News

RFS2 gives more credit to distillers grains

One of the positive aspects of the EPA’s RFS2 announcement this week was the increased credit given to distillers grains.  That according to the Nebraska Corn Board. 

EPA noted that new research available since the initial RFS2 proposal indicates that distillers grains is more efficient as an animal feed than what it had originally assumed.  That means less corn is needed for animal feed—which, in turn, means that domestic corn demand and exports are not impacted as much by increased biofuel production as previously thought. 

But despite that positive news, the Corn Board still has concerns with the RFS2 rule, especially what it calls “the shaky science” of international indirect land use change.  The board points out that with the land use change theory included, EPA estimated that corn-based ethanol reduces greenhouse gases 21 percent over gasoline. Without that penalty, corn ethanol would achieve a 52 percent reduction rating. 

The Corn Board also renewed its call for approval of E15 and putting more flex fuel vehicles on the road.