2018 Ethanol Exports Officially Record High

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest government data shows U.S. ethanol exports hit a new record in 2018 with 1.70 billion gallons of ethanol shipped to over 80 countries. That’s almost 11% of total U.S. ethanol production. The value of U.S. ethanol exports was $2.7 billion in 2018, up 14% from 2017’s value and the highest on record. Brazil was the leading destination for …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, RFA

Lallemand and Toyota Sign Cellulosic Yeast Agreement

Cindy Zimmerman

Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits (LBDS) has signed an agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation to produce and market a new portfolio of yeast strains “TOYOTA XyloAce™” for cellulosic ethanol production in North America. Toyota, through the use of gene recombination technology, has recently developed new yeast strains that will play an important role in the fermentation process for producing cellulosic …

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Report from Commodity Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

Whether or not EPA can get to the finish line with a rule allowing year round sales of E15 before June 1 was a major topic of discussion last week, from hearings on Capitol Hill to the stage of the Commodity Classic in Orlando. First, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told the House Agriculture Committee that the rule would not be …

Audio, Commodity Classic, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, RFA

Ethanol Safety Webinar This Month

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association, in partnership with TRANSCAER®, is hosting an ethanol safety webinar on March 19 for ethanol emergency response teams. The “Train the Trainer” webinar, which is funded through a Federal Railroad Administration/TRANSCAER® grant, is intended to develop instructors to lead operations-level training and is open to all professional individuals above the technical level of training who are …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, safety

USDA Secretary Clarifies E15 Comments

Cindy Zimmerman

Two days before he appeared at the Commodity Classic last week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told the House Agriculture Committee that rules allowing the use of E15 year round “probably will not be out for the driving season,” but he says newly confirmed EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler has “figured out” how to get it done by June 1. Perdue says …

Audio, Commodity Classic, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

Ethanol Analyst: Long Term Market Outlook is Strong

Carrie Muehling

Although record ethanol production and political trade wars have presented challenges for the U.S. ethanol industry in recent months, an ethanol analyst speaking to participants at the National Ethanol Conference said the long term future for the industry looks strong. “The good news – and this really transcends politics – is that all over the world, there is more and …

Audio, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference

Nebraska Ethanol Emerging Issues Forum Next Week

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Ethanol, Ethanol News

Bioleap, Inc. Supports Ethanol Industry

Carrie Muehling

The 2019 National Ethanol Conference had a new golf tournament sponsor in Bioleap, Inc. CEO Wayne Mitchell said the full-service engineering company is currently focused on reducing the carbon footprint and energy use of ethanol plants, making them more efficient and helping them to be lower cost producers. Mitchell sees a strong future for the ethanol industry. “The ethanol industry …

Audio, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference

Perdue Doubts E15 Rule will be Ready by Summer

Cindy Zimmerman

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. …

Audio, E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFA, RFS, USDA

NEC Retailers Panel Talks Marketing Higher Blends

Carrie Muehling

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. …

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Retailers