ACE Offers Tools to Increase Ethanol Usage

Cindy Zimmerman

The big topic at the 2026 Commodity Classic last week was the need for year-round, nationwide E15, but despite the roadblocks the number of stations selling higher blends continues to increase, according to American Coalition for Ethanol Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Ron Lamberty.

Education is the way to get more stations in the nation to carry higher ethanol blends, and Lamberty says ACE has a fuel cost calculator for retailers to find out just what that can do for them. “And what we’ve got on there is marketers who’ve sold E15 and E85 and E30 talking about how they sold it, how they gained market share,” said Lamberty. “And the reason it’s important to have it on a website is because about 60% of the stations in the country are owned by single station owners and they work in the station. So they may not be able to go to a fuel market or trade show or a workshop, but they can get online anytime. So those tools are there 24/7.”

ACE also has a compatibility tool so retailers can find out if their equipment is capable of selling higher ethanol blends. “They can plug in the names and numbers of all their equipment they use and find out that it’s all compatible or in some rare cases, it’s not…So there’s all those things and that’s on our website, which is flexfuelforward.com.”

Lamberty noted that no one expects ethanol to completely replace gasoline, but neither can electric vehicles. “Where it makes sense and where you can use E85, use it. Where you can use E15, do that… there’s a tractor here (at Commodity Classic) that runs on E98. And that probably wouldn’t have happened five or 10 years ago because there wasn’t as big a gap between ethanol price and diesel price as there is now. And now you’re looking at diesel prices that are a couple of bucks a gallon more than ethanol. And so it makes sense to maybe run those on E85 now, because even though you’ll have less BTU per gallon, by the time you adjust for the different mileage or hours that you’re running, you’re going to save money.”

Learn more in this interview.
American Coalition for Ethanol Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Ron Lamberty
Classic26 - Ron Lamberty, ACE (15:12)

2026 Commodity Classic Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Commodity Classic

Iran Conflict Shows Need for Year-Round E15

Cindy Zimmerman

The conflict in the Middle East is causing crude oil prices to jump, increasing more than 8% Monday on reports that Iran closed the critical Strait of Hormuz, fueling concerns that higher gas prices are on the way for American drivers.

The Renewable Fuels Association renewed its urgent call for Congress to pass legislation to allow the nationwide year-round sale of the lower-cost, American-made E15, a blend with 15 percent ethanol.

“Once again, the events in the Middle East and the spike in oil prices demonstrate this country’s overreliance on foreign sources for our energy,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “We need to take every action we can to insulate our nation from these geopolitically induced price spikes at the pump, and an easy solution is to increase our use of domestically produced ethanol. Congress must pass legislation to allow year-round E15, as President Trump has called them to do. This action has bipartisan and bicameral support, and American consumers demand it.”

In 2025, the U.S. imported 314 million barrels of oil from OPEC countries. If E15 were adopted nationally, Cooper said, the additional ethanol would displace half of this volume.

Kevin Book at the 2026 NEC (RFA photo)

Operation Epic Fury is an example of what energy analyst Kevin Book, ClearView Energy Partners, talked about at the National Ethanol Conference last week, just two days before the United States launched the military campaign against Iran. “The political pendulum swing can make an immense difference in energy markets,” Book said as he concluded his remarks.

Book discussed the importance of the Strait of Hormuz. “This discussion is a non-trivial one, not just because of the 1.6 million barrels per day of liquids that come out of Iran into the world as a part of supply, but also the 16 million barrels of crude alone that transit the Strait of Hormuz, which were exposed in the event of a conflagration and regional escalation,” he said.

Listen to Book’s pre-Epic Fury remarks at NEC:
NEC26 remarks - Kevin Book, ClearView Energy Partners (32:47)

Official RFANEC Photo Album

Audio, E15, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, Oil

USDA FAS Administrator Confirms Ethanol Exports Unleashed

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. ethanol exports hit record levels in 2025 and USDA Foreign Agricultural Service administrator Daniel Whitley told ethanol industry representatives last week that the Trump administration is delivering unprecedented public-private support to keep the momentum going.

Speaking at the National Ethanol Conference, Whitley outlined the agency’s three pillars — trade policy, market intelligence, and market development — and highlighted a surge in funding. “Our mission is very simple,” Whitley said. “It’s one sentence: Increase U.S. agricultural exports. That’s it.”

