New RFA Chair Opens National Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

The new chairperson of the Renewable Fuels Association welcomed attendees to the first digital National Ethanol Conference this week.

Guardian Energy CEO Jeanne McCaherty took over as chair of the RFA in October so this was her first NEC welcome. McCaherty reflected on the 40th anniversary of the RFA, the toll 2020 took on the industry, and the opportunities for ethanol in a low carbon future.

2021 NEC RFA Chair Jeanne McCaherty welcome 4:31

The National Ethanol Conference continues today with keynote speaker author Daniel Yergin Vice Chairman, IHS Markit. Sessions include how ethanol fits in the future of automobiles, the latest GREET results for ethanol’s carbon intensity, international markets, and higher blends.

All of yesterday’s sessions are now available on demand for conference attendees. Highlights can be found on the NEC virtual newsroom.

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RFA State of the Ethanol Industry Address

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper focused forward in his annual state of the industry address at the 26th annual National Ethanol Conference on ethanol as the essential energy that it is.

“While 2020 was an incredibly difficult year for the ethanol industry, it definitely taught us one thing: When America’s ethanol industry stops running, so does America. Ethanol truly is Essential Energy,” said Cooper.

Looking forward, Cooper said ethanol can and should play a central role in the effort to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The carbon footprint of typical corn ethanol is already 50% better than gasoline, he said, with greater reductions on the way. “Mark my words, zero-carbon corn ethanol is coming,” Cooper said.

Listen to the full address and press availability with reporters below:
2021 NEC State of the Industry, Geoff Cooper, RFA 24:40

RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper press availability
2021 NEC Press Availability with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper 28:41

Images

2021 Digital National Ethanol Conference image album
National Ethanol Conferences Through the Years 2007-2020

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Exports a Bright Spot in the Ethanol Picture

Cindy Zimmerman

The export market for ethanol and its livestock feed co-product distillers grains (DDGS) will be one of the topics addressed at the digital National Ethanol Conference, which starts today.

The Renewable Fuels Association recently released two reports summarizing 2020 U.S. ethanol and distillers grains export and import data.

According to the reports, more than 1.334 billion gallons, or about 10 percent of the ethanol produced in the United States, were exported in 2020 to 90 countries on six continents. While this is 9 percent lower than 2019, it remains the fourth largest export volume in history.

Distillers grains exports totaled 10.958 million metric tons in 2020, a slight improvement on 2019 and the seventh straight year these exports exceeded 10 million metric tons. A record high share of total U.S. distillers grains production, 38 percent, was exported in 2020.

RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman breaks down the numbers in this interview and be sure to catch the NEC panel on international trade Wednesday at 2 pm central.
2021 NEC Interview with Scott Richman, RFA 6:33

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Digital National Ethanol Conference Debuts Tuesday

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association 26th annual National Ethanol Conference begins tomorrow, February 16, bringing an all-new format that will allow for more industry leaders to participate in what has always been the most widely attended executive-level policy and marketing conference for the ethanol industry.

“The 2021 National Ethanol Conference promises to offer something of interest for everyone, whether their focus is on energy policy, environmental issues, domestic and international market development, new technologies, or consumer education and marketing,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “We’ve lined up a terrific group of speakers and panelists who are renowned thought leaders at the intersection of the energy and agriculture sectors. I have no doubt that all attending will come away from this year’s event more informed and more connected.”

With a new time-saving schedule spread over three days, from Feb. 16-18, the NEC will allow participants to take part completely in the all-digital program without missing their daily workplace responsibilities, especially because all those registered will have access to all the sessions either live or on-demand. Our digital platform also offers multiple, easy-to-use opportunities to conduct business with fellow industry customers and clients—all without the travel expense.

Cooper provides a preview of the event in this interview.
2021 NEC Interview with Geoff Cooper, RFA 12:50

Registration and other information about the National Ethanol Conference can be found at NationalEthanolConference.com.

Enjoy photos from the National Ethanol Conference for the past 13 years in this compilation photo album.
National Ethanol Conference Through the Years 2007-2020

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Governor’s Coalition Asks President to Support Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

The Chair of the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz sent a letter to President Joe Biden this week urging him to take two administrative steps to ensure the future of the states’ biofuels community.

One would be to issue an Executive Order banning the use of aromatics in gasoline.

Such an order, enforcing a largely ignored provision in the Clean Air Act, would “benefit public health, the environment, and the biofuels industry,” he stated. The governor pointed out that “reducing aromatics would lessen the fine particulate emissions associated with respiratory diseases.” The substitution of cleaner octane additives for aromatics would “expand the market for ethanol by a projected twofold increase,” according to the governor, boosting jobs and the economy in rural America.

The second would be to adopt new Renewable Fuel Standard regulations such as the Small Refinery Exemption provision, which
have been manipulated and distorted “to keep the RFS from meeting its full potential,” and abuses by billion-dollar companies have instead “severely damaged the nation’s biofuels industry.”

Governor Walz also encouraged President Biden to support efforts in Congress to create a renewable fuel infrastructure grant program and to streamline underground storage tank regulations.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News

National Ethanol Conference Scholarship Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Foundation (RFF) congratulates three young people who will be attending next week’s National Ethanol Conference at no cost, courtesy of the Bob Sather Memorial Scholarship.

Shun Lu, a Ph.D. candidate in agricultural engineering at South Dakota State University, whose research is focused on developing novel nanomaterials for efficient electrolysis, including CO2 reduction;
Kendall Carpenter, now in her final semester studying business management and accounting at Missouri Western State University, who also works at Show Me Ethanol and is a member of RFA’s Young Professionals Network; and
Allyson Johnson, working on a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education at South Dakota State, who hopes to use what she learns to teach the next generation about ethanol’s role in agriculture and transportation.

