Ethanol Report 11-25-20

Cindy Zimmerman

2020 has been the year of going virtual for meetings and conferences. In fact, one of the very last live, in-person events to be held this year was the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) 25th annual National Ethanol Conference in Houston. The 26th annual NEC however, will be an all digital format. Information about the conference can be found on the NationalEthanolConference.com website.

In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, we hear about the digital decision from RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper, who participated in the virtual National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Trade Talk last week. RFA Director of Special Projects and Events Mary Giglio provides more details about the 2021 NEC, and RFA Vice President of Industry Relations shares some of the good news for ethanol in 2020.

Ethanol Report 11-25-20 (25:56)

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, RFA

ACE Pleased to Participate in Virtual NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) was pleased to be a sponsor and exhibitor for the second year in a row at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) virtual convention and trade talk.

ACE CEO Brian Jennings discussed a number of topics with farm broadcasters, including possible scenarios for when the industry might finally see the Renewable Volume Obligations for 2021, and some of the positive news for ethanol this year.,

2020 NAFB Interview with Brian Jennings, ACE (14:15)

ACE Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty participated in one of the NAFB Newsmaker sessions on Ag and Energy, as well as doing interviews with farm broadcasters.

Lamberty discussed the gains made this year in higher ethanol blends and how ACE helped retailers across the country work with USDA to receive HBIIP grants to install new pumps that give consumers more choices.

Listen here:
2020 NAFB Interview with Ron Lamberty, ACE (12:40)

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, NAFB

Farm & Biofuel Groups Ask Court to Enforce EPA Ruling

Cindy Zimmerman

Farm and biofuels leaders say it’s way past time for EPA to act on a court order from 2017 and they are going back to the court to make it happen.

A coalition of biofuels and agricultural trade groups filed a motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia Monday asking the court to enforce its 2017 decision requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to address its improper waiver of 500 million gallons of biofuel demand in the 2016 renewable volume obligation (RVO).

The coalition, which includes the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, National Biodiesel Board, American Coalition for Ethanol, National Farmers Union, and National Sorghum Producers, issued a statement following the filing:

“It is simply unconscionable that EPA would so brazenly ignore a federal court’s order. The agency must do right by America’s farmers and biofuel producers and supporters. Together, our coalition represents millions of rural families, who should not have to resort to more court proceedings to hold EPA accountable to the law. It’s well past overdue that EPA restore the 500 million gallons and focus on restoring integrity to the Renewable Fuel Standard.”

In the July 2017 ruling of the case Americans for Clean Energy et al. v. EPA et al., the court invalidated the EPA’s improper waiver of 500 million gallons in the 2016 RVO and ordered EPA to revisit the rule. The court held that EPA’s interpretation of the “inadequate domestic supply” waiver provision “runs contrary to how the Renewable Fuel Program is supposed to work.” To date, EPA has failed to open any proceedings to reconsider the 2016 RVO, and has not restored the 500 million lost RIN gallons.

Specifically, the coalition is asking the court to require EPA to issue a 500 million gallon “curative obligation” on obligated parties to make up for the lost gallons no more than 6 months after the court’s order; require obligated parties to show compliance with the additional obligations no more than 3 months after EPA issues the curative obligation; and feclare that it will not extend these deadlines.

Read the motion

ACE, Ag group, Biodiesel, biofuels, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NBB, NCGA, NFU, RFA

RFA CEO Trade Talks with Farm Broadcasters

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) annual Trade Talk looked different last week than it has in the past, being virtual instead of live, but Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper still was able to do many interviews with farm broadcasters around the country.

Cooper discussed topics such as how the ethanol industry fared in 2020 and the outlook for 2021 with a new Congress and administration, what happens with 2021 Renewable Volume Obligations yet to be proposed by the current EPA and when they are going to address the small refinery waivers still pending, plus a look at the virtual National Ethanol Conference in February 2021.

In this interview, Cooper also addresses the potential for higher blends of ethanol in low carbon fuel standards in the future.
NAFB 2020 Interview with Geoff Cooper, RFA 10:55

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NAFB, RFA

National Biodiesel Board Elects New Governing Board Virtually

Cindy Zimmerman

Members of the National Biodiesel Board members met virtually this week to elect new Governing Board leaders, and also met virtually with farm broadcasters to do interviews.

NBB members voted to fill eight board member spots for two-year terms:

Troy Alberts, Ag Processing Inc.
Greg Anderson, Nebraska Soybean Board
Tom Brooks, Western Dubuque Biodiesel, LLC
Tim Keaveney, Lake Erie Biofuels DBA HERO BX
Mike Rath, Darling Ingredients Inc.
Rob Shaffer, American Soybean Association
Robert Stobaugh, Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board
Paul Teta, Kolmar Americas Inc.

