http://www.ethanolrfa.org/ en Copyright 2012 2012-05-16T15:58:02+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/faulty-testing-produces-meaningless-results-in-oil-and-auto-industry-study-/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/faulty-testing-produces-meaningless-results-in-oil-and-auto-industry-study-/ (May 16, 20120) Washington – A report released today by the oil and auto industries on E15 and other higher level ethanol blends is fundamentally flawed, noted both the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). In a blog post, the DOE offered some tough critiques of the oil and auto industry research. Specifically, the blog said, “We believe the choice of test engines, test cycle, limited fuel selection, and failure criteria of the CRC program resulted in unreliable and incomplete data, which severely limits the utility of the study. “ The entire blog post can be read here. Speaking to the New York Times, a Department of Energy spokesman “said that his agency had tested 86 vehicles on test tracks and dynamometers for a total of more than six million miles. ‘A subset of those engines tested in the D.O.E. study were torn down and inspected with no discernible difference in engine wear between test fuels,’ he said.” RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen echoed the concerns of DOE and emphasized the importance – and public desire – to diversify our fuel supply including using higher level ethanol blends. “Accepting the status quo in a fuel market monopolized by petroleum as the best this nation can do is unacceptable. After 6 million miles and years of testing, the Department of Energy found no problems with the use of E15 in vehicles made since model year 2001. By funding research using questionable testing protocols and illegal fuels, the results of this study are meaningless and only serve to further muddy the waters and shun the overwhelming desire of 75 percent of Americans for greater choice at the pump. The RFA has worked in good faith with all stakeholders in this debate to identify and address concerns in a constructive manner that will increase America’s use of domestic renewable fuels and reduce our reliance on imported oil. This study, and continued efforts aimed at confusing rather than informing consumers, impede this progress and do little to address the nation’s need for clean, renewable fuel that lowers the price at the pump and creates jobs here at home.” Earlier today, the RFA outlined some concerns with the re-release of this report. Those concerns include: The Department of Energy conducted six million miles of testing on E15 – the equivalent of 12 round trips to the Moon – and found no issues. Some of the vehicles in the oil/auto industry funded research project actually failed on E0 – gasoline without ethanol. (Interestingly, no E10 was tested.) Some of the vehicles tested were under recall by NHTSA. Additionally, research from automotive consulting firm Ricardo, Inc., found that high octane fuels – fuels like ethanol with an octane rating of 113 – will be essential in helping automakers achieve new fuel economy standards. That research can be read here.   2012-05-16T15:58:02+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/ethanol-safety-seminar-to-be-held-in-rockford-il/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/ethanol-safety-seminar-to-be-held-in-rockford-il/ (May 15, 2012) Washington - The Renewable Fuels Association, CN Railway and Adkins Energy will co-host an Ethanol Safety Seminar in Rockford, IL on May 22nd at the Clock Tower Resort and Conference Center. This seminar is free.  To accommodate schedules and reach as many participants as possible, the seminar features a morning session from 9:00am to 2:00pm and an evening session from 5:30-10:00pm.  Lunch and dinner will be provided. The goal of this seminar is for attendees to gain full ethanol emergency response training experience that they can put to use immediately in the field as well as pass along to other first response teams.  A majority of this training is based on the Complete Training Guide to Ethanol Emergency Response, a training package created by the Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC) that has been distributed throughout the United States and to several countries worldwide. “As a commitment to TRANSCAER® (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response), which is a training program for communities situated near rail lines where dangerous goods are transported, CN is happy to partner with the Renewable Fuels Association to conduct a series of Ethanol Safety Seminars for first responders, such as firefighters, local emergency planning officials and police agencies,” said Scott McLeod, Sr. Dangerous Goods Officer for CN Railway.  “The focus is on what emergency measures to take in the event of an incident involving ethanol products and the importance of preplanning.” Attendees will receive in-depth information on proper training techniques that first responders and hazmat personnel need to effectively respond to an ethanol-related emergency.  While primarily targeting first responders, hazmat teams, safety managers, and local emergency planning committees, it is also open to the general public. “We appreciate the opportunity to partner with RFA and CN to promote safety and teach about hazard awareness in the ethanol industry,” said Ray Baker, Adkins Energy General Manager. “We’re proud of our safety record at Adkins, which takes vigilance and ongoing education, so we’re pleased to see this training offered throughout the community where our ethanol products are shipped and used.” “Rockford, IL has a high volume of ethanol transported through it daily. It is also an area that experienced an ethanol incident when a train derailed and ethanol railcars caught fire three years ago,” said Kristy Moore, RFA VP of Technical Services. “It is imperative that those responsible for protecting their community are well informed on ethanol fuel safety and prepared to respond to an emergency. We are happy to refresh the area’s first responders and safety teams with this extremely valuable information.” The Ethanol Safety Seminar focuses on numerous important areas of ethanol safety including an introduction to ethanol and ethanol blended fuels, chemical and physical characteristics of ethanol and hydrocarbon fuels, transportation of ethanol blended fuels, storage and dispensing locations, firefighting foam principles and ethanol, ethanol blended fuel emergencies, and incidents at tank farm and bulk storage locations.  Certificates of attendance will be distributed following the completion of the seminar.  To register for this seminar, go to www.rfa.traincaster.com. The RFA and CN Railway will be co-hosting Ethanol Safety Seminars throughout 2012 in the following locations: Dubuque, IA on June 13th, also co-sponsored with IRFA and Big River United Energy; Waterloo, IA on June 14th, also co-sponsored by IRFA, Homeland Energy Solutions, Golden Grain Energy and Absolute energy; Sioux City, IA on July 30th, also co-sponsored by IRFA and Siouxland Ethanol LLC; Fort Dodge, IA on August 1st, also co-sponsored by IRFA and Little Sioux Corn Processors, LLP; Decatur, IL on August 22nd, also co-sponsored by Norfolk Southern and ADM; and Elgin, IL on October 2nd. RFA has additionally partnered with Norfolk Southern Railroad and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) for several Ethanol Safety seminars in 2012. For more information on ethanol emergency response, visit the EERC website at www.ethanolresponse.com. About the RFA: The Renewable Fuels Association is the leading trade association for America’s ethanol industry. Its mission is to advance the development, production, and use of ethanol fuel by strengthening America’s ethanol industry and raising awareness about the benefits of renewable fuels. RFA’s 200 members are working to help America become cleaner, safer, more energy independent and economically secure. Visit www.EthanolRFA.org. About CN Railway: CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI)  – Canadian National Railway Company and its operating railway subsidiaries – spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. Visit www.CN.ca. About Adkins Energy LLC: Adkins Energy LLC is a corn-to-ethanol production facility which processes approximately 16 million bushels of corn annually into over 45 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol.  We are committed to providing a sustainable, value-added business for our community and investors while supporting the development of American agriculture and renewable products. Founded in 2002, Adkins is celebrating 10 years of producing renewable energy. Visit www.AdkinsEnergy.com. 2012-05-15T21:32:07+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/new-university-study-ethanol-reduced-gas-prices-by-more-than-1-in-2011/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/new-university-study-ethanol-reduced-gas-prices-by-more-than-1-in-2011/ Reminder:  A media call with one author of the report, Professor Dermot Hayes, will occur at 2:00 p.m. Eastern today.  Call information is 1-800-247-5110; passcode is Ethanol2. (May 15, 2012)  Washington - America’s growing use of domestically-produced ethanol reduced wholesale gasoline prices by an average of $1.09 per gallon in 2011, according to updated research conducted by economics professors at the University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University.  The 2011 results, which are up from an average impact of $0.89 per gallon in 2010, were released today by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD).  [Read RFA’s summary of the report here.] The new analysis, an update to a 2009 peer-reviewed paper published in Energy Policy by professors Dermot Hayes and Xiaodong Du,  also found gasoline prices have been reduced by an average of $0.29 per gallon, or 17%, from 2000-2011 thanks to  the growing use of ethanol.  “Growth in US ethanol production has added significantly to the volume of fuel available in the US,” said Professor Hayes. “It is as if the US oil refining industry had found a way to extract 10% more gasoline from a barrel of oil. This additional fuel supply has alleviated periodic gasoline shortages that had been caused by limited refinery capacity.  It has also changed the relative prices of gasoline and diesel and allowed the US to switch from being a net importer of gasoline to a net exporter. As a result of these changes, US gasoline prices are measurably lower than would otherwise have been the case. This gasoline price impact has been documented in a peer reviewed academic journal and the price dampening effect has increased as ethanol production has grown. This impact is greatest in the regions of the country where ethanol penetration is greatest.” Three primary factors are responsible for ethanol’s more robust price benefit at the pump in 2011:  higher oil and gasoline prices, higher ethanol inclusion, and ethanol being priced at a larger-than-normal discount to gasoline. As the economists noted, “Average crude oil price increased from about $80/barrel in 2010 to about $95/barrel in 2011. Correspondingly, average U.S. wholesale gasoline prices have risen 30% from 2010-2011.  A wider than normal price differential between ethanol and gasoline prices provides further economic incentives for ethanol production and consumption…” Based on data from the Census Bureau and Energy Information Administration, 116.7 million U.S. households consumed 131.2 billion gallons of gasoline in 2011, for an average of 1,124 gallons per household. That means ethanol reduced the average American household’s spending on gasoline by more than $1,200 in 2011.  Since 2000, the $0.29-per-gallon price dampening impact of greater domestic ethanol use has saved the American economy an average of nearly $40 billion per year. As a result, ethanol has helped the average American household reduce its spending on gasoline by an average of more than $340 per year since 2000. “While it’s hard to imagine that gas prices could be even higher than they are now, this study clearly underscores that the current pain at the pump would be far worse without ethanol,” said Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, which helped fund the research.  “Because ethanol makes up 10% of our gasoline pool today, it significantly reduces demand for oil and puts downward pressure on gas prices. From coast to coast and border to border, ethanol is helping save consumers money.  