Jan Lundebrek, Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC), has been a fixture at ethanol industry meetings for decades and this year the American Coalition for Ethanol recognized her unwavering dedication with the ACE Grassroots Award. The strength of ACE is found within the collective grassroots, devoted individuals who often perform behind the scenes to advance the cause of ethanol. These “unsung …
USDA Adjusts Corn and Soybean Yields in New Report
USDA’s first survey-based forecasts for the season slightly lowered yields for corn and soybeans compared to projections last month. In the August Crop Production report released Friday, USDA puts corn production for 2023/24 at 15.1 billion bushels, down 209 million from the July projection, but ten percent more than 2022 which would be the second highest on record behind 2016/17. …
Biofuel and Farm Groups Join Tailpipe Emissions Letter
Biofuel groups and farmer organizations were among some 100 transportation fuel stakeholders who sent a letter this week urging the Biden administration to reverse course on its proposed tailpipe emissions standards for light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles. “We share the goal of reduced greenhouse gas emissions across the broader economy and, specifically, those from energy production, transportation, and use by …
Groups Urge Fairness in Tailpipe Emissions Standards
Seven national associations representing the renewable fuel supply chain sent a letter this week to EPA Administrator Michael Regan asking him to adopt a market-oriented, technology-neutral approach to transportation decarbonization in its upcoming final tailpipe emissions standards for 2027-2032 light- and medium-duty vehicles. The groups wrote that the proposed rule favors electric vehicles while failing to consider the decarbonization potential …
EPA Agrees to Allow Summer E15 This Year
After weeks of intense lobbying by ethanol supporters, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to use its existing authority to provide continued access throughout the summer months for E15, literally at the very last moment to allow continued sale of the fuel from terminals after April 30th EPA announced today that the 15% ethanol fuel blend will be exempted …
Iowa Corn Supports New Engine Technology
Iowa’s corn farmers are backing new technology to power heavy-duty engines with clean, renewable fuels. Thanks to support from Iowa Corn, Chicago-based ClearFlame Engine Technologies recently raised $30 million in Series B funding to move from pilot to product in key markets. The new funding will help demonstrate how ClearFlame’s unique engine modification technology powers diesel engine platforms with renewable …
USDA Reports Higher Corn and Soybean Acres Expected
The 2023 Prospective Plantings report finds farmers expect to plant more corn and soybeans this year than last year. According to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), producers surveyed across the United States intend to plant 92.0 million acres of corn in 2023, up 4% from last year, and 87.5 million acres of soybeans this year, up slightly from last …
Ethanol Industry Worth $2.7 Billion to MN Economy
Minnesota’s ethanol industry contributed $2.7 billion to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022, according to a new study by the University of Minnesota Extension, sponsored by MN Bio-Fuels. The study found the industry produced 1.34 billion gallons of ethanol last year, up from 1.27 billion gallons in 2021, resulting in $8 billion in economic activity through sales and …
Second Part of Iowa Carbon Study Released
The second part of a study looking at potential impacts if Iowa prevents carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects was released this week by Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS) and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), finding that farm income could drop by more than $1 billion annually. DIS concluded: “Ethanol production in the state of Iowa has brought tens of …
Rabobank Analyst Sees Potential in SAF
The sky seems to be the limit for the future of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and can be a real opportunity for farmers, according to RaboResearch Senior Grains & Oilseeds Analyst Owen Wagner. Wagner was at Commodity Classic last week talking about how sustainable aviation fuel fits into the landscape for commodity demand. “This (SAF) is not just for vegetable …