Margins are tight in the ethanol industry, and for a number of reasons from political to regulatory to economic. John Christianson, Principal, Christianson PLLP, told those attending the 2019 American Coalition for Ethanol Conference that successful plants have to be strategic and focused. “It really comes down to leadership and it comes down to a laser focus,” said Christianson. “The …
Rep. Axne Calls for Investigation into Waivers
U.S. Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, is calling for a federal investigation into the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) expansion of refinery exemptions from blending requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Rep. Axne chose Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) to hold a press conference yesterday, the same site where President Donald Trump triumphantly announced …
Fallout from EPA Refinery Waivers Continues
President Trump reportedly held a meeting with his cabinet Monday concerned about backlash from farmers over new small refinery waivers, but an EPA official added fuel to the fire yesterday by saying there was “zero evidence” of demand destruction for ethanol due to the numerous refinery exemptions allowed by the Environmental Protection Agency. “To suggest that there is ‘zero evidence’ …
Legally Protecting Ethanol’s Market Share
Various legal battles are ongoing to protect the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) and ethanol market share. An update on these efforts during the American Coalition for Ethanol Conference came from Bryan Stockton, Counsel, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Stockton shared what he called “the good, the bad and the ugly,” celebrating the timely release of the long anticipated E-15 final …
Capitalizing on Carbon
A panel at the 2019 American Coalition for Ethanol Conference in Omaha shared the potential benefits of investing in the emerging carbon economy and new opportunities on the horizon. Moderator Brian Jennings, ACE CEO, said carbon is something ACE has been taking much more seriously over the last couple of years. Other speakers included Pam Miller, ACE Board Chair and …
Ethanol Report on Hauk Designs Project
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has partnered with off-road Jeep designer Kenny Hauk of Hauk Designs to build a flex-fuel E85 Jeep Wrangler JL that will highlight the benefits of ethanol blends in high-performance vehicles. The special “Hauk Machines” Amazon Prime video series kicked off August 12 exclusively on RFA’s Facebook page with the first “mini-episode.” RFA Vice President of …
ACE Honors Randy Ives with Merle Anderson Award
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) presented its highest award to Randy Ives, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) delegate and a key figure in the development of distiller’s dried grain with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol market development programs. The Merle Anderson Award, named after the founder of ACE, is given to individuals who display unmatched dedication and support to the organization …
Ethanol Industry Has What It Takes
It was a somber yet determined group of ethanol industry representatives that met last week in Omaha for the American Coalition for Ethanol 32nd annual conference, in the wake of the EPA granting another 1.43 billion gallons of refinery waivers. ACE CEO Brian Jennings says they had a tough and honest board meeting prior to the start of the conference. …
RFA Urges Australia to Choose Ethanol Over Petroleum Reserve
The head of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) sent a letter to Australia’s energy minister last week encouraging them to strongly consider U.S. ethanol imports as a cleaner, more affordable alternative to purchasing oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The letter, from RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper, cited news reports of Australia’s request for access to the U.S. …
RFA Hosting Free Ethanol Safety Webinar
The Renewable Fuels Association, in partnership with TRANSCAER®, is hosting a free ethanol safety “Train the Trainer” webinar on Tuesday, August 20, for ethanol emergency response teams. The webinar will take place from noon to 2 p.m. ET and is the fourth and final webinar to be funded through a Federal Railroad Administration/TRANSCAER grant. It is designed to train a …