In these times of high unemployment and sky-high gas prices, ethanol is one America-made solution that is providing some respite for battered American families trying to make ends meet.” Key conclusions derived from the report include: In 2011, ethanol reduced wholesale gasoline prices by an average of $1.09 per gallon. Regular grade gasoline prices averaged $3.52 per gallon in 2011, but would have been closer to $4.60 per gallon without the inclusion of more than 13 billion gallons of lower-priced ethanol. The average American household consumed 1,124 gallons of gasoline in 2011, meaning ethanol reduced average household spending at the pump by more than $1,200. Since 2000, ethanol has kept gasoline prices an average of $0.29 per gallon cheaper than they otherwise would have been. Based on the $0.29-per-gallon average annual savings, ethanol has helped save American drivers and the economy more than $477 billion in gasoline expenditures since 2000 – an average of $39.8 billion a year. 2012-05-15T14:30:31+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/aec-applauds-white-house-support-for-clean-energy-manufacturing/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/aec-applauds-white-house-support-for-clean-energy-manufacturing/ (May 8, 2012) Washington – In a speech delivered today to the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering’s (CNSE) NanoTech Complex in Albany, New York, President Obama detailed the Administration's “To Do List” for creating jobs and helping to restore middle class job security in the recovering economy. The Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) issued the following statement: “The Advanced Ethanol Council applauds President Obama’s ongoing recognition of the importance of clean energy manufacturing to job creation and economic development. The U.S. advanced biofuels industry is ramping up to compete in the $2.5 trillion global clean energy marketplace, and there is no question that with policy certainty, clean energy will be a critical piece of the U.S. economy for decades to come. The President is right to ask for an extension of existing clean energy tax incentives, including those for cellulosic and advanced ethanol technologies, which level the playing field for clean energy investments in the face of decades-old and permanent tax breaks for the fossil fuel industry. The country will not win the race to develop and deploy clean energy technologies if the U.S. tax code continues to favor incumbents over innovators. We look forward to working with the White House and Congress to ensure that America emerges as the world leader in clean energy and biofuel development.” Advanced Ethanol Council 2012-05-08T15:13:34+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/biofuels-making-substantial-contribution-to-global-economy-grfa/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/biofuels-making-substantial-contribution-to-global-economy-grfa/ (May 8, 2012) TORONTO, Canada – The biofuels industry contributed $277.3 billion to the global economy in 2010 according to a new report commissioned by the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance. “Contribution of Biofuels to the Global Economy” done in partnership with the global economic research company, Cardno Entrix, outlines the economic footprint of the biofuels industry that is continuing to grow at a strong pace. “This latest report clearly shows that the biofuels industry is having a tremendous impact on the global economy,” said Bliss Baker, spokesperson for the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance. According to the GRFA, global biofuel production produced 110 billion litres in 2010 and supported nearly 1.4 million jobs in all sectors of the global economy. The amount of ethanol produced globally has doubled since 2005 and increased three-fold in the last decade. By 2020 the global biofuel industry is forecasted to grow to produce over 196 billion litres and support over 2.2 million jobs in all sectors of the global economy. “It is promising to see the global biofuels industry growing during these difficult economic times,” said Baker. “The global biofuels industry is a bright spot in the current world economy and is contributing billions of dollars to output and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs all while reducing our reliance on crude oil,” added Baker. As the global biofuels industry grows, so will the number of countries who produce biofuels. Today’s largest players like the United States, Brazil and European Union will continue to lead in production but will not be able to satisfy global demand alone. According to the GRFA the most significant future growth in ethanol production will come from developing nations in Asia and Africa. “A growing biofuels industry in developing nations who import the bulk of their energy needs will bring wealth, jobs and prosperity while reducing their reliance on crude oil,” said Baker. “This report demonstrates that our industry has come a long way in the past decade and the future prospects for growth remain extremely positive,” concluded Mr. Baker. The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting biofuel friendly policies internationally. Alliance members represent over 65% of the global biofuels production from 44 countries. Through the development of new technologies and best practices, the Alliance members are committed to producing renewable fuels with the smallest possible footprint. 2012-05-08T15:07:24+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/prebuttal-to-oil-industry-e15-media-call/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/prebuttal-to-oil-industry-e15-media-call/ Later this morning, the American Petroleum Institute (API) will host a press call designed to outline their concerns about E15. Some of these concerns are legitimate but many will be manufactured in order to scare consumers away from more ethanol use (please see the RFA letter to the Joint Economic Committee yesterday: http://bit.ly/Ix3p1J). Where legitimate concerns exists, such as misfueling concerns created by the partial nature of the E15 waiver, the Renewable Fuels Association has worked in good faith with all stakeholders to address these issues. The RFA has created a website dedicated to E15 information (www.E15fuel.org), a misfueling mitigation plan to help retailers avoid confusion, and an E15 Retailer Handbook for gas station owners seeking to offer E15. All of this information can be found at http://chooseethanol.com/ and http://www.ethanolrfa.org/.In advance of the call, here are a few key points to keep in mind:• E15 is the most exhaustively tested fuel approved by EPA. Testing on E15 was the equivalent of taking 12 round trips to the moon – 6 million miles.• E15 is not a mandate. It simply gives fuel suppliers the option of blending up to 15 percent ethanol per gallon for sale to the EPA-approved vehicle population.• EPA has provided a clear labeling program to inform consumers and the RFA is helping businesses comply through its Misfueling Mitigation Plan.• At today's prices, E15 would offer consumers a significant savings over the price of regular gasoline. At wholesale, ethanol is approximately $1.00 cheaper per gallon than gasoline• Ethanol provides refiners with extra octane, allowing them to produce a poorer quality fuel – called sub-octane – to be blended with ethanol to meet the 87 octane minimum required at the pump.• A recent poll from American Viewpoint found that 75% of Americans want greater choice when they pull up to the pump – and that includes ethanol• That same poll found 58% of Americans would use more domestic ethanol where available – which would explain the oil industry desire to scare consumers and preserve market share.• The RFA has joined with petroleum interests to support legislation to help open the market to new fuels called the Domestic Fuels Protection Act. "The nation didn't have the infrastructure in place for a transcontinental railroad, but that didn't stop us from moving forward because it was in the best interest of the nation," said Matt Hartwig, RFA Chief Spokesperson.  "The same is true with America's fueling infrastructure. Becomes some upgrades may be needed is no reason to accept the status quo as the best we can do.  As my mother has long told me, Can't never did anything.  Instead of pointing out what some perceive as the problems, we should all be working together to find the solutions that further reduce America's vulnerabilities when it comes to our oil dependence.  E15, higher ethanol blends, and other alternative fuel options coming down the pike are those solutions." 2012-05-03T13:08:57+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfa-answers-anti-ethanol-speculation-from-joint-economic-committee-hearing/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfa-answers-anti-ethanol-speculation-from-joint-economic-committee-hearing/ (May 1, 2012) Washington - In testimony before the Joint Economic Committee on April 26th, Mr. Thomas O’Malley, chairman of PBF Energy, attempted to tar and feather ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as the root cause of refinery closures in the Northeast. Mr. O’Malley went as far as to say, “The reason for the closure of the refineries in Pennsylvania is that they didn’t make money, and the reason they didn’t make money is that you took away their market. You delivered the market to the farm industry.” Responding to this gross mischaracterization, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen wrote to JEC Chairman Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) to set the record straight. “Whilethe testimony of Mr. Thomas O’Malley, chairman of PBF Energy, attempted to tar and feather ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as the root cause of refinery closures in the Northeast, any reasonable and honest analysis of the situation reveals that a host of economic factors completely unrelated to the RFS led to the shuttering of the refineries,” Dinneen wrote. “A fair examination of the factors affecting gas prices in the Northeast not only would have shown that ethanol and the RFS have nothing to do with the recent refinery closures, but it also would have revealed that ethanol is actually helping to reduce prices at the pump for drivers in the region.” Specifically, Dinneen noted two driving factors that have led to refinery shutterings on the East Coast: First, most East Coast refineries cannot process the lower-cost types of crude oil that are increasing in supply in North America. As a result, oil acquisition costs for East Coast refineries are substantially higher than for refineries in other regions. Second, due to record high crude oil prices in recent years, demand for gasoline and other finished refinery products has fallen precipitously. Consumers have responded to record high oil and gasoline prices by driving less and purchasing more fuel efficient vehicles. Lower demand for refined products has led to significant refinery overcapacity in the East Coast region. As reported recently by CNN Money, refineries in the Northeast “…are losing money because they are old and cannot process the cheaper, heavier types of oil that are increasingly in supply from Canada's oil sands, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and elsewhere.” Dinneen also pointed to the fact the companies closing the refineries did not mention ethanol or the RFS. “It is telling that the owners of the shuttered refineries themselves—Sunoco and ConocoPhillips—didn’t mention ethanol or the RFS as precipitating causes of their economic difficulties when they announced the closures,” wrote Dinneen. Most troublingly, a hearing purportedly called to address gas prices turned into witch hunt against ethanol and ignored the very real economics and damage done by sustained record or near-record high gasoline prices. “Had the Committee focused on the advertised subject of the hearing, members would have quickly learned that the object of Mr. O’Malley’s ire—ethanol—is actually the best tool available today for exerting downward pressure on oil and gasoline prices,” Dinneen wrote. “Despite Mr. O’Malley’s false assertion that ethanol is ‘more expensive than the product coming from refineries,’ data from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange clearly show that ethanol is selling for $1 per gallon less than gasoline at the wholesale level today.” Dinneen noted that the facts directly refute Mr. O’Malley’s testimony and should be disregarded. “It is completely illogical and misleading to suggest that ethanol expansion and the RFS contributed in any way to the shuttering of the refineries. As such, Mr. O’Malley’s testimony should be seen for what it truly is—yet another underhanded and deceiving shot across the bow from the oil industry at America’s farmers and ethanol producers.” Dinneen’s complete letter and supporting material can be read here. 2012-05-01T20:58:51+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/norfolk-southern-and-rfa-host-ethanol-safety-training-in-spartanburg-sc/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/norfolk-southern-and-rfa-host-ethanol-safety-training-in-spartanburg-sc/ (April 30, 2012) Washington - The Renewable Fuels Association and Norfolk Southern Corp. will co-host an Ethanol Safety Seminar in Spartanburg, SC on May 7th at the Spartanburg Community College, Health Sciences Building – Community Room. This seminar is free.  