US ethanol coalition seeks to intervene in legal challenge against ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation

In Washington, leaders of the U.S. ethanol industry are seeking to intervene in a legal challenge of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, which effectively bans the use of renewable, crop-based biofuels like corn ethanol as a feedstock for decarbonizing the aviation sector. Collaborating in the intervention are Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. Grains Council, and LanzaJet. Earlier this year, LanzaJet opened the world’s first ethanol-to-jet biorefinery, in Georgia.

The application to intervene in the proceedings supports a challenge brought by ePURE, a trade association representing European ethanol producers, and Pannonia Bio, one of Europe’s largest ethanol producers. Their application seeks to annul the relevant provisions of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, which was adopted by the EU in 2023 and is set to take effect in 2025. A similar challenge was brought against the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, and members of the U.S. ethanol industry are seeking to intervene there, as well.

With regard to the new petition, the groups argue it will have a detrimental effect on the U.S. ethanol industry.