Articles Tagged: biofuels

Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson talked inflation, transportation and drug costs with small business owners during a stop in Vinton on Monday.

The U.S. House on Thursday passed several pieces of legislation aimed at addressing high fuel and food costs and supply chain issues, including expanding the availability of higher-ethanol fuel blends

But it reduces previous ethanol-blending requirements due to a plunge in fuel demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Biden administration is set this week to finalize biofuel-blending mandates that largely track plans it already proposed in December, according to several people familiar with the matter.

The new law requires every Iowa gas station to offer the higher E15 ethanol blend

State lawmakers on Tuesday approved with strong, bipartisan support a proposal to require that most Iowa gas stations sell the E15 blend of ethanol in at least one pump.

The Iowa Senate’s tax policy committee Monday approved Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal after making some changes, including the addition of another way for small gas stations to receive an exemption from the proposed requirements and financial assistance for potential equipment upgrades.

The governors, including Iowa’s Kim Reynolds, are proposing the federal government regulate E10 — the most common blend of ethanol currently available year-round — the same as E15, which has a higher ethanol blend and typically is cheaper.

The Biden administration announced Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency will issue an emergency action that will make the E15 blend of ethanol available through this summer. The action will cite the strain on the nation’s fuel supply caused by the Russian military’s invasion of Ukraine.

The president will make the announcement at an event scheduled for this afternoon at a biofuels processing plant in Guthrie County.

In Iowa, the average gas price Thursday was $3.924, but topped $4 in many rural areas according to AAA. However, Iowa lawmakers say they’ve heard little talk of suspending state motor fuel taxes -- 30 cents a gallon state tax on gas and ethanol, and 32.5 on diesel fuel.

U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley of Iowa are introducing legislation to replace banned Russian oil with American renewable fuels, saying biofuels are less expensive then straight-up petroleum products.

The proposal passed through a streamlined legislative process Tuesday in the Iowa Senate, leaving it just a few legislative steps away from the governor’s pen.

USDA announces $800 million in aid to producers

In June, USDA announced $700 million in aid to biofuel producers as part of the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative with indications it would be available within 60 days.