To accommodate schedules and reach as many participants as possible, the seminar features a morning session from 9:00am to 2:00pm and an evening session from 5:30-10:00pm.  Lunch and dinner will be provided. Attendees will receive in-depth information on proper training techniques that first responders and hazmat personnel need to effectively respond to an ethanol-related emergency.  While primarily targeting first responders, hazmat teams, safety managers, and local emergency planning committees, it is also open to the general public. “As a part of our Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response initiative, the Ethanol Safety Seminars are a unique opportunity that provide emergency responders with the knowledge and skills they need to be prepared for ethanol related incidents,” said David Schoendorfer, Norfolk Southern Manager Hazardous Materials. The goal of this seminar is for attendees to gain full ethanol emergency response training experience that they can put to use immediately in the field as well as pass along to other first response teams.  A majority of this training is based on the Complete Training Guide to Ethanol Emergency Response, a training package created by the Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC) that has been distributed throughout the United States and to several countries worldwide. “Safety remains a priority in the ethanol industry. It is important that those responsible for the safety of their communities are aware of the use and transportation of ethanol in their towns,” said Kristy Moore, VP Technical Services for the Renewable Fuels Association. “The training information and materials attendees leave with are valuable resources that will aide in responding to an ethanol related incident should it occur.” The Ethanol Safety Seminar focuses on numerous important areas of ethanol safety including an introduction to ethanol and ethanol blended fuels, chemical and physical characteristics of ethanol and hydrocarbon fuels, transportation of ethanol blended fuels, storage and dispensing locations, firefighting foam principles and ethanol, ethanol blended fuel emergencies, and incidents at tank farm and bulk storage locations.  Certificates of attendance from the South Carolina Fire Academy will be distributed following the completion of the seminar.  To register for this seminar, go to www.rfa.traincaster.com. The RFA and Norfolk Southern Corp. will be co-hosting Ethanol Safety Seminars throughout 2012 in the following locations: Raleigh, NC on July 11th; Decatur, IL on August 22nd, also co-sponsored with CN Railway and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM); and Pittsburgh, PA on September 13th.  RFA has additionally partnered with Canadian National (CN) Railway and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) for several Ethanol Safety seminars in 2012. For more information on ethanol emergency response, visit the EERC website at www.ethanolresponse.com. About the RFA: The Renewable Fuels Association is the leading trade association for America’s ethanol industry. Its mission is to advance the development, production, and use of ethanol fuel by strengthening America’s ethanol industry and raising awareness about the benefits of renewable fuels. RFA’s 200 members are working to help America become cleaner, safer, more energy independent and economically secure. Visit www.EthanolRFA.org. About Norfolk Southern: Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products. Visit www.nscorp.com. 2012-04-30T20:28:59+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/aec-applauds-reauthorization-of-critical-usda-energy-title-programs/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/aec-applauds-reauthorization-of-critical-usda-energy-title-programs/ (April 26, 2012) Washington - Today, the Senate Agriculture Committee marked up the 2012 Farm Bill, including an amendment to reauthorize mandatory funding for a number of critical energy title programs designed to spur the development of homegrown, renewable energy in rural America. The Advanced Ethanol Council issued the following statement: “The Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) applauds the leadership of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and specifically Chairwoman Stabenow and Senators Conrad and Lugar, in assuring continued mandatory funding for critical USDA energy title programs. There is no more urgent need in this country today than creating new jobs and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. The programs reauthorized and streamlined today are doing just that, and will continue to help the United States create jobs and replace foreign oil with homegrown, renewable energy production when signed into law. While it is very important to also address the tax piece for advanced biofuels by the end of the year, this is a critical first step toward providing continuity for American farmers and advanced biofuel producers while exceeding the committee’s goals for deficit reduction.” The executive members of the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) include: Abengoa BioEnergy, Beta Renewables, BlueFire Renewables, Coskata, Enerkem, Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inbicon, Iogen, Mascoma, Osage BioEnergy, Qteros and ZeaChem. Advanced Ethanol Council 2012-04-26T19:27:31+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/global-biofuel-production-needs-to-double-iea/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/global-biofuel-production-needs-to-double-iea/ (April 26, 2012) TORONTO, Canada – According to the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance, today’s release in London of the International Energy Agency’s Tracking Clean Energy Progress report has confirmed that government institutions are not doing enough to further the development of clean energy alternatives. According to the IEA, biofuels for transport are not on track to meet their share of CO2 reduction that is needed to achieve the IEA’s goal of an average 2 degree Celsius rise in global temperature by 2020. To do so the IEA has stated that total biofuel production needs to double, with advanced biofuel production to expand four-fold over currently announced capacity. “The GRFA applauds the IEA for putting the world on notice that it is falling behind with biofuels production,” said Bliss Baker, spokesperson for the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance. “With the threat of climate change growing, it is imperative that we reduce our CO2 emissions with alternatives to crude oil such as biofuels,” added Baker. Along with today’s warning about the need for more biofuels production, the IEA also cited a key policy priority that will achieve their 2 degree Celsius rise scenario objective. The IEA has recommended that governments develop policies to support the development of the advanced biofuels industry. According to the IEA’s 2 degree Celsius rise scenario, biofuel use will increase to approximately 240 billion litres in 2020, which, when produced sustainably, will lead to a reduction of approximately 0.1 Gt of CO2 emissions in the transport sector. “Today’s report reaffirmed the GRFA's longstanding push to develop biofuels policies that can reduce our reliance on crude oil,” said GRFA spokesperson, Bliss Baker. “The IEA confirmed once again today that biofuels must be part of our clean energy future,” added Baker. The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting biofuel friendly policies internationally. Alliance members represent over 65% of the global biofuels production from 44 countries. Through the development of new technologies and best practices, the Alliance members are committed to producing renewable fuels with the smallest possible footprint. For More Information Please Contact: Bliss Baker Global Renewable Fuels Alliance Work: (Country Code “1”) 416-847-6497 Mobile: 647-309-0058 Email: info@globalrfa.org http://www.globalrfa.org 2012-04-26T16:20:48+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfa-welcomes-three-new-producer-members/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfa-welcomes-three-new-producer-members/ (April 24, 2012) Washington - The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is proud to announce the addition of three new Board Member companies, Aemetis, Inc., Bushmills Ethanol Inc., and E Energy Adams, LLC., since the January 1, 2012. Aemetis, Inc. operates a 55 million gallon per year facility in Keyes, CA. Bushmills Ethanol Inc. is a cooperative made up of 415 farmers that produces 65 million gallons of ethanol per year. E Energy Adams is a locally owned company consisting of nearly 800 investor owners that produces 50 million gallons annually at their dry mill facility. Contributing a combined 170 million gallons of ethanol annually to U.S., these three production refineries individually and collectively are providing jobs, stimulating the economy and helping reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.  “We are pleased to welcome these new members to the RFA,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “The strength of our industry is the involvement of individual companies in working to expand the marketplace for ethanol through thoughtful policies and strategic market development.  These new voices will bring important new perspectives to the RFA and further enhance the dynamic initiatives the association is undertaking.” “As members of the RFA, we look forward to working with industry leaders as we address important issues and continue to expand the marketplace for new ethanol-blended fuel opportunities as well as new technologies,” said Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis, Inc. “E Energy Adams is thrilled to join the RFA with the goal of shaping our industry and guiding our nation towards energy independence,” said Carl Sitzmann, CEO of E Energy Adams, LLC. With the addition of Aemetis, Inc., Bushmills Ethanol Inc., and E Energy Adams LLC, the RFA Board of Directors consists of 50 companies. Every producing member of the RFA receives one vote on the Board of Directors. The RFA is the largest trade association for ethanol producers in the world. About the RFA: The Renewable Fuels Association is the leading trade association for America’s ethanol industry. Its mission is to advance the development, production, and use of ethanol fuel by strengthening America’s ethanol industry and raising awareness about the benefits of renewable fuels. RFA’s 200 members are working to help America become cleaner, safer, more energy independent and economically secure. Visit www.EthanolRFA.org. 2012-04-24T17:12:45+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/update-on-lcfs-lawsuit/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/update-on-lcfs-lawsuit/ (April 24, 2012) Washington - The following a join statement from the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy: "Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit issued an order expediting briefing in the California Air Resources Board's appeal of a Federal District Court decision invalidating the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).  On December 29, 2011, the District Court issued an injunction to prevent CARB's enforcement of the LCFS, having found the LCFS unconstitutional in its regulation of commerce outside the state and discrimination against fuel produced outside California.  The Court of Appeals also stayed the District Court’s decision and the injunction until the Court of Appeals can fully review the District Court’s December 2011 decision.  Briefing will be completed by early Summer.  The ethanol industry plaintiffs look forward to fully briefing the issues before the Court of Appeals on the expedited schedule that the Court has issued." 2012-04-24T14:21:32+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/e15-clears-final-federal-hurdle-with-fuel-survey-initiation/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/e15-clears-final-federal-hurdle-with-fuel-survey-initiation/ (April 23, 2012)  Washington – After three years, the American ethanol industry has finally satisfied all federal requirements for E15 commercial sales as set by the partial E15 waiver granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Starting today, 99 ethanol producers have funded a nationwide fuel survey as required by the partial waiver that represents the final federal hurdle to E15 availability. Announcing the news, the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, and the American Coalition for Ethanol praised the industry for stepping up to the plate to help bring E15 to the market.  