Ethanol Groups Challenge EPA Board Over Climate Benefits

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) heard testimony Thursday from ethanol organizations challenging a recent report on the climate impacts of corn ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The workgroup draft commentary was sent to EPA Administrator Michael Regan regarding the RFS “Set” Rule.

Dr. Sheila Olmstead, University of Texas at Austin Professor of Public Affairs, chaired the working group that drafted the commentary and she summarized their findings. “The RFS requires that qualifying fuels have life cycle GHG emissions no greater than 80 percent of those of gasoline and diesel,” said Olmstead. “About one third of the estimates cited for corn ethanol would suggest this renewable fuel is unlikely to meet the 80 percent threshold…this is a good deal more uncertainty than we see for the other biofuels reviewed.” Olmstead added that much of the variations regarding corn ethanol’s climate benefits relative to gasoline and diesel has to do with its “impacts on land-use change.”

Listen to Olmstead’s summary remarks here:
Dr. Sheila Olmstead remarks 3:19

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper urged the SAB to review EPA’s own analysis showing a significant reduction in cropland since the RFS was enacted and Argonne National Laboratory’s extensive research demonstrating ethanol’s significant carbon savings.

“We adamantly disagree with the SAB’s assertion that ‘the best available science’ suggests there are ‘minimal climate benefits’ associated with using corn ethanol in place of gasoline,” Cooper said. “Indeed, the best available science shows just the opposite. Extensive research conducted by government laboratories, major universities, state and federal agencies, NGOs, and private lifecycle analysis experts all demonstrates that corn ethanol is 40-50 percent less carbon intensive than petroleum on a full lifecycle basis—including emissions from hypothetical land use change scenarios.”

Listen to Cooper’s comments here:
RFA CEO Geoff Cooper remarks 4:25

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings refutes the “outrageous claim” that corn starch ethanol may not meet the necessary scientific requirement of having no more than 80 percent of the lifecycle GHG emissions of gasoline. “There is no fact-based debate regarding the lifecycle GHG emissions of corn starch ethanol compared to gasoline,” Jennings stated in ACE’s response. “To the degree debate exists at all, it is not vigorous, unless one takes into consideration the vigor of misinformation campaigns orchestrated by various groups who are self-interested in their opposition to ethanol.”

Jennings also noted the SAB makes no mention of the GREET model but makes multiple references to discredited studies by Tyler Lark et al., with land use change (LUC) at the center of Lark’s attacks on corn ethanol. “While the Lark paper received outsized attention from the RFS workgroup letter, his biased methodology led to a LUC “result” which is far outside GREET CCLUB [Carbon Calculator for Land Use and Land Management Change from Biofuels production] results and other comprehensive and authoritative research done on this topic,” Jennings’ comments state.

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) CEO Neil Caskey also testified to the board, noting that the research shows unequivocally that ethanol is important to addressing climate change. “There are no shortage of studies on the environmental benefits of corn ethanol,” Caskey said. “The Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, for example, has conducted extensive research on the matter and concluded that corn ethanol has reduced GHG emissions in the U.S. by 544 million metric tons from 2005- 2019 and that the feedstock’s carbon intensity is 44 percent lower than that of petroleum gasoline.”

Caskey also refuted the idea that farmers are growing more corn for ethanol. “American farmers planted an estimated 94.1 million acres of corn in 2023, which falls short of the more than 100 million acres corn farmers planted a century ago,” Caskey noted. “In the past decade, U.S. corn production has been over six times the production of the 1930s with fewer corn acres.”

ACE, Audio, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Oilseeds Stakeholders Urge Use of GREET Model for SAF

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Clean Fuels Alliance America, the American Soybean Association, the National Oilseed Processors Association, and the U.S. Canola Association this week wrote to a senior energy advisor urging the Biden administration to support the investments made by U.S. companies and farmers who are ramping up production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The trade associations, whose combined memberships represent the entire value chain for SAF production, sent a letter to John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation, asking the administration to recognize the most recent version of the Argonne National Laboratory’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) model as the “similar methodology” option specified in the Inflation Reduction Act for determining SAF tax credit eligibility.

