Ethanol producers are literally in the battle of their lives for the survival of the industry, as losses continue to mount from restrictions on travel put in place due to COVID-19. The latest production data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending April 24, ethanol production dropped another 4.6%, or 26,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 537,000 …
Bipartisan Bill to Expand Biofuels Infrastructure Introduced
Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) on Tuesday introduced bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by Reps. Angie Craig (D-MN), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Roger Marshall (R-KS), that would provide funding for installing and converting fuel pump infrastructure to deliver higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. The Clean Fuels Deployment Act of 2020 “authorizes $600 million over six years to help retailers offer higher ethanol …
ACE Asks Administration to Help Ethanol Producers
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings is asking President Trump to “provide a much-needed boost to ethanol producers and rural America in response to the mounting economic harm as a result of the sudden and severe drop in ethanol demand” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “More than half of U.S. ethanol production capacity is already offline, high-skill jobs …
2020 FEW Rescheduled for August
The 2020 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, has been moved due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Originally scheduled for mid-June in Minneapolis, the FEW is now rescheduled to take place August 24th through August 26th, 2020 in Omaha, Nebraska. “Based on the most current information available, and with the best interests of our members, exhibitors, attendees and the global …
RFA Earns TRANSCAER Award for 8th Year in a Row
The Renewable Fuels Association has received the TRANSCAER National Achievement Award for the eighth year in a row. In 2019, RFA held 27 ethanol safety seminars in 10 locations, four Train-the-Trainer webinars and an online ethanol safety training initiative, which trained emergency responders on how to properly respond to an ethanol incident. Collectively, these events trained nearly 900 individuals last …
ADM Idles Plants in Iowa and Nebraska
ADM announced Friday that ethanol production is being idled at the company’s corn dry mill facilities in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Columbus, Nebraska, which means furloughs for about 90 employees at each facility in the coming weeks. During the furlough, employees will continue to receive medical benefits and will be eligible to apply for state and federal unemployment benefits. They …
Ethanol Production Continues Decline
The latest production numbers for the week ending April 17 continue to reflect the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the ethanol industry. According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production declined 1.2%, or 7,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 563,000 b/d—the lowest level since the EIA began reporting ethanol production statistics in 2010. Production was 46% …
Demo Site Picked for Ethanol Industry Pollinator Program
The ethanol industry is celebrating Earth Day with the announcement that Trenton Agri Products (TAP) in Nebraska will become the first demonstration site for a new ethanol industry initiative to expand pollinator habitat in key production regions. TAP will establish a 5-acre pollinator plot this spring near the entrance to their facility to increase awareness and encourage local farmers to …
NCGA CEO Podcast on Future of Ethanol
This may be a tumultuous time for corn farmers and ethanol producers – but then again, the ethanol industry’s entire history has been a roller coaster ride. The latest episode of “Wherever Jon May Roam” with National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) CEO Jon Doggett revisits the battles that got us to this point with “the Godfather of Ethanol” himself, Bob …
Ethanol Industry Losses Mount
As the COVID-19 pandemic and crude oil glut continue to ravage world fuel markets, U.S. ethanol sales in 2020 could fall by more than $10 billion and the industry’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) could drop by nearly one-third, according to a new analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The economic losses stem from a “pernicious combination of …