Despite owning just a handful of the nation’s 160,000 gas stations that will be the actual participants in the survey, ethanol producers are providing the lion’s share of funding for this survey in order to bring a higher performing, lower cost fuel to the market in E15. “Americans remain under siege by high gas prices.  While rhetorical battles in Washington are waged to find a solution to lowering prices, America’s ethanol producers are stepping up to bring a cleaner, cheaper, and more American-made fuel to the market.  With this survey in place, E15 is now ready in the eyes of EPA for commercial sale,” the groups stated. Efforts to bring E15 to pumps across the nation will now focus on states where regulatory issues must be addressed.  Some states, like Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas are prepared for E15 and sales of E15 could commence as soon as all parties are registered with EPA and are implementing the Misfueling Mitigation Plan approved by EPA.  Additional challenges, including pending litigation and anti-ethanol posturing by some in Congress, make predicting the exact timeframe for the growth of E15 sales volumes unwise. “America’s ethanol industry is committed to giving consumers greater choice at the pump by making E15 a commercial reality,” said RFA, Growth Energy, and ACE.  “We will work diligently with the petroleum industry, gas retailers, automakers, and consumers to ensure E15 is used properly.  But we will not stand idly by and allow some of these interests to make wild and unsubstantiated claims about ethanol and E15 in order to malign ethanol and scare consumers.  The fact remains that E15 is the most tested fuel ever approved by EPA and is perfectly safe and effective for those engines approved in the waiver.” The fuel survey is required annually and will be conducted by RFGSA.  The survey will be collecting more than 7500 samples each year of all gasolines available nationwide and will begin on May 1, 2012. 2012-04-23T16:32:46+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfas-dinneen-tells-house-committee-to-support-domestic-fuels-protection-act/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfas-dinneen-tells-house-committee-to-support-domestic-fuels-protection-act/ (April 19, 2012) Washington – Providing flexibility to fuel retailers will be key to the continued growth in availability of higher level ethanol blends like E15 and other renewable fuels, according to Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen in written testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Environment and Economy. Dinneen is testifying in support of the Domestic Fuels Protection Act, a bill designed to help ease the regulatory burden on fuel retailers seeking to offer consumers a wider range of fuel choices beyond petroleum-based fuels. “[T]he current regulatory structure provides no pathway to certify existing equipment for anything other than fossil fuels, even when test data demonstrates its safety,” Dinneen testified. “The Domestic Fuels Protection Act allows EPA to create such a process, thereby providing new fuels access to the marketplace without having to expend time and resources on new infrastructure unnecessarily.” The Domestic Fuels Protection Act rests on a simple premise: if a new fuel has been approved by EPA, if equipment used by retailers to store and dispense a new fuel meets specifications, and if retailers properly inform customers regarding the approved uses of a new fuel, then retailers, fuel producers, and other stakeholders should not have to be concerned about defending meritless lawsuits. The legislation is narrowly tailored to achieve this goal. It addresses only liability protection and does not alter the Renewable Fuel Standard or otherwise impact fuels that have been sanctioned by EPA as legal to offer for sale. Importantly, the legislation is not a prerequisite to the introduction into commerce of E15, which was approved by EPA after rigorous testing by the U.S. Department of Energy and others and which was recently registered as a legal fuel under the Clean Air Act. Expanding market access for ethanol and other renewable fuels is critical to both expanding America’s renewable fuel industry and achieving the goals of the RFS. “I can say without hyperbole or reservation that the RFS has been the most successful energy policy this nation has ever implemented. It should be vigorously defended and maintained, and allowed to reach its full potential of 36 billion gallons of clean burning, renewable fuel,” said Dinneen. Dinneen continued, “The RFS is entering a critical period, however. The volumes of renewable fuel refiners are required to meet can no longer be met by just 10% ethanol. Greater volumes of ethanol and a greater diversity of biofuels and feedstocks will be necessary to meet the increasing volumes required by the RFS. Critically, these fuels will be attempting to enter the marketplace amidst a complicated regulatory structure that favors incumbent technologies and discourages market access. Gasoline marketers deserve the certainty that they will not be penalized for utilizing a new fuel or fuel blend that has been approved for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).” Earlier this week, the RFA released poll results showing that 61% of American adults support the RFS and 58% of Americans would use more domestically-produced renewable fuel when available. The Domestic Fuels Protection Act was introduced in the House by Representatives John Shimkus (R-IL), Mike Ross (D-AR), John Sullivan (R-OK) and Collin Peterson (D-MN). A Senate counterpart, the Domestic Fuels Act, has also been introduced by Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Mike Crapo (R-ID). Dinneen’s full testimony is available here. 2012-04-19T14:54:38+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/obama-official-reaffirms-white-house-commitment-to-biofuels/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/obama-official-reaffirms-white-house-commitment-to-biofuels/ (April 18, 2012) Washington – The Obama Administration is firmly in the corner of domestic renewable fuels a top aide to President Obama told attendees of the Renewable Fuels Association’s Washington Legislative Forum held today at the Newseum in Washington, DC. “One of those most promising [clean energy] industries has been American biofuels,” said Heather Zichal, Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change. “Right now, domestic biofuel production is at the highest level ever. In fact, monthly production has increased more than 40% in the last three years. That means that biofuels are already reducing our dependence on oil, cutting pollution, and creating jobs across the country.” Zichal also referenced the need to continue the industry’s expansion and evolution. “A year ago, the President set a goal of breaking ground on at least four commercial scale cellulosic or advanced biorefineries by 2013. That goal has been accomplished, one year ahead of schedule. Together, these projects will produce nearly 100 million gallons of advanced biofuels per year.” Zichal continued, “[S]o last week, we were encouraged when the biofuels community stood behind EPA’s implementation of the Renewable Fuels Standard – which we think is critical tool to promote growth in renewable fuels production in the years ahead. At the same time, we’re taking steps to help level the playing field. Not only has the Administration supported repealing subsidies for oil and gas companies, the President announced yesterday that we’re taking new steps to crack down on manipulation in the oil markets to help protect consumers at the pump.” While production is important, Zichal also underscored the Obama Administration’s commitment to infrastructure and deployment of renewable fuels and technologies. “Now, as we produce more biofuels, it’s also important that we focus on deployment. If you think back to when America was moving from horseback to rail and then cars and trucks, we didn’t say your own your own. We laid tracks and paved roads and built bridges to accelerate the transition. We need to make a similar effort on biofuels.” Zichal highlighted the important work being done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy to help bring growing volumes of renewable fuels like ethanol to the market. Specifically, Zichal noted the millions of dollars USDA has authorized to help install blender pumps capable of offering a wide range of ethanol blends. “The Obama Administration has been a trusted and reliable partner with America’s growing and evolving ethanol industry,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “President Obama and his team appreciate the vital contributions already being made by existing ethanol producers and are committed to ensuring the commercialization of promising new ethanol technologies. The RFA looks forward to working with President Obama, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, and other administration officials like Heather to tackle the challenging issues of reducing our dependency on imported oil and creating American jobs.” The full text of Zichal’s remarks can be read here. 2012-04-18T22:22:28+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/sen.-hoeven-reiterates-importance-of-domestic-fuels-act-to-rfa-legisla/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/sen.-hoeven-reiterates-importance-of-domestic-fuels-act-to-rfa-legisla/ (April 18, 2012) Washington – Weakening imported oil’s grip on Americans necessarily means expanding the availability and use of domestically=produced renewable fuels. Addressing the inaugural Renewable Fuels Association’s Washington Legislative Forum, Senator John Hoeven detailed the elements of the bipartisan Domestic Fuels Act, introduced in late March. Specifically, the Domestic Fuels Act would: • Streamline the process so that all fuels, both traditional and renewable, can be stored and dispensed with common equipment. The bill requires the EPA to develop streamlined criteria so that underground tanks can be used to dispense gasoline, diesel, ethanol or some combination of fuels, rather than requiring the use of separate tanks. • Provide liability protection for retailers that meet the streamlined EPA standards, so that they can sell multiple types of fuel with less red tape, providing consumers with more choice and lower fuel prices. • Establish a new pathway for retailers to ensure that their equipment is safe and legally recognized as compatible to sell new fuels, thereby reducing the cost of entry for many retailers. “We need to make all fuels available to American consumers and businesses, and we need to do so by using market-based measures that increase competition and remove bureaucratic obstacles to producing and marketing renewable fuels,” Hoeven said. “This is really about giving customers more choice and better prices at the pump by empowering retailers to market multiple fuels using the same equipment. That’s good for the customer, good for business and good for the nation.” “By an overwhelming majority, Americans want to have more options at the pump and that means greater availability of domestically produced renewable fuels,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “Expanding the availability of fuel choices like E15 directly reduces America’s demand for imported oil and creates jobs and economic opportunities that cannot be outsourced. The Domestic Fuels Act is a perfect example of the kind of thoughtful policies that can be created when all stakeholders work together for the common good. The RFA is grateful to Sen. Hoeven and his colleagues for introducing this bill and seeking a common sense approach to expanding the use of domestic renewable fuels.” Earlier this week, the RFA released results from a poll conducted in late March that showed 58% of respondents were more likely to purchase fuels with higher domestic renewable fuel content, like E15, when available. The Domestic Fuels Act is designed to respond to this specific desire expressed by the American public. 2012-04-18T15:30:57+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/americans-show-strong-support-for-renewable-fuels-agenda/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/americans-show-strong-support-for-renewable-fuels-agenda/ (April 17, 2012)  Washington – By an overwhelming majority, American voters are supportive of the key federal policy driving renewable fuel innovation in America today – the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  In a poll commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and conducted by American Viewpoint, 61% percent of adults polled said they supported the RFS.  “Poll after poll consistently demonstrates that Americans of all stripes believe we must be pursuing the production and use of renewable fuels to reduce our dependence on imported oil,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen.  “The RFS is a critical component to the continued growth and innovation of this industry.  The RFS ensures that ample supplies of renewable fuels like ethanol are available today and that new and promising renewable fuel technologies will have a market in the future.  The RFS has proven effective in addressing America’s goals by helping reduce volumes of imported oil, create jobs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuel.” Americans also showed a strong desire to increase their use of domestic ethanol.  When asked how likely they would be to purchase a fuel with more domestic ethanol when available (specifically E15), 58% of respondents said they were very likely or somewhat likely.  Participants in the poll responded very favorably to the continued efforts to bring cellulosic ethanol production to commercial scale through the use of targeted tax policies.  Sixty-five percent said they supported such incentives to help expand cellulosic ethanol production.  By comparison, 69% said they opposed tax subsidies and other incentives for petroleum companies.  Finally, respondents expressed strong support for greater choice when pulling up to the pump.  Seventy-five percent of those polled said they would support requiring automakers to build cars to run on fuel sources other than oil.  The RFA has been a strong and early champion of the Open Fuel Standard (OFS) that would accomplish this exact goal.  “An overwhelming wave of support for developing an energy policy that looks beyond just fossil fuels is growing in America as we careen to record high gasoline prices this summer,” said Dinneen.  “By protecting the RFS, supporting the breakthrough of advanced and cellulosic ethanol production, and expanding renewable fuel options through greater ethanol blends like E15 at the pump, Congress can respond to the will of the American people and begin creating a more secure and stable energy future.” The poll was commissioned by RFA and conducted by American Viewpoint.  The poll was conducted via telephone March 27-29, 2012 with a sample size of 1,000.  Margin of error in the poll is +/- 3.1%.  Approximately 15% of respondents were contacted by cell phone.  The poll results come in advance of the RFA’s inaugural Washington Legislative Forum being held tomorrow, April 18th, at the Newseum in Washington , DC.  The event is invitation only and closed to media.  Attendees will hear from congressional and administration officials about legislative priorities outlined in the poll and the chances for any legislative action regarding these priorities in 2012.  Following the meeting, RFA members will take to Capitol Hill to meet with dozens of lawmakers on issues important to America’s renewable fuel industry. The following are the exact questions posed to poll participants and their responses. As you may know, there is currently a renewable fuels standard that requires a certain amount of the fuel produced each year to come from ethanol, bio-diesel and other renewable sources that aren't fossil fuels in order to reduce foreign oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions.  Do you favor or oppose this requirement? Favor:  61% Oppose: 27% Don’t Know: 12% As you may know, much of today’s gasoline that you purchase is blended with 10% ethanol, known as E-10. The government recently tested and has approved selling fuel for all car models year 2001 and newer gasoline that is blended with up to 15% of ethanol, known as E-15. How likely are you to purchase a fuel that includes more domestic ethanol when it is available? Likely:  58% Not Likely: 33% Don’t Know: 5% Some have considered the government giving incentives to help fund the expansion of a new technology known as Cellulosic ethanol, which is a biofuel produced from wood, grasses and other non-edible parts of plants. Do you favor or oppose these incentives? Favor:  65% Oppose: 23% Don’t Know: 10% As you may know, oil companies received up to $280 billion in government subsidies and special tax treatment and incentives for things like equipment depreciation, oil depletion allowances, and foreign investment tax credits for taxes they pay in foreign countries. Do you favor or oppose these tax incentives? Favor:  19% Oppose: 69% Don’t know: 11% Do you favor or oppose requiring automobile manufacturers to build cars that will run on fuel sources other than oil, such as electricity, natural gas and bio-fuels? Favor:  75% Oppose: 20% Don’t Know: 5% 2012-04-17T15:36:54+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfa-forms-renewable-fuels-pac/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfa-forms-renewable-fuels-pac/ (April 17, 2012) Washington – The Renewable Fuels Association today announced that it has formed a political action committee (PAC). The Renewable Fuels Association PAC, to be referred to as the Renewable Fuels PAC, will help RFA members support candidates for federal office that understand and share their belief in the importance of domestic renewable fuels like ethanol. “Domestic renewable fuels offer America a real opportunity to put an end to our addiction to imported oil while creating jobs and putting American ingenuity to work creating fuel technologies for the future,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “In order to ensure the full potential of American renewable fuels is realized, consistent and forward-looking public policy is essential. The Renewable Fuels PAC will allow RFA members to contribute to candidates for federal office that share our view that ethanol and all renewable fuels are an essential element in our nation’s energy, economic, and environmental strategy.” The RFA submitted its statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission on April 5, 2012. Matt Hartwig will serve as Treasurer of Renewable Fuels PAC. 2012-04-17T12:28:11+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/ethanol-safety-training-goes-to-chattanooga-tn/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/ethanol-safety-training-goes-to-chattanooga-tn/ (April 10, 2012) Washington - The Renewable Fuels Association, Norfolk Southern Corp., and Tate & Lyle will co-host an Ethanol Safety Seminar in Chattanooga, TN on April 18th at the Chattanooga Fire Department Training Center. This seminar is free.  To accommodate schedules and reach as many participants as possible, the seminar will feature a morning session from 9:00am to 2:00pm and an evening session from 5:30-10:00pm.  Lunch and dinner will be provided. Attendees will receive in-depth information on proper training techniques that first responders and hazmat personnel need to effectively respond to an ethanol-related emergency.  While primarily targeting first responders, hazmat teams, safety managers, and local emergency planning committees, it is also open to the general public. “Ethanol is the most commonly transported hazmat by rail today.  It is important that first responders are familiar with this commodity and proper response practices should an ethanol related emergency occur,” said David Schoendorfer, Norfolk Southern Manager Hazardous Materials. “This program is a part of our Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response initiative.  We are delighted that so many emergency responders have been able to take advantage of this unique training opportunity.” “Safety is a top priority and a core value for all Tate & Lyle employees,” said Tim Meinhold, Tate& Lyle Vice President, Co-products and Ethanol Sales.  “This emphasis on safety also extends to public safety so sponsoring the Ethanol Safety Seminar is a perfect complement for the company.  The seminar is an excellent way to educate our community about ethanol safety.” The goal of this seminar is for attendees to gain a full ethanol emergency response training experience that they can put to use immediately in the field as well as pass along to other first response teams.  A majority of this training is based on the Complete Training Guide to Ethanol Emergency Response, a training package created by the Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC) that has been distributed throughout the United States and to several countries worldwide. “Ethanol accounts for 10% of our nations fuel supply, blended into 97% of gasoline across the county,” said Kristy Moore, Renewable Fuels Association VP of Technical Services. “With this high volume of blended fuel traveling through communities, it is essential that first responders are as fully prepared as possible to act immediately in the unfortunate event of an ethanol emergency.  Safety will always be a priority in the ethanol industry and we are thrilled to be able to offer this type of training.” The Ethanol Safety Seminar focuses on numerous important areas of ethanol safety including an introduction to ethanol and ethanol blended fuels, chemical and physical characteristics of ethanol and hydrocarbon fuels, transportation of ethanol blended fuels, storage and dispensing locations, firefighting foam principles and ethanol, ethanol blended fuel emergencies, and incidents at tank farm and bulk storage locations.  This training has been approved as an official training program in the state of Tennessee by the Firefighting Commission.  Continuing education units (CEU’s) from the Tennessee Fire Fighting Commission will be awarded to attendees in need of training hours following the completion of the seminars. To register for this seminar, go to www.rfa.traincaster.com. The RFA and Norfolk Southern Corp. will be co-hosting Ethanol Safety Seminars throughout 2012 in the following locations: Spartanburg, SC on May 7th; Raleigh, NC on July 11th; Decatur, IL on August 22nd, also co-sponsored with CN Railway and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM); and Pittsburgh, PA in late summer.  RFA has additionally partnered with Canadian National (CN) Railway for several Ethanol Safety seminars in 2012. For more information on ethanol emergency response, visit the EERC website at www.ethanolresponse.com. About the RFA: The Renewable Fuels Association is the leading trade association for America’s ethanol industry. Its mission is to advance the development, production, and use of ethanol fuel by strengthening America’s ethanol industry and raising awareness about the benefits of renewable fuels. RFA’s 200 members are working to help America become cleaner, safer, more energy independent and economically secure. Visit www.EthanolRFA.org. About Norfolk Southern: Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products. Visit www.nscorp.com. About Tate & Lyle: Tate & Lyle is a global provider of ingredients and solutions to the food, beverage and other industries, operating from over 30 production facilities around the world. Through our large-scale, efficient manufacturing plants, we turn raw materials into distinctive, high quality ingredients for our customers. Our ingredients and solutions add taste, texture, nutrition and increased functionality to products that millions of people around the world use or consume every day. Visit www.tateandlyle.com 2012-04-10T16:51:32+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/biofuel-groups-support-rfs-epa-in-federal-lawsuit/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/biofuel-groups-support-rfs-epa-in-federal-lawsuit/ (April 9, 2012)  Washington – Six biofuel trade associations have filed a motion in the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to intervene in support of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) 2012 final rule being challenged by the American Petroleum Institute (API).  The filing was made on Friday, April 6.  Specifically, the groups are standing with EPA in its implementation of the requirements under the RFS, including the cellulosic biofuels volumes.  The trade associations seeking intervenor status are the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA), the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC), the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), Growth Energy, and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).  In their joint filing, the groups noted that their “members have investments in equipment, research and development, to supply the necessary renewable fuel.”  API’s challenge would reduce the standards set by Congress and EPA and deprive members of the benefit of the investments made in reliance on Congress’ policy choices. The case is D.C. Circuit case no. 12-1139, American Petroleum Institute v. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2012-04-09T16:51:23+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/world-crude-prices-could-trigger-recession-global-focus-on-alternatives-is-/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/world-crude-prices-could-trigger-recession-global-focus-on-alternatives-is-/ (April 4, 2012) TORONTO, Canada – Following on a warning from Fatih Birol, the International Energy Agency’s Chief Economist, that world crude prices are threatening the global economy, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is calling on the G20 to enact aggressive biofuels policies that reduce our crippling reliance on crude oil. The IEA Chief Economist issued a stark warning this week that the global economy could be hit with another recession triggered by escalating crude oil prices. High oil prices have preceded every global recession since the early 1970’s with the most recent economic collapse in 2008 being preceded by record-breaking crude oil prices that topped $147.50 per barrel. According to the GRFA, world biofuels production is currently contributing over one million barrels of oil equivalent to global energy supplies. The GRFA expects global production to grow by approximately 3% this year without any significant policy changes. “We must do more to encourage the development of alternatives to crude oil such as ethanol and biodiesel. The IEA has stated that by 2050, biofuels could produce 27% of the world’s transport fuels,” said Bliss Baker, spokesperson for the GRFA. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has publicly acknowledged that "energy efficiency policies along with the use of biofuel will put more downward pressure on oil consumption worldwide." According to the GRFA the recent rise in crude oil prices will be particularly hard on underdeveloped countries that are net importers of crude oil. When crude prices rise even slightly, the impact on the balance of trade of these countries is devastating. Today, 38 of the 47 poorest countries on earth are net importers of crude oil. Of those 38 countries, 25 import all of their crude oil requirements. The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting biofuel friendly policies internationally. Alliance members represent over 65% of the global biofuels production from 44 countries. Through the development of new technologies and best practices, the Alliance members are committed to producing renewable fuels with the smallest possible footprint. For More Information Please Contact: Bliss Baker Global Renewable Fuels Alliance Work: (Country Code “1”) 416-847-6497 Mobile: 647-309-0058 Email: info@globalrfa.org http://www.globalrfa.org 2012-04-04T15:08:56+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/ethanol-industry-applauds-epa-approvals/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/ethanol-industry-applauds-epa-approvals/ WASHINGTON - (April 2, 2012) Today, for the first time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved E15 (gasoline with 15 percent ethanol) as a registered fuel. This is one step closer to seeing low-cost, renewable E15 sold into the American fuels marketplace. This is the most significant development in a three year effort to approve sale of the mid-level ethanol blend, and it follows EPA's approval of health effects testing of the fuel in February. "Our nation needs E15 to reduce our dependence on foreign oil - it will keep gas prices down at the pump and help to end the extreme fluctuations in gas prices caused by our reliance on fuel from unstable parts of the world," said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. "Today's announcement from EPA finally puts that goal within reach." "This announcement strengthens the ethanol industry's efforts to innovate and continue to deliver domestically-produced and affordable alternatives to foreign oil," said Buis. "With ethanol selling an average of a dollar a gallon cheaper than gasoline and $4 a gallon gasoline on the horizon, we'd encourage all Americans to ask their local filling station how soon they will see more-affordable E15." "American consumers may soon have some much deserved relief at the pump.  Today's EPA decision clears yet another major hurdle in bringing E15 to the marketplace.  States in the Midwest have begun to address their regulatory requirements and perhaps as early as summer we could see E15 at fuel stations in the Heartland of America.  The future for consumers, ethanol producers and this country has just gotten a little brighter, a little stronger," said Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. 2012-04-02T20:01:30+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/all-time-high-attendance-expected-for-ethanol-safety-training-seminar-in-fo/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/all-time-high-attendance-expected-for-ethanol-safety-training-seminar-in-fo/ (March 27, 2012) Washington - The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Norfolk Southern Corp., and Motiva Enterprises are co-hosting an Ethanol Safety Seminar in Forsyth, GA today, March 27th. Over 170 attendees have pre-registered. This seminar is free. To accommodate schedules and reach as many participants as possible, the seminar features a morning session from 9:00am to 2:00pm and an evening session from 5:30-10:00pm at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. Lunch and dinner will be provided. Attendees will receive in-depth information on proper training techniques that first responders and hazmat personnel need to effectively respond to an ethanol-related emergency. While primarily targeting first responders, hazmat teams, safety managers, and local emergency planning committees, it is also open to the general public. As ethanol production, transportation, and use are increasing year after year, safety continues to be a top priority for the ethanol industry. This domestically grown fuel accounts for 10% of our country’s fuel supply and many first responders will be tasked with preparing for potential ethanol-related incidents for the first time. It is important that those responsible for safety in their communities are well-prepared and trained for responding to ethanol-related emergencies. “This program is part of our Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response initiative and we are delighted that so many emergency responders have been able to take advantage of this training opportunity,” said David Schoendorfer, Norfolk Southern Manager Hazardous Materials. “Recognizing that ethanol is the most commonly transported hazmat by rail, it is important that first responders are familiar with this commodity should an ethanol related emergency occur.” The goal of this seminar is for attendees to gain full ethanol emergency response training experience that they can put to use immediately in the field as well as pass along to other first response teams. A majority of this training is based on the Complete Training Guide to Ethanol Emergency Response, a training package created by the Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC) that has been distributed throughout the United States and to several countries worldwide. “Almost 14 billion gallons of ethanol are produced at 209 biofineries spread across 29 states,” said Kristy Moore, RFA VP of Technical Services. “As the product is increasing in use and transportation throughout the states, first responders need to be familiar with the fuel and how to effectively respond to an ethanol related incident. This program details the response information that is essential to these emergency situations. We are happy to provide this type of information to those that dedicate their lives to protecting their communities.” The Ethanol Safety Seminar focuses on numerous important areas of ethanol safety including an introduction to ethanol and ethanol blended fuels, chemical and physical characteristics of ethanol and hydrocarbon fuels, transportation of ethanol blended fuels, storage and dispensing locations, firefighting foam principles and ethanol, ethanol blended fuel emergencies, and incidents at tank farm and bulk storage locations. Certificates of Attendance from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center will be available following completion of the safety seminar and can be applied toward Firefighter 1 training hours. The RFA and Norfolk Southern Corp. will be hosting Ethanol Safety Seminars throughout 2012 in the following locations: Chattanooga, TN on April 18th, also co-sponsored with Tate & Lyle; Spartanburg, SC on May 7th; Raleigh, NC on July 11th; Decatur, IL on August 22nd, also co-sponsored with CN Railway and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM); and Pittsburgh, PA in late summer. RFA has additionally partnered with Canadian National (CN) Railway for several Ethanol Safety seminars in 2012. For more information on ethanol emergency response, visit the EERC website at www.ethanolresponse.com. About the RFA: The Renewable Fuels Association is the leading trade association for America’s ethanol industry. Its mission is to advance the development, production, and use of ethanol fuel by strengthening America’s ethanol industry and raising awareness about the benefits of renewable fuels. RFA’s 200 members are working to help America become cleaner, safer, more energy independent and economically secure. Visit www.EthanolRFA.org. About Norfolk Southern: Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.Visit www.nscorp.com. About Motiva Enterprises: Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Motiva Enterprises LLC is a refining and marketing joint venture owned by affiliates of Shell and Saudi Aramco. Motiva’s marketing operations support a network of nearly 9,000 Shell-branded gasoline stations in the eastern and southern United States. Company assets include three refineries located in Norco, Louisiana; Convent, Louisiana, and Port Arthur, Texas, capable of refining approximately 740,000 barrels per day, and ownership or partial interests in 38 product terminals. Visit www.motivaenterprises.com. 2012-03-27T23:14:20+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/eight-biofuels-related-groups-send-letter/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/eight-biofuels-related-groups-send-letter/ (March 27, 2012) Washington - The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) joined with seven other biofuel-related organizations to champion the success of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Speaker John Boehner(R-OH) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).  The letter highlighted ethanol’s proven ability to lower gas prices and reduce this country’s dependence upon foreign oil.  It also noted that any changes to the RFS could dampen investment in the development of next generation biofuels. The letter signatories were: the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC), Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the Energy Future Coalition, Growth Energy, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), and the 25x25 Alliance. The full letter can be read here. Highlights include: “Today, ethanol is approximately $1.00 cheaper than gasoline and blending ethanol into U.S. gasoline saves consumers at the pump,” the groups said.  A Center for Agriculture and Rural Development analysis found that from 2000-2010, ethanol reduced gasoline prices at the pump an average of $0.25 per gallon which meant consumers annually saved $34 billion dollars. “Thanks in part to the RFS, U.S. oil imports fell below 50% in 2010 for the first time since 1997, and, oil imports stand as just 45% today.  Ethanol accounts for 81% of all new domestic fuel production since 2005,” the groups stated.  “Because of the RFS, the advanced and cellulosic biofuels industry is now in the process of building new plants, innovating existing production facilities with emerging technologies, and introducing new product streams that will allow the renewable fuels sector to become more profitable, diversified and efficient,” the groups wrote.  “Several billion dollars have been invested in advanced biofuels development with the expectation that Congress will stay the course with regard to its commitment to the industry and to the stability of the RFS.  Efforts to amend or reform the RFS would send a chilling signal to a marketplace at just the time when the advanced and cellulosic biofuels industries are on the cusp of commercial production to help meet this nation’s energy independence and security needs.” The groups concluded, “Anything short of full support for the RFS will exacerbate the problem of increasing gas prices and undercut the ethanol industry’s efforts to innovate and continue to deliver domestically-produced and affordable alternatives to foreign oil.” For more information on ethanol’s success in reducing this country’s reliance upon foreign oil, please click here. For more information on ethanol’s success in reducing the price consumers pay at the pump, please click here. (March 27, 2012) Washington - The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) joined with seven other biofuel-related organizations to champion the success of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Speaker John Boehner(R-OH) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).  The letter highlighted ethanol’s proven ability to lower gas prices and reduce this country’s dependence upon foreign oil.  It also noted that any changes to the RFS could dampen investment in the development of next generation biofuels. The letter signatories were: the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC), Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the Energy Future Coalition, Growth Energy, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), and the 25x25 Alliance. The full letter can be read here. Highlights include: “Today, ethanol is approximately $1.00 cheaper than gasoline and blending ethanol into U.S. gasoline saves consumers at the pump,” the groups said.  A Center for Agriculture and Rural Development analysis found that from 2000-2010, ethanol reduced gasoline prices at the pump an average of $0.25 per gallon which meant consumers annually saved $34 billion dollars. “Thanks in part to the RFS, U.S. oil imports fell below 50% in 2010 for the first time since 1997, and, oil imports stand as just 45% today.  Ethanol accounts for 81% of all new domestic fuel production since 2005,” the groups stated.  “Because of the RFS, the advanced and cellulosic biofuels industry is now in the process of building new plants, innovating existing production facilities with emerging technologies, and introducing new product streams that will allow the renewable fuels sector to become more profitable, diversified and efficient,” the groups wrote.  “Several billion dollars have been invested in advanced biofuels development with the expectation that Congress will stay the course with regard to its commitment to the industry and to the stability of the RFS.  Efforts to amend or reform the RFS would send a chilling signal to a marketplace at just the time when the advanced and cellulosic biofuels industries are on the cusp of commercial production to help meet this nation’s energy independence and security needs.” The groups concluded, “Anything short of full support for the RFS will exacerbate the problem of increasing gas prices and undercut the ethanol industry’s efforts to innovate and continue to deliver domestically-produced and affordable alternatives to foreign oil.” For more information on ethanol’s success in reducing this country’s reliance upon foreign oil, please click here. For more information on ethanol’s success in reducing the price consumers pay at the pump, please click here. 2012-03-27T22:08:04+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/aec-urges-support-for-extension-of-two-critical-tax-incentives/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/aec-urges-support-for-extension-of-two-critical-tax-incentives/ (March 26, 2012) Washington - In a letter to Senate Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Ranking Member John Cornyn (R-TX), the Advanced Ethanol Council voiced support for extending key cellulosic ethanol tax provisions set to expire at the end of 2012. “As you convene a Subcommittee hearing on expired and expiring energy tax incentives tomorrow, the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) is writing to encourage you to include in an energy tax extenders package the extension of two critical tax incentives. The Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit (PTC) and the Special Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property are vital to the ongoing development of the domestic advanced ethanol industry,” wrote Brooke Coleman, Executive Director of the AEC. The AEC has been a vocal advocate for extending these important tax provisions. In reaction to a failed amendment by Senator Debbie Stabenow to the transportation bill that would have extended these provisions, Coleman noted, “Unfortunately the Senate missed an opportunity to put to bed the pressing need to extend expiring tax incentives for cellulosic biofuels and other sources of domestically produced clean energy. The underlying reality is the lack of policy certainty is driving clean energy investment overseas and putting the United States behind the eight ball when it comes to clean energy development.” The complete AEC letter is pasted below: Dear Chairman Bingaman and Ranking Member Cornyn: As you convene a Subcommittee hearing on expired and expiring energy tax incentives tomorrow, the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) is writing to encourage you to include in an energy tax extenders package the extension of two critical tax incentives. The Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit (PTC) and the Special Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property are vital to the ongoing development of the domestic advanced ethanol industry. The U.S renewable fuels industry is already an American success story. The advanced and cellulosic biofuels industry is now in the process of building new plants, helping drive innovation at existing production facilities with emerging technologies, and introducing new product streams that will allow the renewable fuels sector to become more profitable, diversified and efficient. Over the last several years, the advanced ethanol industry has vastly increased the efficiency and reduced the cost of producing ethanol from new sources of biomass – including but not limited to municipal solid waste, agricultural waste, energy crops and grasses, and sustainably harvested wood resources. Several billion dollars have been invested in the development of advanced biofuels with the expectation that Congress will stay the course with regard to its commitment to the industry. The PTC and accelerated depreciation allowance provide investment certainty in a high‐risk marketplace largely supply‐and price‐controlled by OPEC. A tax increase on advanced biofuels at this time would curtail investment by creating uncertainty for the industry and undercut an industry just starting to close deals and break ground on its first commercial plants. Further, allowing the PTC and accelerated depreciation allowance to expire runs counter to the goals set forth by Congress to foster the development of advanced biofuels under the Renewable Fuels Standard. With gas prices soaring, it is increasingly important to diversify U.S. motor fuel markets with viable and competitive alternatives to gasoline, such as advanced ethanol, that will offer American consumers greater choice at the pump. We appreciate your ongoing support for the advanced biofuels industry and look forward to further discussion of this important matter. Sincerely, R. Brooke Coleman Executive Director The executive members of the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) include: Abengoa BioEnergy, Beta Renewables, BlueFire Renewables, Coskata, Enerkem, Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inbicon, Iogen, Mascoma, Osage BioEnergy, Qteros and ZeaChem Advanced Ethanol Council 2012-03-26T19:35:51+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfa-chief-highlights-ethanols-role-in-decreasing-foreign-oil-dependence-at-/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfa-chief-highlights-ethanols-role-in-decreasing-foreign-oil-dependence-at-/ (March 16, 2012) Washington - This afternoon, RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen will participate on a panel, The Future of Transportation Fuels, from 1:00pm-3:45pm EST as a part of the 2012 MIT Energy Conference in Cambridge, MA. The production and use of U.S. ethanol has contributed significantly to the reduction of our foreign oil dependence. In 2011, the use of 13.9 billion gallons of American ethanol helped reduce the need for imported oil by 485 million barrels. That is roughly equivalent to 13% of total U.S. crude oil imports, saving the American economy $49.7 billion.   “Our nation’s reliance on foreign oil imports is continuing to decrease because of ethanol,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “Since 2005, the year the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was first enacted, America’s oil demand has decreased and national oil import dependence has fallen from 60% to 45%. In 2010, U.S. oil imports fell below 50% for the first time since 1997. Without ethanol, without the foundation of the RFS, our oil imports would have been 52% last year. Maintaining critical policies like the RFS is essential to increasing our national energy security.” While gasoline demand is currently at its lowest point in more than a decade, prices at the pump continue to run-up due to the increasing costs of barrels of crude oil. Nevertheless, prices of gasoline would be undoubtedly higher without the enormous contribution of ethanol in our fuel.  A study by Iowa State University and the University of Wisconsin found that in 2010, domestic ethanol production helped keep gasoline prices $0.89 lower per gallon than they otherwise would have been. American-produced ethanol now constitutes 10% of our nation’s gasoline supply, and it is the only energy source available today that can meaningfully keep gasoline prices in check. The RFA has developed a brochure, Oil Dependence: A National Threat, which features quotations from high ranking U.S. officials emphasizing the threat of our dependence on foreign oil with explanations and charts to prove ethanol’s success in reducing our reliance on petroleum. View the brochure on Ethanol and National Security here.  View Dinneen’s presentation here. 2012-03-16T15:28:24+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/ethanol-industry-epa-ready-for-e15-rollout/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/ethanol-industry-epa-ready-for-e15-rollout/ RFA Releases E15 Retailer Handbook (March 15, 2012) Washington – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today indicated that the model Misfueling Mitigation Plan for E15 as submitted by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) meets the requirements of EPA’s E15 waiver decision. In January 2011, EPA expanded upon its October 2010 decision and approved the use of E15 for light duty passenger vehicles Model Year (MY) 2001 and newer.  In a letter to RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen, EPA stated that the RFA Misfueling Mitigation Plan "would generally be sufficient to satisfy the partial waivers' requirements for an [misfueling mitigation plan.]" “Americans will soon have a safe and effective new fuel option at the pump that is domestically-made and significantly cheaper than gasoline,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen.  “E15 ethanol blends have withstood rigorous testing and mountains of challenges.  With today’s announcement, EPA is clearing the way for E15 and allowing America’s ethanol industry to turn its full attention to educating retailers and consumers on the benefits of higher level ethanol blends and ensuring that state fuel regulations allow for their sale.” On February 17, EPA approved health effects testing submitted by the industry and cleared the way for ethanol companies to register with EPA to offer E15.  The RFA is aware of several ethanol producers that have submitted registration documents with EPA.  More information, including a copy of RFA’s Misfueling Mitigation Plan, can be found on EPA’s E15 website: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/additive/e15/.  The next steps will include ensuring companies seeking to offer E15 are registered with EPA, they have submitted the Misfueling Mitigation plan, and are addressing lingering fuel regulatory requirements at the state level.  Some states, including Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas, are prepared to welcome E15 and drivers in those states will be among the first to see E15 at the pump.  Coinciding with EPA’s approval of RFA’s Misfueling Mitigation Plan, the RFA released the E15 Retailer Handbook.  This Handbook provides guidance for retailers in evaluating existing infrastructure compatibility, safety and conversion practices and state specific regulatory requirements  Specifically, the Handbook offers guidance regarding: • Federal regulatory requirements including blender registration, octane posting, proper pump labeling, compliance with an EPA-approved fuel survey, and OSHA regulations • State and local fuel and safety regulations • E15 conversion guidelines for fueling infrastructure • Retail conversion procedures • E15 fuel specifications and properties • Transportation and storage requirements • Safety and firefighting procedures While the RFA is moving forward with its E15 outreach strategy, legislation on Capitol Hill and pending litigation over EPA’s waiver approval still linger.  The RFA will continue to vigorously defend the Obama Administration’s approval of E15 – a process that resulted in enough miles of testing to make 12 round trips to the moon. “Gaining meaningful market penetration for E15 will not happen overnight,” Dinneen cautioned.  “It will take a constant and driven effort to educate consumers and fend off unfounded claims by anti-ethanol voices in the fuels industry and on Capitol Hill.  The RFA is committed to providing sound information to all interested parties to dispel misinformation and facilitate a safe and smooth introduction of America’s newest fuel option.” Download the RFA’s E15 Retailer Handbook here. Get a copy of the RFA’s Misfueling Mitigation Plan here 2012-03-15T21:56:07+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfa-aec-react-to-vote-on-stabenow-amendment/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfa-aec-react-to-vote-on-stabenow-amendment/ (March 13, 2012) Washington – Today, the Senate failed to pass the Stabenow amendment extending key biofuel tax incentives, such as the Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit (PTC) the Accelerated Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property, and the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit available to blender pumps and other ethanol fueling infrastructure. The final vote was 49-49.  In response, Advanced Ethanol Council Executive Director Brooke Coleman issued the following statement: “Unfortunately the Senate missed an opportunity to put to bed the pressing need to extend expiring tax incentives for cellulosic biofuels and other sources of domestically produced clean energy. We appreciate Senator Stabenow’s effort to advance this piece of must-pass cellulosic biofuels policy, and we look forward to getting these provisions extended as soon as possible. The underlying reality is the lack of policy certainty is driving clean energy investment overseas and putting the United States behind the eight ball when it comes to clean energy development. Echoing the 49 U.S. Senators who voted for the Stabenow amendment today, we cannot afford to miss any more opportunities to get this done.” Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen reiterated Coleman’s sentiment: “Every member of Congress agrees that America needs to reduce its reliance on imported oil and create jobs here at home.  These tax incentives would help accomplish both of those goals.  New biofuel technologies promise to bring increased economic opportunity to scores of communities all across the nation, create tens of thousands of jobs, and increase America’s supply of domestically-produced renewable alternatives to imported oil.  Likewise, increasing volumes of renewable fuels like ethanol have the potential to further reduce America’s foreign oil tab if investments in infrastructure offering higher level blends are encouraged.  In the face of record gas prices for this time of year and the very real possibility for $5 gas, I urge Congress to move swiftly to pass extensions of these tax incentives and accelerate America’s break with foreign oil.” Advanced Ethanol Council 2012-03-13T19:16:45+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/stabenow-amdt-would-help-lower-gas-prices-expand-choice-accelerate-industy-/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/stabenow-amdt-would-help-lower-gas-prices-expand-choice-accelerate-industy-/ (March 8, 2012)  Washington – The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today expressed its strong support for an amendment to the Senate transportation bill offered by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in a letter to Senate leadership. Writing to Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen wrote, “On behalf of America’s ethanol industry, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is writing to voice our support for the Stabenow amendment (#1812) to the pending transportation bill.  The Stabenow amendment includes three very important tax incentive extensions that will encourage investment in new biofuel technologies and infrastructure that will lower gasoline price and provide consumers choice at the pump.” Specifically, the Stabenow amendment would provide for the extension of two critical tax incentives for the advanced and cellulosic ethanol industry -- the Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit (PTC) and the Accelerated Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property – as well as extending the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit that helps gasoline retailers install blender pumps and other ethanol fueling infrastructure.  These policies are vital to the ongoing development of the domestic ethanol industry and commercialization of the advanced and cellulosic ethanol industry.  The entire RFA letter is as follows: Dear Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell: On behalf of America’s ethanol industry, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is writing to voice our support for the Stabenow amendment (#1812) to the pending transportation bill.  The Stabenow amendment includes three very important tax incentive extensions that will encourage investment in new biofuel technologies and infrastructure that will lower gasoline price and provide consumers choice at the pump. Specifically, the Stabenow amendment would provide for the extension of two critical tax incentives for the advanced and cellulosic ethanol industry -- the Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit (PTC) and the Accelerated Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property – as well as extending the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit that helps gasoline retailers install blender pumps and other ethanol fueling infrastructure.  These policies are vital to the ongoing development of the domestic ethanol industry and commercialization of the advanced and cellulosic ethanol industry.  The U.S renewable fuels industry is already an American success story.  Domestic ethanol production is helping to employ, either directly or indirectly, more than 400,000 Americans while reducing our dependence on imported by 485 million barrels a year.   With gas prices soaring, it is increasingly important to diversify U.S. motor fuel markets with viable and competitive alternatives to gasoline, such as ethanol produced from wide range of feedstocks that will offer American consumers a choice at the gas pump.  In fact, ethanol today is helping keep gas prices significantly lower than they otherwise would be.  Ethanol is a cheaper motor fuel than gasoline today and is reducing our dependence on imported oil, thus putting downward pressure of world oil markets.  A study from the University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University concluded that in 2010, the use of 13 billion gallons of ethanol kept gasoline prices $0.89 lower than they otherwise would have been – a savings of some $800 for the average American family. Yesterday, President Obama laid out an ambitious goal of demonstrating the efficacy of alternative fuels in 10-15 communities across the nation.  Extending the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit would not only help achieve the President and the nation’s goal of increased reliance on domestic alternative fuels, but would build upon the 3,000 gas stations that today offer an ethanol blend above 10 percent.  Continuing its evolution, the advanced and cellulosic biofuels industry is now in the process of building new plants, helping drive innovation at existing production facilities with emerging technologies, and introducing new product streams that will allow the renewable fuels sector to become more profitable, diversified and efficient.  Over the last several years, the advanced ethanol industry has vastly increased the efficiency and reduced the cost of producing ethanol from new sources of biomass – including but not limited to municipal solid waste, agricultural waste, energy crops and grasses, and sustainably harvested wood resources. Stable public policy has helped advanced and cellulosic ethanol companies attract several billion dollars in investments.  Much of that money was invested with the expectation that Congress would continue policies that would bring these promising technologies to commercialization.  The PTC and accelerated depreciation allowance provide investment certainty in a high‐risk marketplace largely supply‐ and price‐controlled by OPEC.  Allowing the PTC and accelerated depreciation allowance to expire runs counter to the goals set forth by Congress to foster the development of advanced biofuels under the RFS. To protect our nation’s energy interests, we ask that you support the Stabenow amendment (#1812). Sincerely, Bob Dinneen President and CEO Renewable Fuels Association 2012-03-08T20:07:36+00:00 http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/advanced-ethanol-council-urges-support-for-stabenow-amendment/ http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/advanced-ethanol-council-urges-support-for-stabenow-amendment/ (March 8, 2012) Washington – In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Advanced Ethanol Council voiced support for an amendment to the pending transportation bill that would extend key cellulosic ethanol tax provisions set to expire at the end of 2012. The amendment (#1812) is being offered by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and would extend the Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit (PTC) and the Accelerated Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property through 2013. Previously, CEOs of leading advanced and cellulosic biofuel companies voiced their support for continuing these important provisions.  That letter can be read here. The full letter to Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell from AEC Executive Director Brooke Coleman is as follows: March 8, 2012 Dear Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell: On behalf of the advanced and cellulosic ethanol industry, the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) is writing to voice our support for the Stabenow amendment (#1812) to the pending transportation bill. The Stabenow amendment includes the extension of two critical tax incentives for the advanced and cellulosic ethanol industry -- the Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit (PTC) and the Accelerated Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property. Both are vital to the ongoing development of the domestic advanced and cellulosic ethanol industry. The U.S renewable fuels industry is already an American success story. The advanced and cellulosic biofuels industry is now in the process of building new plants, helping drive innovation at existing production facilities with emerging technologies, and introducing new product streams that will allow the renewable fuels sector to become more profitable, diversified and efficient. Over the last several years, the advanced ethanol industry has vastly increased the efficiency and reduced the cost of producing ethanol from new sources of biomass – including but not limited to municipal solid waste, agricultural waste, energy crops and grasses, and sustainably harvested wood resources. With gas prices soaring, it is increasingly important to diversify U.S. motor fuel markets with viable and competitive alternatives to gasoline, such as advanced ethanol, that will offer American consumers a choice at the gas pump. Several billion dollars have been invested in the development of advanced biofuels with the expectation that Congress will stay the course with regard to its commitment to the industry. The PTC and accelerated depreciation allowance provide investment certainty in a high‐risk marketplace largely supply‐ and price‐controlled by OPEC. A tax increase on advanced biofuels at this time would curtail investment by creating uncertainty for the industry and undercut an industry just starting to close deals and break ground on its first commercial plants. Further, allowing the PTC and accelerated depreciation allowance to expire runs counter to the goals set forth by Congress to foster the development of advanced biofuels under the RFS. To protect our nation’s energy interests, we ask that you support the Stabenow amendment (#1812) to extend the cellulosic PTC and the accelerated depreciation allowance. Sincerely, R. Brooke Coleman Executive Director Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) The executive members of the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) include:  Abengoa BioEnergy, Beta Renewables, BlueFire Renewables, Coskata, Enerkem, Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inbicon, Iogen, Mascoma, Osage BioEnergy, Qteros and ZeaChem Advanced Ethanol Council 2012-03-08T19:58:48+00:00