Seven Receive National Ethanol Conference Scholarships

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Foundation has awarded seven recipients with the Robert Sather Memorial Scholarships to attend the annual National Ethanol Conference (NEC).

Those receiving scholarships include Jean Claude Mbarushimana, a Virginia Tech graduate student studying agricultural and applied economics. In addition, six members of the Renewable Fuels Association Young Professionals Network will be attending on scholarship: Daehwan Kim, an Assistant Professor of Biology at Hood College; Justin Diehm, Commodity Manager at East Kansas Agri-Energy; Kyle Sonderman, Lab Manager at Show Me Ethanol; Traci Menke, Executive Assistant at Renewable Fuels Nebraska; Jessica Sodeke, Ethanol Program Manager at Nebraska Ethanol Board; and Joe Shanle, Plant Manager, Trenton Agri Products.

Now in its 13th year, the NEC scholarship program was named in honor of Robert “Bob” Sather, an educator who helped found RFA member company Ace Ethanol in Wisconsin. Sather was a longtime Chair of the Renewable Fuels Foundation and the aim of the Bob Sather Memorial Scholarship is to encourage young adults aspiring to a career related to renewable fuels.

The 27th annual National Ethanol Conference takes place February 21-23 in New Orleans and is the nation’s most widely attended executive-level conference for the ethanol industry.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

MN Soybean Members See Biodiesel Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

A dozen Minnesota soybean and biodiesel industry leaders had the opportunity to attend the recent National Biodiesel Conference on behalf of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council’s (MSR&PC) See For Yourself (SFY) program.

The SFY Program was originally created as an evaluation to ensure checkoff dollars were being used effectively to support the biodiesel industry and to overall help farmers’ bottom line. As a result, collaboration between industry and the farmers has built the program to what it is today.

“The ultimate goal is to educate the fuel system in Minnesota,” said MSR&PC Director Jim Willers, who attended the conference. “We want any walk of life that has anything to do with diesel fuel to become educated on the ins and outs of biodiesel.”

In addition to Willers, those who attended included MSR&PC farmer board member Ron Obermoller, Nick Bredeson with Kibble Equipment and Dan Schmidt, Ag Partners Coop. Listen to the interviews below to hear their reactions to what they saw for themselves at the biodiesel conference.

NBB2022 Interview with Jim Willers, MN Soy (2:55)

NBB2022 Interview with Nick Bredeson, Kibble Equipment (1:50)

NBB2022 Interview with Dan Schmidt, Ag Partners Coop (2:25)

NBB2022 Interview with Ron Obermoller, MN Soy (4:20)

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, National Biodiesel Conference, Soybean, Soybeans

Ethanol Report Previews 2022 NEC

Cindy Zimmerman

From emerging technologies and new uses to opportunities in global carbon reduction policies, market insights, and international and domestic marketplace developments, there is much to learn and experience at the 27th Annual National Ethanol Conference: Zeroing in on New Opportunities.

New Orleans is the place where the ethanol industry will meet February 21-23 and Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper says the agenda is packed but the best reason to go is to be in person again.

Cooper previews the NEC in this edition of The Ethanol Report.

Ethanol Report 1-31-22 (11:01)

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, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

EPA Extends RFS Compliance Deadlines

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency announced four actions Friday that include extending the 2019 Renewable Fuel Standard compliance deadline for small refineries as well as the 2020, 2021 and 2022 deadlines for all companies subject to biofuel usage mandates.

The final extensions (both for 2019-2022 and for 2023+) will help ensure that obligated parties are positioned to fully comply with their RFS obligations by ensuring that each year’s compliance deadline falls after the standards for the subsequent compliance year are known. The approach for 2023+ will also avoid EPA having to repeatedly extend compliance deadlines for obligated parties should promulgation of the subsequent year’s standards be delayed.

The ethanol industry expressed disappointment with the final rules. Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper said they are especially concerned by the new approach the agency is taking to future RFS compliance deadlines. “With this final rule, EPA just gave itself the power to perpetually delay implementation of yearly RFS blending requirements and continually kick the can down the road on compliance deadlines. This is not what Congress intended, and this approach could exacerbate the uncertainty and instability around RFS implementation that was created by the past administration. Ethanol producers, farmers, fuel retailers, and refiners need and deserve certainty and predictability when it comes to RFS implementation timelines. That’s why Congress put certain annual deadlines into the law for RFS implementation.”

Listen to Cooper’s comments on the final RFS compliance deadline rules
RFA CEO Geoff Cooper comments on EPA rules (5:08)

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

Last Ever National Biodiesel Conference Wrap

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2022 National Biodiesel Conference was the last one that will be held going forward with the official name change for the biodiesel board now being Clean Fuels Alliance America, or just Clean Fuels for short.

“Next year for our 20th conference it will be rebranded in keeping with the organization’s new name,” said Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen at the closing session of the conference last week.

The rebrand to Clean Fuels takes in renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel in addition to traditional biodiesel. “All those markets are a little bit different,” said Rehagen. “We recognize how important the biodiesel brand has been … so we’re not turning our back on biodiesel.”

Listen to Rehagen talk with reporters about the rebranding at the conference last week.
NBB22 Donnell Rehagen Press Conference (11:29)

“Our industry is diversifying to meet a growing number of needs,” said Clean Fuels Chairman Chad Stone with Renewable Energy Group during his address at the conference. “It’s not about either or, it’s about getting full value for biodiesel, and renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel.”
NBB22 - Chad Stone, REG (13:39)

Find all the photos here:
2022 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

advanced biofuels, Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, Clean Fuels Alliance, renewable diesel

New Book on Birth of American Biodiesel

Cindy Zimmerman

At the National Biodiesel Conference last week, attendees were introduced to a new book o the history of biodiesel – “The Birth of American Biodiesel: Biographical Accounts Celebrate 30 Years of Pioneers, Leaders and the Bold Vision for the National Biodiesel Board,” by Ron Kotrba.

The book was commissioned by Clean Fuels Alliance America, formally the National Biodiesel Board as of last week. “It seemed appropriate, as we sought to rebrand our organization, to take the time to recognize the efforts of many of those before us that went into building this wonderful industry and organization,” Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen said.

Kotrba served as editor in chief of Biodiesel Magazine and senior editor with Biomass Magazine for 16 years before founding RonKo Media Productions LLC and its flagship publication, Biobased Diesel™ Daily, in 2020.

Learn more about the new book in this interview with Kotrba and talk with Rehagen on stage at the conference.
NBB2022 Interview with Ron Kotrba, publisher and author (7:01)

NBB2022 CEO Donnell Rehagen and Ron Kotrba (10:29)

2022 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference

Past Biodiesel Chairs Honored with Pioneer Award

Cindy Zimmerman

Clean Fuels Alliance America, formerly known as the National Biodiesel Board, honored some of the pioneers who got the industry to where it is today during the National Biodiesel Conference celebrating 30 years of cleaner fuels.

The eleven past chairs of the National Biodiesel Board were presented with the Kenlon Johannes Pioneer Award. Pioneering a path forward, the past chairs laid the groundwork from technical and legislative efforts to education and awareness. They overcame some of the industry’s biggest hurdles and delivered on many successes.

Their backgrounds are varied, including both farmers and biodiesel producers, but they all shared a passion for the industry and its success. Current Chair Chad Stone honored these past chairs with the Kenlon Johannes Pioneer Award:

Gary Ellington, 1992 – 1995
Jim Gay, 1995 – 1999
Roger Peterson, 1999
Jack Hartman, 1999 – 2001
Bob Metz, 2001 – 2004
Darryl Brinkmann, 2004 – 2007
Ed Hegland, 2007 – 2010
Gary Haer, 2010 – 2013
Steven Levy, 2013 – 2015
Ron Marr, 2015 – 2016
Kent Engelbrecht, 2016 – 2019

Six of the 11 honorees were able to be present at the conference and receive the award in person. Left to right, they are Gary Ellington, Bob Metz, Darryl Brinkmann, Ed Hegland, Ron Marr, and Kent Engelbrecht.

Four former Biodiesel Board chairs sat down with Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen in the closing session of the conference to talk about the history of the industry. Listen to the conversation with Ellington, Metz, Hegland, and Engelbrecht.
NBB22 30 Years Panel (42:00)

2022 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference

Biodiesel Inspiration and Influence Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

Mahanth Joishy’s mission is to help the thriving city of Madison, Wisconsin, become one of the most sustainable cities in the world — with biodiesel at the heart of the effort. When Joishy became the city’s fleet manager in 2017, one of his first acts was to switch the city’s heavy-duty fleet — about 500 vehicles — to blends of biodiesel fuel. It is that passion that earned Joishy the Biodiesel Inspiration Award this year, presented at the 2022 National Biodiesel Conference.

Under Joishy’s leadership, diesel vehicles, from fire trucks to parks department mowers to the all-important snowplows, now run on up to a 20% biodiesel blend (B20) most of the year. The city is even retrofitting 17 fleet service vehicles to run on 100% on biodiesel fuel (B100) year-round. Joishy’s leadership and passion will continue to inspire other cities and fleets to expand their use of biodiesel fuel.

Joishy was also named a Biodiesel Ambassador just prior to the conference kickoff. Listen to his comments after receiving the Inspiration Award.
Mahanth Joishy Remarks (1:05)

Recently retired as President and CEO of the North American Renderers Association, Nancy Foster was a significant influence in feedstock expansion for the biodiesel and renewable diesel industries. Her leadership within NARA has helped continue to grow and solidify biodiesel’s sustainability messaging throughout the country and is the reason she was chosen for this year’s Influencer Award.

Unfortunately, Foster was not able to attend the conference to receive her award in person but the industry would not have been the same without her voice in D.C. She also worked for the American Soybean Association as their chief lobbyist and director of ASA’s Washington office — where she successfully gained Congressional passage of landmark legislation to establish the national soybean checkoff for research and promotion.

2022 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, Clean Fuels Alliance

OEMs and Fleets Focus on Clean Fuels Future

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Biodiesel Board’s new name, Clean Fuels Alliance America, reflects the organization’s progressive vision and the diversity of clean fuels its members produce – including biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. An expert panel of diesel equipment manufacturers and fleets participating in a Vehicle Technology Showcase event at the National Biodiesel Conference this week acknowledged that these clean fuels are a key part of their current and future product development plans on the path to a low-carbon transportation future.

Speaking on the Vehicle Technology Showcase panel, James Hopkins, Executive Director of Engine Business Strategy for Cummins, Inc. said, “Increasing the utilization of low-carbon fuels, including biodiesel, can make a meaningful impact in reducing CO2 emissions from vehicles already in use. Cummins is committed to supporting the use of biodiesel, and it is an important part of our plans to reduce CO2 in commercial vehicle markets. In fact, almost all our products are able to use B20 biodiesel blends today, and we are working to support increasing blends in the future.”

Danan Dou, Manager of Advanced Technology and Innovation for John Deere said, “As John Deere works to help farmers address the rising demand for farm productivity to feed and fuel the world, there is no doubt that advances in technology will continue to play an important and necessary role. Dou continued, “We are committed to innovation for a sustainable future, and we consider low-carbon fuels such as biodiesel an important avenue to reduce CO2 while also maintaining our commitment to our customers. John Deere fully supports the use of B20 biodiesel blends in all of our diesel equipment.”

The vast majority of OEMs, including Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, FPT Industrial and many more, currently support the use of B20 biodiesel blends in their diesel equipment. B20 is a fuel blend containing 20% biodiesel and 80% ultra-low sulfur diesel. However, forward-looking fleets from coast to coast – including California, New York City, Chicago, Madison, Washington, D.C., and beyond – are looking to higher blends of biodiesel, even up to B100, to lower their carbon footprint even more dramatically.

Check the Biodiesel Conference Blog for the latest news from the event.

2022 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, Clean Fuels Alliance

Biodiesel Industry Honors Broadcaster Mike Adams

Cindy Zimmerman

Recently retired farm broadcaster Mike Adams was honored by the biodiesel industry this week at the National Biodiesel Conference and Expo in Las Vegas. Adams was presented with the Biodiesel Impact Award.

“As I look back, I remember those soy diesel days,” said Adams. “It made so much sense to me I couldn’t understand why anyone would ever be against either ethanol or biodiesel.”

“I appreciate, as we’re here in Las Vegas, those early pioneers who took the gamble and stepped out and made the commitment to get this industry started,” he said.

Adams retired last month after nearly 50 years behind the microphone. He 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 Agri-Talk and 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.

Mike Adams, retired farm broadcaster, Impact Award Recipient Remarks
Mike Adams Remarks (4:20)

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB