Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) President Brian
Thalmann provided testimony last week at a hearing for a proposed rule by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowing year-round sales of E15. On
behalf of MCGA, Thalmann advocated for removing the outdated barrier to E15 by
June 1 while avoiding additional reforms that could weigh down E15 sales.
A corn and soybean farmer from Plato, Thalmann shared in his
testimony the success of E15 in Minnesota,
The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a proposed rule that has the potential to make the selling of year-round E15 a reality this year. However, comments from Minnesota’s corn farmers are needed to ensure the rule increases access to E15 while maintaining a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
Currently, the proposed rule for E15 is paired with a
complex proposal to change rules for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs),
the credits that demonstrate compliance with the RFS.
In three short years, Minnesota went from 14 locations
offering 88 Octane fuel, commonly known as E15, to over 300 retailers selling
the cleaner-burning fuel. The expanded infrastructure combined with a number of
other efforts helped Minnesota set all-time highs in ethanol sales last year.
Free to download, “The Rise of Ethanol in Minnesota” e-book details the multi-faceted approach to make Minnesota a national leader in ethanol-blended fuels.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a
proposed rule allowing year-round sales of E15 this week. While the rule would
finally give consumes access to E15 during the summer driving months, a
Renewable Identification Number (RIN) reform package also included in the rule tempers
biofuel supporters’ optimism.
Year-round access to E15 would provide a much needed boost
in corn demand for corn farmers nationwide enduring consecutive years of
declining farm income. However, the included RIN reform package will need to be
carefully reviewed before the rule is considered an overall win for farmers and
biofuel supporters.
Announced last week, Governor Tim Walz was named 2019 chair of the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition. In the role, Walz will work with governors from 22 states on advocacy efforts supporting regional and national biofuel policy development.
A longtime supporter of ethanol-blended fuels, Walz will serve as chair during what will be a crucial year for the future of ethanol. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will soon begin rulemaking for year-round sales of E15,
(Minnesota Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Andrea Vaubel addressed the crowd at an event celebrating the state surpassing 300 88 Octane and 400 E85 locations)
The Minnesota Department of Commerce released its year-end station report detailing a record-breaking year for 88 Octane fuel sales, also known as E15, and building momentum for E85 in 2018.
More than 59 million gallons of 88 Octane fuel were sold to Minnesota consumers last year,
The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) joined federal and state officials, as well as the American Lung Association and others from the renewable fuel industry to celebrate the success of the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) on Thursday. Since its implementation in 2015, the program has helped Minnesota become a national leader in ethanol infrastructure, recently surpassing 400 E85 stations and 300 stations selling 88 Octane fuel, also known as E15.
The celebration took place at a Plymouth Holiday gas station that received funding from the BIP program.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule today that establishes the required renewable fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Total renewable fuel volume as part of the 2019 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) is 19.92 billion gallons, which is a slight increase compared to 2018 volumes (19.29 billion gallons).
The EPA ordered refiners to use 15 billion gallons of conventional renewable fuels, most frequently ethanol, which is flat compared to 2018. Advanced and cellulosic biofuels,
Fuel events across the Twin Cities metro area wrapped up last week with hundreds of consumers stopping by their local station to learn more about the benefits of ethanol-blended fuels. In all, four events were held across the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, with more than an estimated 200 area residents learning about 88 Octane (also known as E15) and E85 while enjoying discounts on each.
The American Lung Association was on-hand at all four events to promote the clean air benefits of ethanol-blended fuels.
The Minnesota Corn Growers Association joined colleagues from the Texas Corn Producers to promote the benefits of ethanol and the work of the nation’s corn farmers at the NASCAR Texas 500 over the weekend.
With support from American Ethanol, the annual event has been a long-standing opportunity to raise awareness of ethanol-blended fuels and the importance of corn farming with thousands of fans at Texas Motor Speedway.
Volunteers and staff from each organization met with NASCAR fans outside the race track at a large booth,