One of the new NEC Tech Connect sessions at this year’s National Ethanol Conference focused on new technologies that are working to increase the demand and value for ethanol and have successfully converted the fiber within the corn kernel into extremely valuable cellulosic ethanol. Miloud Araba, head of technical services for the Enogen group at Syngenta, gave the presentation on …
Point of Obligation Discussion at #RFANEC
The extended comment period for the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed denial to change the Point of Obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) ended this week as panelists at the National Ethanol Conference were discussing the issue. Pacific Ethanol CEO Neil Koehler refereed the cage fight discussion between Richard Walsh, SVP & Deputy General Counsel, Valero Renewable Fuels Company and …
Agriculture and Ethanol Working Together
At the National Ethanol Conference this week, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen sat down with representatives from the corn and livestock industries to talk about the current state of the farm economy, the policy impact of historic surpluses, and moving past food versus fuel. Dinneen discussed common ground with National Corn Growers Association CEO Chris Novak …
Pacific Ethanol CEO Receives RFA Industry Award
The co-founder of California’s first ethanol production company received the Renewable Fuels Association 2017 Industry Award in San Diego this week at the 22nd National Ethanol Conference. Pacific Ethanol CEO Neil Koehler, who is also vice chairman of the RFA board of directors, was the co-founder and general manager of Parallel Products, California’s first ethanol production company, which made ethanol …
RFA Chair Urges #Ethanol Industry to be Bold
Mick Henderson is general manager of Commonwealth Agri-Energy, an ethanol plant in western Kentucky. He is also the chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and says this year’s National Ethanol Conference (NEC) theme “Growing Markets, Building Partnerships” is a theme for the industry this year. “The bigger the coalition, the more you can get done,” said Henderson. “We have …
Gasoline Markets and #Ethanol
Retail fuel outlets have many considerations when it comes to offering higher ethanol blends for consumers – from regulatory hurdles, equipment replacement timelines, financial incentives and long term strategies. But higher blends are vital when it comes to increasing the domestic market for ethanol at this point. Renewable Fuels Association vice president of industry relations Robert White led a discussion …
High Octane, Low Carbon Future Panel at #RFANEC
Automakers, DOE scientists, and other experts agree that octane is the key to enabling greater efficiency and reduced emissions in the internal combustion engines of the future. The question is making that happen and that is the discussion had at the National Ethanol Conference this week. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Senior VP Geoff Cooper moderated the conversation with Ricardo Executive …
Military Vets Urge Trump to Add Biofuels to Energy Plan
Military veterans involved in the biofuels industry, like East Kansas Agri-Energy (EKAE) President and CEO Jeff Oestmann, are requesting that the Commander-in-Chief deploy the use of ethanol and other renewable fuels in the fight to make America First in energy. “Missing from the president’s (America First Energy) plan is any mention of ethanol or biofuels in general – we are …
President Trump Sends Greetings to #RFANEC
President Donald Trump sent greetings to National Ethanol Conference attendees this week and his regrets that he could not attend. In a letter to the NEC read by Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen, President Trump reiterated his unwavering support for ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard. “Rest assured that your president and this administration values the importance …
Reporters Curious About #Ethanol Issues
Reporters covering the National Ethanol Conference in San Diego had questions about a number of topics when given the opportunity to have a press “scrum” with Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen. The first questions centered on the discussion Dinneen had on stage at the NEC with petroleum industry representatives and how the industries can work together. “I’ve …