RFA Members See Value in Sturgis Promotion

Cindy Zimmerman

Walt Wendland, Ringneck Energy; Chuck Woodside, KAAPA Ethanol

The 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally marked the 13th time the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) attended to tell the truth about ethanol to tens of thousands of bikers from around the country.

It was the first time that Ringneck Energy CEO Walt Wendland had the opportunity to see the promotion in action and talk to some motorcyclists as they filled up with 93 Octane E10 at the RFA Free Fuel Happy Hours. “I’m amazed at how the motorcycle people see the value of that octane,” said Wendland. “They’re all about octane and all about performance and when they fill up there they know they are getting the best deal they’ve ever gotten.”

Former RFA chair Chuck Woodside, KAAPA Ethanol Holdings, has attended the Sturgis promotion several years and he thinks it has made a difference. “We have seen return customers year over year and they look forward to it, they understand what the fuel has done for their motorcycles,” said Woodside.

Listen to an interview with both Woodside and Wendland here:
Interview with Chuck Woodside and Walt Wendland 4:01

2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

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ACE Annual Conference Begins Wednesday

Cindy Zimmerman

The 34th annual American Coalition for Ethanol conference is getting ready to Accelerate in Minneapolis starting on Wednesday evening with a welcome party to celebrate getting back together in person after last year’s virtual conference.

Business gets underway on Thursday morning with a general session that includes an update from ACE leadership where CEO Brian Jennings will be joined by Ron Lamberty, ACE Senior Vice President, and Dave Sovereign, ACE Board President, representing Golden Grain Energy in Mason City, Iowa. That will be followed by a special address from Representative Angie Craig (D-MN).

Get a preview of the activities this week from ACE Senior Director of Operations and Programming Shannon Gustafson.

ACE 2021 preview interview with Shannon Gustafson 4:34

Registration on-line will be open through Wednesday, August 18, and then on-site at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot. For more information about the event, visit ethanol.org/events/conference.

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Ethanol Report RFA 40th Anniversary – Bob Dinneen

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association was born in 1981 and RFA is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year by spotlighting some of the pioneers in the ethanol industry who were there at the beginning, like Bob Dinneen.

One of the leading authorities on the history of the U.S. ethanol industry didn’t get his start working for the energy or agriculture sectors. Bob Dinneen grew up in the suburbs of Boston before finding his way to our nation’s capital. It was actually softball that brought Dinneen to the ethanol industry and to RFA in 1987 and he has been with RFA ever since, serving as president and CEO from 2001 to 2018 and currently the organization’s senior strategic advisor.

Listen to Dinneen’s reflections and memories in this edition of The Ethanol Report.

Ethanol Report 8-16-21 (14:49)

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

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ACE Calls on President to Set Maximum RFS Volumes

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is urging President Joe Biden to set the maximum statutory volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard in the 2021 and 2022 Renewable Volume Obligation rulemaking and pursue all options to ensure uninterrupted market access for E15.

In a letter to President Biden, ACE CEO Brian Jennings said, “We recognize your goal is to electrify the vehicle fleet in the future, but the inconvenient truth is there are hundreds of millions more people driving vehicles capable of using low-carbon substitutes to petroleum such as E15 and E85 today than any other alternative. Since this reality will exist well into the future, increasing the use of ethanol today will immediately reduce GHGs while the production of electric vehicles (EVs) ramps up.”

Jennings cited the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released last week, which makes the case for policies that drive CO2 removal, such as through the sequestration of carbon with climate-smart farming practices and biofuel production, to lower the Earth’s temperature.

ACE will kick off its 34th Annual Conference Wednesday in Minneapolis where much of the discussion will focus on ethanol’s role in a low carbon future.

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RFA Urges Biden to Support Biofuels Over Foreign Oil

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) sent a letter to President Biden last week supporting the Administration’s call for an investigation into the true causes of recent higher gas prices. The letter also underscored that the solution to higher pump prices is not more oil from OPEC+, but rather increased production and use of home-grown fuels such as ethanol.

