This month marks the 25th anniversary for Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) in Benson, Minnesota. Since 1996, CVEC has grown to over 900 member owners and produces 50 million gallons of ethanol per year. CVEC board member Jan Lundebrek, who is also on the board of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), says the investment has paid off for those …
E15 in Court
The D.C. Circuit Court heard oral arguments this week in a case brought by oil refiners challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2019 rulemaking allowing the year-round sale of E15. The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association argued as intervenors in support of the rule that oil refiners are seeking to block American drivers from year-round …
ACE 34th Conference Aims to “Accelerate” Ethanol Growth
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has opened registration for its 34th annual conference August 18-20 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The conference theme “Accelerate” will focus on the latest growth strategies and market opportunities shaping the future of the ethanol industry. “With high hopes of gathering safely, in person, we’re looking forward to once again providing a conversational forum for our …
Ethanol Exports Drop in February
After a big start to 2021, U.S. ethanol exports took a dive in February, dropping 38% after January’s volume set a record high for the month. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Senior Analyst Ann Lewis shared the numbers in RFA’s latest Trade Monitor report. Exports were 101.7 million gallons (mg), with half destined for just three countries. However, exports spiked to …
Ethanol Production is Up, Stocks are Down
Ethanol production is up but stocks are down, according to the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending April 2. RFA reports that ethanol production for the week totaled 975,000 barrels/day, equivalent to 40.95 million gallons daily. Production was 45.1% above the same week last year when the effects of the …
Minnesota Enters Fourth Year of B20
For the fourth year now, Minnesota will move to a 20 percent biodiesel blend (B20) during the summer months before reverting back to five percent biodiesel blend (B5) on Oct. 1. “With the ongoing debate around ‘Clean Cars’ and electric vehicles, we know that biodiesel is a proven, reliable solution to address climate and energy concerns. It’s reducing carbon right …
Next Gen DDGs Offer New Opportunities
New corn fractionation technologies at dry mills offer the potential for ethanol producers to produce specialized Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGs) for specific livestock and poultry needs, according to the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). As these next generation DDGs products become increasingly competitive in their nutritional composition, ethanol manufacturers have the opportunity to diversify their portfolio, plugging into …
Indiana Law Would Require Additional E15 Label
Legislation passed last week by the Indiana General Assembly would require an additional warning label for consumers on fuel pumps dispensing E15 (15% ethanol). Senate Bill 303 would require E15 fuel dispensers to display the statement “Attention: E15. Check owner’s manual for compatibility and warranty requirements” or a similar statement next to the fuel grade selection button. This would be …
Iowa E15 Sales Set Record in 2020 Despite Pandemic
Higher ethanol blends seem to have weathered the 2020 pandemic well despite an overall drop in fuel consumption, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. In Iowa, sales of E15 (15% ethanol) jumped 24% and set a new record in 2020. Meanwhile, E15 and E85 flex fuel data from Minnesota and California show that 2020 sales volumes generally held steady, even …
REG and Optimus Partner to Deliver Biodiesel to Fleets
Renewable Energy Group fleet customers in Iowa, Washington, D.C. and Massachusetts are ramping up the use of B100 (100% biodiesel) in their fleets and REG is helping fleets achieve their sustainability goals and reach near-zero emissions through a partnership with Optimus Technologies. With Optimus’ new technology, biodiesel is now able to be utilized as B100, while REG is providing the …