National Biodiesel Board Director of Sustainability Don Scott recently joined a group from Cummins Inc. for some high-powered diesel fun. The crew from Cummins was passing through Missouri while road testing a group of vehicles equipped with Cummins’ recently released R2.8 Turbo Diesel engine. Scott invited them to rev their engines and ride through Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge as …
NCGA President Working Hard for Ethanol in DC
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president Kevin Skunes has probably spent more time in Washington DC over the past month or so than on his farm in North Dakota working hard to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the important market of ethanol for corn growers. Last week, Skunes joined the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) in visits to …
First of Three Ethanol Safety Webinars Next Week
Next week, the Renewable Fuels Association and TRANSCAER® will be holding the first of three ethanol safety webinars for ethanol emergency response teams. The webinars are scheduled for April 4, May 23, or July 25. The “Train the Trainer” webinars are funded through a Federal Railroad Administration/TRANSCAER® grant. A single webinar can train a group of individuals, who can then …
Iowa Blender Pump Program Demand Exceeds Funding
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) is already out of funding for 2018, but many more retailers are interested in offering higher blends in the state. During the third of its four scheduled meetings, the RFIP board awarded funds to 15 projects for retailers around the state to install the necessary equipment to offer higher blends of ethanol and …
ND Farm Couple Makes ACE Fly-in a Priority
Husband and wife farmers Mike and Pam Clemens from North Dakota spent last week in Washington DC with the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Mike says ethanol is very important to their family farm in the tiny town of Wimbledon. “It really has changed over the last 20 years when we used to grow …
Ethanol and Biodiesel Groups Oppose PES Settlement
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) both submitted comments to the Department of Justice yesterday opposing the proposed bankruptcy settlement agreement with Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES). RFA commented that the proposed settlement agreement, which covers the refiner’s Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for January 2016-April 2018, should be rejected “because the terms are patently unfair, unreasonable, …
Ethanol Report on Custom Ethanol Chopper
Several hundred lucky motorcycle lovers got the chance to see a brand new, E85-capable American Chopper designed by Paul Teutul, Jr. when it was unveiled at East Kansas Agri-Energy on Saturday. The rest of the world will have to wait until the sweet ride officially debuts on the new season of the Discovery Channel’s American Chopper this summer. Discovery Channel …
Growth Energy Formally Protests PES Settlement
Growth Energy has filed comments with the Department of Justice formally objecting to a proposed bankruptcy settlement between the Carlyle Group’s Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would absolve the refinery of key obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “The proposed settlement sends the wrong message to industry stakeholders, implying that there are …
ACE 10th Fly-in Conquers the Hill in the Snow
Neither snow nor rain kept the American Coalition for Ethanol fly-in teams from completing their appointed rounds last week on Capitol Hill. While the federal government was shut down for the snow, Congress was still open and surprisingly few pre-arranged meetings were cancelled. ACE members were even able to sit down with several members of Congress, including Sen. Heidi Heitkamp …
Ethanol on China’s Draft Retaliation List
Following action by President Trump yesterday to impose tariffs on up to $60 billion in Chinese imports, China is making its list of what U.S. products will be the target of retaliation. The list reportedly includes agricultural products such as U.S. pork, modified ethanol, wine, fruits and nuts, and soybeans are expected to be as well. “We’re disappointed that China …