ACE Announces 2020 DC Fly-in

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) 12th annual Washington, D.C. Fly-in and Government Affairs Summit will take place April 2-3.

“Our priorities will include defending the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) from refinery waivers, influencing proposals from EPA and USDA to support the sale of E15 and higher blends, and encouraging Congress to introduce legislation to increase ethanol use through a Low Carbon Octane Standard (LCOS), which capitalizes on the ability for higher blends of ethanol to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and helps automakers comply with fuel economy standards,” said Brian Jennings, ACE CEO.

For more than a decade, ethanol supporters representing 30 states have participated in ACE fly-ins, including ethanol company investors and management; corn farmers; scientists; and fuel marketers and gas station owners.

“The ACE fly-in strikes a balance between Hill visits with ethanol champions and with Members of Congress who live outside the Corn Belt,” said Shannon Gustafson, ACE Senior Director of Operations and Programming. “Our event is designed to provide each participant with a valuable experience; from those who have never been to D.C., to those who’ve joined us for every fly-in. We strategically develop Hill visit teams to leverage each attendee’s strengths and arrange meetings in a way to make sure their voice is heard.”

The meetings will take place at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. Event registration and sponsorship opportunities are available at ethanol.org/events/fly-in.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Cooperative Producers adds E15 at Two More Fuel Sites

Cindy Zimmerman

Cooperative Producers, Inc. (CPI) has added E15 at two more fuel sites in Nebraska, making a total of six locations now in the state, according to the Nebraska Ethanol Board (NEB)

The new sites are in Axtell and Red Cloud, Nebraska, added to locations in Clay Center, Funk, Giltner, and Juniata.

“As a farmer-owned cooperative we need to support the folks who do business with us,” said Gary Brandt, vice president of energy with CPI. “CPI uses 500,000 bushels of corn in the ethanol we sell every year, so adding more ethanol to the pumps in Axtell and Red Cloud really brings a sense of ownership to our growers who work hard throughout the year to feed and fuel our country.”

“These locations don’t have a flex fuel pump, but we’re still able to offer E15 by blending it at the pipeline terminal,” Brandt added.

Learn more from NEB.

Cooperatives, corn, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

First Iowa County Requires B20 for New Diesel Vehicles

Cindy Zimmerman

Dickinson County has become the first in Iowa to follow the lead of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds by declaring all new diesel vehicles procured by the county must be explicitly approved for the use of B20, 20% biodiesel.

On December 3, 2019 Governor Reynolds signed an executive order declaring that new diesel vehicles procured by the state’s executive branch must be approved for the use of B20. Following the suggestion from Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Board Member Al Giese, County Supervisor Tim Fairchild championed the effort to enact a similar policy in Dickinson County.

“We thank Al Giese and Supervisor Tim Fairchild for leading the effort in their county to support biodiesel,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “With her executive order, Governor Reynolds laid out a great roadmap for counties and other local governments across Iowa to support biodiesel and encourage more diesel engine manufacturers to approve B20 for use in their engines. We hope Dickinson County is first of many to follow this roadmap.”

Iowa is the country’s leading producer of biodiesel, producing 365 million gallons in 2018. The state’s 11 plants have the capacity to produce nearly 400 million gallons annually.

Biodiesel

Soybean Growers Show Biodiesel Support

Cindy Zimmerman

American Soybean Association (ASA) CEO Ryan Findlay was on the program at the 2020 National Biodiesel Conference in Tampa last week, sharing his policy views for the new decade. A number of ASA directors were also in attendance showing their support for the biodiesel industry, which increases the value of U.S. soybean oil by 11 cents per pound and 63 cents per every bushel of soybeans.

In this interview, Findlay discusses policy priorities, trade issues, the upcoming Commodity Classic, and more.
NBB2020 Interview with Ryan Findlay, American Soybean Association CEO (7:52)

In addition to serving on the ASA Board of Directors, Illinois farmer Rob Shaffer is on the executive committee of the National Biodiesel Board as second vice chairman. He talks soybeans and biodiesel in this interview, and how ASA is celebrating its “First Soy Century” 100th anniversary this year.

NBB2020 Interview with NBB board member Rob Shaffer, Illinois farmer (5:46)

2020 National Biodiesel Conference photo album

ASA, Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Court Strikes Down EPA Small Refinery Exemptions

Cindy Zimmerman

On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit struck down three small refinery exemptions (SREs) that were improperly issued by Environmental Protection Agency under a May 2018 case brought against EPA by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), the National Corn Growers Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol and National Farmers Union. The three refineries are owned by CVR Energy and HollyFrontier.

Among other findings, the Court held that EPA cannot “extend” exemptions to any small refineries whose earlier, temporary exemptions had lapsed. According to the Court opinion, “the statute limits exemptions to situations involving ‘extensions,’ with the goal of forcing the market to accept escalating amounts of renewable fuels over time. None of the three small refineries here consistently received an exemption in the years preceding its petition. The EPA exceeded its statutory authority in granting those petitions because there was nothing for the agency to ‘extend.’” EPA’s own data show that a maximum of only seven small refineries could have received continuous extensions of their previously existing exemptions. Yet, recently EPA has granted as many as 35 exemptions in a single year.

RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said, “The Court has affirmed our long-held position that EPA’s recent practices and policies regarding small refinery exemption extensions were completely unlawful. And while the decision addresses three specific exemptions, the statutory interpretation issues resolved by the court apply much more broadly.”

NCGA President Kevin Ross says the decision is welcome news for corn growers. “Ethanol is an incredibly important value-added market for corn farmers, and EPA’s waivers have reduced RFS volume requirements by more than 4 billion gallons over the past three years, impacting corn demand.”

The Court also found that EPA abused its discretion in failing to explain how the Agency could conclude that a small refinery might suffer a disproportionate economic hardship when the Agency has simultaneously consistently maintained that costs for RFS compliance credits, or RINs, are passed through and recovered by those same refineries.

ACE, biofuels, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA, NFU

Industry Celebrates Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension

Cindy Zimmerman

Without question, the multi year biodiesel tax credit extension achieved at the end of 2019 was a tremendous victory for the industry.

“No one is more relieved, excited and enthused to say we got it done – five years certainty through 2022!” said National Biodiesel Board Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik. “No other tax extender as large as us received anywhere near the duration.”

The reinstatement of the biodiesel tax credit provides much-needed retroactivity for 2018 and 2019 and a forward-looking credit through 2022. Three years forward is the longest time period the industry has been able to count on the credit since it was first introduced in 2005.

Kovarik, a longtime aide to Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa prior to joining NBB in 2017, gave his former boss a lot of the credit for finally getting the extension to the finish line. “Our industry owes a huge debt of gratitude to Chuck Grassley,” said Kovarik. “If you see him, say thank you, give him a bear hug if you like, say it’s from me.”

NBB2020 Opening session - NBB VP of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik (11:50)

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, National Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Ethanol Industry Mourns Loss of Ray Defenbaugh

Cindy Zimmerman

The ethanol industry is mourning the loss this week of pioneer and advocate Ray Defenbaugh, who was a founding member, president, CEO, and chairman of Big River Resources, with facilities in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Defenbaugh served on the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) board since 2005 and was a member of the Executive Committee.

“Ray’s contributions to rural America, the ethanol industry, and RFA are truly immeasurable, and he tirelessly endeavored to improve the lives of farmers and the livelihood of communities across the Midwest,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Ray also had a special talent for uniting people and stimulating cooperation, and his leadership always helped the industry get through trying times.”

In addition to his service at RFA and Big River Resources, Defenbaugh also held leadership roles at Absolute Energy, LLC; the U.S. Grains Council; the National Grain and Feed Association; the Illinois Renewable Fuels Association; the Urban Air Initiative; the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE); and Growth Energy, among others.

“We will always remember Ray’s relentless spirit — his honesty, optimism, humor, and especially his fierce, fierce loyalty,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor.

In 2015, Defenbaugh participated in a producer panel at the annual ACE conference where he talked a lot about the future of the industry, both for agriculture and ethanol.

His remarks give an idea of Ray’s uncommon wit and wisdom, as well as his great passion for the industry. Listen here: Ray Defenbaugh, Big River Resources

2015 ACE Annual Meeting Photos

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA

New NBB Chair Optimistic for 2020

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Energy Group (REG) CFO Chad Stone was elected as the new chairman for the National Biodiesel Board in November and he addressed the membership at the National Biodiesel Conference this week in Tampa.

While 2019 was a disastrous year for the industry, which saw REG having to shut down a plant, Stone is very optimistic about biodiesel going forward.

“For biodiesel, this is our time to get back up,” said Stone. “We won’t be held down, we adapt, we grow and we fight. We are the future of energy and we won’t let anyone stand in our way.”

Listen to his remarks and interview:
NBB2020 Remarks from new NBB Chairman Chad Stone, Renewable Energy Group (13:11)

NBB2020 Interview with NBB Chairman Chad Stone, Renewable Energy Group (8:18)

Photos

2020 National Biodiesel Conference photo album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, REG

Plasma Blue Debuts at Biodiesel Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

A novel process using electricity and liquid plasma to induce the transesterification process needed to produce biodiesel is generating a lot of interest at the National Biodiesel Conference this week in Tampa.

The Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council saw the potential for the technology, developed by scientists at the University of Minnesota, which could produce six gallons of biodiesel per hour. MSR&PC has since established a company, “Plasma Blue,” around the technology with CEO Tom Slunecka taking the lead on the project.

In this interview, Slunecka explains why Minnesota soybean growers have invested in this technology and the potential it has for the entire biodiesel industry.
NBB2020 Interview with Tom Slunecka, Plasma Blue (5:58)

2020 National Biodiesel Conference photo album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, biofuels, National Biodiesel Conference, NBB

NBB CEO Meets with the Media

Cindy Zimmerman

National Biodiesel Board (NBB) CEO Donnell Rehagen met with members of the media at the National Biodiesel Conference after his state of the industry address on Tuesday. Many of the questions dealt with the biodiesel tax credit extension and when it will provide some relief for the industry.

“Producers should be working on it as we speak to get those forms into the IRS,” said Rehagen. “Our understanding is 60 to 90 days they should be seeing refund checks. So hopefully that will start putting them back in a good position to make forward looking decisions.”

Rehagen also talked about the new biodiesel industry vision and working on increasing biodiesel’s space in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

NBB2020 NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen press gaggle (14:23)

2020 National Biodiesel Conference photo album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, conferences, National Biodiesel Conference, NBB