Members and supporters of the Iowa Biodiesel Board wore “I heart biodiesel” pins as they met with state legislators and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on Wednesday for the annual Biodiesel Day on the Hill. The group tied the message of how much biodiesel gives back to Iowa to the Valentine’s Day date of their visit. “We love that Iowa is …
Ethanol Report from #RFANEC18
The Renewable Fuels Association 23rd National Ethanol Conference with the theme “Ethanol Strong” was held February 12-14 in San Antonio, Texas. The event featured the annual “State of the Industry” address by RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen, as well as panels and speakers on a number of important topics, from electric vehicles to RINs to the expanding export market. …
DOE Studies Show Benefits of High Octane Ethanol
Two studies released by the Department of Energy the day after this week’s National Ethanol Conference find that ethanol-based high octane fuels can deliver substantial fuel economy improvements and emissions reductions when paired with optimized internal combustion engines Among the findings, according to the Renewable Fuels Association are that alcohol fuels, including ethanol, offer many desirable properties that will help …
#NEC18 Scholarship Winner is Ethanol Strong
A former steel mill worker pursuing a degree while working full-time in the U.S. ethanol industry is this year’s student scholarship attendee at the Renewable Fuels Association 23rd National Ethanol Conference this week. Christopher Wense is a full time Ethanol Plant Operations Technician at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and is working toward a …
Global Panel Wraps Up #RFANEC18
The National Ethanol Conference concluded this week with the always popular panel of international industry organization leaders. Bliss Baker with the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance moderated the discussion which included Emmanuel Desplechin, ePURE; Jim Grey, Renewable Industries Canada; Elizabeth Farina, Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA); and Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association. As always, Dinneen used the panel to publicly address …
State of Ethanol Industry Address Facebook Live
The annual “State of the Ethanol Industry” address by Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen is coming up this morning at 8:15 am central time live from the 23rd National Ethanol Conference in San Antonio, Texas. The live feed will be on the AgWired Facebook page. We have been doing a live video stream of this address …
RFA CEO Blasts Sen. Cruz in Texas
The National Ethanol Conference is being held in San Antonio, Texas this week, so to start the meeting on a high note, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen had a scathing editorial published in the local paper challenging Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to stop scapegoating the RFS. “He is holding it [vote for Bill Northey’s appointment to Under …
Growth Energy Presents Industry Awards
Growth Energy presented the 2018 America’s Fuel Award to Joel Hirschboeck, general manager of fuel marketing and procurement at Kwik Trip, Inc. The award, which is the organization’s highest honor, was presented at last week’s ninth annual Executive Leadership Conference (ELC). The America’s Fuel Award is presented every year to an individual who has gone above and beyond the call …
Partial Win for Biodiesel in Budget Deal
Grateful but disappointed is how the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) describes the industry feeling after the two-year budget deal passed by Congress last week included a retroactive extension of the biodiesel tax credit for 2017, but not 2018. “The industry is grateful to our champions for their tireless efforts to ensure that all of our members’ transactions in 2017 will …
Manito Transit Acquires Lobdell Transportation
Manito Transit of Bloomington, Illinois has acquired the assets of Lobdell Transportation, Inc., a family-owned trucking company based in Lena, Illinois. The acquisition comes with 21 tractor units, 22 fuel tankers, and eight pressure vessels capable of hauling propane and anhydrous ammonia, as well as a two-bay maintenance shop. Manito Transit now operates 120 trucks, serving customers in 13 states. …

