No. 200 November 18, 2021
TOP STORY 200th Weekly Rundown: What do you think? Today marks our 200th Weekly Rundown email update. We appreciate the opportunity to share the latest updates from the Growth Energy team and hope you find the weekly email an informative and helpful resources on top industry issues ranging from federal policy to market development news.
To mark this occasion, we welcome your input on the Weekly Rundown and other Growth Energy communications. It is vital to our team that you stay well informed about what we are working on on your behalf and what is going on in Washington, D.C. We hope you can take a moment to answer five questions to guide future updates. For more information, please contact Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications Elizabeth Funderburk.
WORKING FOR YOU IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Addressing Rising Gas Prices with Biofuels
CEO Emily Skor Testifies Before U.S. House Ag Committee IN OUR ASSOCIATION Redfield Energy: EPA Must Release RVOs
Dave VanderGriend: Ethanol producers are leading the way in capturing carbon IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS Growth Energy Welcomes Passage of Ohio Bill on Higher Biofuel Blends IN COMMUNICATIONS Preview: Growth Energy at the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Trade Talk IN GLOBAL MARKETS Growth Energy: Urge Mexico to Allow E10 UPCOMING EVENTS
NAFB Trade Talk November 17 - 18 (Kansas City, Mo.)
Thanksgiving November 25
IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Addressing Rising Gas Prices with Biofuels As gas prices continue to rise across the country, all eyes are on the Biden Administration's response. This week, President Biden called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether oil and gas companies are participating in illegal conduct aimed at keeping gasoline prices high. Our response: Meanwhile, higher blends of biofuels reduce prices at the pump and those savings are clear: switching to a year-round E15 standard would save Americans $12.2 billion in fuel costs annually, and choosing a higher blend option at the pump saves families an average of $.10 a gallon.
In case you missed it, CEO Emily Skor previously sent a letter to President Biden and penned an op-ed calling on the Biden Administration to increase access to higher blends of biofuels and encourage more blending through strong RVOs as two easy and available ways to bring down gas prices. As we continue this messaging to the Biden Administration, we encourage you to amplify on your own social media channels.
CEO Emily Skor Testifies Before U.S. House Ag Committee 
CEO Emily Skor returned to Capitol Hill this week to testify before the U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit. During the hearing, titled, "A Look at the Renewable Economy in Rural America", Skor spoke on the biofuel sector’s important role in driving economic growth and achieving our nation’s climate goals.
“Renewable fuels like ethanol remain the single most affordable and abundant source of low-carbon motor fuel on the planet – and are critical to meeting carbon reduction goals today,” Skor told lawmakers. Skor also emphasized the importance of swift action on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rulemaking on long-overdue annual Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). You can read her full opening remarks here.
Several members of the committee also highlighted the benefits of biofuels in their remarks and in their questioning of Emily: 
“As we work on solutions to address the climate crisis, it's absolutely imperative that we utilize the tools that we have in rural America,” said Rep. Axne. “One of our best solutions we have is the use of biofuels in our transportation sector. What kind of benefits can we expect from the billion dollar investment in biofuels infrastructure within the bill?” “Ensuring that our biofuels producers are prioritized through strong RVOs is not only critical for the industry, but also for my constituents who engage with an economy built on its success,” Rep. Feenstra said. “Biofuels like ethanol are a low cost, low carbon solution and can be a carbon negative fuel in the next decade. An announcement for strong RVO levels will encourage further investment and innovation.” 
"It is clear to me, especially after hearing from Ms. Skor and Mr. Wheeler, that we need to be investing more in the biofuels industry right now as we seek to address energy costs," said Rep. Craig. "Ethanol and biodiesel blends have traditionally saved money for consumers at the pump as cheaper, cleaner burning options, and they drive rural investment, which means more and better paying jobs in rural communities. For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher. IN OUR ASSOCIATION Redfield Energy: EPA Must Release RVOs 
Tom Hitchcock, CEO of Redfield Energy, joined Iowa Agribusiness Radio to discuss the pending pandemic assistance from USDA and why EPA needs to release the 2021 and 2022 RVOs sooner rather than later.
"The whole program remains in regulatory limbo, which has created lots of anxiety and uncertainty among ethanol plants and producers," said Hitchcock. "In mid-June of this year the USDA said that the application window would be open in 60 days, yet it has been well over 4 months since that was announced and still no application, no clue how the aid is going to be allocated to biofuel producers, no definitive date on when the funds will be distributed, nothing."
"We keep hearing that the administration is working on it, but it's hard not to be disappointed. This is not the only source of uncertainty in Washington, D.C. We are also waiting for vital decisions on the Renewable Fuel Standard from the EPA, which has yet to set quotas for 2021 and 2022. A wrong turn at either agency could be devastating. Kicking the can down the road is not an option."
Dave VanderGriend: Ethanol producers are leading the way in capturing carbon 
Dave VanderGriend, Growth Energy board member and CEO and founder of ICM, penned an op-ed in the Wichita Eagle on the environmental strides ethanol producers are taking through carbon capture.
"Well, in the biofuels industry we have made great strides to not only reduce the carbon intensity of the products we grow and produce, but also to capture and repurpose any carbon we emit. In fact, we have been at the forefront of such efforts for decades as we strive to reduce energy inputs and improve our yields and profitability." For more information, please contact Vice President of Membership Affairs Kelly Manning. IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS Growth Energy Welcomes Passage of Ohio Bill on Higher Biofuel Blends Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor applauded yesterday’s bipartisan passage by the Ohio House of Representatives of House Bill 165, which expands consumer access to cleaner, more affordable options at the fuel pump. Sponsored by Riordan T. McClain (R-87), the bill would offer qualifying retailers a tax credit of $0.05 per gallon on sales of ethanol blends beyond the standard 10 percent (E10), including popular options like E15 and E85. Growth Energy submitted testimony in support of the bill this March.
“This important bill will give more drivers a chance to take advantage of homegrown, plant-based fuel options that unlock savings at the pump while reducing emissions,” said Skor. “Ohio ethanol producers and farmers are playing a critical role in decarbonizing the transportation sector, and we applaud Representative McClain and his colleagues for taking action to make higher blends more readily available. Sold statewide, E15 could boost Ohio’s economy by $650 million and slash greenhouse emissions by 746,000 metric tons – equal to removing 163,000 vehicles from Ohio roads. This is the kind of progress we need to help family farmers, boost our rural economies, and meet our climate goals. We urge leaders in the Ohio Senate to move quickly and send H.B. 165 to the governor’s desk.” For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. 
IN COMMUNICATIONS Preview: Growth Energy at the NAFB Trade Talk 
Today, CEO Emily Skor and Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley are joining ag broadcasters and other members of the ag community and ethanol industries from across the country at the 2021 National Association of Farm Broadcasters Trade Talk. Throughout the day, Skor and Bliley will provide updates on policy in Washington, D.C., how biofuels can address rising gas prices, and the latest rumors on the 2021 and 2022 RVOs. Growth Energy is a proud sponsor of the event and encourage you to follow along on our social media today for updates! For more information, please contact Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications Elizabeth Funderburk. IN GLOBAL MARKETS Growth Energy: Urge Mexico to Allow E10 In a letter to President Biden, Growth Energy, joined by the U.S. Grains Council and the Renewable Fuels Association, urged President Biden to use today's North American Leaders' Summit between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, as an opportunity to work with Mexico to increase access to ethanol throughout the country.
"Our coalition is convinced the Leaders’ Summit would be a timely opportunity to urge Mexico to For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Market Development Mike Lorenz.
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 © 2021 Growth Energy. |
