No. 153 November 19, 2020 TOP STORY Update from Capitol Hill: Streamlining Advanced Biofuels Registration Act of 2020 Today, U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and Jim Hagedorn (R-MN) introduced the Streamlining Advanced Biofuels Registration Act of 2020.
This legislation would expedite the approval process at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for low-carbon biofuel pathways, an issue which has stalled technological progress for years. Cellulosic technologies can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100% or more, providing an even more effective, low-cost alternative to petroleum products which are more expensive and pollute the air.
“We applaud Representatives Bustos and Hagedorn for introducing this legislation to streamline pathways for low-carbon biofuels,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Unnecessary delays have stalled progress on the biofuels industry’s ability to harness clean energy from agricultural residue, corn fiber, and waste. We know that cellulosic technologies can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100% or more, providing options for negative-emissions liquid fuels and providing a low-cost alternative to petroleum-based aromatics that poison our air and threaten our health. This important legislation will help clear the deck on long-overdue approvals and jumpstart growth in these innovative technologies at a time when revitalizing rural communities has never been more important.”
This is the House companion legislation to the previously introduced U.S. Senate bill (S.3986) by U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). As the next Congress addresses climate and energy issues, we will work to include bills like these in future legislative packages. For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher.
WORKING FOR YOU IN MARKET DEVELOPMENT "The E15 Expressway: Web Chats with Retailers" featuring Minnoco
Growth Energy Webinar: Market Development Update IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS Colorado's GHG Pollution Reduction Roadmap
Ag-Auto-Ethanol Annual Forum UPCOMING EVENTS
Happy Thanksgiving!
IN MARKET DEVELOPMENT "The E15 Expressway: Web Chats with Retailers" featuring Minnoco This week's The E15 Expressway: Web Chats with Retailers features Lance Klatt, Executive Director, MINNOCO. Minnoco (Minnesota Independent Oil Company) is a brand of gasoline developed by the Minnesota Services Station & Convenience Store Association (MSSA) for its members.
Through Minnoco, members of MSSA are able to control their own brand of fuel and offer alternative renewable fuels such as Diesel, E85, E30, E15, 87, 89 and 91 octane fuels. During his chat with Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor, Klatt explained how this allows retailers to operate without burdensome restrictions. Watch the conversation between Lance Klatt and Emily Skor on YouTube or press play on the image below.
Other Conversation Highlights:
Unleaded88: "When the stores first put out Unleaded Plus, which is the E15, we call that E85, E30, the overall store volumes increased by around twenty percent overall, which meant stronger inside store sales for the stores which is phenomenal. So, if you increase your foot traffic, you can be more successful."
Growth Energy: "You guys do a great job and you continue to be a great voice on the Hill for us retailers. You continue to support and fight for the opportunity to be able to sell E15."
On December 2nd, tune in to hear from Nathaniel Doddridge, VP of Fuels at Casey's!
Growth Energy Webinar: Market Development Update Growth Energy hosted an all-member webinar to highlight the Market Development team's accomplishments for 2020. Thanks to growing popularity among loyal customers, more and more c-store sites are offering E15. Today, more than 2,250 sites are currently selling E15 - a 10% increase from December of last year, even amid a pandemic. The Market Development team has worked with retail partners to secure $30 million for the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) administered through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), representing more than 295 retail sites. Growth Energy estimates 500 new sites in 2021 through the HBIIP. For more information, please contact Vice President of Market Development Mike O'Brien.
IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS Colorado's Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap Growth Energy's Chris Bliley submitted comments to the Colorado Energy Office regarding the state's initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution throughout the state. In his comments, Bliley highlights three key biorefineries in Colorado (Front Range Energy, Sterling Ethanol, and Yuma Ethanol) as prime examples of local renewable energy sources that are helping the state reduce GHG emissions through each gallon of ethanol.
"As we have continued to advocate, a primary solution for cleaning up the liquid fuel supply is the promotion of additional use of ethanol, from starch or cellulosic sources. According to recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, today’s starch ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by an average of 39 percent, and with further development of cellulosic and other technologies, biofuels are poised to do much more."
Bliley also argues that higher blends of ethanol can be immediately deployed throughout Colorado, which will provide greater environmental benefits while reducing consumer costs at the pump. Bliley also highlighted that it is important for state leadership to hear from ethanol producers, especially when regulations are being considered to address climate change.
Read Growth Energy’s full comments here or by clicking the button below.
Ag-Auto-Ethanol Annual Forum The annual Ag-Auto-Ethanol Forum was held virtually this week to discuss moving to a high octane, low carbon fuel. During the forum Growth Energy's Chris Bliley, who heads the Ag-Auto-Ethanol Fuel Regulatory Action Team along with Coleman Jones from General Motors, led a discussion about some key regulatory initiatives like removing remaining hurdles to E15 higher blends, important updates to the F-factor for flex-fuel vehicles, and ongoing work on the RFS and MOVES models.
Bliley and Growth Energy's David Durling also participated in a discussion around infrastructure and Growth Energy's extensive work with retailers on USDA's Higher Blend infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley.
Happy Thanksgiving! There will be no Weekly Rundown next week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The next update will run on Thursday, December 3rd. Happy Thanksgiving from Growth Energy!
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. You're receiving this newsletter because you've subscribed to Growth Energy's The Weekly Rundown. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. Copyright © 2020 Growth Energy. |