Gasoline demand in the United States is falling, along with demand for biofuels. As Americans stay home amid the national shut in to slow the spread of COVID-19, many are working from home and not needing as much fuel for their vehicles.
Now, the U.S. ethanol industry is urging the Trump administration to adhere to a court decision that would limit small refinery waivers.
The American Coalition for Ethanol says preliminary economic forecasts estimate the lack of gasoline consumption caused by the coronavirus will likely reduce ethanol demand by hundreds of millions of gallons and “cut corn grind by hundreds of millions of bushels.”
Additionally, the organization says the Environmental Protection Agency should restore 500 million gallons to the Renewable Fuel Standard in compliance with the 2017 D.C. Circuit Court case regarding the improper use of EPA’s waiver authority. ACE is also asking President Donald Trump to reduce or remove Chinese tariffs on DDGs, as China earlier this week released a list of U.S. companies eligible to export DDGs.
