SD Governor at Sturgis Rally

Cindy Zimmerman

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem saddled up to ride into the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally on horseback, then traded her real horse for a steel horse to lead the Legends Ride, an annual charitable event that is co-sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association.

The governor appreciates RFA’s ethanol promotion efforts at the rally each year. “Ethanol is critical to our economy…it’s a priority for my administration,” she said. “I would like to see more of a focus on diversified American energy and ethanol is a big part of that.”

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem comments on ethanol promotion and importance to state
SD Gov. Noem at Sturgis - ethanol :25

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

Groups Urge Fair Analysis for Aviation Fuel Tax Credit

Cindy Zimmerman

A group of agricultural and biofuels organizations is urging Congress to make sure an accountable life cycle analysis is used in developing a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit.

The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Biodiesel Board, National Corn Growers Association, and National Farmers Union sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means outlining recommendations

“Numerous members of our respective organizations are poised to produce SAF or sustainable feedstocks for SAF. Many others are looking to work toward participation in the full value chain in the relatively near future. We recognize the importance of decarbonizing the aviation sector with low carbon liquid fuels. Because biomass feedstocks are essential SAF sources, it is imperative that the tax credit properly account for the lifecycle emissions of these sources and the petroleum products these new fuels will replace.

“We urge you to make the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) the lead agency in establishing a regularly updated LCA for any SAF credit. Across our federal government, DOE has the best resources, expertise, and current ability to assess lifecycle emissions fairly and scientifically.”

The letter also pointed out that carbon intensity estimates under the International Civil Aviation Organization for some SAF sources are “wildly inaccurate and incorrectly penalized” and cannot be supported.

Congress is considering new legislation to establish a tax credit to promote and develop robust domestic SAF production in an effort to decarbonize transportation and reduce aviation emissions.

aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, Sustainability

Ethanol Rides Into Sturgis Again

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association is back at the Buffalo Chip Campground this week to host the 81st annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally festivities. RFA will once again host “Free Fuel Happy Hours” to help educate motorcycle enthusiasts about the benefits of using ethanol-blended fuels, and will also sponsor the annual Legends Ride on Monday, Aug. 9, which will feature South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. This will be the 13th year that RFA has participated in the rally.

The popular Free Fuel Happy Hours at the rally offers a free tank of 93 octane E10 (10% ethanol) for motorcycles and a commemorative t-shirt. The free tank giveaway will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday-Thursday August 9-12 at the CrossRoads area of the Buffalo Chip Campground at a fuel station donated by the RFA in 2017. RFA will also have a presence throughout the campground with banners, videos on the jumbotrons, and addressing the concert crowd each night.

RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White and other RFA representatives will be on hand during the Free Fuel Happy Hours to answer any questions as motorcycle riders fill up and help educate them about the benefits of ethanol. This year, White will also speak to a group of several hundred female motorcycle enthusiasts as part of the rally’s Women’s Day program on Tuesday, Aug. 10.

Listen to a preview interview with White here:
Sturgis preview interivew with Robert White, RFA 5:00

Follow Robert White on Twitter at @fuelinggood for live updates. Click here for the official program guide, sponsored by RFA.

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

Ethanol Groups React to Biden Clean Cars Plan

Cindy Zimmerman

As President Biden joined auto makers at the White House Thursday to announce a plan that includes a goal for electric vehicles to comprise 50% of new vehicle sales by 2030, ethanol groups were quick to remind him that low-carbon liquid fuels like ethanol will still be needed to reduce GHG emissions from internal combustion engines.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper:

“We agree with the Biden administration that action needs to be taken now to begin aggressively reducing GHG emissions from transportation. But decarbonizing our nation’s fuels and vehicles is going to take an all-of-the-above approach that stimulates growth in all available low-carbon technologies. The overarching goal should be to reach net-zero emissions as quickly as possible without dictating the pathway to get there or putting all our eggs into one technology basket. We believe any plan to decarbonize the transportation sector should recognize the massive opportunity for low-carbon liquid fuels like ethanol to reduce GHG emissions from internal combustion engines in the near term.”

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings:

“Pledges to make more electric vehicles in the future will do little to reduce GHG emissions until and unless the way we generate electricity in the U.S. undergoes expensive and prolonged changes. The environmental impacts, technical hurdles, and supply chain roadblocks for critical minerals needed for EV batteries also need to be understood and remedied before EVs could make meaningful reductions in GHGs. Meanwhile, nearly 100 percent of all U.S. light-duty vehicles on the road today use liquid fuels. Scientists indicate corn ethanol is already 50 percent cleaner than gasoline. If we want to get serious about tackling climate change sooner rather than later, government officials and automakers ought to be taking steps right now to help ensure motorists have greater access to low-carbon alternatives to gasoline such as E15 and E85. Each increased gallon of ethanol used in the U.S. today reduces GHGs and the Administration can take steps today through the Renewable Fuel Standard to push more ethanol into the marketplace.”

RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman commented on RFA’s response to President Biden’s newly announced plan during an interview.

RFA Economist Scott Richman comments on Biden clean cars plan 3:07

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

Renewed Summer E15 Ban Would Cost Industry Billions

Cindy Zimmerman

The recent D.C. Circuit Court decision overturning EPA’s approval of year-round E15 sales could have a strongly negative impact on the rural economy and environment, according to a new analysis released by the Renewable Fuels Association.

According to the white paper, if the court decision is allowed to stand and no other action is taken to facilitate continued year-round sales of E15 in conventional gasoline areas, the ruling could have considerable long-term impacts on the ethanol market. E15 sales volumes in 2022-2024 would remain essentially flat with 2021 levels, rather than growing rapidly as expected prior to the court decision.

“Some major fuel retailers and marketers who have expressed interest in offering E15 have indicated to RFA that they are much less likely to invest in E15 if they aren’t able to sell the fuel year-round,” wrote RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman. “In addition, if the court ruling stands, E15 sales volumes per station would likely return to pre-2019 levels, as retailers would again be forced to forgo E15 sales during the busy summer driving season and consumers may be confused about fuel offerings.”

Specifically, the report estimates a loss of summer month sales for E15 between 2021 and 2024 would be nearly 12.6 billion gallons lower, which would amount to a net loss of ethanol sales of 630 million gallons valued at $1.3 billion. In addition, the ethanol industry would reduce purchases of corn by approximately 221 million bushels between 2021 and 2024, leading to more than $1 billion in lost sales revenues for farmers.

Learn more in this interview with RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman
Interview with Scott Richman, RFA Chief Economist 8:09

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

CHS Expands E15 Availability With 19 More Fuel Terminals

Cindy Zimmerman

CHS Inc. cooperative is expanding access to higher ethanol blend fuels by offering E15 through 19 additional fuel terminals starting this month. CHS is registered with the EPA as an E15 manufacturer and sells E15 as an approved grade of fuel through its Cenex® brand retail locations.

CHS plans to offer E15 at the following Magellan terminals: Alexandria, Minnesota; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Columbia, Missouri; Des Moines, Iowa; Doniphan, Nebraska; Fargo, North Dakota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Great Bend, Kansas; Mankato, Minnesota; Marshall, Minnesota; Mason City Iowa; Milford, Iowa; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Omaha, Nebraska; Rochester, Minnesota; Springfield, Missouri; Waterloo, Iowa. The fuel will also now be available through the Nustar terminal in Jamestown, North Dakota; as well as the CHS terminal in McPherson, Kansas.

In addition to these terminals, CHS already offers E15 at 10 Nustar terminals and one CHS terminal.

“As the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative, expanding options for ethanol blended fuel is important for our Cenex brand retailers and our farmer-owners,” says Akhtar Hussain, director of refined fuels marketing, CHS. “CHS has always been committed to offering ethanol blended flexible fuels throughout its network of 1,450 Cenex brand retail facilities. We continue to demonstrate this commitment by working with our terminal partners to offer higher ethanol blends in a broader geography across the Cenex retail network.”

To make E15 more accessible, CHS has removed barriers for its Cenex brand retail locations by establishing an EPA-approved misfueling mitigation plan – the only refiner to do so – and establishing E15 as a qualifying grade of fuel. CHS also owns two EPA-approved ethanol plants in Rochelle and Annawan, Illinois.

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Retailers

ACE Conference Focus on Low Carbon Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

The 34th annual American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) conference coming up later this month in Minneapolis will showcase the low carbon benefits of corn ethanol and the benefits of clean fuel policies at the state and federal levels to increase ethanol demand.

The conference covers all things carbon from the status of clean fuel policies, and insight for ethanol producers when developing a carbon strategy and measuring project value, including diversification and carbon sequestration projects, to how ethanol producers can calculate their carbon intensity score.

The first day of presentations includes a general session moderated by John Christianson of Christianson PLLP, who served on the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Biofuels, that will cover developments in key states and national efforts to advance clean fuel policy and low carbon fuel standards with Brendan Jordan, Vice President of Transportation and Fuels with Great Plains Institute, and Jonathon Lehman, a principal with Cultivating Conservation consulting service and ACE Lobbyist.