The administration’s new America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP) will inject $285 million this year, on top of the $600 million already deployed through the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program and traditional Market Access Program dollars. “We’ve got more money out on the street than ever before in the history of our agency,” Whitley said.

The ethanol industry’s achievements drew special praise. “You guys have just had an amazing year. I think you’ve had the best export year on record at $4.8 billion,” Whitley said, crediting innovation that has pushed blend walls from E5 to E15 in key markets. He noted the very first Trump mission, led by Agriculture Secretary Rollins to the United Kingdom, secured a dedicated tariff-rate quota for U.S. ethanol.

Looking ahead, Whitley pointed to Southeast Asia as the next frontier, citing Vietnam’s move toward E15 and opportunities in Indonesia. “The moment that we get American products into another market, we’ve instantly — and I mean instantly — made the consumers in that market better off,” he said.

Whitley closed with a call to action – participate in every available program and make industry voices heard at the U.S. Trade Representative’s office. With record funding, new trade tools, and strong administration backing, Whitley predicted “many, many, many record years to come” for American ethanol.

NEC26 remarks - Daniel Whitley, USDA (22:34)

2026 National Ethanol Conference highlights photo album

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, USDA

RFA Chair Optimistic for Ethanol Industry

Cindy Zimmerman

At the National Ethanol Conference in Orlando last week, the chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association expressed optimism about the industry going forward despite the current challenges getting E15 legislation passed by Congress.

“We all feel a little bit disappointed maybe where E15 is nationally and in California, but the reality is there’s so much optimism to be had if you really look back the accomplishments we’ve made it’s incredible and the opportunities that are sitting in front of us,” said Derek Peine, CEO of Western Plains Energy in Oakley, Kansas. “Just be optimistic. There is so much work being done behind the scenes, there’s so much talent doing that work. The opportunity for E15 is at our doorstep and we will accomplish it.”

Peine is very optimistic about the young talent in the ethanol industry, evidenced by the ten scholarship recipients chosen to attend the NEC this year. “I think that’s really key for this industry. It’s one of the things I like about the industry is as we’re now growing, the RFS is 20 plus years old now. There’s still a lot of innovation occurring…I think for young professionals to come in, this is a great industry that has a lot of freedom to make decisions, and you can stay in rural America and have that great career.”

NEC26 interview - Derek Peine, RFA Chairman (3:54)

2026 National Ethanol Conference highlights photo album

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

2026 Ethanol Industry Outlook and Pocket Guide Released

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association released its 2026 Ethanol Industry Outlook and Pocket Guide at the 31st annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando last week. These publications serve as the go-to source of ethanol industry information, facts, and statistics, and follow the NEC theme of “Ethanol Unleashed.”

The Annual Ethanol Outlook provides the facts and data on ethanol’s benefits, as well as the roadmap for expanding those benefits through the removal of barriers and roadblocks to increased ethanol production and use worldwide. The Outlook also features an updated listing of all U.S. ethanol biorefineries.

RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman says they have been producing the annual Outlook publication since 2001. “RFA is known for providing substantive information to the industry. It helps with the range of stakeholders, both in terms of policymakers, also those in the industry having a common point of reference, but also when we’re talking to the public,” said Richman.

Richman says getting this information in the right hands is especially important right now. “Rural America, farm communities are hurting and these reports frame how important the ethanol industry is to corn and sorghum growers and shed light on where we stand now and how much more the potential is. Fifteen percent ethanol, it wouldn’t happen overnight, but you know, if we get two or three hundred million bushels of additional usage in the near term and could be 2.4 billion bushels of usage in the long term, that would be very important to growers that are suffering with very tight margins right now and would just increase our impact in rural America.”

Learn more in this interview from NEC:
NEC26 interview - Scott Richman, RFA Chief Economist (6:53)

2026 National Ethanol Conference highlights photo album

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Rollins Shows Support for E15 at Commodity Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

Sec. Rollins holds up E15 pin during address at Commodity Classic

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins delivered a strong endorsement of biofuels Thursday at the 2026 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, calling on Congress to pass nationwide, year-round E15 legislation as a critical driver of domestic demand for corn, soy and sorghum.

