RFA Headlines This Week’s Fuel Ethanol Workshop

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

RFA’s Geoff Cooper at the 2023 FEW (BBI Photos)

The Renewable Fuels Association will have a strong presence at the 2025 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo this week June 9–11 in Omaha. In addition to RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper’s Tuesday morning keynote address, RFA also has four other staff members speaking at the conference.

On the Expo floor, RFA will showcase the importance of flex fuel vehicles, with a new 2025 Chevrolet Trax FFV on display and a thank-you letter to General Motors that attendees can sign. GM is currently the only automaker producing flex fuel vehicles for the U.S. market. With the theme “Hats Off to GM,” all signers will receive a free RFA ballcap. Flex fuel vehicles are made to run on both regular gasoline and flex fuels containing up to 85 percent ethanol (E85). E85 flex fuels are available now at more than 6,100 locations nationwide.

“The International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo is always an important opportunity for the industry to connect and learn,” said Cooper. “With the return of new FFVs to the market this year, we thought this would also be a great time for the industry’s grass roots to continue pushing automakers toward expanding FFV production.”

Cooper talks about what RFA will be doing at FEW this year in the latest Ethanol Report podcast.
Ethanol Report 6-6-25 20:44

RFA speakers this year include Justin Schultz, RFA’s EH&S Director, on an 8:30 a.m. Monday panel on workplace safety hazards; and Robert White, Senior Vice President for Industry Relations & Market Development, presenting at 4 p.m. Monday, on opportunities for ethanol beyond the fuel tank (at the Ethanol 101 Summit). After Cooper’s 9 a.m. keynote on Tuesday, Troy Bredenkamp, RFA Senior Vice President for Government and Public Affairs, will be part of a roundtable discussion of top association executives. Finally, during the Carbon Capture & Storage Summit at 1 p.m. Tuesday, RFA Vice President for Strategy and Innovation Tad Hepner will moderate a panel on utilizing waste CO2. In addition, RFA will host special events for its members and those active in the Young Professionals Network and Veterans for Renewable Fuels.

Visit RFA at Booth 901 in the FEW Expo, right inside and to the left of the Expo’s main entrance.

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, FEW, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ethanol Report on Current Issues

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

There is quite a bit happening right now that impacts the ethanol world. That includes tariffs and trade, the One Big Beautiful Bill, E15 legislation in California, small refinery exemptions, and EPA’s pending proposal to set Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2026 and beyond.

In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper addresses all of these issues and more as he prepares to keynote the Fuel Ethanol Workshop next week in Omaha.

Ethanol Report 6-6-25 20:44

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

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Grains Council Signs MOU to Advance Biofuel Use in Mexico

Cindy Zimmerman Leave a Comment

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the Secretariat of Energy Development of the State of Tamaulipas have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing a cooperative framework to promote ethanol vehicle programs to decarbonize public transportation, enhance renewable energy options and support U.S. ethanol exports.

The Secretariat of Energy Development of the State of Tamaulipas’ goal is to position the state as a leader in developing strategic projects that promote renewable energy development through preservation, conservation and forward-thinking uses of natural resources, driving innovative and competitive development.

The MOU initiated a five-year partnership focused on joint initiatives, data exchange and market studies to advance ethanol use in Tamaulipas. It intends to highlight ethanol as a cleaner fuel to diversify Tamaulipas’s energy matrix, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality while strengthening the Council’s role in supporting Tamaulipas’s energy transition through technical assistance and policy advocacy for biofuels.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, USGC

FEW Panel to Highlight New Market Opportunities

Cindy Zimmerman

ACE CEO Brian Jennings at 2024 FEW (BBI Photos)

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings will moderate a panel at next week’s 2025 Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) spotlighting how agricultural conservation practices can create new markets and profit opportunities for ethanol producers and farmers.

Titled “Turning Agricultural Practices into Low-Carbon Farming Success,” the panel will explore how the ACE-led Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects are helping farmers adopt soil health practices such as reduced tillage, efficient fertilizer use, and cover crops—to generate localized, verifiable data that supports greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction measurements that can lead to access to lucrative carbon markets.

Panelists include:

Brennan Lewis, Research Associate, Agronomy and Plant Science, South Dakota State University, who will provide a progress update and share insights from field-level data and grower engagement.
Brent Hoops, Commodities Director at Chief Ethanol Fuels, Inc., who will offer a perspective from the ethanol production side and describe how this work aligns with facility and farmer interests.
Dr. Richard Ferguson, Professor of Soil Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who will discuss soil health, carbon benefits, and productivity impacts of conservation practices.

