August was a better month for exports of U.S. ethanol and distillers grains, according to the latest trade monitor report by Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) senior analyst Ann Lewis. U.S. ethanol exports in August saw substantial improvement from the prior month’s slump, expanding 56% to 80.48 million gallons (mg). Canada was the top destination for the fifth straight month with …
REG Joins Iowa State University on Hydrotreater Pilot Plant
Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REG) joined Iowa State University (ISU) this week for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the BioCentury Research Farm (BCRF) to celebrate the start of a new hydrotreater pilot plant. The hydrotreater pilot plant, the result of a three-year collaboration between REG and the ISU Bioeconomy Institute, will work on how various biomass feedstocks can play a …
Sen. Thune Criticizes Democrat Agenda
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) spoke out on the Senate floor this week about Democrat policies that he says are harmful to farmers and ranchers. “For starters, I’m worried that Democrats’ bill could mean the end of some family farms thanks to the bill’s expansion of the death tax,” said Thune. “Death should not be a taxable event.” Sen. Thune also …
RFA Redesigns Website
The Renewable Fuels Association debuted a redesigned website last week during the association’s annual membership meeting taking place this week in Des Moines. “As we celebrate our 40th anniversary this year, we want to ensure a digital presence that symbolizes our organization’s experience and leadership in a way that is clear and compelling,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. …
Ethanol Remains Top Concern for NCGA
Chris Edgington of St. Ansgar, Iowa, became president of the Corn Board of the National Corn Growers Association as of October 1 and during a media Zoom call Monday he said ethanol remains a top concern for the organization as the industry continues to await the administration’s proposal for blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “The RVO numbers …
NBB Hits the Airways with NPR Sponsorship
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has commenced a three-week sponsorship of National Public Radio (NPR) as part of a comprehensive educational campaign aimed at decision-makers and the public. The 15-second radio spot will air on some of NPR’s most listened to programs including Morning Edition, All Things Considered and 1A. “We’re excited to share the biodiesel industry’s ‘Better. Cleaner. Now!’ …
Ethanol Blended Gas Lowers Carbon Even More
New research was released this week showing that gasoline blended with ethanol lowers carbon intensity (CI) even more than what is currently believed. The research, conducted by Transport Energy Strategies (TES) and THiggins Energy Consulting, found that blending ethanol into gasoline enables a reduction of aromatics in the fuel, and since aromatics have a high CI, their reduction further decreases …
Renewable Energy Group Closes Houston Biodiesel Plant
Renewable Energy Group (REG) has announced the closing of its 35 million gallon per year biodiesel production facility located near Houston, Texas. The company acquired and commissioned the plant in 2008 and has been operating it since. “We have made the decision not to renew the lease for our REG Houston biorefinery, which would have imposed an uncompetitive fixed cost …
RFA Celebrates 40 Years of Industry Leadership
The Renewable Fuels Association celebrated 40 years of industry leadership this week during its annual membership meeting in Des Moines. Jeanne McCaherty, CEO of Guardian Energy Management, was re-elected as chairperson. She became the first female chairperson elected in the history of RFA last year, and first among any national ethanol trade association. “Without question, 2021 has been a year …
USDA Announces Climate Smart Efforts
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new initiative Wednesday to “finance the deployment of climate-smart farming and forestry practices to aid in the marketing of climate-smart agricultural commodities.” USDA will support a set of pilot projects that provide incentives to implement climate smart conservation practices on working lands and to quantify and monitor the carbon and greenhouse gas benefits associated …