United Ethanol Deploys Fluid Quip LED Technology

Cindy Zimmerman

Fluid Quip Technologies (FQT) announces the expanded deployment of the patented Low Energy Distillation™ (LED™) system at United Ethanol in Milton, Wisconsin.

The LED™ system, is a next-generation distillation platform designed to reduce steam usage, eliminate unnecessary phase changes, lower water consumption, and support continuous, reliable operation. By removing direct-inject steam from the distillation process and incorporating advanced heat integration, LED™ can significantly reduce energy usage, helping producers lower operating costs and improve carbon intensity (CI) scores.

The LED™ platform integrates technology developed over a multi-year collaboration between Fluid Quip Technologies and RCM Thermal Kinetics, combining FQT’s system integration expertise with RCM’s advanced Distillation, Dehydration and Evaporation (DDE) process design and intellectual property. The underlying architecture rethinks conventional ethanol distillation by tightly integrating heat recovery, allowing plants to achieve significant energy reductions.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

New Director Appointed for Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center

Cindy Zimmerman

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has appointed a new executive director of the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC). The appointment of Praveen V. Vadlani, PhD, MBA, was effective January 7, and he will also hold a tenured faculty appointment as a professor in SIUE’s Department of Chemistry.

Vadlani’s work spans biofuels, biochemicals, biomaterials, fermentation systems and scalable process development, with a focus on improving yield, productivity and commercial viability.

“It’s a great honor to serve as the executive director at NCERC, SIUE,” said Vadlani. “NCERC is a premier nationally recognized research center catering to the needs of the biofuels, biochemicals and bioproducts industry, and I am delighted to be involved in the research, innovation and commercialization activities. I am also excited to be part of NCERC’s vision to enable the dawn of the new sustainable bioeconomy.”

Prior to joining SIUE, Vadlani held research and faculty appointments at Kansas State University, with work focused on grain science, renewable energy and bioprocessing systems. His earlier experience includes serving as a research scientist in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University and as a research fellow at the University of Malaysia’s Institute for Post-Graduate Studies and Research.

Vadlani’s background includes direct experience with ethanol systems and co-product optimization, as well as industry-scale fermentation and recovery operations and he has authored more than 100 scholarly publications and has served in professional and federal review roles related to biofuels and bioproducts research.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Research

Registration Open for ACE DC Fly-in

Cindy Zimmerman

Registration is now open for the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) 15th annual DC Fly-In & Government Affairs Summit March 17-18, 2026. This year’s event will occur when both chambers are in session, and in an election year, when timing matters.

The first half of the year is Congress’s prime window to act so ACE’s Fly-In comes at a critical moment to engage members of Congress, their staff, and senior Administration officials on ethanol priorities, which include securing permanent, nationwide E15 market access; expanding access to new markets and tax incentives, along with opportunities to reward conservation farming practices; removing barriers to higher ethanol blends; and ensuring the Renewable Fuel Standard is fully implemented and back on track.

There is no registration fee; participants simply cover their own travel expenses. ACE strategically builds Hill visit teams to ensure every participant—whether it’s your first Fly-In or your fifteenth—has a meaningful and effective advocacy experience. Without these face-to-face meetings, it becomes far easier for policymakers to depersonalize our issues.

Click here to learn more and register.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Iowa Ethanol Stagnation Blamed on Lack of CSS

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa ethanol production has remained stagnant for the past three years and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association puts the blame on the blocking of carbon capture and sequestration technology usage in the state.

Iowa’s ethanol plants produced 4.6 billion gallons of ethanol in 2025, matching its output level from the past two years. Iowa accounts for 28% of total U.S. ethanol production, which hit 16.4 billion gallons in 2025, the fifth straight annual increase.

IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw says while Iowa production levels have stagnated, national ethanol production increased by 850 million gallons and ethanol plant expansions are happening in states such as Indiana, Illinois, North Dakota, and Nebraska.

“Investment dollars flow to areas with a perceived competitive advantage,” said Shaw. “The states attracting significant investment have one thing in common – the ability to sequester carbon either locally or via pipeline infrastructure. While Iowa remains the largest ethanol-producing state, we are behind in the race to maximize the incentive and market benefits from producing ultra-low carbon ethanol.”

This week, as USDA announced a record corn crop in Iowa, the Iowa Legislature introduced a bill that would ban the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipeline projects and carbon capture, use and sequestration (CCUS) initiatives, which Shaw says would essentially ban CO2 projects in Iowa while neighboring states are moving forward. “Capturing and using or sequestering carbon from Iowa plants would generate $3 billion in federal incentives while helping enhance U.S. oil production, create investment opportunities for new projects in Iowa, and reduce CO2 in the atmosphere. This bill would slam the door on Iowa’s ability to compete, and we urge Iowa House members to oppose it.”

IRFA notes that President Trump has called CCUS central to his American Energy Dominance agenda. In Nebraska, a CO2 pipeline has already attracted a nearly $2 billion investment to make green methanol. CO2 sent to places like North Dakota, Wyoming, and Texas can be sequestered, but also allow enhanced oil recovery from America’s fracking fields.

Carbon, carbon capture, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA

New Corn Estimate Causes Concerns

Cindy Zimmerman

The USDA World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate for this month shows even more corn than the last report, causing greater concerns among corn growers worried about the demand and price situation going forward and further highlighting the need for year-round, nationwide E15.

The USDA reports the 2025/26 corn outlook is for larger production, higher feed and residual use, reduced food, seed, and industrial use, and greater ending stocks. “Corn production is estimated at 17.0 billion bushels, up 269 million on a 0.5-bushel increase in yield to 186.5 bushels per acre and a 1.3-million acre rise in harvested area. Since the July 2025 WASDE, harvested area has surged 4.5 million acres. Notably, the record crop in 2025 exceeds the prior high set in 2023 by 1.7 billion bushels or over 40 million tons.”

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the report underscores the pressing need to eliminate regulatory obstacles that are suppressing demand and limiting market opportunities for corn and ethanol alike.

“Today’s surprise USDA report serves as a sobering wake-up call about the state of farm economy and underscores the need for lawmakers to take immediate action to expand markets for America’s corn growers,” said Cooper. “The fastest and easiest way to shore up the growing supply-demand imbalance in the corn market is to permanently remove the summertime barrier on E15 sales and eliminate obsolete fuel retail infrastructure rules. These decades-old regulatory barriers are literally choking off demand and shortchanging America’s farmers.”

The National Corn Growers Association says the surplus supply promises to keep corn prices low as farmers struggle to pay high input costs. “We need long-term market solutions, and we need them quickly, or this is going to deepen the economic crisis in the countryside,” said Ohio farmer and NCGA President Jed Bower. “The urgency for Congress and the president to open new markets abroad and expand consumer access to ethanol just increased exponentially.”

Bower noted that an immediate boost to demand would be the passage of legislation authorizing year-round consumer access to fuels with 15% ethanol blends. He says this solution comes at no cost to consumers, requires no additional infrastructure developments and could use 2.4 billion additional bushels of corn annually at full implementation, according to NCGA estimates.

corn, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

USDA Secretary Urges Congress to Pass Year-Round E15

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation convention for the first time Monday, hitting on key issues being discussed by the nation’s largest general farm organization this week, including the need for nationwide, year-round E15.

Rollins says President Trump is arguably the most pro-biofuels leader in history. “While the Trump administration has gone as far as we can regulatory-wise to provide EPA E15 waivers, Congress must now do its job and pass nationwide, year-round E15 legislation to continue to drive domestic crop demand, a clear win-win for farmers and consumers.”

In addition, Rollins noted that the Trump EPA has “proposed the highest and most aggressive renewable volume obligation, or RVO, proposal in history, which, once final, will ensure corn and soy and sorghum producers have a long-term certainty and a demand stream domestically that is already helping consumer prices at the pump.”

Talking about trade and increased exports, Rollins said ethanol was a big winner in 2025, with exports increasing by 11 percent, and she highlighted the importance of extending the 45Z biofuel tax credit through 2029 in the One Big Beautiful Bill.

Listen to Rollins’ full remarks here:
AFBF26 USDA Secy Rollins address 29:59

AFBF, Audio, E15, Ethanol, USDA

E15 Remains Priority for American Farm Bureau

Cindy Zimmerman

At the 107th American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim, California on Sunday, AFBF President Zippy Duvall said the organization is committed to getting year-round, nationwide E15 approved this year.

In his annual address to the membership, Duvall said the entire Farm Bureau leadership group was invited to the White House last year to meet with cabinet members about their priorities. “One clear opportunity we addressed with the White House is making E15 available year-round,” he said. “This would expand the market for farmers and deliver real cost savings to consumers at the pump. A clear win-win.”

Duvall also discussed E15 with reporters at his opening press conference. “For nearly two decades, we’ve advocated for year-round E15. It’s so close, we can almost taste it. We think we’re really close to getting that done, and it makes a lot of sense to get that done,” said Duvall. “Ethanol-blended fuels save drivers money at the pump and creates the demand for our homegrown corn and sorghum and other feedstocks. It definitely is a win-win for consumers, our farmers, and it would be a win for the president and his administration if they could get that done.”