“U.S. producers of SAF and their partners in farming and oilseed processing should be able to rely on the GREET model to calculate the value of SAF credits. Without this, our combined members and others in the industry may not be able to follow through on investments in SAF production,” the groups state in the letter.

The letter asks the administration to consider the billions of dollars that members of the associations have made to build new or optimize existing production facilities and expand availability of sustainable, homegrown, low-carbon feedstocks like soybean oil and canola. The letter further points out that the SAF Grand Challenge Roadmap recognizes that the goal to produce three billion gallons of SAF by 2030 will rely on expanded use of soybean oil and canola.

ASA, aviation biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance, Oil, SAF, Soybeans

ACE Announces 2023 Scholarship Program Winners

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The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) congratulates the 2023 scholarship recipients Elizabeth Studer, Mallory Moorman and Kaelyn Drury. Each student receives a $1,000 scholarship through ACE’s Scholarship Program to help further their collegiate education.

Elizabeth Studer is from Madison, South Dakota, and is pursuing degrees in History and Music Performance at Minnesota State University – Mankato in Mankato, MN. Elizabeth participated in marching, jazz and concert band, choir, theater, and oral interpretation. Her father, Chris Studer, is an employee of ACE member East River Electric Power Cooperative in Madison, SD.

Mallory Moorman is from Glenvil, Nebraska, and is attending the University of Nebraska – Omaha, in Omaha, Nebraska, where she studies Chemistry. Mallory was a member of Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society, High Honor Roll, and Mentoring Works. Mallory is the daughter of Matthew Moorman. Her father is affiliated with ACE ethanol producer member Chief Ethanol Fuels in Hastings, NE.

Kaelyn Drury is from Blue Hill, Nebraska, and is pursuing a degree in Nutrition and Exercise Science, with a minor in Psychology at the University of Nebraska – Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. Kaelyn is a Peer Mentor, volunteers at Food Fort After-School Program and Foster Care Closet and is a member of the Student Alumni Association. Kaelyn is the daughter of Terry Drury. Her father is affiliated with ACE ethanol producer member Chief Ethanol Fuels in Hastings, NE.

The ACE Scholarship Program was initiated in 2004, and ACE has since awarded $68,000. Scholarships are made available to employees and dependents of employees and shareholders of ACE Ethanol Producer, Voting and Associate member companies and organizations.

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NCGA Tells EPA to Follow the Science on Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) sent a letter last week to the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan addressing recent concerns raised by the agency’s scientific advisory board about the environmental benefits of ethanol.

In the letter, NCGA CEO Neil Caskey noted that the research shows unequivocally that ethanol is important to addressing climate change. “There are no shortage of studies on the environmental benefits of corn ethanol,” Caskey said. “The Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, for example, has conducted extensive research on the matter and concluded that corn ethanol has reduced GHG emissions in the U.S. by 544 million metric tons from 2005- 2019 and that the feedstock’s carbon intensity is 44 percent lower than that of petroleum gasoline.”

The letter was sent after EPA’s scientific advisory board submitted draft commentary on the Volume Requirements for 2023 and Beyond under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program. In the commentary, the advisory board questions ethanol’s ability to significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and raises concerns that the production of ethanol increases land use.

The letter noted that corn growers are doing more with less land.

“American farmers planted an estimated 94.1 million acres of corn in 2023, which falls short of the more than 100 million acres corn farmers planted a century ago,” Caskey noted. “In the past decade, U.S. corn production has been over six times the production of the 1930s with fewer corn acres.”

corn, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

Clean Fuels Assesses Global UCO Supplies

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Growing demand for cleaner fuels like biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is creating a new opportunity to develop additional supplies of low-carbon fats and oils, including used cooking oil and surplus crop oils, according to Clean Fuels Alliance America, which has released a new report assessing potential global supplies of used cooking oil (UCO) to meet that demand through 2030.

