There was a big focus on biofuels at the 15th annual Tri-State Governors’ Conference in Sioux City, Iowa this week. The governors of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota get together for this biannual event to discuss the issues impacting their respective states and the Siouxland region, and since the three states together produce almost half of the nation’s ethanol, that …
Ethanol Report on EPA RFS Notice
The Environmental Protection Agency released its proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018 on July 5, the comment period just ended on August 31, and then this week EPA gave notice that it is seeking comment on options for further reductions in the biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel volumes. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) …
ACE Celebrates NE Flex Fuel Station Opening
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) board member Scott McPheeters of KAPPA Ethanol was first in line to fill up this week at the new Blue Heron Renewable Flex Fuel Plaza on Interstate 80 in Nebraska. “There was a need and an opportunity to provide more ethanol blends at a great price in central Nebraska,” said McPheeters. “Blue Heron is a …
NFU President Joins Board of New Energy America
National Farmers Union’s (NFU) President Roger Johnson has joined the advisory board of New Energy America, a new organization created to promote clean energy jobs in rural America. As part of its launch last week, New Energy America released the first Fifty State Clean Energy Jobs Report, which shows that clean energy jobs outpace fossil energy jobs in 41 states. …
EPA Proposes Further Cuts in Biofuels Under RFS
The Environmental Protection Agency surprised the biofuels industry Tuesday by issuing a notice asking for comment on further reducing volume obligations for some fuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. The EPA Notice of Data Availability (NODA) suggests a reduction of the 2018 advanced biofuel volume requirement from the proposed level of 4.24 billion gallons to 3.77 billion gallons, …
USDA Trade Mission Heading to Brazil
A USDA Foreign Agriculture Service trade mission to São Paulo and Recife, Brazil, is underway this week with ethanol industry leaders looking to expand their agricultural exports and further develop their business relationships in Brazil. “Brazil holds significant untapped market potential for U.S. exporters,” said Mark Slupek, deputy administrator of the Office of Trade Programs for USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. …
Magellan to Offer E15 at all Iowa Fuel Terminals
Magellan Midstream Partners fuel pipeline and storage company is now offering pre-blended E15 at many terminals across the U.S., including all Magellan terminals that service Iowa. “This announcement from Magellan is game-changing,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “It is now possible for most retailers across the state to replace a low-demand product with E15 without …
New Zealand Triples U.S. DDGS Purchases
New Zealand is producing record amounts of milk this year and feeding triple the amount of U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) compared to last year, according to the U.S. Grains Council. New Zealand has purchased 113,000 metric tons of U.S. DDGS so far this year compared to just 37,000 tons imported the same time last year. While this …
Corn Stover Could Generate Electricity
Two new studies show that generating energy from corn stover biomass could create a new market for farmers and increase the value of ethanol by reducing its overall carbon footprint. The studies are based on the premise that the crop residue left behind in the fields after corn to be used for ethanol is harvested. Iowa-based Regional Strategic, Ltd. examined …
Corn Rep Appointed to NE Ethanol Board
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has appointed Taylor Nelson, a farmer from Jackson, to join the Nebraska Ethanol Board as the corn representative. Nelson earned his agriculture economics degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He returned to the family farm in 2012, and produces corn and soybeans in Dixon and Dakota counties with his father, Doug Nelson, and uncle, Jim Nelson. …