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

RFA Grows Stronger in 40th Year

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) welcomed more than 20 new members during its 40th year anniversary celebration this year.

“For four decades strong, RFA’s member companies have worked together to move the renewable fuels industry forward,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Whether innovating new technologies, shaping policies and regulations, or opening new markets, RFA’s members remain at the forefront of the low-carbon bioeconomy. This record of achievement was underscored in 2021, as RFA saw a record number of new member companies join the association. We welcome them to the team and look forward to working together to chart the industry’s course for the next 40 years and beyond.”

New producer members include Calgren Renewable Fuels, Gevo, Heron Lake BioEnergy, LanzaJet, Lincolnway Energy and Mid America Bio Energy. New associate members include Antea Group, Booster, Chase Nedrow, Clariant, Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, Cozairo, Data Gumbo, EcoEngineers, Farmers Business Network/Gradable, Honeywell, Navigator CO2 Ventures, Next Wave Energy Partners, Sorghum Checkoff, StepOne Tech America, and Terracon.

RFA celebrated its 40th year in 2021 with a series of podcast interviews with some of the industry pioneers who were there at the beginning, including Ron Miller, Bruce Heine, Bob Reynolds, Bob Dinneen, Randy Doyal, and Kelly Davis.

In the final Ethanol Report of 2021, Geoff Cooper takes a look back on the headlines for the ethanol industry during RFA’s 40th anniversary year.
Ethanol Report 12-22-21 (24:48)

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

Farm Broadcaster Mike Adams Retires

Cindy Zimmerman

Farm broadcaster Mike Adams, a powerful media voice for biofuel producers, hung up his headphones last week after nearly 50 years behind the microphone.

Adams has been a well-known face at national ethanol and biodiesel conferences over the past 20 years as host of daytime nationally syndicated agriculture talk shows. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper was proud to be invited as part of Adams’s final show, which aired December 23.

“Mike is a true professional who intimately knows his subject matter, and he always took an evenhanded and fair approach to reporting and analyzing the news of the day. He was never afraid to ask the tough questions, but always treated both his guests and his listeners with respect,” said Cooper. “Whether tuning in to his podcast, reading his insightful blog posts, or listening to his show live on their local station, listeners across the country have a better understanding of, and appreciation for, American agriculture and biofuels because of Mike Adams.”

Adams grew up on an Illinois grain and livestock farm abd started his radio career in Jacksonville, Illinois in 1974. He spent 27 years at the local station before becoming host of AgriTalk, a nationally syndicated program, in 2001. In 2018, Adams joined the American Ag Network to create a new syndicated program called Adams on Agriculture. Adams is a past recipient of the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year award, past NAFB President and a member of the NAFB Hall of Fame.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ethanol Report Reviews 2021

Cindy Zimmerman

2021 may have been a slight improvement over 2020 for the ethanol industry, but it will still be nice to put the year in the rear view mirror and focus on “Zeroing in on New Opportunities.”

That’s the theme of the 27th annual National Ethanol Conference, taking place February 21-23, 2022, in New Orleans. The Renewable Fuels Association just released the agenda for the conference which focuses on emerging ethanol markets, innovative new uses, and the role of renewable fuels in achieving net-zero carbon emissions.

In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper talks about some of the challenges the ethanol industry has faced in 2021, as well as the opportunities opening up in the net-zero future and excitement about the upcoming NEC. Find out more information about NEC at nationalethanolconference.com.

Ethanol Report 12-22-21 (24:48)

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.

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