In 2022, global UCO trade reached 3.7 billion gallons, according to the report authors, LMC International/GlobalData Plc. With anticipated demand and added value from biodiesel and renewable diesel production, the supply could grow to between 5 billion and 10 billion gallons by 2030, the authors project. With additional global UCO collection, the potential supply could increase by an additional 4 billion to 7 billion gallons.

The report indicates that the United States has the most well-developed UCO collection system, due to long-standing practices for its use and disposal. In 2022, the U.S. supply reached 850 million gallons. Increasing biodiesel and renewable diesel production is incentivizing domestic use of that supply – curbing recent export trends. The report identifies additional room for growth in U.S. collection to 1.1 billion gallons.

Read the report.

aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, Clean Fuels Alliance

ACE Renews Call for E15 Certainty

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As the sun sets on the summer driving season, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is renewing its call to the administration to make this the last year of uncertainty for the nation’s fuel retailers offering E15 (15% ethanol) by finalizing the regulation to eliminate the 1-pound per square inch (psi) Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver in eight states.

As gas prices in several states across the U.S. are predicted to spike anywhere from 50 cents to $1 per gallon, E15 remains a lower cost fuel, which saved consumers filling up on E15 last summer an average of 16 cents per gallon compared to regular gas, and in some parts of the U.S. the savings approached $1 per gallon.

“Ethanol costs almost a dollar less per gallon than gasoline right now, even without the RIN [Renewable Identification Number] value. That gives E15 and flex fuel retailers a huge advantage over their competition,” said Ron Lamberty, ACE Chief Marketing Officer. “While lower prices appeal to most consumers, E15 is also the lowest carbon regular gasoline most vehicles can use today. If Congress and the administration are serious about reducing carbon pollution, they should take action to get E15 across the finish line — it’s a simple solution that will make cleaner fuel available while saving drivers money at the pump.”

“The biofuels industry is not alone in our call, the American Petroleum Institute has joined us in supporting a permanent, national solution to allow E15 year-round through Congress.” Lamberty added. “As the summer driving season comes to an end, we renew our call to the Administration to promptly finalize its E15 rule in Midwest states and urge for Congressional support for the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act.”

ACE, E15, EPA, Ethanol

ACE Sets Record Straight on RFS Set Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) this week set the record straight on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) “Set” Rule, countering biased allegations made concerning the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) impacts of corn starch ethanol.

ACE CEO Brian Jennings responded to comments by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) workgroup in a letter to Administrator Regan in preparation for the SAB’s September 21-22 public meeting.

Although the SAB does not have statutory authority to promulgate EPA regulations, Jennings refutes the misleading claims made by the RFS workgroup centering on the degree to which corn starch ethanol reduces lifecycle GHG emissions compared to gasoline.

The SAB workgroup letter makes the outrageous claim that corn starch ethanol may not meet the necessary scientific requirement of having no more than 80 percent of the lifecycle GHG emissions of gasoline. In fact, corn starch ethanol greatly exceeds the necessary scientific requirements as demonstrated by the best available lifecycle science (via the GREET model), which shows corn starch ethanol is at least 50 percent cleaner than the GHG emissions of gasoline on average.

“There is no fact-based debate regarding the lifecycle GHG emissions of corn starch ethanol compared to gasoline,” Jennings stated in ACE’s response. “To the degree debate exists at all, it is not vigorous, unless one takes into consideration the vigor of misinformation campaigns orchestrated by various groups who are self-interested in their opposition to ethanol.”

Read ACE’s full comments.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Groups Urge Treasury Secretary To Use GREET Model

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. ethanol industry is continuing to urge the Biden Administration to use the most accurate model for transportation lifecycle assessment for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Ethanol organizations including the Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. Grains Council, and Growth Energy sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen encouraging the use of updated scoring in the U.S. Department of Energy’s GREET model instead of carbon intensity scoring used in the CORSIA model for corn-based ethanol SAF.

“We strongly support the adoption of the DOE’s GREET model by the U.S. Treasury as the standard for carbon intensity scoring of conventional aviation fuels and SAF. The latest DOE GREET model relies on the most current information and highest-resolution data regarding the energy use, carbon emissions and potential land use impacts associated with the corn ethanol-based SAF process. By incorporating the DOE GREET model into its evaluation framework, the Treasury can unlock the full potential of agriculture to meet the growing demands of the global aviation industry while simultaneously reducing its carbon footprint.”

