• Policy: US federal, state and international
• Federal Legislation
• Federal Regulations
• Regulations Open for Public Comment
• Federal Litigation
• By and About Advanced Biofuels USA
• Advanced Biofuels USA Policy Analyses and Statements

Federal Legislation

(Ethanol Producer Magazine) This week’s Ethanol Producer Magazine podcast features, Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol explaining how the Inflation Reduction Act gives farmers and ethanol producers more support in lowering their carbon intensity scores. He also discusses the policy priorities ACE has in the wake of ... September 14, 2022 Read Full Article

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper on Aug. 13 discussed several current issues impacting the U.S. ethanol sector, including a possible rail strike, ahead of an event held by the White House in celebration of the Inflation Reduction Act. Cooper opened a call .. September 14, 2022 Read Full Article

(Agri-Pulse)  This week’s Open Mic guest is House Ag Ranking Member Glenn “GT” Thompson. At last week’s Farm Progress Show, Thompson offered thoughts on crafting a 2023 farm bill including an opportunity to chair the committee if the GOP wins a majority in the November midterms. The Pennsylvania 15th district ... September 12, 2022 Read Full Article

(Orrick) On Friday, August 12, 2022, the House passed The Inflation Reduction Act, the sweeping legislation on health care, climate and taxes, by a 220-207 margin after passing the Senate on August 7th. The legislation will reshape and expand tax credit incentives for a broad range of renewable energy resources and ... September 12, 2022 Read Full Article

by John R. Kirkwood, Jason Deppen, and Christopher B. Berendt (FaegreDrinker/Biofuels Digest) … Section 48(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) as it existed prior to the adoption of the (Inflation Reduction) Act provides an investment tax credit (ITC) for the installation of certain renewable energy property as described in Section ... September 9, 2022 Read Full Article

by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA)  In the recently signed Inflation Reduction Act, you can find a number of items that involve sustainable aviation fuels (SFA), particularly the tax credit and transition to a carbon credit.  Thanks to notes about these provisions by Chris Tindal, Assistant Director of the Commercial ... September 8, 2022 Read Full Article

by Corey Lavinsky (S&P Global) … Though ethanol is mentioned only thrice in the lengthy law, ethanol producers will benefit from its carbon capture, utilization and storage provisions, clean fuel production credits, and incentives for ethanol-based sustainable aviation fuel. In addition, cellulosic ethanol manufacturers celebrated the revival of a previously-expired $1.01/gal second ... September 8, 2022 Read Full Article

by Jon Doggett  (Fox Business/National Corn Growers Association) We must expand fuel choices and make ethanol more accessible across the US — … The Agriculture Department estimates that the cost of fuel, lube and electricity combined for American farmers is projected to increase 34% in 2022. We must remain focused on ... September 7, 2022 Read Full Article

by Bob Larson (Ag Information Network/Washington State Farm Bureau Report)  … The same week California announced it will end the sale of new liquid-fueled vehicles in 2035, a heat wave forced a power emergency and a request that consumers reduce demand, including charging EVs. That underscored the corn ethanol industry’s ... September 7, 2022 Read Full Article

(Algae Biomass Organization) The Inflation Reduction Act that was passed by Congress and Signed by President Biden last month has been hailed as a milestone in climate progress for the United States, especially for the aid that the new legislation will provide for technology development. Several provisions should be of ... September 6, 2022 Read Full Article

by Cindy Zimmerman (AgWired)  Ethanol was in the spotlight at the Farm Progress Show in Iowa this week and the Renewable Fuels Association was there to promote the high octane benefits of the fuel and the role of biofuels and farming in combating climate change. RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper, Director of Government Affairs ... September 6, 2022 Read Full Article

by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com)Agri-Pulse editor Sara Wyant moderated a legislative outlook panel of mostly Midwest lawmakers in the Syngenta tent at Farm Progress Show Wednesday. Joining Wyant were (L-R) Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL); Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA); Vicky Hartzler (R-MO); GT Thompson (R-PA); Randy Feenstra (R-IA); and Ashley Hinson (R-IA). The ... September 1, 2022 Read Full Article

(Biomass Magazine) This week’s Biomass Magazine podcast features, Patrick Serfass, Executive Director, American Biogas Council, Interviewed by Anna Simet, editor of Biomass Magazine.  LISTEN  August 29, 2022 Read Full Article

(Biodiesel Magazine) This week’s Biodiesel Magazine podcast features, Paul Winters, Director of Public Affairs and Federal Communications, Clean Fuels Alliance America Interview by Anna Simet, editor of Biomass Magazine.   READ MORE Biomass Magazine’s Podcast Series: The Landmark Inflation Reduction Act: Biomass-based Diesel (Biomass Magazine) ... August 29, 2022 Read Full Article

(Biomass Magazine)  The Landmark Inflation Reduction Act: What’s in it for Biomass-based Diesel? Featuring Paul Winters, Director of Public Affairs and Federal Communications, Clean Fuels Alliance America, Interviewed by Anna Simet, editor of Biomass Magazine. LISTEN   August 25, 2022 Read Full Article

