Sheetz Offers Ethanol Blend Savings Through Holiday

Cindy Zimmerman

Pennsylvania-based restaurant and convenience chain Sheetz is making national news this week for selling higher ethanol blends at a discount for the Independence Day holiday weekend.

The chain announced Monday it was helping to reduce pain at the pump for consumers by reducing the price of fuel to $3.99 a gallon for Unleaded 88, or E15, and $3.49 a gallon for E85 through the July 4th holiday travel season and the story has gone nationwide. CEO Travis Sheetz has been on local TV stations and national news networks, explaining what Unleaded 88 and E85 are and what type of vehicles can use them.

The company operates over 640 store locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina.

E15, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Retailers

Advanced Biofuels USA Announces Essay Contest

Cindy Zimmerman

Advanced Biofuels USA has announced a new essay competition on the question “How can Advanced Biofuels become a Transformative Source for US Transportation?”

“We think the young people of the world have some great ideas and we think all people, and especially decision makers, should know about them. That’s why we’re sponsoring an essay competition for all people on the planet under twenty-five years old,” said Joanne Ivancic, Executive Director of Advanced Biofuels USA.

The contest offers a $200 first place prize, $150 for second place and $100 for third. In addition, the three winning essays will be published on the Advanced Biofuels USA website. The only qualification for entry is that one must be under 25 years old by December 31, 2022. Deadline for submission is October 1, 2022.

Click for more information.

advanced biofuels, biofuels, biomass, Ethanol

Ethanol Industry Leads in Employing Veterans

Cindy Zimmerman

A new study from the Department of Energy (DOE) finds that the U.S. ethanol industry once again leads the nation in the share of military veterans in its workforce, with one in every six employees previously serving in the armed forces. The DOE report also shows that the concentration of union workers in the ethanol industry is higher than the national average.

“Veterans make up 16% of the corn ethanol workforce, a higher concentration of veterans than any other energy technology and higher concentration than the 6% national average,” according to the report, which was prepared by DOE’s Office of Policy, Office of Energy Jobs. Across all energy sectors, veterans account for 9% of the workforce.

Meanwhile, ethanol industry workers represented by a union or labor agreement make up 7% of the industry workforce, higher than the national workforce average of 6%. The ethanol industry’s union worker density is identical to that of the petroleum fuels sector, according to the report.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is proof of that finding, with two military veterans among the organization’s 15 staff members, Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White and President and CEO Geoff Cooper.

“The ethanol industry’s values and priorities align extremely well with those of our women and men in uniform, so it’s no surprise that one out of every six ethanol industry workers is a veteran,” said Cooper. “Military veterans know that they can continue to protect their fellow Americans and serve their country by producing a homegrown, cleaner, greener, and more affordable renewable fuel.”

Cooper also noted that the DOE report underscores that progress is being made toward the industry goals of greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. For example, females account for 30% of the ethanol industry workforce, well above the 25% average across all energy sectors, and workers with disabilities make up 4% of the ethanol industry workforce, double the average across all energy sectors.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Clean Fuels Production Growing to Help Diesel Prices

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel producers are working to extend fuel supplies and provide relief at the pump to American families, according to a letter from Clean Fuels Alliance America sent to President Joe Biden, administration officials, and congressional leaders this week.

“Our industry is investing billions to expand production of biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel to further extend consumer access to clean fuels. Our partners in the agriculture industry are investing more than $4 billion to expand the supply of renewable oils for both food and clean fuels,” the letter states. “U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel producers are supplying more than 3.2 billion gallons of cleaner, better fuel to the U.S. market, meeting more than 5% of the nation’s demand for on-road heavy-duty fuels. These fuels are essential to keeping food and other consumer items moving across the country and are keeping diesel prices from rising even higher during the current shortage.”

The letter further highlights a recent study from the World Agricultural Economic and Environmental Service showing that U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel production generates a 4 percent decrease in the price of diesel fuel.

The letter also thanks the administration for recent actions to grow Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for advanced biofuels and biomass-based diesel and provide additional infrastructure grants to improve consumer access to biodiesel.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance, renewable diesel

Ethanol Report on Lower Food & Fuel Costs Act

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. House of Representatives on June 16, passed the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, which includes a variety of initiatives targeting cattle marketing, precision agriculture technology, fertilizer prices, and the supply chain, as well as biofuels infrastructure funding and year round access for E15.

In this edition of the Renewable Fuels Association Ethanol Report podcast, we take a look at the legislation and hear from its supporters, including Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Cindy Axne (D-IA), Angie Craig (D-MN), and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Then we talk with RFA senior vice president of government and public affairs Troy Bredenkamp about the importance of the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act for the ethanol industry and what it’s chances are in the Senate.

Ethanol Report 6-23-22 (18:01)

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

Ride On Ethanol Biker

Cindy Zimmerman

We were saddened to hear about the passing of Doug Brandmahl, a general contractor from Virginia who became an annual ethanol promoter after a chance meeting in 2009.

Brandmahl was an avid motorcyclist who enjoyed attending the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and was on his way there in August of 2009 when he met Robert White with the Renewable Fuels Association, who was also on his way to the rally to promote ethanol to motorcycle enthusiasts. After learning about ethanol for the first time, Brandmahl offered to help White with the promotion and a lifelong friendship began.

Here are a couple of interviews with Doug as part of the RFA team at Sturgis, in 2011 and 2018.
2011 Doug Brandmahl Interview

Interview with RFA volunteer Doug Brandmahl 2018
Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, Sturgis

NCGA Podcast Busts Ethanol Myths

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper joined National Corn Growers Association CEO Jon Doggett on his most recent podcast episode to help knock down some common misconceptions about ethanol.

Not surprisingly, they are the same myths the industry has been fighting for decades – ethanol is bad for small engines, bad for the environment, costs too much energy to produce, food versus fuel, etc. Cooper and Doggett are both veteran ethanol mythbusters, so it’s an enjoyable conversation.

Listen here to the latest episode of Wherever Jon May Roam.

corn, Ethanol, NCGA, Podcasting

Lower Food and Fuel Cost Act Passes House

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, a diverse package of initiatives from meat packing plants to year round E15, despite opposition by the majority of Republicans.

The legislation includes two bills by Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) – the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act and the Strengthening the Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Act. “Every day, Americans are calling on their elected leaders to take decisive action to combat surging prices at the checkout line and at the pump. And today, we responded to that call by passing a major bipartisan bill to ensure the accessibility of affordable, homegrown American biofuels and to shore up the American food supply chain,” said Rep. Craig.

Listen to Craig’s remarks on the House floor in support of the legislation.
House Food and Fuel bill - Rep. Angie Craig 2:00

The seven Republicans who voted for the bill were all from major biofuels producing states – Don Bacon of Nebraska; Randy Feenstra, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Ashley Hinson of Iowa; Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Vicky Hartzler of Missouri, and Dusty Johnson of South Dakota. But the debate heard some lawmakers outside the Midwest advocating for greater use of biofuels to lower gas prices, like Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, who stressed the environmental benefits of ethanol in addition to the cost savings for consumers. “It’s a win-win across the board and one of the most powerful tools in our fight against global price shocks,” said Pallone. “E15 is also a cleaner fuel option that emits less carbon pollution and burns cleaner and is part of a broader effort to bring down prices while also cutting climate pollution.”

Listen to Pallone’s remarks on the House floor in support of the legislation.
House Food and Fuel bill - Rep. Frank Pallone 2:52

Ethanol groups welcomed the biofuels portion of the bill which includes a permanent legislative fix for the summertime Reid Vapor Pressure waiver, extending the 1-psi waiver to blends of ten percent “or more.” The draft also includes $200 million in additional funding for higher blends infrastructure. “By expanding the availability of cleaner, more-affordable ethanol blends, this legislation will help deliver immediate economic relief to American families who are feeling unprecedented pain at the pump,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper.

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings thanked Representatives Angie Craig, Cindy Axne and others for their support. “Ensuring uninterrupted access to E15 is not only an urgent priority for our industry, but the best way to make an immediate positive difference at the pump and in reducing tailpipe emissions,” said Jennings.

Audio, E15, Ethanol

House Expected to Vote on Food and Fuel Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote today on the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act led by Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), a package of legislation designed to address supply chain issues for the American energy and agriculture sectors, combat rising fertilizer prices and increase the availability of higher ethanol blends and other biofuels.

The legislation includes Spanberger’s Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act which would tackle anticompetitive practices and increase fairness in the American meat and poultry industry, as well as the Butcher Block Act to expand regional livestock and meat processing capacity.

The Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act also includes contributions from Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA) to help lower prices at the pump by:
Expanding U.S. biofuels investments and giving consumers the choice to purchase fuels that are cheaper than standard gasoline.
Deploying additional storage and dispensing equipment to increase availability of higher ethanol blends and other biofuels.
Moving forward with voluntary year-round sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol — known as E-15 or Unleaded 88.

“We are helping not just reduce our carbon emissions and helping our agriculture communities, we are literally putting money in people’s pockets because they’re saving,” said Rep. Axne about allowing year round sales of E15.

Rep. Spanberger held a press conference Wednesday with Rep. Axne, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH), Dean Phillips (D-MN), and Susie Lee (D-NV).

House Food and Fuel Costs bill presser 23:35

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, food and fuel

Clariant Produces First Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Global specialty chemical company Clariant announced this week that the first commercial cellulosic ethanol has been produced at its sunliquid® production plant in Podari, Romania.

The company has a multi-year agreement with Shell to supply the product. Approximately 50,000 tons of second-generation biofuels will be derived from 250,000 tons of locally sourced agricultural residues, primarily in the form of straw. The cellulosic ethanol produced at this plant can be applied as a drop-in solution for fuel blending but also offers further downstream application opportunities for sustainable aviation fuel and bio-based chemicals.

Christian Librera, Head of Business Line Biofuels & Derivatives added: “The advanced biofuel produced by the sunliquid® technology process supports the decarbonization of the transport sector by providing up to 120 % CO2 savings compared to fossil fuel. It is particularly encouraging to see that despite the global pandemic, we have successfully managed to start production in our flagship sunliquid® cellulosic ethanol plant on schedule. This proves that Clariant’s technology is commercially deployable and accelerates our licensing business strategy. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all colleagues and partners involved.”

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, International