Duvall urged farmers to call their members of Congress to get E15 finally across the finish line. “And I’ve talked to the president about it. I’ve talked to everybody around him about it. It’s a no-brainer. It doesn’t cost the government anything.”

Listen to Duvall’s E15 comments during the press conference:
AFBF president Zippy Duvall - E15 comments 1:33

AFBF, Ag group, Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Gevo Announces New Leadership and Growth Planning

Cindy Zimmerman

Gevo has announced the addition of agricultural industry veteran Greg Hanselman as executive vice president, operations and engineering as the company prepares for the retirement of Chris Ryan, Gevo’s long-time chief operating officer, in June of 2026. Hanselman is expected to assume the role of chief operating officer upon Dr. Ryan’s retirement.

Hanselman comes to Gevo from previous roles in global agribusiness leadership as vice president of global engineering for Ingredion, and as senior vice president of global manufacturing for Tate & Lyle, both leading global producers of plant-based food and industrial ingredients. He also held various roles at Archer-Daniels-Midland Company.

“Greg brings decades of agriprocessing and precision fermentation experience and strong business acumen in operations, engineering, and end-to-end supply chain management,” said Dr. Paul Bloom, president of Gevo. “He has a track record of operational excellence, safety leadership, and managing complex capital projects that will benefit Gevo’s current and future growth initiatives. His experience in empowering teams to drive strategic implementation will help build value throughout our processes and production.”

biofuels, Carbon, SAF, Sustainability

Corteva and bp Launch Biofuel Feedstock Joint Venture

Cindy Zimmerman

Corteva and bp this week announced the launch of Etlas, a joint venture to produce oil from crops – including canola, mustard and sunflower – for use in the production of biofuels like sustainable (or synthetic) aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel (RD).

Etlas will be using feedstock from crops grown on existing cropland, between main food cropping seasons, which can help improve soil health while providing farmers with a new revenue stream.

Etlas will harness both Corteva’s century-long expertise in seed technology to develop crops ideally suited to produce SAF and RD as well as bp’s expertise in refining and marketing fuel for the commercial transportation market. Etlas aims to produce one million metric tonnes of feedstock per year by the mid-2030s, which could produce over 800 thousand tonnes of biofuel. Initial supply is scheduled to begin in 2027 for use in co-processing at refineries as well as at dedicated biofuels plants.

Ignacio Conti, Global Business Development Director at Corteva, has been chosed to be the new Etlas Chief Executive Officer and Gaurav Sonar, vice president, Novel Feedstocks at bp will be Chair of the Board of Directors.

Agribusiness, aviation biofuels, biofuels, feedstocks, SAF

Ethanol Stakeholders Start Year With Plea for E15

Cindy Zimmerman

2026 begins the 14th year since E15 was first approved by the EPA in 2011 for use in model year 2001 and newer vehicles. For a brief moment in 2019, the fuel was approved for nationwide, year-round sales, before that action by President Trump in his first term was overturned.

But farmers and ethanol producers are not giving up and not giving in. This week a coalition of more than 70 biofuel and agricultural organizations called for the immediate passage of legislation to allow year-round nationwide sales of the American-made E15 fuel blend, containing 15 percent ethanol. Year-round E15 would benefit drivers with savings of 10 to 30 cents per gallon and improve markets for America’s farmers.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a record 16.8-billion-bushel corn harvest in 2025—up roughly 13 percent from 2024,” the groups wrote. “While this demonstrates the strength and productivity of America’s farmers, it also intensifies pressure on corn prices and farm incomes. Expanding E15 access is one of the most immediate and practical ways to address this imbalance. When fully scaled, year-round, nationwide E15 is poised to create new domestic demand for billions of bushels of corn and sorghum, help stabilize markets, support farmers, and deliver consumer savings at the pump.”

The letter was led by the Renewable Fuels Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, Growth Energy, and the National Corn Growers Association, and included many stakeholders including the American Coalition for Ethanol, Iowa RFA, Minnesota Bio-fuels, and Renewable Fuels Nebraska, along with state corn grower and farm bureau groups.

“With a record corn crop filling bins across America, farmers cannot afford another season of uncertainty and negative margins. Markets need consistency and predictability, which requires permanent legislative action by Congress. We respectfully urge you to act this year to pass year-round E15 legislation,” the groups wrote.

ACE, AFBF, Ag group, biofuels, corn, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA