Carbon reduction is the single biggest focus for the ethanol industry right now and it was top of mind at the recent National Ethanol Conference with a panel on Collaborating for Carbon Reduction.

The ultimate goal is to lower the carbon intensity of ethanol as much as possible, so every segment of the supply chain could possibly contribute. Renewable Fuels Association Vice President, Strategy and Innovation, Tad Hepner moderated the discussion with Lee Blank, Summit Carbon Solutions; Mitchell Hora, Continuum Ag; Kristine Clark, CF Industries; and Mark Heckman, EcoEngineers.

EcoEngineers works with ethanol plants, like North Dakota’s Red Trail Energy which just entered the voluntary carbon market, to do what works best for them. “Our team can perform full life cycle assessment of what takes place in the facility, in their distribution system, are they using renewable power..and then we can break it down to the farm level and how that kernel of corn flows from where it was produced all the way through to the fuel pump,” said Heckman.

Like the theme of the NEC, Heckman stressed the need for partnerships for the ethanol industry to get where it wants to go. “If you want to go fast, you go alone, but if you want to go far and solve really big problems, you go together.”

Listen to this interview from the National Ethanol Conference.
NEC24 Mark Heckman, EcoEngineers 15:52