(Biomass Magazine) The Landmark Inflation Reduction Act: What’s in it for Biogas/Renewable Natural Gas? Featuring Patrick Serfass, Executive Director, American Biogas Council Interviewed by Anna Simet, editor of Biomass Magazine.   LISTEN  August 25, 2022 Read Full Article

(Society of Environmental Journalists) “In a first, the measure legally defines greenhouse gases as pollution. That’ll make new regulations much tougher to challenge in court.” “When the Supreme Court restricted the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency to fight climate change this year, the reason it gave was that Congress had ... August 24, 2022 Read Full Article

by Anne C. Mulkern (E&E News/Politico Pro)  …  Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) last week signed legislation banning sales of new gasoline-fueled vehicles in state after 2035. California, New York and Washington have said they’d enact similar mandates.  READ MORE   August 18, 2022 Read Full Article

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  President Joe Biden on Aug. 16 signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, calling the legislation the “biggest step forward in climate—ever” and stressing it will allow the U.S. to boldly take addition steps towards meeting its climate goals.   The expansive legislative package addresses ... August 17, 2022 Read Full Article

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Federal Regulation

by Laura Sanicola and Laila Kearney (Reuters)  Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N) plans to start receiving shipments of renewable fuel feedstocks at its Trainer, Pennsylvania, refinery as part of a strategy that could reduce its environmental liabilities by hundreds of millions of dollars, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The move ...September 19, 2022 Read Full Article

by Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  Ethanol made from corn fiber has a low carbon intensity and the potential to generate D3 RINs, but navigating the regulatory landscape to capture its fullest value can be complex.  —  Producing corn fiber ethanol alongside standard, D6 RIN-generating corn starch ethanol gives producers ...September 19, 2022 Read Full Article

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a virtual public workshop on the new biointermediates provisions of the Renewable Fuel Standard program. EPA is hosting a virtual public workshop to discuss the implementation of the new biointermediate provisions promulgated as a part of Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) final rule for ... September 16, 2022 Read Full Article

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA on Sept. 15 released updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data, reporting that one new SRE petition was filed under the Renewable Fuel Standard during the past month. According to the agency, four SRE petitions are currently pending. The newly filed SRE petition ... September 16, 2022 Read Full Article

by Jasmin Melvin (S&P Global) E15 solution for Midwest states coming: Regan; Biofuel group pushes for nationwide action; Lays out industry priorities for next RFS rulemaking — A promise by US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan to lift a summertime ban on sales of a gasoline blend containing 15% ethanol in certain ... September 14, 2022 Read Full Article

by Rudi Keller (News from the States) When lawmakers return this week for a special session, most of the attention will be on Gov. Mike Parson’s proposal to cut income taxes by $700 million a year. But Parson also wants the bill to include several tax credits intended to benefit rural Missouri ... September 13, 2022 Read Full Article

by Doug Duarante (Clean Fuels Development Coalition/Governors’ Biofuels Coalition) Coalition Urges Administrator to Address Mobile Sources — In a detailed letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Fuels Development Coalition (CFDC) called on the agency to use its existing authority to reduce toxic aromatics in gasoline as required by ... September 13, 2022 Read Full Article

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  The Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy are slamming a Reuters article published on Sept. 8 that recycles highly misleading claims about the greenhouse gas (GHG) impact of U.S. ethanol plants. The Reuters article, in part, cites the widely discredited study by Tyler Lark and others, which .. September 12, 2022 Read Full Article

by Leah Douglas (Reuters)  In 2007, the U.S. Congress mandated the blending of biofuels such as corn-based ethanol into gasoline. One of the top goals: reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But today, the nation’s ethanol plants produce more than double the climate-damaging pollution, per gallon of fuel production capacity, than the nation’s ... September 8, 2022 Read Full Article

by Jon Doggett  (Fox Business/National Corn Growers Association) We must expand fuel choices and make ethanol more accessible across the US — … The Agriculture Department estimates that the cost of fuel, lube and electricity combined for American farmers is projected to increase 34% in 2022. We must remain focused on ... September 7, 2022 Read Full Article

(Alder Fuels/Enviva/Business Wire)  Partnership aims to accelerate the decarbonization of aviation and to scale access to renewable fuels to power the clean energy transition — Enviva Inc. (NYSE: EVA), the world’s leading producer of sustainably sourced woody biomass, and Alder Fuels, a clean tech developer and greencrude producer, have signed a ... September 7, 2022 Read Full Article

by Doug Durante (Biofuels Digest/Clean Fuels Development Coalition) … EPA was finalizing their proposed rule to reduce fine particulates. To their credit, they had announced early on that they intended to complete their NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking) by August and it is at the Office of Management and Budget for ... September 5, 2022 Read Full Article

by Stephanie Kelly and Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters)  The Biden administration is expected to announce a rule this year that would detail annual biofuel blending mandates for the refining industry for a three-year period instead of just for one, three sources familiar with the discussions said. The switch to a multi-year target ... September 2, 2022 Read Full Article

by Marc Heller (E&E News/Climatewire) After almost two decades making power from manure, Jon Patterson is done. The electric generator he installed on his dairy farm in upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region in the late 2000s sits idle while he contemplates more promising ways to make money from the back ... August 31, 2022 Read Full Article

