Diesel inventories in the United States and around the world are low and there is growing concern about what tight supplies could mean heading into a cold winter. Below, AFPM’s industry analysts explain (1) what’s behind this particular supply chain challenge, (2) how U.S. refiners are adapting operations to meet consumer needs (i.e., running full out and maximizing distillate production) and (3) the role government might play in bringing about resolution.
Limiting California’s access to the exact types of crude oil its facilities need will only increase prices for the state’s consumers and travelers. Drivers are already dealing with gasoline prices in excess of $5 per gallon and the highest fuel taxes of the 50 states. Confining energy producers and consumers to a smaller pool of crude oil will make a very sensitive price environment that much worse.
A duo of strong storms that swept through the United States has temporarily disrupted domestic fuel markets, but effective responses by the private and public sectors have limited the fallout from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma for Americans who need fuel critical for commerce.
A major labor union — the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers — is urging President Trump not to put union jobs at risk by increasing federal biofuel blending obligations for refiners.
The House of Representatives will soon vote on three pieces of legislation to rein in the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from (1) imposing and enabling de facto bans on new cars and trucks that run on liquid fuels and (2) from radically transforming the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) into a new nine-figure-government subsidy program for electric vehicles (EVs).
Chet Thompson, President and CEO of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), issued the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule regarding modifying the interpretation of Clean Air Act Section 211(h)(4) to extend the E10 volatility waiver to E15, on which AFPM today submitted comments.
A legal representative for numerous U.S. small refineries has submitted a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency opposing calls for the agency to share confidential business information of small refineries with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Oil markets are famously sensitive to uncertainty. Global conflict can send prices higher on concerns that crude oil supplies could be disrupted. This is playing out in response to Russia’s unprovoked acts of war against Ukraine. Russia is a major supplier of crude oil and other energy products globally, though less so in the United States. In recent days, many market participants have committed to stop purchasing Russian oil. Shipping companies are concerned about loading cargoes from Russia and some shippers are finding the cost associated with such cargoes too high. These moves are tightening an already tight market.
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President and CEO Chet Thompson today applauded the bipartisan passage of H.R. 1435, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, from the House of Representatives. Chet testified before the House Energy & Commerce Committee in favor of H.R. 1435 earlier this summer.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – “The President’s proposal to waive the rules for E15 is unlawful and could actually make the problems of the Renewable Fuel Standard worse.