The more time that goes by the task of finding a policy “fix” for the current ethanol demand becomes more difficult. Indeed, there is a basic disagreement in what the problem is. The biofuels industry argues that the small refinery exemptions (SRE) have caused “demand destruction.” The EPA disagrees. According to Administrator Andrew Wheeler at a recent House Science Committee hearing last week, "So far this year the industry has produced more ethanol than they did at this point last year, and we did not see any demand destruction from the small refinery program on ethanol production.” Through the week ending 13 September, Wheeler’s perspective appears to be half-right. Ethanol production has been on ave...
Key Market Insights The broad market is locked in on this week’s Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, but this is no longer just a trade summit. Increasingly, the meeting is becoming tied directly to Iran, energy security, and the growing global economic fallout from disruptions through the Strai...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.