Biofuel stakeholders from across the country will be in Omaha next week for the 14th annual Nebraska Ethanol: Emerging Issues Forum on March 7-8, kicking off with a welcome from Governor Pete Ricketts. The Nebraska Ethanol Board organizes the forum, which brings together ethanol producers and others involved in production, technology, policymaking and marketing of biofuels and its co-products. Topics …
Perdue Doubts E15 Rule will be Ready by Summer
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue appeared before the House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday to update members on the current state of the farm economy and what USDA is doing about it. Among the many topics Secretary Perdue addressed was whether EPA would get a rule allowing the year-round use of E15 ethanol-blended fuel in time for the summer driving season. …
NEC Retailers Panel Talks Marketing Higher Blends
Retail representatives on a panel at the National Ethanol Conference discussed how market drivers, federal policies and state program are driving the increased availability of E15 and flexible fuels. They also shared some personal experiences when it comes to offering higher blends of ethanol at their locations. Education was the biggest factor for Bryan Goforth with Home Service Oil Company. …
Platts Proposes Chicago Ethanol Price Assessment Revision
S&P Global Platts has made a proposal to revise the methodology for its Ethanol Chicago (terminal) price assessment to expand the delivery (offtake) options to include barge, rail and truck loading, effective May 1, 2019. “By this proposal, we will expand delivery options for our Ethanol Chicago price assessment, reflective of the extensive feedback we received from market participants through …
SD Farmers Union Challenges GM on Higher Octane
The president of the South Dakota Farmers Union took issue with remarks made by a General Motors executive at the recent National Ethanol Conference that 98 RON (Research Octane Number) or higher gasoline was not feasible. In a letter to General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra, Doug Sombke challenged GM vice president Don Nicholson’s claim that “98 RON fuel …
ACE Resumes Ethanol Forums for Mexico Retailers in 2019
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty traveled to Mérida, Mexico last week for the first ethanol technical information forum of the year for Mexican petroleum equipment installers and retailers. The forums are a joint effort of the U.S. Grains Council and the Mexican Association of Service Station Providers (AMPES) to inform Mexican petroleum marketers about opportunities …
RFA Releases Three New Ethanol Education Videos
The Renewable Fuels Association has released three new educational videos to help the public fuel their knowledge about renewable fuels like ethanol. The videos, debuted at RFA’s 24th annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando, focus on the ethanol production process, facts about the industry and the benefits of renewable fuels, and testimonials about ethanol-blended fuels from avid motorcycle riders. The …
GROWMARK Offers Pre-Blended E15 at More Terminals
GROWMARK Energy is adding to the number terminals around the Midwest offering pre-blended E15, according to the Renewable Fuels Association, which has worked closely with the farmer-owned cooperative on related issues such as regulatory compliance and adoption of RFA’s Misfueling Mitigation Plan (MMP). GROWMARK will now offer pre-blended E15 at Magellan terminals in – Bettendorf and Des Moines, Iowa; Carthage, …
Ethanol Interests Comment on Canada Clean Fuel Standard
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Growth Energy, and the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) jointly submitted comments this week supporting the Canadian Clean Fuel Standard. The comments to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) offered recommendations on how biofuels, like ethanol, can help reach the ECCC Regulatory Design Paper’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 23 megatons by 2030. “While …
SVPGlobal Buying White Energy Kansas Plants
Global investment firm Strategic Value Partners and its affiliates (“SVPGlobal”) has agreed to purchase food ingredient and ethanol businesses located in Kansas from White Energy, headquartered in Frisco, Texas. The purchase includes two integrated plants in Russell, Kansas: the nation’s largest vital wheat gluten manufacturing facility and one of the nation’s most cost-efficient ethanol production facilities. With an annual production …