“Rather than hoping Iraq, Iran, Venezuela and other OPEC+ countries will provide the cure to escalating gas prices in the United States, we urge your administration to pursue a real and immediate solution to higher pump prices—increased production and use of low-carbon renewable fuels like ethanol,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Using more domestically produced ethanol would not only result in lower fuel prices for consumers, but it would also support your goals related to clean energy, climate change, and jobs.”

In the letter, RFA encourages the Biden Administration to finalize already delayed Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2021 and 2022, take action to ensure consumers have year-round access to E15, and work with Congress to ensure upcoming legislation includes incentives to increase FFV production and expanded infrastructure for higher ethanol blends like E15 and E85.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Oil, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Wrap-up Report on Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Activities

Chuck Zimmerman

RFA st Sturgis Motorcycle RallyThe Renewable Fuels Association has completed its on-site activities at the Buffalo Chip Campground during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. To wrap things up I talked with Robert White, VP of Industry Relations, RFA. Official numbers of bikers is not ready yet but looks like it could be a record.

The educational and promotion activities and sponsorships that RFA invests in has helped more and more people understand ethanol better, especially as it relates to pumping it into the tank of their motorcycles. But putting more gas blended with ethanol into motorcycles is just part of the ultimate value of this project. All of these people in Sturgis and at The Chip will be going home to talk with friends and neighbors and they all have cars, trucks, lawn mowers, boats and other gas powered equipment which can run on an ethanol and gas blend.

Robert say there was a steady flow of bikers filling up their gas tanks at the Free Fuel Happy Hours promotion this week. They pumped hundreds of gallons of fuel each day and handed out great t-shirts like the ones in the photo. This event offered the perfect opportunity to talk directly with motorcycle owners about ethanol and to answer their questions. I’ll be sharing some more interviews with bikers about this in coming days. So, take a listen to my interview with Robert to learn more.

Wrap-up Interview with Robert White, Vice President of Industry Relations, Renewable Fuels Association
Interview with Robert White, RFA 7:01

There are lots of photos from this year’s event and activities. I hope you enjoy them and feel free to share. 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

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

International Visitors to Sturgis Rally Love Ethanol

Chuck Zimmerman

Sturgis Attendee from HungaryThe annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally attracts visitors from all over the world. During the Free Fuel Happy Hours, educational and promotion efforts by the Renewable Fuels Association are conducted at the Buffalo Chip Campground. I spoke with one of the bikers who is a return visitor from Hungary. He says that in Hungary, fuel blended with ethanol up to 10 percent is common and he has always used it in his motorcycle. You can hear what’s he’s got to say here.

Sturgis vistor/motorcycle rider from Hungary loves ethanol
Sturgis visitor from Hungary :38

Free Fuel Happy HoursDuring the Free Fuel Happy Hours promotion RFA supplies important information for bikers, like this display showing that all motorcycle manufacturers warranty the use of a 10 percent blend of ethanol in their machines. On hand, are staff and board members who answer questions for anyone wanting to learn more.

The Free Fuel Happy Hours take place this week Monday – Thursday, 10am to 1pm, at the permanent fuel pump at the Buffalo Chip Campground.

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

ACE Welcomes Rep. Angie Craig to Annual Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) will give a special address during the 34th annual American Coalition for Ethanol conference next week in Minneapolis. Rep. Craig will be featured during the morning general sessions on Thursday, August 19, welcoming attendees and providing an update on biofuel issues from her perspective on Capitol Hill.

“Increasing the use of ethanol expands markets for family farmers, supports economic growth in rural America, and reduces carbon emissions,” said Representative Angie Craig. “I’ve seen firsthand how Minnesota’s rural communities have grown due to the expansion of biofuels and that’s why I look forward to addressing the ACE conference crowd of ethanol producers and family farmers about the work being done in Washington to expand and protect the marketplace for low carbon biofuels.”

Representative Craig has supported several key biofuels policy and legislative issues this session, including sponsoring and cosponsoring important bills like the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act and RFS Integrity Act.

The 2021 ACE conference takes place August 18-20 at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot. For more information about the event, visit ethanol.org/events/conference.

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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

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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