August 17, 2018 Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20460 Re: Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0167 Dear Acting Administrator Wheeler: The Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Illinois Renewable Fuels Association (ILRFA) are pleased to submit comments concerning the proposed EPA rulemaking regarding the establishment of renewable…
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USGC EXPLORES POTENTIAL ETHANOL DEMAND IN CHILE AND ARGENTINA
Increased global bioethanol use is only a well-constructed policy decision away in markets like Argentina and Chile. The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) traveled to both countries in June to investigate their existing ethanol markets and discover how new or improved ethanol policies could boost demand while opening the door to imports. “New market development opportunities…
EPA 2019 RFS PROPOSED RULEMAKING: WHAT YOU SEE IS NOT WHAT YOU GET
On June 26, 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its proposed rule for establishing the volume obligations under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) (EPA Proposed Rule). If finalized, the proposed rule would set the requirements for obligated parties to comply with the RFS for calendar year 2019, as well as the requirements for biomass-based diesel…
APRIL ANOTHER STRONG MONTH FOR U.S. ETHANOL AND DDGS EXPORTS
U.S. ethanol exports totaled 162.3 million gallons (mg) in April, according to government data released this morning and analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). This represents a 25% drop from the near-record export volume recorded in March, but still tallied as the fourth-largest monthly export volume in six years. Brazil was the leading destination…
CHART OF NOTE: U.S. ETHANOL EXPORTS CONTINUE UPWARD STREAK
Seven months into the 2017/2018 marketing year, the United States has exported nearly one billion gallons of ethanol, up 15 percent year-over-year and an indication of ethanol exports’ support for U.S. grain demand. March ethanol exports exceeded 215 million gallons, the second highest monthly sales on record behind nearly 220 million gallons in February 2018….
STATEMENT FROM THE U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL ON RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD AND REALLOCATING RINS
President Donald Trump, today, reaffirmed he will approve year-round sales of 15-percent ethanol fuels without a Renewable Identification Number (RIN) cap. However, he has asked Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to work out the details on an additional item: Reallocating RINs from exempted small refinery gallons to ethanol…
ETHANOL TODAY: HOW USGC WORKS TO DEVELOP THE GLOBAL ETHANOL MARKET
Developing markets has been the centerpiece of the U.S. Grains Council’s work since the organization was founded in 1960. Over the decades, the scope of these efforts has expanded from a focus on corn, sorghum and barley to incorporate co-products like distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Now, the Council is also working around the…
TOP ILLINOIS CORN BUYER TURNS EYE TO ETHANOL IMPORTS
Bloomington, Ill.—Japanese authorities have good news for Illinois corn farmers: the government’s new biofuel policy will allow imports of ETBE made from U.S. corn-based ethanol, a decision that was supported in part by research funded with Illinois corn checkoff dollars through the Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB). “The Illinois Corn Marketing Board is pleased to…
NCGA TO PRESIDENT TRUMP: WE CANNOT ACCEPT CHANGES TO THE RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD
The National Corn Growers Association, along with other agricultural organizations, sent a letter to President Trump on Monday, calling on the President to maintain the integrity of the RFS. “We appreciate the President’s support of the RFS since the early days of his campaign,” said NCGA President Kevin Skunes. “Rural America supported President Trump last…
DECEMBER SEES NEAR-RECORD ETHANOL EXPORTS
The official government numbers are in and they confirm that 2017 was an unprecedented year for ethanol exports. According to government data released today and analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), the year ended with December shipments of 173.3 million gallons (mg) of U.S. ethanol–the largest volume of monthly exports in six years and…