Weekly Ethanol Production Maintains Million Barrels Per Day

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol production dropped last week, but still was above a million barrels per day (b/d), according to the latest EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association.

RFA reports that ethanol production was down 68,000 barrels per day (b/d) for the week ending November 5, or 6.1%, to 1.039 million b/d.

This is equivalent to 43.64 million gallons daily. Production was 6.3% above the same week last year, which was affected by the pandemic, and 0.9% above the same week in 2019. The four-week average ethanol production volume increased 0.2% to 1.087 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.66 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks rose 0.8% to a nine-week high of 20.3 million barrels. Stocks were 0.6% above the year-ago level but 3.3% lower than the same week in 2019.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

SCS Global Services Approved as Verifier for Oregon

Cindy Zimmerman

SCS Global Services has been approved as an independent verifier for the Oregon Clean Fuels Program (CFP). The CFP’s main objective is to encourage cleaner fuel usage using electricity, ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel and renewable natural gas based on incentives and requirements that create demand for such fuels in the marketplace.

SCS Global Services, an international leader in third-party certification and verification of environmental and sustainability achievements, is a global verification body for the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and other low carbon fuels programs The company provides fuel pathway validations, annual verifications of fuel pathway reports, annual verifications of quarterly fuel transportation reports, and quarterly reviews of fuel transaction reports. It has nearly 20 lead verifiers in the US and internationally with direct experience in ethanol, biodiesel, and renewable natural gas.

As an approved verifier for the Oregon Clean Fuels Program (Approval ID# CFPVB‐015), SCS Global Services can now conduct verification activities for Fuel Pathway Applications and Annual Fuel Pathway Reports, and for CFP Quarterly Fuel Transaction Reports.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, renewable diesel

ACE Communications Director Takes on Public Affairs Role

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has elevated Communications Director Katie (Fletcher) Muckenhirn to a new role of Vice President of Public Affairs at the organization’s office based out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Muckenhirn will continue to manage the organization’s media relations, while assuming a larger role in ACE’s public policy efforts and planning of ACE’s Washington, D.C. fly-in and annual conference.

ACE CEO Brian Jennings says employing Muckenhirn’s experience as the organization’s communications director for nearly five years, to take on these additional activities is a natural transition as the organization restructures and seeks new staff roles. “We are ecstatic Katie is taking on this new and elevated role to showcase her work ethic and skill in continuing to oversee ACE’s communication strategy, while planning for our two main industry events each year,” Jennings said.

“I’m thrilled to grow in my role on the ACE team and continue building upon ACE’s superior reputation of hosting must-attend fly-ins and conferences,” Muckenhirn said. “As Vice President of Public Affairs, I hope to leverage the experience I’ve gained over the past five years to continue broadening ACE’s reach amongst its constituencies, bolster ACE’s political influence, and provide top-notch events for ACE membership and the industry.”

Muckenhirn joined the ACE staff in 2017 after nearly three years of writing and editing for BBI’s Ethanol Producer Magazine, Biomass Magazine and Pellet Mill Magazine and providing event support for the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo.

As Muckenhirn transitions into this new role, ACE is seeking a full-time Communications Manager to join their team. Interested applicants should contact Shannon Gustafson at the ACE office at sgustafson@ethanol.org.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News

REG and Booster Partner for Sustainable Fuels Delivery

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Energy Group (REG) has announced a partnership with Booster, a tech-enabled energy delivery service, to provide mobile delivery of renewable diesel, biodiesel and blended fuels to fleets. The service started in California in August and has the potential to grow nationally.

The Booster / REG collaboration makes low-carbon fuels more accessible to clients, with convenient mobile fueling services provided by Booster. As businesses and fleets look for more sustainable solutions, REG’s bio-based diesel is easy to adopt and immediately begins reducing fossil carbon emissions. Under the new partnership, REG UltraClean Blend™ and other renewable and biodiesel fuels will be delivered to customers via Booster’s proprietary trucks, last-mile technology platform and certified drivers.

“This new service will let companies seamlessly transition their fleets to much lower-emission fuels with no equipment or infrastructure costs,” said Frank Mycroft, CEO and co-founder, Booster. “Our partnership with REG will provide fleet operators with an ‘easy button’ to solve their sustainability, energy reliability and operational efficiency needs. Combining Booster and REG capabilities also offers fleet managers the data and intelligence required to meet increasingly ambitious environmental standards and business optimization targets.”

As part of the partnership, REG will be an exclusive supplier of bio-based diesel to Booster, and has become an investor in the company. Booster will also be an exclusive mobile fueler to REG and will partner with REG to explore expansion opportunities together.

Learn more.

Biodiesel, biofuels, REG, renewable diesel

Elite Octane Ethanol Plant Receives USDA Grant

Cindy Zimmerman

Elite Octane president Nick Bowdish shows Axne and Torres Small around the plant

Congresswoman Cindy Axne and USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small visited the Elite Octane dry-mill ethanol plant in Atlantic, Iowa this week to announce a $250,000 energy efficiency grant funded by the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

The REAP grant will be used by Elite Octane to install a Dryer Exhaust Energy Recovery (DEER) system, which will capture and reuse the energy from the plant’s dryer – allowing the plant to recapture and use 89 million kilowatt hours per year, enough electricity to power close to 6,000 homes. The DEER system is projected by USDA to save the Atlantic plant more than $1.2 million a year in energy costs.

The Build Back Better Act, which Rep. Axne has been helping craft in the House, allocates an additional $2 billion in funding for REAP grants.

The updated draft text of the Build Back Better Act also includes $1 billion in funding for USDA to provide grants over the next 10 years to expand biofuel pump infrastructure, upgrade existing tanks and pumps, and increase usage of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

U.S. Ethanol and DDGS Exports Down in September

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. ethanol exports were down six percent in September with most of the 76 million gallons going to just two countries, according to the latest analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

Canada remained the top destination for U.S. ethanol exports for the sixth straight month with imports of 36.2 mg, up 7%. This marks the largest monthly shipments to cross the border in over three years and accounts for nearly half (48%) of the September U.S. ethanol export market. Exports to South Korea jumped 81% to a five-month high of 17.9 mg (accounting for 24% of September exports). Mexico (4.8 mg, +20%), Peru (4.7 mg, -24%), and the United Kingdom (4.1 mg, -38%) were other larger customers. Once again, former key destinations Brazil, China, and India were nearly absent from the market. Shipments over the first nine months of the year were 872.2 mg, down 10% from the same period in 2020.

The U.S. imported 12.9 mg of undenatured ethanol from Brazil, the largest monthly volume to enter our borders this year.

RFA reports that exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS) were down 31% in September to a seven-month low of 853,751 metric tons (mt) after hitting a six-year high in August. Five countries accounted for two-thirds of total DDGS exports in September.

Exports to Mexico, our top customer for the last year, declined by 22% to 159,658 mt (representing 19% of all shipments in September). U.S. DDGS sales to Vietnam scaled back by 40% to 116,725 mt. Exports to South Korea perked up by 35% to 108,086 mt, a high for the year. Canada imported 93,449 mt DDGS, up 8% for the largest volume in over a decade. Shipments also increased to Indonesia, up 6% to 68,724 mt. Additionally, substantial volumes landed in China (49,977 mt, -12%), Turkey (28,489 mt, -67% to a 17-month low), Ireland (28,038 mt, +51%), New Zealand (22,000 mt, -56%), and Spain (19,378 mt, -54%). Total DDGS exports through September were 8.59 million mt, which is 5% ahead of last year at this time.

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

New Podcast Compares Corn Ethanol with Carbon Markets

Cindy Zimmerman

“Corn Saves America” is the captivating title of the second installation of the podcast series from AEI Premium, the online community for agricultural decision makers.

The new podcast explores agriculture’s role in environmental solutions, comparing and contrasting the rise of corn ethanol with today’s carbon markets.

This season, hosts Sarah Mock, Brent Gloy, and David Widmar are back, along with a team of carbon and ethanol experts, investors, and farmers. Together, they will unpack how corn-based fuel united farmers, energy companies, and environmentalists to transform markets and eventually became a political flashpoint. And do their best to answer a big question: are carbon markets on a similar trajectory?

“The old adage ‘history doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes’ is useful to consider during times of uncertainty, including today,” said AEI Premium co-founder and “Escaping 1980” co-host David Widmar. ”Our podcast shares lessons learned from the corn ethanol boom era to help strategic agriculture professionals better navigate what lies ahead for carbon markets in 2021.”

“Corn Saves America” builds on themes from AEI’s first podcast, “Escaping 1980.” Episodes are available to stream now at aei.ag/season2 and cornsavesamerica.com, along with additional reading about the topics discussed on the show. “Corn Saves America” is available for download on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Listeners can connect with AEI Premium on Twitter and Facebook to provide feedback.

Carbon, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Podcasting

Ethanol Industry Applauds EPA SRE Denial

Cindy Zimmerman

One down, 65 to go.

Ethanol supporters were pleased Friday to see the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deny one small refinery exemption (SRE) petition that had been filed for the 2019 compliance year.

“We are greatly encouraged by EPA’s decision to deny this bailout request from an oil refinery that has continually attempted to dodge its legal obligations to blend low-carbon renewable fuels,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Our industry lost more than 4 billion gallons of demand due to the previous administration’s rampant abuse of the SRE program, and we are pleased to see that the days of EPA-induced demand destruction appear to be behind us.”

However, Cooper notes that 65 exemption petitions are still pending, according to the EPA dashboard and this is only the first SRE denial decision by EPA under the Biden administration. The agency has reversed three exemptions granted by the previous administration, and 15 pending SRE petitions have been withdrawn.

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

USDA Secretary Vilsack from COP26

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack had a busy week at COP26 last week, participating in numerous events to underscore the administration’s commitment to climate action.

Vilsack held a media call Friday afternoon from COP26 in Glasgow, UK. He discussed COP26 events, the recently-announced partnership with the EU and the Agriculture Innovation Mission (AIM) for Climate.

Taking questions from reporters, Vilsack also commented on trade issues, importance of the Build Back Better act, “climate smart commodities,” methane emissions and livestock, biofuels talk at COP26, CSAF timeline now that comment period has ended, and where USDA is on federal vaccine mandate with deadlines this month. Today is the second dose deadline for Moderna and Pfizer vaccine and first (only) dose deadline for Johnson and Johnson, and federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated by November 22.

Vilsack media call from COP26 (25:33)

Audio, biofuels, Climate Change, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

16th Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

Registration is open for the 16th Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, which is returning to an in-person format.

“We look forward to welcoming friends and colleagues from across the biofuels sector as we meet in person again to dig into what is on the horizon for American ethanol and biodiesel,” said IRFA Marketing Director Lisa Coffelt. “Whether you’re new to biofuels or have been around since the beginning, there is something for everyone at the Summit.”

The 2022 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit is taking place on January 25, 2022 in Des Moines, Iowa. Registration is free and required to attend.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA