The ethanol industry is mourning the loss this week of pioneer and advocate Ray Defenbaugh, who was a founding member, president, CEO, and chairman of Big River Resources, with facilities in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Defenbaugh served on the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) board since 2005 and was a member of the Executive Committee. “Ray’s contributions to rural America, the …
Ethanol Report on New Trade Deals
Two major trade deals in one week last week are giving the agriculture and ethanol industries reason to be optimistic as we move into the “Roaring ’20s.” In this episode of The Ethanol Report, we hear from Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper, President Donald Trump, USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and USDA …
Ethanol Groups Optimistic as China Trade Deal is Signed
Ethanol organizations expressed optimism about the signing of the historic Phase One Trade Agreement with China Wednesday, despite China’s announced suspension of its E10 ethanol mandate last week. “We are very optimistic about the potential of this agreement for American agriculture and the renewable fuels industry—with the inclusion of ethanol and key co-products like distillers grains—and are looking forward to …
Has the U.S. Really Achieved Energy Independence?
Opinion by Scott Richman, Renewable Fuels Association Chief Economist From the RFA Blog The recent conflict with Iran and its proxies in Iraq has served as a reminder of the enduring potential for geopolitical risk to unsettle petroleum markets – not just globally but also in the U.S. While the U.S. has become significantly more energy-secure over the last decade, …
RFA 2020 Safety Webinar Series Kicks Off
The Renewable Fuels Association, in partnership with TRANSCAER, is hosting a free ethanol safety “Train the Trainer” webinar on Tuesday, January 14, for ethanol emergency response teams. This will be the first of four in 2020, with the others taking place April 7, June 23 and August 18. The webinar will take place from noon to 2 p.m. ET and …
Ethanol Delivers Relief at the Pump with Higher Prices
The situation between the United States and Iran is having an impact on oil prices and gas at the pump, but ethanol is helping to moderate that, according to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). “The current crisis in the Middle East again highlights the critical need for greater domestic energy security and diversity,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. …
New Report Outlines Clean Fuels Policy for the Midwest
A new report details how a good clean fuels policy for the Midwest should be designed, recommending a “technology-neutral, portfolio approach that encourages a fair and competitive marketplace and benefits producers, consumers, agriculture, utilities, jobs, and public health.” The Clean Fuels Policy for the Midwest white paper is the result of nearly two years of analysis and stakeholder discussion by …
Ethanol Report on Badger State Billion Gallons
When Badger State Ethanol (BSE) began production in 2002 with a nameplate capacity of 40 million gallons per year, it would have taken them 25 years to hit a billion gallons – but they did it in 18, and with a current capacity of 85 million gallons a year they will celebrate the next billion in less than 12 years. …
Badger State Ethanol Hits Billion Gallon Milestone
Badger State Ethanol (BSE) in Monroe, Wisconsin is starting 2020 by passing the 1 billion gallon milestone at its 85 million-gallon-per-year facility. BSE began production in 2002 with a nameplate capacity of 40 million gallons per year. To put 1 billion gallons in perspective, Erik Huschitt, CEO and General Manager of BSE, said, “In a vehicle that gets 23 miles …
Ethanol Ins and Outs for 2020
As has become a New Year tradition, Renewable Fuels Association Senior Strategic Advisor Bob Dinneen offers his views on the evolving ethanol industry trends – what is on the way “out” as we turn our calendars to 2020 and what will be “in” as the new year begins.