Rollins credited President Trump’s first-day declaration of a national energy emergency, which identified biofuels as key to extending fuel supplies and reducing pump prices. The administration has maximized regulatory tools, including emergency E15 waivers, but she stressed that permanent change requires congressional action.

“Congress must now do its job and pass nationwide year-round E15 legislation to continue to drive domestic crop demand,” Rollins told the crowd. “We are doing everything we can to make sure the message is heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill that there is no excuse. It is time to pass year-round E15. And what a win-win that is for our farmers and for our consumers.”

Rollins highlighted the EPA’s proposed record-high renewable volume obligation (RVO) under the Renewable Fuel Standard, with the Set 2 rule sent to the White House and expected to be finalized by the end of March. This would provide long-term certainty and increased demand for American biofuels feedstocks.

Rollins also pointed to the extension of 45Z clean fuel production tax credits through 2029 in the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” USDA is finalizing its regenerative feedstock rule to enable farmers using sustainable practices to capture premium prices for their crops. Another positive Rollins noted was ethanol exports, which rose 11% in 2025, as the administration pursues more trade opportunities worldwide.

The secretary’s remarks drew applause from the record crowd at Classic in her home state of Texas, many sporting “E15 NOW” buttons, underscoring the priority for corn growers and ethanol advocates.

Listen to Sec. Rollins’ address below:
Classic26 - Sec. Rollins (40:30)

2026 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, biofuels, Commodity Classic, corn, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

SAF Pioneer LanzaJet Honored with RFA Industry Award

Cindy Zimmerman

Pioneering sustainable aviation fuel producer LanzaJet received the Renewable Fuels Association’s 2026 Industry Award at the National Ethanol Conference in Orlando this week. Last year the company became the world’s first to produce jet fuel from ethanol at a commercial-scale facility.

The LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels facility in Soperton, Georgia, has an annual production capacity of 10 million gallons of alcohol-to-jet SAF, and it remains the only biorefinery currently producing ethanol-based SAF in the United States. LanzaJet CEO Jimmy Samartzis was at the National Ethanol Conference to receive the award; Meg Witty, vice president of corporate and government affairs, represents the company on RFA’s board of directors.

LanzaJet is supported by a broad range of investors and funders, including Airbus, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, LanzaTech, Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund, Mitsui & Co., Shell, Southwest Airlines, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the UK Department for Transport. The company also has been recognized for its impact by TIME, Fortune, MIT, Reuters, S&P Global, and others.

“We’ve made history by, for the first time ever, creating jet fuel that meets the same standards as fossil-based jet fuel with something that’s not oil,” said Samartzis in an interview at NEC. “Ethanol is just an absolutely wonderful molecule that enables us to do that and do that efficiently and to meet the specs. So the opportunity for the United States to stand out as a leader, not only with domestic production, but also as an exporter of ethanol to meet the demands globally is a significant one. And I’d like to believe that we as a company in our technology is a beacon of hope for our farmers and the ethanol producers in our country.”

Learn more about LanzaJet in this interview.
NEC26 interview - Jimmy Samartzis, LanzaJet (3:04)

2026 National Ethanol Conference photo album

Audio, aviation biofuels, biojet fuel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, SAF

Ethanol Report from 2026 NEC

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Ethanol Conference this year was kind of a good news/bad news type of event. The bad news was that a Congressional council charged with finding compromise legislation to allow year-round sales of E15 nationwide failed to meet its self-imposed deadline of February 25. The good news was record exports and long term market opportunities in low carbon fuels.

In this edition of the Ethanol Report, we get an update from the conference with many of the participants, including comments from Renewable Fuels Association 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; and 2026 RFA Industry Award winner LanzaJet CEO Jimmy Samartzis.

Ethanol Report 2-26-26 26:14

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

EPA Official at NEC Delivers RFS News

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation had some breaking news at the National Ethanol Conference in Orlando Wednesday – the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Set 2 final rule has been sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

EPA’s Aaron Szabo said during his address that he expects the rule will be finalized before the end of March.”This is after constant work and deliberation by our fantastic team in OAR in consultation with other federal workers in the federal government,” Szabo said. He emphasized the rule’s development involved extensive public input, including five days of hearings with over 140 speakers and more than 2,000 comments. Szabo noted that resolving small refinery exemptions first, as requested by stakeholders, added complexity but provided needed certainty. “We have not delayed this rule for any reason or by any request. This is really hard, and we want to make sure we do it right to give you all the certainty you all ask for and deserve,” he added.