NBB members also participated in a virtual fly-in this week, while the organization was also participating in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk. Here are interviews with NBB Board member Greg Anderson, Feedstock advisor Alan Weber, and Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik, a Washington insider for many years who offers his perspective on the election aftermath.

2020 NAFB Interview with Greg Anderson, NBB (7:48)

2020 NAFB Interview with Alan Weber, NBB (6:17)

2020 NAFB Interview with Kurt Kovarik, NBB (15:42)

Audio, Biodiesel, NBB

RFA Shares Good News for Ethanol in 2020

Cindy Zimmerman

There was more than enough bad news for the ethanol industry to go around this year, but there was still some good news as well.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is offering that perspective to farm broadcasters this week at the virtual 2020 NAFB Convention Trade Talk. RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White tells the good news about building demand for higher ethanol blends, and how activities to promote ethanol were still able to continue this year.

Listen here:
NAFB 2020 Interview with Robert White, RFA 6:16

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NAFB, RFA

NAFB Session Focuses on Ag and Energy

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) is holding its annual convention this week, and like everything else it is virtual. One of the newsmaker sessions on opening day of the convention focused on ethanol and biodiesel and “Agriculture’s Contributions to the Energy Market.”

Carey Martin with Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network moderated the discussion with Tom Verry, Director of Outreach and Development for the National Biodiesel Board, and Ron Lamberty, American Coalition for Ethanol Senior Vice President.

Listen to their discussion here:
2020 NAFB Newsmaker Session Energy Market (52:06)

ACE, Audio, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NAFB, NBB

2021 National Ethanol Conference Shifts to Digital

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association announced today that the 26th annual National Ethanol Conference to be held February 16-18, 2021 will now be an all virtual format.

“As RFA prepares to enter its 40th year in operation in 2021, the upcoming NEC will hold special meaning for our organization and the entire industry,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led us to adopt a fully digital format, we are confident the NEC will continue to serve as the largest and most visionary ethanol policy and marketing event for industry leaders and stakeholders. This is a critical time for our nation’s ethanol industry, which faces a changing political landscape, regulatory challenges, and uncertainty in the marketplace. But it is also a time of incredible opportunity for low-carbon renewable fuels, and NEC will serve as an excellent forum for exploring the strategies and approaches that will facilitate continued success for our essential industry in the future.”

The theme for the 2021 NEC is “Essential Energy” and the digital format will enable broader participation, provide attendees the flexibility to view content live in real-time or on-demand, and offer unique networking and business development opportunities.

Registration and agenda details for the event will be announced in the days ahead on the National Ethanol Conference website.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Biodiesel Board Welcomes East Coast Policy Director

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Biodiesel Board has created a new Director of State Regulatory Affairs position and announced the appointment of Steve Dodge to fill it. Dodge is a longtime energy industry veteran who will focus primarily on advancing state and regional policy efforts for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and Bioheat® home heating oil on the east coast.

With more than two decades of experience guiding and managing outreach, communication, and lobbying efforts for the American Petroleum Institute, most recently as Executive Director of the Massachusetts/New England Petroleum Council, Dodge is well positioned to take the lead on NBB efforts focused on this important market.

NBB’s state governmental affairs efforts are led by Floyd Vergara from the organization’s Sacramento, California office. Dodge’s addition on the East Coast compliments the program along with a contract lobbying and support team positioned across the country.

Biodiesel, NBB

Kansas Biofuels Head Offers Post Election Views

Cindy Zimmerman

The president and CEO of Renew Kansas Biofuels Association gave his post-election analysis during the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City’s November 12 webinar.

Ron Seeber, who is also president and CEO for the Kansas Grain and Feed Association and Kansas Ag Retailers Association, summed up results for races on both the state and federal level. “Kansas is still very much a red state,” said Seeber, noting the win by Republican Roger Marshall to take the place of Sen. Pat Roberts. “The state kind of went from red to redder.”

Seeber was asked what his perspective was on biofuels under a Biden administration, including low carbon fuel standards in the Midwest. “A lot of it will have to do with who is appointed as head of the EPA under a Biden administration, what their overall energy policy is going to be, and whether there’s a place for biofuels in that policy,” said Seeber, noting that a move toward more electric vehicles rather than biofuels would be problematic.

Listen to Seeber’s comments:
KC AgBiz webinar - Ron Seeber (10:42)

Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News