RFA Schedules 2022 ‘Train the Trainer’ Webinars

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association is hosting a series of four “train the trainer” webinars this year for emergency response professionals above the technical level of training who are interested in learning how to train their colleagues and others on proper responses to emergencies involving ethanol.

With the support of safety organization TRANSCAER and the Federal Railroad Administration, professional hazmat trainer Joel Hendelman will teach individuals how to train others in ethanol emergency response tactics and procedures.

“Train the Trainer” is a pay-it-forward program; a single webinar can train a group of individuals who can then turn around and pass that information forward, equipping entire communities with the knowledge necessary to respond to any potential ethanol-related emergency. The webinar is open to all individuals interested in learning how to teach ethanol emergency response, but will be tailored toward ethanol production facility employees, ethanol safety professionals, railroad safety professionals, emergency responders, firefighters, police officers and emergency management professionals.

The webinars are scheduled on the following dates (click on a date to register)
Tuesday, January 18
Tuesday, March 22
Tuesday, June 7
Tuesday, August 23

The webinars will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST / 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST and registration is required for attendance. Certificates will be awarded at the completion of the training.

For more information on RFA’s work in this area, visit the Ethanol Emergency Response website at www.ethanolresponse.com.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, safety

Ethanol Production Ends 2021

Cindy Zimmerman

Despite a slight drop, U.S. ethanol production kept above the million barrels per day level for the last week of 2021. Production maintained a million barrels per day for 12 weeks in a row the last half of the year, for a total of 24 weeks in 2021.

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending December 31, ethanol production eased by 11,000 barrels per day (b/d), or 1.0%, to 1.048 million b/d, equivalent to 44.02 million gallons daily. Production was 12.1% above the same week last year, which was affected by the pandemic, but 1.3% less than the same week two years ago. The four-week average ethanol production volume decreased 1.0% to 1.061 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.27 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks jumped 3.3% to a twenty-week high of 21.4 million barrels. Stocks were 8.3% below the year-ago level and 4.9% less than the same week two years ago

In 2020, ethanol production was over a million barrels per day for the first 12 weeks of the year but never hit that mark again after COVID struck and total production for the year was under 14 billion gallons, the lowest in more than five years. Production this year is expected to be well above 15 billion gallons, but not as high as the record 16 billion set in 2018.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Supreme Court Turns Down E15 Appeal

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Supreme Court will not take up an appeal of the D.C. Circuit Court decision that struck down EPA’s rule to allow year-round sales of E15 (15% ethanol) in July 2021.

The petition was filed by Growth Energy in October, arguing that the decision “did not give proper deference to EPA, contradicted Congressional intent in promoting renewable fuels, and would suppress the expansion of higher-blend renewable fuels in the future.”

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw says it is now up to individual states to maintain year round sales of E15.

“Coupled with inaction by Congress to pursue a legislative fix, today’s decision by the Supreme Court to not review the E15 decision, while disappointing, underlines the need for states like Iowa to act to ensure E15 can be sold all year,” said Shaw. “It is now clear that no timely federal solution is coming. Therefore, it is time for a Midwest solution for year-round E15. We appreciated that eight Midwest governors, led by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, have already reached out to EPA to inquire about taking action at the state level.”

The industry will continue to pursue all available options to have a solution in place before this summer driving season.

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

House Ag to Hold Hearing on EV Implications for Agriculture

Cindy Zimmerman

The House Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing January 12 on “Implications of Electric Vehicle Investments for Agriculture and Rural America.”

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper is scheduled to be a witness at the hearing.

“I look forward to participating in this timely and important hearing,” Cooper said. “I’m excited to share RFA’s views on the crucial role that agriculture and rural America can and should play in securing net-zero carbon emissions from the transportation sector. When compared to gasoline, ethanol already offers a 50 percent carbon intensity reduction, and RFA’s member producers are on a path to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint for ethanol by 2050 or sooner. There is no doubt that electric vehicles are an important piece of the strategy for decarbonizing the transportation sector, but as I will testify, we can jumpstart decarbonization efforts today by tapping the enormous potential of agriculture and expanding our use of renewable fuels like ethanol. Reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 will require an all-of-the-above strategy that takes a technology-neutral approach, and America’s farmers and ethanol producers are ready and willing to do their part.”

The hearing begins at 10 a.m. EST on January 12.

Electric Vehicles, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ethanol Exports Grow in November

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. ethanol exports in November skyrocketed by 43% to nearly 150 million gallons (mg), due in part to the largest volume of undenatured fuel ethanol exports since March 2020.

According to the Renewable Fuels Association, Canada remained the top destination for U.S. ethanol for the eighth consecutive month with imports of 37.4 mg.

Although reflective of a slight uptick from October, these exports were equivalent to the largest volumes crossing the border in over four years. Exports to Brazil expanded more than fivefold to a 20-month high of 27.1 mg. India’s imports were up 42% (19.9 mg) and equivalent to the largest volume in ten months. Shipments to the United Kingdom more than doubled to 14.3 mg, the country’s largest monthly exports of U.S. ethanol in more than nine years. Outside of those four countries, which represented two-thirds of U.S. ethanol exports in November, significant volumes landed in South Korea (10.5 mg, +54%), the Netherlands (6.8 mg, -51%), Mexico (6.2 mg, +16%), Nigeria (5.4 mg, +14%), and Peru (4.6 mg, +546%). Year-to-date shipments total 1.13 bg, or 6% less than the same period in 2020.

RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper says ethanol exports were a low point for the industry in 2021. “We’re actually projecting that we will export slightly less in 2021 than we did in 2020, even with COVID,” said Cooper. “We think that’s because other countries around the world have been much slower to recover from COVID….and we also are continuing to battle trade barriers.”

Listen to Cooper discuss 2021 ethanol exports in this segment from the latest Ethanol Report podcast.
RFA CEO Geoff Cooper - 2021 ethanol exports (4:09)

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

Biodiesel Blends Battle Snow and Ice in Chicago

Cindy Zimmerman

With winter weather already impacting many parts of the country, cities like Chicago are prepared with fleets powered by biodiesel blends throughout the winter months.

“Here in Chicago, winter temperatures can drop to well below zero and we need to be sure our diesel vehicles operate smoothly even in extreme weather conditions,” said Mike Dimitroff, manager of the Department of Cultural & Natural Resources, Chicago Park District. “The Park District uses a B20 biodiesel blend to fuel heavy pick-ups, stake trucks, forestry trucks, tower trucks and more, all winter. We take a few precautions to ensure smooth operation, just like we would do with petroleum diesel, and have had no problems.”

Since 2013, the Park District has powered its diesel vehicles and equipment with biodiesel blends, gradually increasing to an average year-round blend of 26% by 2020. The district uses biodiesel blends as high as 50% seasonally, in a variety of unmodified equipment ranging from lawnmowers to log loader trucks. In 2019, the Park District outfitted two refuse haulers with a biodiesel system made by Optimus Technologies to allow the use of 100% biodiesel, known as B100. The B100 fleet was recently expanded to include three bucket/tower trucks.

The Chicago Park District is a member of the B20 Club, a partnership between the Illinois Soybean Association and the American Lung Association which recognizes Illinois-based fleets committed to operating with biodiesel blends of 20% or higher.

Learn more from the National Biodiesel Board.

Biodiesel, NBB

ACE Testimony Encourages EPA to Revise RFS Proposal

Cindy Zimmerman

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings testified on behalf of the organization’s members today during a virtual public hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rulemaking for 2020, 2021 and 2022 compliance years.

Jennings noted that they are pleased EPA proposed a statutory 15 billion gallons for 2022 and put forth a plan to remedy the 500 million gallons in remanded volume by the DC Circuit Court in 2017. However, ACE strongly opposes EPA’s proposal to retroactively waive 2020 volumes and reduce 2021 volumes. As currently drafted, the proposal does not guarantee 15 billion gallons of low carbon ethanol will be used in 2022.

“This approach essentially shifts more of the pandemic burden from refiners to ethanol producers and farmers by allowing gallons already sold to be counted against 2022 volumes,” Jennings explained.

ACE board president Dave Sovereign representing Golden Grain Energy LLC, and ACE board members Rick Schwarck of Absolute Energy LLC and Richard Syverson representing the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, along with members Jeff Oestmann of Granite Falls Energy LLC and Jerry Calease also testified at the hearing. EPA’s comment period on the proposed RVOs closes on February 4.

EPA RFS hearing - Brian Jennings, ACE (3:32)

ACE, Audio, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFS

NBB Voices Biodiesel Comments on EPA Proposals

Cindy Zimmerman

Five members of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) staff brought testimony to the Environmental Protection Agency during a virtual hearing today on proposed renewable volume obligations for 2020 through 2022.

Testifying on behalf of NBB were Kate Shenk, Director of Regulatory Affairs; David Cobb, Director of Federal Affairs; Donnell Rehagen, CEO; Matt Herman, Director of Environmental Science; and Scott Fenwick, Technical Director.

Rehagen highlighted the clean fuels industry’s readiness to meet higher volumes and thanked EPA for restoring improperly waived volumes from 2016. “During these past two years, the biodiesel industry worked hard to meet Americans’ growing demand for better, cleaner fuels,” Rehagen testified. “In 2020, the U.S. biomass-based diesel and renewable diesel market grew to 3 billion gallons — its highest volume ever — and generated more than 4.5 billion advanced biofuel credits. Through the first 11 months of 2021, the industry has maintained a sustainable production rate comparable to 2020.”

Shenk also welcomed proposed growth in 2022, adding, “We want to ensure that the BBD volume is fully met each year and continues to reflect growth in biomass-based diesel production. We also hope that EPA continues to create room for growth in the overall advanced pool, since some additional advanced biofuels are co-products of biomass-based diesel.”

NBB also emphasized the uncertainty created by EPA’s proposed reset of 2020 volumes and proposed, rather than outright, denial of small refinery exemptions. “The fact that this proposed rule opens another comment period for SREs just adds additional delays in finalizing a rule that is already late,” said Cobb.

NBB further urged EPA to quickly propose 2023 RFS volumes, which were due under the statute on November 30, 2021.

Listen to NBB’s testimony here:
EPA RFS hearing - comments from NBB (15:56)

Audio, Biodiesel, EPA, NBB, RFS

Ethanol Industry Testifies on EPA RFS Proposals

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency is holding a virtual hearing today with fuel industry stakeholders on proposed renewable volume obligations for 2020 through 2022.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper kicked off the hearing for the ethanol industry with his comments that EPA’s proposal marks “an important and long-awaited step toward restoring order, integrity and stability to the Renewable Fuel Standard program.”

However, Cooper noted that there is plenty of room for improvement. “RFA supports the proposed volumes for 2022 for all categories of renewable fuel, and we specifically commend EPA for proposing to set the implied requirement for conventional renewable fuels at the statutory level of 15 billion gallons,” Cooper said. “We also support EPA’s proposal to account for projected exempt volumes from small refineries when setting RVO percentages. And, RFA agrees with EPA that, ‘in the interest of transparency,’ the Agency should release basic information about entities seeking exemptions from RFS compliance.” Cooper also voiced RFA’s strong support for EPA’s related proposal to deny 65 pending small refinery exemption petitions.

Listen to Cooper’s comments here:
EPA RFS hearing - Geoff Cooper, RFA (3:34)

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

RFA’s Annual In & Out List

Cindy Zimmerman

By Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association Senior Strategic Advisor

It’s that time of year again, when with tongue firmly in cheek, I take a sardonic look at the year past with a hopeful eye on the year ahead. And after another turbulent year, with COVID’s persistence and seemingly intractable political dysfunction, I am pretty sure we are all looking forward to turning the calendar to a new year. Let’s do it with humor too. So, here’s my list of what is on its way out and what’s on its way in for 2022.

Ethanol, Opinion, RFA