Nebraska Ethanol Board Welcomes New Executive Director

Cindy Zimmerman

Ben Rhodes

The Nebraska Ethanol Board (NEB) has confirmed Ben Rhodes as its new executive director. Rhodes had been serving as interim executive director since Feb. 12 and was made permanent by a vote of the NEB on April 9.

“I’m honored and excited to lead the NEB moving forward,” Rhodes said. “This is a transformative time in the renewable fuels industry, with great progress made and many opportunities ahead. The NEB, as the only state agency in the country devoted to the promotion and development of the ethanol industry, is in prime position to capture and create value for our state’s producers. Under my administration, the NEB will continue and advance our diligent work on behalf of this state.”

Rhodes first joined the NEB staff in 2022 as the ethanol program manager. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing the NEB’s research and technical projects, as well as contributing to policy and market development efforts. He holds a bachelor’s degree and has an MBA in progress, both from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“The NEB has a 50-year proven history of delivering results for the industry and Nebraska, and as executive director I will focus my efforts on continuing that trend,” Rhodes said. “I’d like to thank NEB board members and staff for their support, and I greatly look forward to working with Nebraska’s ethanol producers and our other partners to achieve the industry’s goals.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News

Partnership Aims to Decarbonize Marine Transportation

Cindy Zimmerman

The Michigan Advanced Biofuels Coalition (MiABC) and Green Marine have partnered to promote adoption of sustainable biofuels for improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Michigan and across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.

“With 3,224 miles of shoreline – second only to Alaska – our state is a major hub for shipping on the Great Lakes,” says Hanna Campbell, MSC market development director and managing director of MiABC. “Partnering with Green Marine will be a great asset to our efforts to reduce the environmental impact of shipping by encouraging greater use of biofuels in commercial vessels.”

MiABC was founded in 2022 by Michigan Soybean Committee (MSC) and the Michigan Soybean Association to increase understanding and adoption of biodiesel and other advanced biofuels produced from renewable resources such as soybean oil.

Green Marine is the leading environmental certification program for the marine sector, with offices in Seattle, Washington, and in the Canadian cities of Quebec City, Quebec, and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Biodiesel, Boats, Soybeans

Senators Advocate for Stronger RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led a bipartisan group of 16 senators this week in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to “restore integrity, stability and growth to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the U.S. biofuel sector by raising Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) levels for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels.”

In a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the senators pressed EPA to implement multi-year RVO standards to provide certainty and growth for the biofuels industry. “We ask that the EPA raise RFS volumes for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels to levels that are consistent with production and availability, while ensuring an equivalent increase in total volumes to preserve demand across all categories of biofuels,” the senators wrote.

“Additionally, should EPA grant any small refinery exemptions, the gallons that would have been obligated to those refiners should be added back into the total number of required gallons, as intended by the structure of the RFS, so that the full volume of the RVOs is accounted for and the overall RVOs are not effectively reduced after the rule is finalized.”

This is in line with what the ethanol industry is asking of the administration. “These senators understand the importance of lower-cost, American-made renewable fuels to both the farm economy and drivers across the country,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “We thank Sens. Grassley and Klobuchar, and their colleagues, for urging EPA to swiftly finalize strong Renewable Fuel Standard volumes to support American energy independence and economic strength.”

The letter was also signed by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Gary Peters (R-MI), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Josh Hawley (R-MO).

During Tuesday’s hearing on tariffs before the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Grassley questioned U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer about the impact of tariffs on agriculture and suggested one way to support farmers would be to strengthen the RFS and raise RVO levels. “The administration could move very quickly to increase RVOs on the Renewable Fuel Standard so that farmers get more robust domestic markets for their crops,” said Grassley.

Listen to Grassley’s comments and Greer’s response here:
Senate Finance Hearing - Grassley and Greer 5:06

Audio, Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News

U.S. Ethanol Exports Drop in February

Cindy Zimmerman

According to the latest trade monitor report from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), U.S. ethanol exports fell 30 percent in February, compared to the previous month, but remained on par with the same time last year at 138.7 million gallons (mg).

Half of all February shipments were directed to Canada and the European Union, with the remainder distributed among eight additional countries. Canada retained its position as the top destination for the 47th consecutive month, with exports easing 6% to 50.8 mg—representing 85% of all denatured fuel ethanol shipments. The European Union remained the largest market for undenatured fuel ethanol (36% share), though volumes fell 42% to a four-month low of 17.6 mg. Several other markets experienced notable shifts. Exports to the Philippines surged 33% to a nine-month high of 15.0 mg, while shipments to India dropped 62% to a five-month low of 13.3 mg. Mexico rebounded sharply, climbing 87% to 11.0 mg. In contrast, shipments to the United Kingdom declined 39% to a 15-month low of 8.6 mg, and exports to Colombia contracted 49% to a 14-month low of 6.8 mg. Other key destinations included South Korea (6.6 mg), Peru (6.1 mg), and Egypt (1.7 mg). Notably, Brazil and China were absent from the market in February.

