Ethanol
EPA is facing a Nov. 30 deadline to propose 2023 renewable fuel blending levels as part of a negotiated deal with Growth Energy, which sued EPA for failing to deliver the proposed levels by the statutory deadline.
The GAO study released on Thursday found small oil refineries pay more than larger competitors to fulfill their blending obligations, showing EPA’s reason to deny refinery exemption petitions is inaccurate.
Rep. Khanna’s Gasoline Export Ban Act of 2022 would grant the president authority to stop exports of gas when prices are high. Other government officials are instead looking at biofuels to mitigate rising gas prices.
EPA approved a second phase of ethanol studies in E30 as the agency weighs its 2023 biofuel blending targets ahead of the Nov. 16 deadline. Jon Doggett, NCGA president, shares his team’s predictions for ethanol in 2023.
These funds—separate from the $500 million recently enacted through the Inflation Reduction Act—will be used for facility installation, retrofitting and pump upgrades, along with new equipment and buildings.
Sen. Ernst told AgriTalk’s Chip Flory that she and Sen. Klobuchar are “thankful” for the biofuel opportunities in this bill. But she’s not convinced the IRA is the answer to America’s pump inflation.
United States ethanol production has slowed the last several weeks and is now at levels not seen since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
EPA proposes to reduce biofuels blending levels, add a supplemental obligation to volumes and reject 65 pending applications for small refinery exemptions.
In early April, President Biden—ahead of EPA—formally announced the suspension of a federal rule that prohibits the sale of E15 blended biofuels during summer months in hopes of alleviating rising pump prices.
Stakeholders applaud President Biden following months of pleading for increased biofuel availability while others set the record straight on biofuel impacts on the climate.