Farm Foundation to Discuss RFS Waiver

John Davis

As I mentioned in the previous post, talk about waiving the Renewable Fuels Standard for ethanol continues on. This time, our friends from the Farm Foundation will be hosting a web conference, Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 10 a.m. CDT. Three Purdue University economists will take part in the free conference, discussing the impact of waiving the RFS, especially in light of how hard the drought has hit the nation’s corn crop. You can register for it here.

Purdue University economists Wally Tyner, Farzad Taheripour and Christopher Hurt have completed an analysis of a potential waiver and what it could mean for the ethanol industry and the price of corn. Their findings will be presented at Thursday’s web conference.

“As was the case in 2008, when rhetoric in the food-versus-fuel debate rose with the prices of corn and oil, the drought and high temperatures of 2012 are pushing corn and soybean prices to record levels, and the food vs. fuel debate is once again heated,” says Farm Foundation, NFP President Neil Conklin. “Now, as then, Farm Foundation and Purdue University are not about fueling these fires. Our shared mission is to be a catalyst for sound public policy by providing objective information to foster deeper understanding of the complex issues before our food and agriculture system today.”

Farm Foundation officials say the Purdue economists’ current analysis builds on years of work, including a series of three Farm Foundation publications, “What’s Driving Food Prices,” published in July 2008, March 2009 and July 2011.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Farm Foundation

RFA to Hold Webinar on Corn Crop, Ethanol & RFS

John Davis

A lot of talk over the weekend, as the USDA put out its crop report with the expected 13 percent drop in corn production due to the drought. The folks at the Renewable Fuels Association hope to give some clarity to the situation tomorrow morning (August 14th) when they host a webinar talking about the relationship between the crop, ethanol production, and the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

The webinar starts at 11 a.m. EDT, and will feature RFA Vice President Geoff Cooper providing analysis into the issue, as well as highlighting the flexibility of the RFS and how market-based data demonstrates no waiver in 2012 is warranted.

You need to register in advance by contacting Taryn Morgan at tmorgan@ethanolrfa.org.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, RFS

Biodiesel Powers Truck to Pulling Win

John Davis

The power of biodiesel was on display in Wisconsin for all to see as Herb Blaser’s 2011 Dodge Cummins Diesel 3500 roared to a win at the 2012 Almena Fun Days Truck Pull.

Blaser, a coordinator at SunPower Biodiesel, ran his truck on his company’s own blend of the green fuel.

This makes a repeat win for Blaser, who took first in the 2011 tractor pulling event. That tractor was also fueled by SunPower Biodiesel.

This year, the competition was stiff with nineteen trucks competing. “There were a lot of other trucks that blew a great deal of black smoke, mine hardly had any and none of it was black!” comments Blaser.

Sunpower Biodiesel’s 3 million gallon a year facility in Cumberland, WI proudly displays its affection for biodiesel, with a big LED moving sign in front of their production facility that reads, “Green is power, ask the Hulk.” The company also manages two retail fueling stations in Cumberland, WI and Duluth, MN.

Biodiesel

INEOS Bio Receives EPA Registration

Joanna Schroeder

The first cellulosic plant using non-food waste materials in the country has received Parts 79 and 80 registration from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): INEOS New Planet BioEnergy (INPB).  The news came as the facility of the Indian River BioEnergy Center (Center) nears production. The biorefinery will use vegetative, yard waste and agricultural waste to produce cellulosic ethanol and is scheduled to be commissioned in the next few weeks.

When the Center is in full production, it will produce 8 million gallons of advanced bioethanol and 6 megawatts of renewable power.  INEOS Bio, the parent company of the project, has plans to run municipal solid waste at the Center after initial start-up is complete.

“We have completed this new facility on schedule and on budget and look forward to further advancing this bioenergy technology and making it commercially available around the world,” said Peter Williams, CEO of INEOS Bio and Chairman of INPB. “Building more facilities and licensing this technology globally provides a new platform for waste disposal while providing energy security, local jobs and local bioenergy. “New technologies like this will also move us further away from, avoid, and eventually change the food-vs-fuel debate.”

Once the biorefinery is in production, it will be one of the first to produce cellulosic ethanol under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The facility will feature INEOS Bio’s feedstock flexible BioEnergy technology that uses a combination of gasification and fermentation technology to turn various types of waste materials into fuel and electricity.

advanced biofuels, bioenergy, Cellulosic, Electricity, Ethanol

Senate Candidate Urges Ethanol Industry to Fight

Cindy Zimmerman

Former Nebraska governor and senator and candidate for the Senate once again, Bob Kerrey, urged the crowd at the American Coalition for Ethanol conference Friday to fight for the industry.

“The only way you beat these guys is by fighting,” Kerrey said about the opponents of ethanol. “With the RFS, you cannot win this thing by being kind and gentle.”

Kerrey also urged Congress to get a farm bill passed as soon as possible. “The House needs to take this bill up and pass it,” he said. “The idea of an ad hoc disaster bill is a mistake. It’s not going to be good for agriculture, it’s not going to be good for ethanol, it’s not going to be good for the long term future of the American economy.”

Kerrey is the Democratic candidate to replace Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), facing Republican Deb Fisher who was invited to the ACE conference but was unable to attend.

Listen to Kerrey’s remarks here: Bob Kerrey of Nebraska remarks at ACE

Listen to interview with Kerrey here: Bob Kerrey Interview
2012 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Austin Explores Solar Industry

Joanna Schroeder

Those living in Austin, Texas can get a inside look at the solar industry during a forum and open house hosted by ImagineSolar. On August 25, 2012 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm CDT at ImagineSolar’s training facility located at 4000 Caven Road, Austin, TX 78744, community members can see new solar products and services from various solar companies, learn about new courses (attendees are eligible for a $50 discount on one course) and tour ImagineSolar’s solar field lab.

Several solar companies who are looking for local talent will be on hand at the event including Ideal Power Converters, Schletter, Greenbelt Solar, Lighthouse Solar, and more. Several solar associations will also be at the event including Texas Green Network (TGN), Renewable Energy Student Association (RESA), Texas Renewable Energy Industry Association (TREIA), and Sierra Club, Austin.

Austin innovator Michael Kuhn, who is also the founder of ImagineSolar, has been active in public policy for the solar industry since the 1990s. Today he is working with other local solar entrepreneurs to develop breakthrough models for local solar development. The goal is to accelerate solar adoption in the community. Today, current capacity for non-utility-scale solar is around 6 MW and the hope is to reach 300 MW over the next 10 years.

During the event, Kuhn will speak on this work and what to expect in the next several years from the Austin solar industry. “I remember when you could count on your two hands the number of people working in solar in Austin ten years ago,” said Kuhn, “Today we count over 615 people with jobs in the solar industry. We continue to endeavor to ensure that the City of Austin remains a leader for clean energy. Austin’s support for local solar is an engine for job creation.”

For more information about solar opportunities in Austin, download the free eBooks “Career Opportunities in the Solar Industry” and “Career Opportunities in the Smart Grid Industry.”

Electricity, Energy, Solar

Most Positive ACE Conference Ever

Cindy Zimmerman

Despite a drought that is lowering the corn crop and causing ethanol plant shutdowns, American Coalition for Ethanol Executive Vice President Brian Jennings thinks the organization’s 25th annual conference last week was the most positive ever.

“We’re really encouraged and enthused about how the conference went,” said Jennings. “We know things are tough out there but we ended this conference on the most positive note I think we’ve ever ended a conference.”

Jennings was especially pleased with the strong support from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for both ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard and they agree with Vilsack’s view of keeping the RFS in place despite a lowered corn crop. “We won’t know how many bushels are produced until harvest,” he said. “It is premature for the calls that have been made to waive the RFS.”

Listen to my wrap-up interview with Brian Jennings here: ACE EVP Brian Jennings
2012 ACE Conference Photo Album

During the conference, three new board members were elected.

  • Paul Enstad, Board of Governors Chairman for Granite Falls Energy, LLC, a 60 million-gallon-per-year (MGY) ethanol producer in Granite Falls, MN
  • Doug Punke, CEO of Renewable Products Marketing Group (RPMG), an ethanol marketing company in Shakopee, MN
  • John Christenson has joined the ACE board representing Christianson and Associates

In addition, four board members were re-elected.