The scholarship covers the cost of the conference registration fee, a $249 value. Now in its 12th year, the program has been named in honor of Bob Sather, who was involved in education before helping found RFA member company Ace Ethanol in Wisconsin. Sather, who also chaired the Renewable Fuels Foundation, passed away in June 2020.

This year’s National Ethanol Conference is being held in a fully digital format Feb. 16-18.

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ACE Elects 2021 Executive Committee

Cindy Zimmerman

New president of the board for ACE Dave Sovereign

During its first quarter meeting this week, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Board of Directors elected its Officers and Executive Committee for 2021.

Dave Sovereign, Chairman of Golden Grain Energy’s Board, accepted the nomination of President of the ACE Board. He replaces Duane Kristensen, who served as the President of ACE’s Board of Directors for the past three years.

“I’m looking forward to lending my perspective as an Iowa farmer who’s served on the boards of two Iowa ethanol plants in this leadership position on the ACE board,” Sovereign said. In addition to Golden Grain Energy’s Board, which oversees a locally owned 120 million-gallon-per-year (MGY) ethanol plant in Mason City, Iowa, Sovereign also serves on the Absolute Energy board in St. Ansgar, Iowa.

Troy Knecht, South Dakota farmer, representing Redfield Energy, who will serve as Vice President of the ACE Board. Ron Alverson, serving as Treasurer of the ACE Board of Directors, represents Dakota Ethanol in South Dakota. Chris Wilson, General Manager of Mid-Missouri Energy is Secretary of the ACE Board.

Newly elected to serve on the 2021 Executive Committee are:
Chris Studer, Chief Member and Public Relations Officer for East River Electric Power Cooperative, and John Christianson, Director of Christianson PLLP, an accounting and business consulting firm for Ag and Renewable Energy.

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NEC Panel to Discuss Ethanol’s Role in Future Autos

Cindy Zimmerman

With all the buzz about electric vehicles and ideas that the combustion engine is on the way out, where does ethanol fit in the future picture of automobiles?

That question will be addressed next week at the digital 2021 National Ethanol Conference during one of several panels on hot topics in the industry. Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White will moderate the discussion with guests Michael Berube, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Stefan Unnasch, Managing Director, Life Cycle Associates, LLC; and Dan Gaspar, Manager, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

In this interview, White talks about why this topic is so important right now and some of the ways low carbon, high octane ethanol can play a role in an electrified future.
2021 NEC Interview with Robert White, RFA 8:12

Registration is still open for the all digital 2021 NEC, coming up February 16-18. Find out more about the conference at NationalEthanolConference.com.

Audio, Electric Vehicles, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

RFA Opposes Extending RFS Compliance Deadlines

Cindy Zimmerman

In a virtual public hearing this week, the Renewable Fuels Association opposed the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed extension of the 2019 and 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard compliance deadlines, calling it a last minute favor to oil refiners made by former EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on his way out the door.

In his testimony, RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman said, “All that this proposal does is to compound problems that the agency itself created under the former administration—the massive and illegal increase in small refinery exemptions and the failure to finalize the 2021 Renewable Volume Obligations by the statutory deadline.”

Richman pointed out how, in the case of the 2019 compliance deadline, EPA is actually seeking an extension of an extension; nearly a year has passed since the original deadline, and refiners are simply seeking to stall the inevitable. EPA’s continued delays have allowed those refiners who did not use a sufficient volume of biofuels to comply with their 2019 standards to instead buy RIN credits at historically low prices.

Richman explains more in this interview.
RFA economist Scott Richman on EPA testimony 4:37

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Commonwealth Agri-Energy Producing High Purity Alcohol

Cindy Zimmerman

Kentucky-based Commonwealth Agri-Energy (CAE) is increasing production of high-purity alcohol that meets and exceeds U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)-Grade.

General Manager Mick Henderson says CAE undertook a major expansion in 2018 to increase fuel ethanol production to 45 million gallons per year which allowed them to quickly transition a portion of production to higher purity. “When the pandemic came to our door, we quickly realized our plant could be a bio-based sustainable solution for meeting increased sanitization demand. We have been meeting this demand since March 2020 and have been committed ever since to improving our quality,” Henderson said.

While many ethanol producers have ramped up or announced plans to bring new USP-grade production to the market, Henderson said that CAE has focused on markets beyond hand sanitizer, “It’s our ambition to further improve our 190 proof PURE quality to best in class Grain Neutral Spirits (GNS) in the coming months, increase that capacity from 5 to 10 million gallons per year, and do it energy efficiently. This commitment will allow us to diversify into the beverage market in which we are logistically advantaged to be cost competitive. In addition, we are focused on improving our 200-proof product that today meets Food Chemicals Codex (FCC)-Grade and will allow us to meet demand that requires 100% alcohol content.”

CAE has worked alongside their ethanol marketer, Eco-Energy, to sell their high purity alcohol into the market. “Producing a USP-grade product isn’t possible by most producers without a significant investment and long lead time. To witness them reach 5 million gallons per year of USP-grade production by August 2020 was impressive but not surprising knowing the company’s makeup over the last twelve years we have worked together,” said Ryan Strickland, Director of Alliance Marketing at Eco-Energy. “Eco-Energy is excited about the opportunity to grow CAE’s business for these high purity alcohol products. CAE is uniquely located to serve regional demand and we hope this is just the beginning for their evolving business with us,” said Eco-Energy CEO Craig Willis.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA