USGBC Chairman Mark Wilson, USGBC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor and RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper traveled to Ottawa in January meet with Canadian officials and leaders in the energy and transportation sectors.
The Iowa House of Representatives passed House File 2104 by a 64-28 vote on Jan. 21. The bill, if enacted, would effectively halt the development of carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS) infrastructure.
The New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board on Jan. 22 unanimously adopted regulations implementing a Clean Transportation Fuel Program, making New Mexico the fourth U.S. state to adopt a clean fuel standard.
The House on Jan. 22 rejected efforts to include language allowing year-round sales of E15 in an appropriations package expected to advance later in the day. Instead, lawmakers indicated plans to launch a new “Rural Domestic Energy Council.”
The State of Illinois is again calling on the U.S. Congress and the Trump administration to require year-round sales of E15 fuel, noting a year-round requirement for E15 would boost corn demand by 2 billion bushels per year.
A new corn supply study released on Jan. 21 underscores the need to develop new markets to underpin farm income and rural economies. The study was commissioned by the IRFA and ICGA and conducted by Decision Innovation Solutions.
Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh on Jan. 20 introduced a bill designed to address concerns about carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) projects in the state, according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association.
Biomass Magazine has announced the addition of the North American Biocarbon Conference to the 2026 International Biomass Conference & Expo, expanding the event’s scope to include the full value chain of carbon-negative and carbon-smart technologies.
The South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development is reminding eligible fuel marketers to file applications for the state’s E15 Fuel Tax Refund Program, which provides a refund of up to 5 cents per gallon for eligible E15 sales.
More than 25 years of talking and tweaking have not improved the EU-Mercosur agreement, which remains a bad deal not just for the European renewable ethanol sector but for European farmers and rural economies, according to ePURE.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 12 denied a request by two Iowa counties to review a lower court’s ruling regarding regulations for CO2 pipelines. The denial removes one legal hurdle facing Summit Carbon Solutions’ CO2 pipeline project.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., on Jan. 13 met with officials from Growth Energy to underscore her support for ethanol production, as well as her commitment to helping strengthen our national and energy security.
The U.S. EPA on Jan. 15 released new data showing one new small refinery exemption (SRE) petition was filed under RFS during the past month. A total of 26 SRE petitions are currently pending, up from 25 that were pending as of mid-December.
In comments submitted on Jan. 15 to Environment and Climate Change Canada, the RFA expressed strong support for Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations and shared its view on potential amendments to the program.
ASTM International has developed a standard (E3503) that will address a specific need in the ethanol industry: measuring corn kernel fiber conversion for various applications, including regulatory pathways.
Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, on Jan. 14 sent a letter to the U.S. EPA and three other federal agencies seeking an update on actions they have taken to respond to serious concerns regarding Renewable Fuel Standard refinery exemptions.
The USDA’s Commodity Credit Corp. on Dec. 31 announced it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2025, which runs from Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2026.
The USDA on Dec. 31 announced the per-acre payment rates for $11 billion of the $12 billion farm aid package announced in December. U.S. corn, soybean and sorghum farmers will receive respective per-acre payments of $44.36, $30.88, and $48.11.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Jan. 9 released a proposed 2026-27 state budget. Details published by the California Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review indicate the proposed budget includes provisions for a new SAF tax credit.
As 2026 begins, several promising trends are emerging that give the RFA strong confidence in ethanol’s future.
The USDA on Jan. 12 confirmed that farmers harvested a record-large corn crop in 2025, estimated at more than 17 billion bushels. At the same time, corn stockpiles are expected to climb to their highest level in eight years.
The U.S. EPA on Jan. 7 delivered a draft final rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget to repeal the agency’s 2009 Endangerment Finding and tailpipe greenhouse gas regulations for motor vehicles and engines.
The NCGA on Jan. 9 released its economic outlook for 2026 outlining six key forces expected to drive corn prices and farm margins in the year ahead. The forecast underscores the need for new and expanded markets for corn growers.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has announced the appointment of Justin Benavidez as USDA’s Chief Economist. Benavidez’s appointment follows the retirement of Seth Meyer, who served as USDA’s Chief Economist since 2021.
Bioethanol was showcased for use in on-road, aviation and maritime applications during COP30 in Brazil.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 8 voted 397 to 28 in favor of an appropriations package that includes language on biomass energy and sustainability. Reports accompanying the legislation include guidance on SREs and SAF.
Biomass Magazine has released the agenda for the 19th Annual International Biomass Conference & Expo, scheduled for March 31-April 2, 2026, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
The U.S. EPA in December 2025 released a draft permit for a Class VI CO2 injection well for a project under development by PureField Carbon Capture LLC that would capture and sequester CO2 produced at PureField Ingredient’s ethanol plant.
In a letter sent on Jan. 7 to congressional leadership, a coalition of more than 70 biofuel and agricultural organizations called for the immediate passage of legislation to allow year-round nationwide sales of E15.
The U.K. Department for Transport late 2025 signaled it may be softening its stance on crop-based SAF. The agency is gathering stakeholder input that could provide a pathway to open the country’s SAF Mandate program to crop-based biofuels.
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