  • Ron Alverson, Wentworth, South Dakota, representing Dakota Ethanol
  • David Gillen,  White Lake, South Dakota, representing South Dakota Corn Utilization Council
  • Wallie Hardie, Fairmount, North Dakota, representing North Dakota Corn Growers Association
  • Brian Wilcox, Columbus, Nebraska, representing Nebraska Public Power District
ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

Corn Growers Remain Optimistic

Cindy Zimmerman

Corn growers remain optimistic about the future, despite this year’s drought-devastated crop.

“It could all change tomorrow,” was the theme of National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) CEO Rick Tolman’s talk at the American Coalition for Ethanol conference in Omaha on Friday, just hours after the USDA released a new crop forecast showing a 13% drop in corn production this year compared to last. “This too shall pass,” said Tolman. “We think the future’s going to be bright still.”

“We were hoping for some miracles but they’re not there,” Tolman said in an interview. “It’s one of the worst situations we’ve had in the history of corn production in the United States, but it’s still the eighth largest crop we’ve ever produced.”

NCGA remains committed to maintaining the Renewable Fuel Standard corn ethanol requirement and Tolman said they are working to set the record straight about the RFS and correct misinformation that has been distributed by those who want to waive or dismantle the program. Most important is the inaccurate statement that more corn is used for ethanol than is used for livestock. “That is not true,” said Tolman. “More corn is GROUND for ethanol, but more still is consumed for livestock” when the co-product distillers grains is added to the equation.

Listen to my interview with Tolman at ACE: Interview with NCGA CEO Rick Tolman

Listen to Tolman’s comments at ACE: NCGA CEO Rick Tolman remarks at ACE


2012 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

ACE Gives Sen. Nelson Highest Honor

Cindy Zimmerman

During its 25th annual conference in Omaha Friday, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) presented U.S. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) with the Merle Anderson Award for his leadership in supporting the renewable fuels industry while serving as Governor and Senator of Nebraska.

Nelson established the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition in 1991, helped create the first energy title in a farm bill, and played a key role in passing the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in 2005, and the expanded RFS in 2007.

The Merle Anderson Award is named in honor of the founder and first president of ACE who serves as Chairman Emeritus of the ACE board of directors.

The senator, who is retiring this year after serving in the Senate since 2001, was honored by the award named after Anderson. “It’s very heartwarming to be considered in his company,” he said. “I’m just very proud.”

Nelson commented on work not done in Congress on a farm bill, which would include livestock assistance for livestock producers affected by the drought, and why that would help more than waiving the Renewable Fuel Standard. “We don’t want to go backwards trying to go forwards. There are other ways of dealing with this, we don’t have to start changing the RFS,” he said.

Listen to my interview with Sen. Nelson at ACE: Sen. Ben Nelson


2012 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

RFA Puts USDA Crop Report in Context

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels AssociationRenewable Fuels Association Vice President of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper put together an analysis of today’s USDA crop supply report on the RFA E-xchange Blog to put the report into perspective from both a historical context as well as a global production context, answering calls from some international voices to end global biofuel production.

“As expected, this morning’s supply-demand estimates from USDA showed a big reduction in the size of the 2012 corn crop and average yield. Today’s report estimates average yield at 123.4 bushels per acre (bpa), down nearly 23 bpa from USDA’s July estimate and the lowest yield since 1995. Harvested acres are pegged at 87.4 million, meaning a crop of 10.78 billion bushels (bbu) is expected. This is down more than 2 billion bushels from USDA’s July estimate and would be the smallest crop since 2006. Today’s USDA numbers were slightly worse than expected by analysts; on average, they had expected a crop of 10.97 bbu on a yield of 126.2 bpa. While this year’s harvest will be considerably smaller than initially expected, it is remarkable that farmers are still expected to produce the eighth-largest corn crop on record despite experiencing the worst drought in 50 years and the hottest month of July in recorded history.”

Listen to an interview with Cooper here: RFA's Geoff Cooper on USDA crop forecast

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Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, RFA, USDA