Meanwhile, exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS) increased 5% in February to 849,645 metric tons (mt), while year-to-date DDGS exports are down by 12%.

Mexico clung to its position as the top destination with shipments falling 45% to 127,203 mt—the lowest monthly volume in nearly four years. South Korea boosted its purchases by 12% to 118,840 mt, while exports to Colombia surged more than sevenfold to 73,911 mt. On the downside, shipments to Vietnam fell 28% to an eight-month low of 67,106 mt, and exports to Canada declined 14% to 57,618 mt. Other major markets included Indonesia (56,398 mt), the European Union (53,205 mt), Turkey (41,835 mt), Japan (41,351 mt), and New Zealand (30,000 mt). The remaining fifth of exports were dispersed among 29 additional countries.

Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Iowa Reports 45% Jump in E15 Sales, Record B20

Cindy Zimmerman

Retail sales of E15 in Iowa jumped 45 percent last year compared to 2023, and a record number of biodiesel gallons were sold, according to the latest Iowa Department of Revenue 2024 Retailers Motor Fuel Gallons Annual Report.

The report showed E15 sales hit a record 257 million gallons in the state last year with 516 million gallons of biodiesel blends were sold last year, driven by record sales of B20 and higher blends that hit 245 million gallons.

At the end of 2024, more than one in three Iowa fuel stations offered E15, and E15 and higher blends accounted for nearly 20 percent of Iowa gasoline sales in 2024. The state’s E15 Access Standard, which requires most retailers to offer E15 for sale, takes effect January 1, 2026.

“The massive growth in E15 sales reflects the success of Governor Reynolds’s E15 Access Standard,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “We’re on a record-setting track that shows when consumers have increased access to E15 they choose the cleaner burning fuel that saves them 15 to 20 cents per gallon. Retailers are on track to meet the year-end E15 Access Standard deadline. Farmers are also benefiting from increasing corn demand that stimulates local economies.”

This report follows the recent United States Department of Agriculture announcement of $537 million in grants under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) and the recent record amount of grants totaling almost $3 million from the latest Iowa’s cost-share Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) meeting. According to these recent announcements, there are hundreds more stations that will soon be offering E15 across Iowa.

Last month, Iowa’s cost-share Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) awarded almost $3 million in grants for Iowa fuel retail locations to add E15 to 111 retail sites throughout the state before the end of the year. In addition, another they already had another 145 applications to be considered at the next RFIP board meeting later this month.

Biodiesel, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

E15 Waivers Requested for Summer Again

Cindy Zimmerman

With no prospects for a legislative fix to allow E15 year-round nationwide before the summer driving season, senators are now asking President Trump to once again authorize waivers to keep the blend available this year.

A bipartisan group of senators led by John Thune (R-SD) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to the president this week asking him to authorize the waivers which have kept E15 available during the summer months since 2019.

These waivers will allow our domestic energy supply chain to continue to quickly and reliably respond to fuel supply challenges brought on, in part, by the war in Ukraine, which unfortunately continues to weigh on global energy and security. Furthermore, this effort is in line with your executive order “Declaring a National Energy Emergency” that implores Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Zeldin and Department of Energy Secretary Wright to consider issuing these emergency waivers. And finally, this action will give the agriculture economy much needed certainty by increasing the domestic demand for American commodities.

EPA approval earlier this year means eight states – Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin – are approved to sell E15 year-round, effective April 28, although Ohio and South Dakota have opted to delay that for another year. The senators note that the Midwestern governors’ petitions to sell E15 year-round has “allowed for an agreement between both ethanol and petroleum stakeholders in support of a permanent legislative solution to allow nationwide, year-round E15 sales.”

In the interim, taking action to permit the sale of E15 nationwide during the 2025 summer driving season also will be beneficial for consumers, the domestic energy industry, and agricultural producers. And to ensure nationwide uniformity in the gasoline market, we urge you to apply the temporary emergency waivers to E15 in all states as well as to E10 in the eight states who petitioned EPA to opt out of the RVP waiver program.

The Renewable Fuels Association thanked the senators for working with the Trump administration to prioritize continued access to E15 during the summer driving season. “Not only does year-round E15 help consumers save money, but it keeps an important market open for America’s farmers and ethanol producers,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “While the action requested by these Senators would help keep E15 flowing this summer, our ultimate objective is for Congress to pass the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act that would permanently authorize year-round E15 nationwide.”

Additional senators signing the letter included, Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Gary Peters (D-MI), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Tina Smith (D-MN).

E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ethanol Advocacy All in the Good Family

Cindy Zimmerman

Alex, Addison, and Charlie Good meet with Sen. Chuck Grassley at ACE Fly-in

Nevada, Iowa convenience store owner Charlie Good has been attending the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) annual DC Fly-in for over a decade and he has frequently brought his family along for the experience. This year, both his son Alex and daughter Addison joined him on visits to Capitol Hill to talk about ethanol issues.