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack spoke in Washington DC this week about ethanol’s role in SAF and said that USDA is “working on the modeling to make sure that there’s a broad array of feedstocks that can qualify including ethanol….We’re spending our resources at USDA to make sure the GREET model is where it needs to be.”

aviation biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, SAF, Sustainability

Survey Shows Support for Low-Carbon Ethanol Action

Cindy Zimmerman

A new survey from the polling firm Morning Consult has found continued strong voter support for policies promoting the use of lower-cost, lower-carbon American-made ethanol.

In the latest results, registered voters also indicated robust support for specific legislation to allow the year-round sale of E15 (fuel containing 15 percent ethanol), as well as policy that would promote the production of more flex fuel vehicles capable of using the lower-cost E85 fuel blend.

“Voters across the country clearly want to see solutions that will help them save money at the pump while also improving the environment and public health. Consumers want greater access to lower-carbon, lower-cost renewable fuels,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “This nationwide poll of more than 2,000 voters shows strong support for important legislative proposals that are currently pending in the House and Senate. We are calling on Congress to listen to their constituents and get this legislation over the goal line before the end of the year. Now is the time for action.”

The poll results found that 62 percent of those surveyed had a favorable opinion of ethanol, while only 17 percent had an unfavorable opinion; and 67 percent support the Renewable Fuel Standard, with 19 percent offering no opinion and 14 percent opposed. This is the highest percentage of support since RFA first began surveys with Morning Consult in 2016.

When it comes to higher blends, the poll found 67 percent support increasing the availability of the E15 blend, and 62 percent believe it is very or somewhat important to promote the production and sale of flex fuel vehicles (FFVs). Only 14 percent opposed the expansion of E15, and just one out of five respondents said it isn’t important to increase production of FFVs.

With specific legislation now pending before Congress, 63 percent support the Flex Fuel Fairness Act, which would encourage automakers to expand production of flex fuel vehicles that can run on E85, and 61 percent support the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would allow E15 to permanently be sold nationwide on a year-round basis. Only 15 percent of voters oppose the legislation. Likewise, 61 percent support the Next Generation Fuels Act, which would establish a high-octane, low-carbon fuel standard, with just 14 percent expression opposition.

The online survey was conducted of 2,013 registered voters Sept. 6-9, and has a 2 percent margin of error. Click here for the topline results of this national tracking poll.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Clean Fuels Announces Floyd Vergara’s Retirement

Cindy Zimmerman

Clean Fuels Alliance America congratulates Floyd Vergara, Director of State Governmental Affairs, on his upcoming retirement at the end of this month.

Vergara has an accomplished career in the clean fuels industry with nearly four decades of experience. He currently manages the Clean Fuels West Coast office in Sacramento, California, and leads the team responsible for government affairs in all 50 states.

Prior to joining Clean Fuels in 2019, Vergara served as Chief and Assistant Chief in the Industrial Strategies Division and Research Division at the California Air Resources Board (CARB). During his career at CARB, he oversaw key climate change and air quality programs, including the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). He continued that decarbonization strategy with Clean Fuels both as Director of State Regulatory Affairs and then Director of State Governmental Affairs.

Throughout Vergara’s tenure, the state affairs team helped establish and strengthen policies such as California’s LCFS, Oregon’s similar Clean Fuels Program and Washington’s new Clean Fuels Standard.

“I’m proud of and very thankful to Clean Fuels, its members and partner soy associations for what we’ve been able to accomplish with their support at the state level to further that narrative,” Vergara said. “I look forward to seeing even more success as I head into retirement after a long career in the low-carbon fuels space.”

Jeff Earl, Clean Fuels’ Director of State Regulatory Affairs, will assume the position of Director of State Governmental Affairs upon Vergara’s departure, based at the organization headquarters in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Biodiesel, Bioheat, Clean Fuels Alliance