When it comes to E15, Szabo talked about EPA’s role in keeping the pumps open in the summer of 2025 with the emergency fuel waivers. “These waivers were grounded in our statutory authority. They were timely, and they reinforced something important: Ethanol is an essential part of fuel supply stability,” he stated.

However, Szabo said, “Last spring was not how I would like to move forward this spring. The uncertainty resulting in the PSI requirement changes at the last minute resulted in significant unnecessary costs within the industry and on Americans.”

Finally, Szabo addressed the EV mandate, celebrating the February 12 rescission of the 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding and repeal of all GHG standards for vehicles. “This action… is the single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history and will save Americans over $1.3 trillion,” he proclaimed, including $2,400 average per-vehicle savings. He criticized prior policies for pushing a “de facto mandate favoring a single technology pathway, electric vehicles,” threatening liquid fuels and the RFS. “There is no E15, there is no RFS if we do not have liquid fuels.”

Listen to Szabo’s comments at NEC here:
U.S. EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, Aaron Szabo
NEC26 Aaron Szabo, EPA (28:48)

2026 National Ethanol Conference photo album

Audio, E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, Uncategorized

RFA CEO Calls for Unleashing U.S. Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

In a rousing address at the 2026 National Ethanol Conference this morning, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper drew parallels between the ethanol industry’s untapped potential and the inspiring underdog story of college football quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Cooper likened the sector to the overlooked athlete who, given the chance, achieved extraordinary success – a metaphor for ethanol’s readiness to “be let off the leash” amid regulatory hurdles.

Reflecting on 2025 achievements, Cooper highlighted record-breaking production of 16.4 billion gallons of ethanol, up 200 million from the prior year. The industry also produced 35 million metric tons of high-protein animal feed and 4.7 billion pounds of distillers corn oil, supporting 13 billion pounds of red meat and 575 million gallons of bio-based diesel. Carbon capture reached a new high of 3.3 million tons, with growing sequestration efforts. Demand surged, with domestic consumption at 14.3 billion gallons – the highest in six years – and an average gasoline inclusion rate of 10.5%. Exports hit a record 2.2 billion gallons, shipped to over 80 countries, representing one in eight gallons produced.

“We saw glimpses of our industry’s potential last year, and 2025 was another good year for the U.S. ethanol industry,” Cooper said. “But we could have done so much more, if simply given the opportunity. More to lower fuel prices for consumers. More to reduce reliance on imported petroleum. More to clean up the air and reduce emissions. And more to create jobs and boost the farm economy.”

That opportunity, RFA emphasized, begins with eliminating outdated federal regulations that restrict E15 sales during the summer driving season. Despite bipartisan support and a broad coalition agreement that included the American Petroleum Institute, legislative efforts to secure permanent, nationwide year-round E15 sales narrowly failed in late 2024 and again in early 2026. And instead of adopting year-round E15, the House formed the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council” to continue working on the issue.

House lawmakers serving on the council had pledged legislative action on year-round E15 by today, but as of this morning, no bill had been introduced. Cooper called on members of Congress to act swiftly, stressing that year-round E15 would lower fuel costs, strengthen U.S. energy security, and provide critical economic relief to farmers and working families. Cooper noted that a small handful of mid-sized refining companies is holding up progress on E15 and reform of the RFS program’s small refinery exemption (SRE) program. He said lawmakers are finding out “that there is simply no way to appease mid-sized refiners who continue to game the RFS system with SREs. Those refiners either want to maintain the status quo, or they want to blow up the RFS entirely—neither of those options is acceptable to the majority of liquid fuel and agriculture stakeholders.”

“Our message to the Council—and to every member of Congress—is clear: Year-round, nationwide E15 is an urgent priority for America’s farmers, energy sector, and working families—and it can’t wait any longer. Unleash E15! Let’s get it done,” Cooper said.

He encouraged all members of the RFA and the ethanol industry in general to contact their members of Congress and urge them to pass E15 legislation.

Read Cooper’s remarks here and listen to the entire address below:
NEC26 State of the Industry (37:37)

2026 National Ethanol Conference photo album

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA