25th #RFANEC Focuses Forward on Future
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) just concluded an annual meeting that will be remembered for many reasons, including an appearance by the 43rd President of the United States, and the celebration of recent significant victories for the ethanol industry as it focuses forward on the future.
RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper says there is a lot of optimism and inspiration coming out of the 25th National Ethanol Conference. “I just continue to be very bullish about the intrinsic value proposition that comes with our product,” said Cooper in a wrap-up interview.
He is also very optimistic that the 10th Circuit Court decision regarding EPA’s Small Refinery Exemption program will mean major changes in favor of the ethanol industry, as EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler recently commented. “It was encouraging to hear that Administrator Wheeler is clearly taking the decision very seriously…It’s been our view that this decision should broadly apply to every small refinery and every circuit court jurisdiction.”
Listen to this NEC wrap up interview with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper
RFANEC Geoff Cooper wrap up interview 6:18
Photos, audio and video from the 2020 National Ethanol Conference, including presentations, can be found here:
2020 National Ethanol Conference Virtual Newsroom
ACE Leadership Attending Ethanol Plant Annual Meetings
It’s annual meeting time for ethanol plants around the Midwest and American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings is attending many of them in the coming weeks to commend the producers for enduring a tough year, and provide an update on the opportunities and challenges ahead for growing the demand for ethanol.
Jennings visited Golden Grain Energy in Mason City, Iowa last week and will be attending meetings at Adkins Energy, Absolute Energy, and the East Kansas Agri-Energy to come as well.
“I’m always grateful for the opportunity to meet with members and discuss the pressing issues facing the industry,” Jennings said. “Our members work hard to ensure they provide a meaningful return to local shareholders, and I’m honored to highlight this effort by commending our members on the operational and financial progress they’ve been able to maintain despite several headwinds they’ve been confronted with.”
ACE’s newly appointed Director of Member and Industry Relations, Nick Fosheim, is joining Jennings at some of these meetings to connect with members and inform them about his approach to fostering ACE’s partnerships with current and potential members, and his strategies to promote ACE’s efforts throughout the industry.
And just around the corner, the ACE Washington, D.C. fly-in is coming up April 2-3. There is no fee to attend the fly-in, which includes industry updates and visits to Congressional offices. Information and registration can be found on-line.
Economic Impact of Ethanol Still Strong in 2019
Despite numerous challenges last year, the ethanol industry still supported nearly 350,000 jobs and generated almost $43 billion in gross domestic product in 2019, according to the latest analysis conducted by ABF Economics and released at the National Ethanol Conference last week in Houston.
“The U.S. ethanol industry was buffeted by several factors that forced producers to cut operating rates and, in some cases, shut plants—resulting in only the second decline in annual industry output in two decades,” the report noted. “This was primarily the result of regulatory concerns associated with the EPA’s continued support for small refinery exemptions, effects of the U.S.-China trade war, and declining gasoline demand. Nevertheless, the ethanol industry continues to make a substantial positive contribution to the American economy.”
Read the full report and listen to an interview with RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman discussing the analysis.
RFANEC Interview with Scott Richman, RFA Chief Economist 6:04Photos
Ethanol Report 2-14-20
This episode of The Ethanol Report features some of the highlights of the 25th National Ethanol Conference this week in Houston, Texas.
You will hear from Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Geoff Cooper on the industry victories of the past two months, including the 10th Circuit Court decision, which EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler admits has the potential to totally change the small refinery exemption program under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Matt Morrison, the lead counsel in the case, summarizes the decision and potential impacts. And RFA Senior Strategic Advisor Bob Dinneen reflects on the 25th anniversary of the NEC, the 15th anniversary of the RFS, and getting to see President George W. Bush again.
Ethanol Report 2-14-20 (26:12)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
USDA’s McKinney Optimistic About Ethanol Exports
USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney says he will leave “no stone unturned” in his quest to increase U.S. agricultural exports, including ethanol.
McKinney spoke to the Renewable Fuels Association National Ethanol Conference Wednesday about the markets where he sees the most potential for ethanol, including China, Mexico, Brazil, and India.
Listen to his remarks:
RFANEC USDA Undersecretary Ted McKinney 23:13
Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy Receives RFA Industry Award
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) presented Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) with the 2020 Industry Award at the 25th annual National Ethanol Conference Wednesday. The award is presented annually to a member company that has provided a unique contribution to the industry’s success through technological, marketplace, or advocacy excellence.
SIRE is being recognized this year for their critical role in hosting the President of the United States along with multiple cabinet officials, federal, state and local officials and national news media for a tour of their facilities and a celebration of new regulations permitting summertime sales of E15. The event convened industry leaders and policymakers, providing an opportunity for the Trump Administration to hear first-hand accounts of the positive impact that expanding the use of E15 would have, as well as accounts of the damage being done to the renewable fuels industry by the unprecedented number of small refiner exemptions to the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Listen to RFA CEO Geoff Cooper present the award and comments from SIRE Chairman Karol King
RFANEC Industry Award - SIRE 6:15
Implications of the 10th Circuit Court’s SRE Decision
As the ethanol industry focuses forward in the new decade, a big bright spot is the very real potential that EPA’s generous allocating of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) may be coming to an end, thanks to the recent 10th Circuit Court decision.
The lead counsel in the case brought by Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), National Corn Growers Association, and National Farmers Union outlined the potential impacts of the decision during the National Ethanol Conference on Tuesday. Matthew Morrison, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, referenced comments made by EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler last week that the decision has the potential to completely change the small refinery program.
EPA Admin Wheeler comments on SRE court decision
Listen to Morrison’s remarks here:
RFANEC Remarks from Matt Morrison, RFA Counsel 23:00
Ethanol Industry Ready to Focus Forward
Still riding the high of hearing from former President George W. Bush, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper addressed attendees of the 25th annual National Ethanol Conference in Houston today with his annual State of the Industry remarks.
“2019 marked just the third time in the last three decades where output fell from the preceding year,” Cooper said. “Previous decreases in annual output—in 1996 and 2012—were both tied to historic droughts, short crops, and record high corn prices. The drop in ethanol output this time was caused by a disaster of an entirely different sort: policy uncertainty, bureaucratic meddling, and aggravating marketplace barriers.”
In the face of demand-destroying regulatory barriers and political uncertainty, Cooper highlighted how the ethanol industry continued to serve as a vital source of good-paying jobs and economic activity in hard-hit rural communities in 2019, citing key statistics from RFA’s annual study on the economic contributions of the ethanol industry. Released on Monday, the study measures the industry’s sizable economic footprint.
Cooper also touted the removal of regulatory barriers that had banned the sale of E15 during summer months and the marketplace’s enthusiastic response as a win attributable to the industry’s tenacity and ability to “focus forward.” He went on to point out that 2020 is already off to a good start with US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruling in favor of RFA in a decision that could ensure the EPA is finally held accountable for their abusive practices in issuing small refinery waivers.
Read Cooper’s remarks here, listen to them below.
RFANEC RFA CEO Geoff Cooper remarks 32:00
You can watch the video of Geoff’s remarks from our Facebook Live video here:
43rd President Visits National Ethanol Conference
The Renewable Fuels Association was honored to welcome George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, to the 25th Annual National Ethanol Conference today in Houston.
By championing an all-of-the-above approach to domestic energy production while in office, President Bush put the United States on a course toward greater energy security and made an indelible mark on agriculture and the renewable fuels industry.
RFA Senior Strategic Advisor Bob Dinneen was thrilled to be able to hear from the former president who signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005, creating the original Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In December 2007, he signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which extended and greatly expanded the RFS. Between these two signature events, in April 2006, President Bush spoke to RFA members in Washington, D.C., where he addressed the importance of energy independence and security.
We have no photos or audio from the president’s appearance as no media were permitted to attend, but Dinneen shared his impressions and reflections in this interview.
RFA Senior Strategic Advisor Bob Dinneen reflects on 25th NEC and 15th RFS anniversary
RFANEC Interview with Bob Dinneen, RFA Senior Strategic Advisor 11:46