The lapse of the federal Biodiesel Mixture Excise Tax Credit (BTC) resulted in flat third-quarter earnings for Ames-based Renewable Energy Group Inc., according to a release. For the quarter ended Sept. 30, revenues were $627 million on 151.5 million gallons of fuel sold. The absence of the tax credit and a 7.1 percent decrease in gallons sold were offset by revenues from higher sales of separated Renewable Identification Credits and a 2.2 increase in average selling price per gallon to $3.21 from $2.14 a year ago. Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $11.4 million, compared with net income of $22.9 million in the third quarter of 2016. Year-ago profits were boosted by the tax credit. “Assuming that the federal government follows past practice and retroactively reinstates the BTC for 2017, we estimate that our adjusted EBITDA for business conducted in first nine months of 2017 will be approximately $172 million, already surpassing our goal for the year of $150 million, so we believe that we are on track for a record year,” Randy Howard, REG’s interim president and CEO, said in a statement. “We are continuing our effort to optimize our operations and make progress on our growth initiatives around renewable diesel. Recent developments in the trade case and renewable volume obligations are positive and we look forward to further clarity in the fourth quarter on retroactive reinstatement of the BTC and possible reform to a domestic production incentive.”