the National Association of Farm Broadcaster's (NAFB) Washington Watch. NAFB's Washington Watch occurs each spring in Washington, D.C. to give listeners the opportunity to hear from trade groups, officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and leadership in the House and Senate. Skor and Bliley met with ag radio hosts, including KC Sheperd and George Bower, to provide updates on RVOs, year-round E15, E15 legislation in Iowa, and the impact of rail service delays on the biofuels industry.

For more information, please contact Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications Elizabeth Funderburk.

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