MN Bio-Fuels Wraps Up E15 Promotional Campaign

Cindy Zimmerman

The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels) has just wrapped up a successful five-month E15 promotional campaign in the Twin Cities metro area aimed at rewarding drivers for fueling up with 15% ethanol fuel.

“As fuel prices strained consumers’ pocket books this summer, our promotional events with KS95 provided us with a unique opportunity to educate drivers about how they could save money by fueling up with E15,” said Brian Werner, executive director at MN Bio-Fuels. “With prices again on the rise, E15 remains a cost-saving option for Minnesota drivers at gas stations all around the state.”

MN Bio-Fuels worked with radio station KS95 to promoted E15 at 12 different gas stations in the Twin Cities metro area over five months and handed out prizes to drivers who purchased E15, such as $20 in cash, tickets to the Minnesota Twins and other sporting events, gift cards to Applebee’s, and more.

According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, 66.42 million gallons of E15 was sold in Minnesota from January to August this year, 19 percent higher than the volume recorded over the same period last year (55.78 million gallons).

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Hundreds of Grain Buyers Expected at Export Exchange

Cindy Zimmerman

More than 200 international customers from 50 countries and nearly 300 domestic suppliers of grains and co-products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), are arriving in Minneapolis this week for Export Exchange 2022, the first time the event has been held since 2018.

The event is co-sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association and RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper says they have a great program lined up. “This event is important not only for its networking and sales opportunities, but also as an educational opportunity for participants to learn more about the high quality and value of U.S. farm and biorefinery products, as is clearly shown by the reach of our exports. American-made distiller’s grains were exported to more than 50 countries on six continents in 2021.”

Export Exchange facilitates meetings between the international buyers and U.S. suppliers so prospective customers can ask questions about this year’s U.S. corn crop and suppliers can explain the benefits of the world’s greatest agricultural supply chain. In addition, more than 20 pre- and post-Export Exchange tours have been arranged through the U.S. Grains Council for trade teams from around the world to visit various corn-growing states to get a firsthand look at corn harvest, stopping by ethanol plants to see DDGS production, exploring port facilities and more.

“At a time when international trade should be championed by our country’s leaders, Export Exchange is critical for our industry,” said Ryan LeGrand, USGC president and CEO. “It is essential for us to strengthen the bonds between suppliers and partner countries, and the connections made will not only help propel our industry this year, but for years to come.”

Get a preview of what is happening later this week in Minneapolis in this recent podcast featuring LeGrand and RFA’s Kelly Davis.

Ethanol Report previews Export Exchange (15:11)

Audio, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Export Exchange, Exports

Honeywell Announces New Ethanol-to-Jet Fuel Technology

Cindy Zimmerman

Honeywell has announced an innovative ethanol-to-jet fuel (ETJ) processing technology that allows producers to convert corn-based, cellulosic, or sugar-based ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Demand for SAF continues to grow, yet the aviation industry is challenged by limited supplies of traditional SAF feedstocks such as vegetable oils, animal fats and waste oils. Ethanol offers producers a widely available, economically viable feedstock. Honeywell’s ready now technology uses high-performance catalysts and heat management capabilities to maximize production efficiency, resulting in a cost-effective, lower carbon intensity aviation fuel.

A 2021 life-cycle analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory concluded that ethanol-to-jet fuel conversion, combined with other technologies such as carbon capture and sequestration (CCUS) and smart farming practices, can result in negative GHG emissions compared to petroleum-based jet fuel.

“Honeywell pioneered SAF production with its Ecofining™ technology, and our new ethanol-to-jet fuel process builds on that original innovation to support the global aviation sector’s efforts to reduce GHG emissions and meet SAF production targets with an abundant feedstock like ethanol,” said Barry Glickman, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions. “Honeywell’s ethanol- to-jet process, when used as a standalone or when coupled with Honeywell carbon capture technology, is ready now to provide a pathway to lower carbon-intensity SAF.”

Read more from Honeywell

aviation biofuels, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Clean Fuels Welcomes MO Biodiesel Tax Incentive

Cindy Zimmerman

Clean Fuels Alliance America representatives this week joined Missouri Governor Mike Parson as he signed legislation creating new incentives for biodiesel consumption and production in the state. Missouri’s new law will help drive biodiesel demand in the state, add value to Missouri-grown soybeans, and provide Missouri citizens with a domestically made fuel that helps lower fuel prices.

“The biodiesel industry is an important partner for farmers and entrepreneurs in Missouri and across the Midwest,” Governor Parson stated. “We are proud to support this industry that helps create good-paying jobs, while ensuring our nation benefits from homegrown fuels that provide energy security and environmental benefits.”

The bill passed by the Missouri legislature during a special session called by Governor Parson to focus on extending agriculture incentives, provides a $0.02 per gallon retail incentive for B5 to B10 and a $0.05 per gallon retail incentive for B11+ sold at Missouri fuel retailer locations. The bill also establishes a $0.02 per gallon incentive for biodiesel produced in the state. The Legislature provided a total of $20 million to fund the program.

The legislation was spearheaded and guided through the legislative process by the Missouri Soybean Association partnering with Clean Fuels Alliance America and several of its member companies.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Clean Fuels Alliance, Soybeans

Higher Ethanol Blends Fuel the Cure in Nebraska

Cindy Zimmerman

It’s October so that means many fuel retailers in Nebraska are turning pink to raise money for cancer research and educate drivers about higher ethanol blends.

The Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Ethanol Board, and Renewable Fuels Nebraska sponsor Fuel the Cure in conjunction with retail stations each October as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Nearly 50 Nebraska gas stations are donating 3 cents for every gallon of higher ethanol blends (E15-E85) sold this month to support work at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha.

Since 2018, Nebraska’s Fuel the Cure campaigns have raised nearly $30,000 for cancer research. Drivers will be able to identify which retailers are supporting this important cause by looking for pink signage at the pump, on the windows and at the counter.

Find a list of participants at www.fueledbynebraska.com/pink.

E15, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News

RFA Files Motion in Lawsuit Against EPA over RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association has filed a motion to intervene on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency in a suit brought against the agency by the Center for Biological Diversity over the Renewable Fuel Standard.

The environmental organization’s suit seeks a court review of EPA’s renewable volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard for compliance years 2020 through 2022, and RFA is seeking to intervene on behalf of EPA, “to protect its substantial interest in the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard program and the investments RFA’s members have made in renewable fuels to support the program,” the motion states.

“We are seeking to intervene in this case to ensure EPA can continue its work to put the RFS back on track and restore integrity to the program. We will do all we can to make sure the law and Congress’s intent are upheld,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper.

EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, RFS

Ethanol Report on YPN Growth

Cindy Zimmerman

Several ethanol industry veterans have retired lately after serving in the business for some 30-40 years. But right behind the old guard there is a new guard taking shape and the Renewable Fuels Association’s Young Professionals Network is helping them get involved for the future of the industry.

In this episode of the Ethanol Report, we hear from Janet Fisher with YPN sponsor Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits (LBDS) about how the program is growing and why it’s so important.

Ethanol Report 10-6-22 (14:47)

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Danforth Center to Lead Research on Sorghum for Bioenergy

Cindy Zimmerman

The Danforth Plant Science Center with principal investigator Andrea Eveland will lead a multi-institutional project to study sorghum as a versatile bioenergy crop, and its response to drought. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Genome-Enabled Plant Biology program supports the three-year $2.7 million project for the Determination of Gene Function program.

Sorghum is the fifth most widely grown cereal crop worldwide and the third largest in the U.S. It has natural resilience to drought stress and excessive heat, which is attractive for developing bioenergy feedstocks for production on marginal lands. Eveland’s project explores the gene networks underlying this remarkable stress resilience in sorghum and seeks to define the functions of critical genes and how they are regulated. Drought tolerance is a complex trait and understanding its regulation in the broader context of the whole plant and its environment will require advanced approaches in genetics, genomics, phenotyping and gene editing.

bioenergy, biofuels, Research, sorghum

Truth About Ethanol and Carbon Emissions

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper sets the record straight on ethanol and carbon emissions in a commentary on the RFA Blog

There’s been a lot of talk—and a lot of confusion—recently about corn ethanol’s carbon footprint. Before being retracted due to “flawed interpretation of data” and “inaccurate estimates of carbon emissions,” a September 8 Reuters article initially asserted that the carbon emissions related to making ethanol are worse than the emissions from making gasoline.

How could that be? How could Reuters possibly reach that initial conclusion before withdrawing their story? What’s the truth?

Unfortunately, Reuters took the same flawed and misleading approach to examining ethanol’s carbon footprint that many other biofuel critics and opponents have taken in the past. Like other erroneous attacks on ethanol’s carbon benefits, the Reuters article failed to look at the full carbon lifecycle for ethanol, while also failing to make appropriate comparisons amongst different fuel types.

Read the entire commentary.

Commentary, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ethanol Top Priority for New NCGA President

Cindy Zimmerman

Minnesota farmer Tom Haag is the new president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), starting his term on October 1. Haag farms corn and soybeans in Eden Valley with his son Nathan and has been farming for over 40 years. He has has served on the Minnesota Corn Growers Association board since 2010 and on the NCGA board since 2016.

One of Haag’s biggest priorities as NCGA president is advancing higher ethanol blends through legislation like the Next Generation Fuels Act, which is in both the House and Senate. “So the ball is rolling and I think there’s a great opportunity for that,” said Haag. “If we can get a 30 percent blend (and) use the science behind our technology, I think we can compete with electric vehicles.”

Haag touched on multiple topics important to the nation’s corn growers during a news conference Tuesday, including ethanol, crop insurance, exports, transportation, and negotiations on the next farm bill.

New NCGA President Tom Haag 23:06

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA