Minnesota farmer and Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) board member Dale Tolifson passed away April 23. He was 73 years old. Tolifson was a founding member of CVEC and had served on the board since 1996. He was chairman of the board from 1997 until 2009. Dale also served on the board of directors for Minnesota Corn Growers and the …
Ethanol Report from Washington DC
The Environmental Protection Agency continues to be a major source of frustration for the ethanol industry, as the agency gives with one hand and takes away with the other as it keeps granting waivers for refineries from their obligations to blend ethanol while it works toward allowing year round sales of E15. Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper …
Ethanol Strong at ACE Fly-in
The American Coalition for Ethanol‘s 11th annual fly-in was another great success, with nearly 75 grassroots members attending, including ethanol producers, retailers, investors, corn growers, service and product providers, and others from 14 states (including DC) as well as one from London, England. There were 23 new fly-in participants this year. Split into teams of 2-4 people, the group visited …
USDA Deputy Censky Addresses Ethanol Topics
USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky addressed members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) meeting in Washington DC this week, just a day after the agency released a new study showing the significant greenhouse gas benefits of corn-based ethanol compared to gasoline. Censky talked about that study, as well as many other topics of interest to the farmers and ethanol …
Iowa Congressman Addresses ACE Fly-in
After a full day of visiting the offices of more than 120 members of Congress, attendees of the American Coalition for Ethanol annual DC Fly-in were greeted by Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) at their reception Tuesday evening. The congressman is a strong supporter of the ethanol industry in his district and state and agrees with ACE members that the Small …
ACE Fly-in Comes at Critical Time for Ethanol
The Midwest continues to experience the devastating impact of flooding, EPA has proposed a rule that would allow year-round sales of E15, and Small Refinery Exemptions are still being granted. That’s just a few of the critical issues facing corn farmers, ethanol producers and fuel retailers as the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) holds its 11th annual DC Fly-in. ACE …
Biodiesel Interests Testify at EPA Hearing
At a hearing in Michigan on Friday, representatives from the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and its member companies weighed in on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal related to sales of 15 percent ethanol fuel (E15) and changes to the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) compliance system. Biodiesel interests also commented on the need to stop granting Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs). …
Ethanol Producers United in Comments to EPA
Four ethanol producers representing plants in four different states made “substantially similar” points at hearing Friday on proposed regulatory changes related to retail sales of 15% ethanol blended fuel (E15) and the renewable identification number (RIN) compliance system Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. Substantially similar, otherwise known as “sub-sim”, is a term used in the EPA proposal relating to the …
EPA Hearing Witnesses Stress Problem of SREs
Small refinery exemptions were not the topic of an EPA hearing Friday in Michigan, but many witnesses used precious seconds of their allotted three minutes to comment on how they are impacting an already stressed ethanol industry. “While RFS small refinery exemptions (SREs) are not the explicit subject of this rulemaking or today’s hearing, we feel compelled to remind EPA …
USDA Monitoring Nebraska Ethanol Issues
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach is in Nebraska this week surveying weather-related damage and talking with affected farmers and ranchers. The impact of the flooding on ethanol production was brought up during a Facebook Live roundtable with Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts on Monday. “We are aware at USDA that many of the railroad lines …