Other carbon-focused sessions include – Insights on Carbon: Navigating Verification and Measuring Project Value – Christianson PLLP; Destination Biocampus – Fluid Quip Technologies; Developing a Carbon Strategy – P&E Solutions LLC, Bioleap Inc. and Whitefox; Efficient Operational Strategies for Feed Diversification and Lower CI Score for Ethanol Biorefineries – ICM Inc.; Calculating Your Carbon Intensity – Ron Alverson with Dakota Ethanol; Accelerating Demand for Ethanol – ClearFlame Engine Technologies; and From Net-Zero to Net-Negative Carbon: Accelerating Ethanol’s Advantage – Summit Carbon Solutions.

The conference is August 18-20 in Minneapolis and more information is available at ethanol.org/events/conference.

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, carbon capture, Ethanol, Ethanol News

NBB Launches Ad Campaign on Renewable Fuel Standard

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Biodiesel Board has launched a new radio advertising campaign calling on President Biden to maintain his commitment to the Renewable Fuel Standard. The ads will air on more than 200 radio stations in Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin on the Brownfield Ag News Network.

“As a candidate last August, Joe Biden called the Renewable Fuel Standard ‘our bond with our farmers and our commitment to a thriving rural economy.’ But now, there are reports he’s considering handouts to oil refiners — at the expense of biodiesel producers and soybean farmers,” the ad states. “Contact your member of Congress. Let them know, it’s time for President Biden to make good on his promise and to support Midwest farmers and biodiesel producers.”

Kurt Kovarik, NBB’s Vice President for Federal Affairs, added, “The Renewable Fuel Standard is a vital policy for the biodiesel industry and for soybean producers. Instability in the program creates economic uncertainty for the communities where biodiesel production generates jobs and economic growth. As members of Congress return to their states and districts this summer, we want them to hear that message and encourage President Biden to maintain his commitment to the RFS program and to rural communities.”

Listen to the ad here:
NBB RFS Radio Ad :30

Meanwhile, Reuters is reporting today that the American Bakers Association is urging the EPA to reduce biodiesel blending requirements because food companies fear a shortage of canola and soybean oil before the end of the year.

Audio, Biodiesel, biofuels, canola, EPA, NBB, RFS

POET Brings Second Purified Alcohol Facility Online

Cindy Zimmerman

POET recently announced POET Bioprocessing – Alexandria began production of purified alcohol after breaking ground in late 2020. The facility will produce purified alcohol which will include grain neutral spirits (GNS) and USP-grade alcohol, the second POET purified alcohol production facility. POET Bioprocessing – Leipsic began production in March.

Purified alcohol is a fundamental ingredient in thousands of well-known products ranging from foods and beverages, personal care products, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizers and industrial applications.

POET’s all-natural purified alcohol is made from renewable resources grown on the surface of the Earth and can replace petroleum-based synthetic products found in a variety of consumer goods. It meets the highest standards for purity including the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) label standards and will meet the Global Food Safety Initiative’s Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program standards and kosher guidelines.

“We’re proud to bring to market a renewable product made from surface-of-the-earth materials,” said Darin Cartwright, POET’s Vice President overseeing purified alcohol sales and marketing. “POET’s purified alcohols not only exceed the highest quality standards, they also can replace fossil fuel-based synthetic ingredients in many products, making us the obvious choice for customers who value environmental responsibility.”

The expansion of purified alcohol production further extends the reach of one of the world’s largest bioethanol and bioproducts companies, bringing even more green consumer products to the market.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, POET

NCERC Seeks to Expand Corn as Industrial Feedstock

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Corn to Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) recently submitted two grant proposals to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) FY21 Bioenergy Technologies (BETO) Multi-Topic Funding Opportunity Announcement that would expand the use of corn as an industrial feedstock, according to the National Corn Growers Association.

The first proposal included NCERC as a Co-PI and was led by Marquis Energy. The purpose of this collaboration is to scale up a conversion method that utilizes corn as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel. The work being done at the intermediate scale will be performed at NCERC and brings together additional research centers, including the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and US Navy NAWCWD China Lake, to see through a solution that brings significant opportunity for expanding and repurposing the 16 billion-gallon-per-year corn-to-ethanol infrastructure.

The National Corn Growers Association has a vested interest in discovering new uses for corn and has provided a letter of support for this initiative. From renewable plastics to novel chemicals and other energy and liquid fuel applications, corn is competitively positioned as the commercial feedstock of choice thanks to corn’s sustainability, abundance, and affordability. In fact, according to USDA ERS Feed Outlook data, ending stocks for 2020/2021 are around 1,552 million bushels.

The second proposal led by NCERC, “Scaling up a Low-Cost Low Energy Cellulosic Sugar Production,” contributed to the validation of a low-cost, energy-efficient conversion method for cellulosic materials- and waste-to-biofuel. The funding of this proposal would bring significant value to companies who are pursuing the conversion of a variety of bio-based feedstocks to a sugar stream which can then be converted to countless biotechnologies, such as biofuels, biochemicals, biomaterials, and bioproducts.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, feedstocks