Filling the Gaps in the Renewable Fuels Standard with Biodiesel
In the farmdoc daily article of July 12, 2017, we calculated the likely size of the "gaps" in biofuels consumption created by the EPA implementation of the Renewable Fuels Standards…
The EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard Rulemaking for 2018 — Still a Push
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the proposed rulemaking for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) for 2018 and the biomass-based diesel volume requirement for 2019 on July 5th. In…
The RFS and Domestic Consumption of Conventional Ethanol and Biomass-Based Diesel to 2022
In the farmdoc daily article of November 30, 2016, we examined the magnitude of the "push" in production and consumption of biofuels implied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)…
The EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard Rulemaking for 2017 Was More Aggressive than Expected
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the final rulemaking for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) for 2017 and the biomass-based diesel volume requirement for 2018 on November 23rd. In…
U.S. Gasoline Consumption: Where to From Here?
In a farmdoc daily article last week (June 2, 2016), we showed that increasing gasoline consumption in the face of falling crude oil and gasoline prices has had, and will…
RFS Standards Beyond 2017–Biodiesel or Bust?
In the farmdoc daily article of May 26, 2016, we reviewed the EPA's final rule making for the Renewable Fuels Standards (RFS) for 2014-16 and the preliminary rulemaking for 2017…
The EPA’s Proposed 2017 RFS Standards: Is a Push Still a Push?
The EPA released the final rulemaking for 2014-2016 RFS standards on November 30, 2015. That final rule making reflected a change in EPA policy in that the implied mandate for…
Questioning the Final RFS Rule, Part 2: the Meaning of the Word ‘Supply’
Today's article continues the discussion of EPA's final rule for the RFS. The previous article in this series provided background on the RFS and a general review of the final…
Questioning the Final RFS Rule, Part 1: the Rule and a Review
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published the final rule that establishes the volume requirements for calendar years 2014, 2015 and 2016 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Previous articles…
In re Syngenta AG MIR 162 Corn Litigation: Resolving Questions of Duty
In a February 25, 2015 update, we discussed the class action lawsuit surrounding Sygenta's genetically modified (GM) corn Agrisure Viptera® and Agrisure DuradadeTM (collectively, "Agrisure") that contains the MIR 162…
Implications of Changing the Biodiesel Tax Credit from a Blender to a Producer Credit
The biodiesel tax credit allows blenders of biodiesel (and renewable diesel) to claim a credit of $1 per gallon against their U.S. federal tax liability. The tax credit has expired…
Why Do Blenders Share Retroactively Reinstated Tax Credits with Biodiesel Producers?
The biodiesel tax credit allows blenders of biodiesel (and renewable diesel) to claim a credit of $1 per gallon against their U.S. federal tax liability. The credit has had several…
What the Obamacare and Power Plant Decisions Might Mean for the RFS Rule
Two recent Supreme Court cases reviewed statutory interpretation by Federal agencies. Given the controversy surrounding EPA's interpretation of its waiver authority under the RFS, these two Supreme Court decisions provide…
Implementing the RFS with a “Push” Strategy: What Happens after 2016?
The EPA released their long-awaited preliminary proposal for 2014-2016 RFS standards late last month. In our first farmdoc daily article (June 3, 2015) after the release of the proposal, we…
EPA Doubles Down on Questionable Reading of the RFS Statute
In November 2013, EPA proposed volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for the 2014 calendar year. In December 2014, it announced that it would not be finalizing the…
Does it Matter Whether the EPA Targets Volumetric or Fractional RFS Standards?
In a farmdoc daily article last week, we analyzed whether the ethanol mandates recently proposed by the EPA for 2015 and 2016 were high enough to provide a "push" for…
The EPA’s Proposed Ethanol Mandates for 2014, 2015, and 2016: Is There a ‘Push’ or Not?
On May 29, 2015, the EPA announced the long-awaited RFS standards for 2014, 2015 and 2016 and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2017. As outlined in a farmdoc daily article…
Clues from the RINs Market about the EPA’s RVO Proposals for 2014, 2015, and 2016
As required by a recent consent decree, the EPA will soon release its proposed RFS rules for 2014-2016. The proposal may be released yet this week and almost certainly no…
The Missing Link: Farmers’ Class Action Against Syngenta May Answer Legal Questions Left After the StarLink and LibertyLink Litigation
Although the increasingly vocal debate over the labeling of food containing genetically modified (GM) organisms has captured most of the public and agricultural community's recent attention, two other controversies working…
Pricing of 2014 Biodiesel RINs under Alternative Policy Scenarios
A farmdoc daily article last week examined the drivers of D4 biodiesel RINs prices. It is important to understand these drivers since the level of D4 prices drives the level…
Understanding the Behavior of Biodiesel RINs Prices
Press reports indicate that EPA deliberations about the final 2014 rulemaking for the RFS are nearing an end. There is some uncertainty whether the final rules will be announced before…
Rolling Back the Write Down of the Renewable Mandate for 2014: The RINs Market Rings the Bell Again
The EPA is apparently going to finalize 2014 RFS rules in the near future. This will at least temporarily bring the tumultuous process to an end that started with the…
Mid-Year RIN Update
Today's post provides an update on Renewable Identification Numbers by looking at updated estimates for RIN carry-in and generation numbers for 2014 through the first six months of the year.…
Energy Programs in the New Farm Bill
The Agricultural Act of 2014 continues a suite of renewable energy programs in Title IX. Known as the Energy Title, it is a relatively new addition to omnibus farm bill…
RIN Stock Update
In the most recent post looking at Renewable Identification Number (RIN) stock levels for 2014, the potential impact of EPA's proposed rulemaking for the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard mandate levels…