Ethanol Report 5-1-26

Farm Progress Show 2026 with USDA Sec. Brooke Rollins, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper, and Robert White, RFA Senior VP of Industry Relations & Market Development

Robert White RFA Senior VP, Industry Relations & Market Development, Robert White discusses the latest increase in the ethanol blend rate, where California is with E15, and a great summertime promotion with the KC Diamonds

RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper and RFA Communications Director Ken Colombini discuss Americans support for the Renewable Fuel Standard in a new poll celebrating energy independence as our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary. 

In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, we hear from many of the RFA team members who helped to make FEW 2026 a home run, including Senior Vice President for Government and Public Affairs Troy Bredenkamp; Senior Vice President for Industry Relations and Market Development Robert White; Vice President for Strategy and Innovation Tad Hapner; Director of Environment, Health and Safety Justin Schultz; as well as President and CEO Geoff Cooper. 

The Renewable Fuels Association is partnering with the Kansas City Diamonds as the "Official Fuel" of the organization for the inaugural Professional Softball League season. This episode features Jeremy McDowell, President of the Kansas City Diamonds and Robert White, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations and Market Development for Renewable Fuels Association.

Troy Bredenkamp, Senior VP, Government & Public Affairs for the Renewable Fuels Association, discusses House passage of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, and plans for getting it through the Senate and on to the president's desk to finally allow year-round, nationwide sales of E15. 

RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper breaks down what happened to the E15 bill in Congress this past week.

The Trump administration hit two home runs for the ethanol industry during the last week of March amidst National Agriculture Month celebrations – announcing waivers to allow sales of E15 through the summer, in lieu of Congressional action to make it permanent, and finalizing the long-delayed renewable volume obligations for 2026 and 2027. In this edition of The Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper discusses the actions by the administration and why the industry is still pressing for permanent nationwide E15 to be passed by Congress yet this year.

The Renewable Fuels Association is a proud sponsor of Girls Auto Clinic (GAC) to expand ethanol education and outreach to a growing audience of women who are actively engaged in car buying, maintenance, and repair. Founder Patrice Banks spoke at the recent National Ethanol Conference about her efforts to help women gain the knowledge and confidence to take charge of their automotive experiences and how her audience has been very receptive to information the benefits of higher ethanol blends. In this edition of the Ethanol Report, we hear from Banks and also from RFA Membership and Marketing Manager Kendra Coulson about how the RFA partnership with Girls Auto Clinic started and how its going.

Audio from the 2026 National Ethanol Conference RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper; RFA Senior VP, Industry Relations & Market Development, Robert White; RFA Senior VP, Government & Public Affairs, Troy Bredenkamp; U.S. EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, Aaron Szabo; RFA General Counsel and VP, Government Affairs, Ed Hubbard; RFA Policy Counsel and Director, Government Affairs, Jared Mullendore; RFA VP, Strategy and Innovation, Tad Hepner; 2026 RFA Industry Award: LanzaJet CEO Jimmy Samartzis