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA on Aug. 29 issued a final rule creating an optional alternative renewable identification number (RIN) retirement schedule for small refineries under the Renewable Fuel Standard for compliance year 2020. The agency action finalizes a proposed rule issued in June.   The alternative RIN retirement ... August 31, 2022 Read Full Article

by Emily Skor (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Year-round E15 and the RFS ‘set’ are top priorities for Growth Energy heading into it its annual D.C. fly-in this September. 2023 is the first year required volumes of renewable fuel are not specified by Congress and must be set by the EPA. ... August 26, 2022 Read Full Article

by Jessica Buckley (RTP Environmental Associates Inc/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Some facilities that were originally designed and operated as fuel-grade ethanol plants are diversifying to produce higher-grade alcohol. There are permitting and compliance hurdles that may be encountered when making these changes to a biorefinery. … Given the current political climate ... August 26, 2022 Read Full Article

by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The dual financial motive behind ethanol’s move into CCS helps explain how and why producers intend to monetize their vital new role in the carbon sequestration movement. … The affiliate of Summit Agricultural Group is working towards building a multi-state, multi-ethanol plant pipeline system ... August 26, 2022 Read Full Article

by Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  At the 2022 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, the world’s largest biofuels conference, producers, industry stakeholders and vendors gathered to connect and learn in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  —  The 38th annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo welcomed producers, suppliers, innovators and policy experts ... August 26, 2022 Read Full Article

by Sean Pratt (Western Producer) Renewable diesel production is expected to overtake biodiesel production in the United States in October, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. “We’re seeing continued growth on the renewable diesel side and stagnation to slight shrinkage on the biodiesel side,” Mindi Farber-DeAnda, team lead of petroleum ... August 24, 2022 Read Full Article

(Sierra Club) Yesterday, Toyota announced its support for the state of California’s authority to set vehicle emissions standards under the Clean Air Act. During the Trump administration, Toyota and other automakers attacked this authority and sided with Trump’s rollback of key climate and clean air protections. This week, the California Air Resources Board ... August 24, 2022 Read Full Article

(Inside EPA)  Small refiners suing EPA over its modified compliance regime for the renewable fuel standard (RFS) say the agency has unlawfully and “extremely” compressed the timetable for them to supply EPA with compliance credits under the guise of a compliance deadline “extension” rule, asking a federal court to scrap ... August 24, 2022 Read Full Article

(Environmental Protection Agency) For any calendar year for which the projected volume of cellulosic biofuel production is less than the applicable volume of cellulosic biofuel set forth in Clean Air Act (CAA) section 211(o)(2)(B)(III), EPA must reduce the required volume of cellulosic biofuel for that year to the projected volume, and ... August 23, 2022 Read Full Article

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Perhaps the most startling and under-appreciated story of the year. A heavy-duty transport fuel, made using abundant, fungible and affordable biomethane, validated at $2.91 per gallon by the DOE’s top due diligence team, and that’s no carbon price, no subsidy, no tax credit, no kidding. ... August 22, 2022 Read Full Article

by Ken Colombini (Renewable Fuels Association)  As gasoline prices hit record levels earlier this summer, we heard plenty of anecdotal stories about a surge in the number of drivers seeking out lower-cost alternatives like E15 and E85. Now, we have fresh data to prove that more and more drivers did indeed ... August 22, 2022 Read Full Article

(Comstock Mining/Globe Newswire)  Targets First Generation Corn Ethanol Facilities For Commercialization —  Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) (“Comstock” and the “Company”) today announced that it is marketing its cellulosic ethanol production technology for construction of commercial scale facilities, with a focus on upgrading pre-existing first generation corn ethanol facilities to convert forestry ... August 19, 2022 Read Full Article

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Regulations Open for Public Comment

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Federal Litigation 

(Clean Fuels Alliance America) Following discussions with Clean Fuels members, EPA hopes to resolve dispute without litigation  — Today (September 8, 2022), Clean Fuels Alliance America and the U.S. Department of Justice filed a joint motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit concerning Clean Fuels Alliance America ... September 14, 2022 Read Full Article

by Todd Neeley (DTN ProgressiveFarmer) EPA has 29 days to decide whether to grant or deny a petition calling for the regulation of pesticide-treated seeds, after a federal court on Wednesday approved a consent decree between the agency and the Center for Food Safety and the Pesticide Action Network North America. ... September 2, 2022 Read Full Article

(Inside EPA)  Small refiners suing EPA over its modified compliance regime for the renewable fuel standard (RFS) say the agency has unlawfully and “extremely” compressed the timetable for them to supply EPA with compliance credits under the guise of a compliance deadline “extension” rule, asking a federal court to scrap ... August 24, 2022 Read Full Article

by Todd Neeley (DNT Progressive Farmer) Refining Companies Line Up to Challenge Biden Administration on Denial of RFS Exemptions  —  Though the ethanol industry has celebrated the Biden administration’s rejection of all pending small-refinery exemptions to the Renewable Fuel Standard, legal challenges to that action are beginning to pile up after ... August 17, 2022 Read Full Article