This was the sixth fly-in for Alex, who works in law enforcement but has been involved in the family’s Good and Quick business his whole life. “I grew up around higher blend ethanol fuels, I saw what it did for our family and our business, and it’s very important for the American farmer,” he said.

Addison is still in high school and the experience of being in the halls of Congress and meeting with officials like Senator Chuck Grassley definitely had an impact on her ideas about the future. “He (Grassley) told me that I should apply to be an aide when I graduate,” Addison said. “It opened my eyes to maybe doing something in ag or being more involved in the ethanol industry.”

Listen to comments from Charlie, Alex and Addison Good, Good and Quick, Nevada, Iowa
2025 ACE Fly-in Good family 3:55

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News

45Z on the Issues List for ACE Fly-in

Cindy Zimmerman

LtoR – Chad Miller and Rod Jorgenson, Al-Corn; Rep. Angie Craig, Mark Heckman and Matt McBain, Edeniq

The 45Z Clean Fuel Production tax credit was supposed to be implemented this year, but so far the incentive to help make more sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has yet to even see proposed guidance to make it happen and ethanol producers are looking for answers.

Mark Heckman took part in the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) DC Fly-in last week and 45Z was his main interest, both as an Iowa farmer and Vice President of Sales for Edeniq Inc., a company that quantifies and qualifies the advanced biofuels coming out of the ethanol facilities.

“We need 45Z. We need that pretty clear. We need that certainty so that these facilities can invest in themselves and make the hard decisions that need to be made,” said Heckman. “We need it extended. It can’t be just a three-year time period, which we’re halfway through the first year and if decisions are being made, those decisions that are being made today most of it won’t materialize or manifest until next year. So you really only have a year and a half of credits that you’re going to be able to capture.”

The tax credit is part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which is a Trump Administration target, but some programs and funding are being retained, such as the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) which was released by USDA this week.

In this interview, Heckman also talked about ACE teams bringing the importance of continued strong renewable Volume Obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

2025 ACE Fly-in Mark Heckman, Edeniq 9:43

2025 ACE DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, aviation biofuels, corn

Ag Secretary Gets Earful About E15

Cindy Zimmerman

LtoR – Rep. Miller-Meeks, Sec. Rollins, Elite Octane CEO Nick Bowdish, Sen. Ernst, Gov. Reynolds

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins heard a lot about the ethanol industry’s need for year-round, nationwide E15 during her trip to Iowa yesterday, starting with her visit to the Elite Octane ethanol facility in Atlantic, Iowa.

“We’re very bullish for the next three years with President Trump leading the way. The seeds of policy change to drive profitability for our corn and soybean farmers in this state are going to be biofuels,” said Nick Bowdish, President and CEO of Elite Octane. “With E15, not only the legislative fix for RVP, but deeming all the infrastructure at these retailers to be compatible for E15…that combined with a strong RFS and RVO standards, we’re very bullish this administration has the farmers’ back and is going to deliver for Iowa.”

Rollins reiterated the administration’s support for E15 several times during her visit Monday, including at the Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner. “We’ve got E15. We’ve got a lot of things we’ve got to do, but know that you have such a strong advocate, not only at USDA but also at the White House with President Donald Trump,” said Rollins. “In addition, USDA is aggressively exploring additional ways to unleash American energy and to incentivize the production and use of homegrown biofuels, including working alongside my friends at the EPA to develop the renewable volume obligation as well as supporting EPA’s review of any potential emergency waivers on fuel to allow the nationwide year-round sale of E15.”

Rollins’ trip to an ethanol plant in one of the nation’s top producing states was encouraging to ethanol organizations like the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), of which Elite Octane is a member. “We thank Secretary Rollins and President Trump for releasing USDA funding that will help expand the domestic market for American-made renewable fuels,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “We look forward to continuing to work together with USDA under Secretary Rollins’ leadership to grow new market opportunities for U.S. ethanol producers and our partners in agriculture.”

USDA Sec. Rollins biofuels comments at Ag Leaders Dinner 4:26

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, USDA

Illinois Increases Biodiesel Blend Rate 

Cindy Zimmerman

Effective today, April 1, biodiesel blend requirements in Illinois are increasing from B14 to B17, marking another step toward advancing cleaner fuel options.

The bipartisan B20 bill passed in 2022 raises the bar on biodiesel use by increasing the minimum biodiesel blend level eligible for tax exemption. Starting today, this means 17% of every gallon of biodiesel sold in Illinois between Apr. 1 and Nov. 30 will be derived largely from domestically produced, renewable vegetable oil, with soybeans being the top contributor.

Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Chairman and Illinois soybean farmer Ron Kindred is proud to see the continuation of efforts that support our state’s farmers. “Increasing biodiesel blend rates is a win for farmers, consumers and the environment,” said Kindred. “Every step forward strengthens our energy security, drives demand for homegrown feedstocks, and supports rural economies.”

Next year, the minimum biodiesel blend levels eligible for a tax exemption will increase to the full 20 percent.

Biodiesel, Soybeans