Producing cellulosic ethanol from corn kernel fiber is where many ethanol plants are heading. But getting EPA approval on that type of project is not always easy. Jim Ramm of EcoEngineers explained why he believes this is the future of the industry at the 2018 National Ethanol Conference. “It makes sense as an industry to maximize the return on the …
RFA Chairman Pleased With Conference Turnout
The 2018 National Ethanol Conference (NEC) saw a great turnout of people supporting the renewable fuels industry. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Chairman Mick Henderson said exports continue to be a priority, as well as creating parity for E15 in domestic markets. Henderson said being a part of a trade organization like RFA is important when it comes to affecting policy. …
Why Ethanol Should Care About Electric Vehicles
It might be surprising to see electric cars on the agenda at the National Ethanol Conference. But that was the subject of a panel discussion at the recent meeting in San Antonio, Texas. The panel included Tammy Klein, Future Fuel Strategies; Eva Rigamonti, Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA)/Steptoe & Johnson; and Leslie Hayward, Securing America’s Future Energy …
Syngenta Enogen Footprint Growing
In the past two months, Syngenta has announced two agreements with major ethanol producers to use Enogen® corn enzyme technology at their plants, continuing to grow the footprint of this biotech corn output trait designed specifically to enhance ethanol production. In December, Green Plains Inc. of Nebraska partnered with Syngenta to expand its use of Enogen® corn across its 1.5 …
NEC Hosts International Ethanol Buyers for Third Year
More than 150 business-to-business meetings between domestic ethanol producers and international buyers from five countries were held at the Renewable Fuels Association’s National Ethanol Conference in San Antonio last week. It was the third year for the conference to host the event through the Department of Commerce’s International Buyer Program (IBP), a joint government-industry effort to promote U.S. export sales. …
New Analysis Shows RIN Prices Could Fall
A new analysis from the University of Illinois shows conditions that caused high conventional biofuel (D6) RIN prices are changing rapidly and that “…it is not out of the realm of possibility for D6 RINs prices to fall back their pre-2013 level of just a few cents without making any changes to the RFS.” According to a release from the …
Ethanol Report from #RFANEC18
The Renewable Fuels Association 23rd National Ethanol Conference with the theme “Ethanol Strong” was held February 12-14 in San Antonio, Texas. The event featured the annual “State of the Industry” address by RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen, as well as panels and speakers on a number of important topics, from electric vehicles to RINs to the expanding export market. …
DOE Studies Show Benefits of High Octane Ethanol
Two studies released by the Department of Energy the day after this week’s National Ethanol Conference find that ethanol-based high octane fuels can deliver substantial fuel economy improvements and emissions reductions when paired with optimized internal combustion engines Among the findings, according to the Renewable Fuels Association are that alcohol fuels, including ethanol, offer many desirable properties that will help …
#NEC18 Scholarship Winner is Ethanol Strong
A former steel mill worker pursuing a degree while working full-time in the U.S. ethanol industry is this year’s student scholarship attendee at the Renewable Fuels Association 23rd National Ethanol Conference this week. Christopher Wense is a full time Ethanol Plant Operations Technician at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and is working toward a …
Global Panel Wraps Up #RFANEC18
The National Ethanol Conference concluded this week with the always popular panel of international industry organization leaders. Bliss Baker with the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance moderated the discussion which included Emmanuel Desplechin, ePURE; Jim Grey, Renewable Industries Canada; Elizabeth Farina, Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA); and Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association. As always, Dinneen used the panel to publicly address …