IN REGULATION

White House Holds Latest RFS Meeting

On Tuesday, there was another meeting at the White House concerning the status of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The meeting was attended by Sens. Chuck Grassley, Joni Ernst, Ted Cruz and Pat Toomey, as well as EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue.

We are grateful the Administration will deliver on its promise for year-round E15 sales. Eliminating regulatory red tape so consumers can access this legal fuel year-round is a benefit to American drivers nationwide who appreciate that more biofuels means cleaner air and more savings at the pump. We hope the president’s decision will be acted on immediately so families can benefit during peak summer travel months. Now, with the Renewable Identity Number (RIN) cap officially dead, Senator Cruz is attempting to revive an old gimmick in a last-ditch attempt to kill ethanol demand. His scheme to generate RINs on exports was put to rest last fall with Administrator Pruitt’s letter to several senators, outlining a series of RFS commitments.

The fact is, attaching a RIN to ethanol exports would have a crippling impact on American agriculture – significantly reducing demand for ethanol and corn. It would also have major trade implications, as export RINs would be considered a subsidy by our global trading partners, who will likely challenge this as unnecessary advantage to U.S. ethanol. Furthermore, export RINs would be a clear violation of the RFS, which is intended to increase the domestic use of biofuels. We continue to thank our Congressional champions for standing firm against efforts to destroy ethanol demand.

For more details, contact Vice President of Government Relations John Fuher.

ON THE HILL

Growth Energy’s Retail Partners Call on Trump for RVP Relief

E15 retailers from across the country are urging President Trump to ensure the Environmental Protection Agency follows through on his commitment to allow fuel containing 15 percent ethanol to be sold year-round. "This common-sense change will allow us the opportunity to consistently offer a less expensive, higher performing fuel to our consumers at stations across America," the companies stated in their letter to the president. The retailers also urged the president to avoid implementing a cap on the price of RINs under the RFS and curtail the rapid expansion of so-called small refinery "hardship" waivers.

Growth Energy Response to Committee Meeting on EVs

On Tuesday,  the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on the Environment held a hearing on the policy implications of conventional and electric vehicles. In response we submitted a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member detailing our views on the subject matter. 

For more details, contact Vice President of Government Relations John Fuher.

IN THE STATES

Louisiana Anti-Discounting Legislation

Representative Lance Harris (R) has introduced legislation that would ban fuel retailers in Louisiana from using RINs and "other financial savings" to reduce the price they charge for motor fuels. The legislation was approved by the full House several weeks ago and is pending in the Senate Commerce Committee. The bill sponsor owns and operates convenience stores and the legislation has the support of the Louisiana Oil and Gasoline Marketers. We’re engaging allies and have retained local counsel to help work against this legislation. The Louisiana Farm Bureau has also come out in opposition to this legislation.  Our understanding is that the legislation will not see further action in committee, but we remain engaged to be sure and will provide any further updates.  

For more details, contact Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. 

IN THE GLOBAL VIEW

Growth Energy Welcomes Craig Willis as Senior VP of Global Markets

Growth Energy announced today the appointment of Craig Willis as Senior Vice President of Global Markets, effective June 1. In this new role, Willis will oversee our market development efforts to increase ethanol’s footprint both at home and abroad. He previously served as President of Ethanol for Archer Daniels Midland (ADM).  His successes in spearheading commercial development, opening new markets abroad, and helping to lead Prime the Pump as a board member give him a head start in building out an aggressive strategy for further growth for the entire ethanol sector. Willis is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Agricultural Economy.

For more details, contact Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. 

AT THE PUMP

4 Billion Miles Driven on E15

The footprint for E15 continues to grow. In a few short months, consumers have reached another milestone pertaining to E15. American drivers have surpassed more than 4 billion miles on E15.  E15 is cleaner burning and has higher octane, which makes it a smart choice for drivers who want better engine performance and lower emissions for the environment. It is approved for use in 2001 and newer vehicles, as well as in all flex-fuel vehicles, which combined represent more than 87 percent of vehicles on the road today.

Momentum is clearly behind E15. It took one year for consumers to cross 1 billion miles; the next billion miles came just months later. As E15 becomes more available, more consumers are reaching for it at the pump and making it a regular part of their routines.

For more information on biofuels, or to find your nearest E15 or E85 station, visit GetBiofuel.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

For more details, contact Vice President of Market Development Mike O'Brien.

AT THE PLANTS

Growth Energy Welcomes White Energy as the Newest Member

Growth Energy is proud to welcome its newest member, White Energy. One of the nation’s largest ethanol producers, White Energy operates three state-of-the-art ethanol production facilities with the capacity to produce more than 300 million gallons of renewable biofuels a year. It distributes fuel to the world’s leading oil companies both domestically and abroad.

“White Energy is excited about working with Growth Energy and other industry leaders to tackle the issues that are critical to the long-term success of biofuels,” White Energy President and CEO Greg Thompson said. “Growth Energy brings tremendous knowledge and expertise to the table, and we look forward to working together to drive our industry forward.”

For more details, contact Vice President of Development Kelly Manning

IN COMMUNICATIONS

New Growth Energy Social Media Toolkit

IN THE FASTLANE

American Ethanol to Set Up Shop at Formula Drift Atlanta

We are extremely excited for Kyle Mohan’s Formula Drift competition next weekend in Atlanta! Kyle and American Ethanol have teamed up to host an at-track American Ethanol Engine Performance Workshop at the track during halftime of the event, where Kyle will have the opportunity to talk directly to fans about how he gets the most out of his KMR Mazda MX5. One of the main topics of conversation will be the engine performance benefits of ethanol, and why Kyle is such a staunch advocate of the fuel. Make sure to keep an eye on our social media channels next week for coverage of the event!

For more details, contact Manager of Communications Austin Dabney 

The Weekly Rundown is the weekly newsletter for Growth Energy's members. It is published 51 times a year by the communications staff at Growth Energy. For more information, email team@growthenergy.org. 

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