Renewable Energy Report: September 2018 Newsletter

In this month’s report, we look at the current ethanol blending rates in the U.S. gasoline market. Then we look at the most recent update of the U.S. ethanol market long-term projections from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institutes at University of Missouri (FAPRI-MU) published in mid-August 2018. Finally, we outline the small refinery exemption data just published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

About one third of Oregon’s greenhouse gases are generated in the transportation sector (Department of Environmental Quality, DEQ). Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program (Oregon CFP) is an essential component of Oregon’s plan to reduce greenhouse gases in the transportation sector.

The small refinery exemptions rule enacted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Renewable Fuel Standards has created significant demand destruction in the U.S. ethanol market. A detailed economic study on this issue done by Scott Irwin from University of Illinois can be found here.