Jennings says ACE is working alongside farmers, ethanol companies, university soil scientists, and U.S. Department of Energy carbon modelers to scientifically document the carbon value of conservation practices across different soil types, temperatures, and precipitation levels across the corn belt.

“We’re helping bridge the gap between conservation practices on the farm and clean fuel markets that reward those efforts,” said Jennings. “That means more value for farmers and ethanol producers, and real progress toward improving modeling tools and unlocking market opportunities which can create new demand and value for corn ethanol.”

The session will take place on Monday, June 9, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. in Room 213/214 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha. Jennings will also participate in the Association Executives Q&A during the FEW general session on Tuesday morning, and ACE staff will be at booth #501 during the event, June 9-11.

ACE, Carbon, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Farming, FEW

Ethanol Production and Exports Ramp Up

Cindy Zimmerman

Click on image for enlarged version

Ethanol production hit its highest level since January the week ending May 30 while stocks are up slightly and exports are on the rise.

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production accelerated 4.6% to an 11-week high of 1.11 million b/d, equivalent to 46.41 million gallons daily. Output was 3.1% higher than the same week last year and 5.3% above the three-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate scaled up 2.1% to 1.05 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.11 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks only gained 0.7% to 24.4 million barrels, but that is 6% more than the same week last year and 5.3% above the three-year average. Ethanol exports gained by over 127% to an estimated 150,000 b/d (6.3 million gallons/day).

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USTR Urged to Improve Access for US Ethanol in India

Cindy Zimmerman

Amb. Greer pictured with the Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry in March 2025

Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Adrian Smith (R-NE) and 15 of their colleagues are urging U.S. Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer to seek improved market access for American agricultural exports of ethanol and distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in India.

“The long-term demand opportunity for DDGS alone could be two million metric tons per year valued at $500 million, which would turn into the second largest export market (behind Mexico),” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Greer. “For ethanol, India is already our 3rd largest export destination at 170 million gallons valued at $393 million, however further reducing existing market barriers would allow for over $400 million of additional exports.”

The lawmakers said they believe increased exports of U.S. ethanol and DDGS to India represent “an easy win for American farmers and will be a terrific way to begin addressing the federal trade deficit through mutually beneficial trade with India.”

This comes as historic advances are made in negotiating a bilateral trade agreement with India, the framework of which was announced by Vice President J.D. Vance and USTR in April. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins is scheduled to travel to India this year in efforts to continue discussions to open new markets for agricultural exports.

Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports

Iowa Installs New B99 Biodiesel Pump for Fleets

Cindy Zimmerman

IA Ag Secretary Mike Naig participated in the ribbon cutting of the new B99 biodiesel pump

The Iowa Biodiesel Board and Iowa Soybean Association joined Pilot Travel Centers, PepsiCo and Optimus Technologies last week to celebrate the launch of a new B99 biodiesel pump for fleets at Pilot’s Des Moines travel center, making it one of only a handful of stations in the nation dispensing almost pure biodiesel to commercial trucking fleets. The event included remarks from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, who emphasized the critical role of infrastructure and public-private partnerships in expanding cleaner fuel options.

IBB and ISA contributed $25,000 in soybean checkoff funding to support the project, made possible in part through the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program which helps fuel retailers upgrade their equipment to accommodate higher blends of biofuels. “This B99 pump is a symbol of progress,” said Dave Walton, an Iowa farmer and board member of both IBB and ISA. “It’s proof that when you combine innovation with the right incentives, and partner with companies truly committed to their goals, you can make a big impact.”

Optimus Technologies has developed a fuel system to run on B99 versus standard #2 diesel to help large transportation companies, such as PepsiCo, meet their low-carbon goals. PepsiCo has converted roughly 20 semi-trucks to the new engine technology from Optimus and plans to use the Urbandale Pilot Truck location to refuel the fleet. B99 is a blend of 99 percent biodiesel and 1 percent diesel.

Blends of B20 and higher more than doubled in Iowa’s on-road diesel sales last year, driven by strong state policies and farmer-led investment. Iowa’s comprehensive state biodiesel policies supported that, Kimberley said.

Biodiesel

Iowa Signs Trade MOU With Vietnam for Corn and DDGs

Cindy Zimmerman

The state of Iowa signed five memoranda of understanding (MOUs) this week between the Vietnamese feed industry and private companies from the United States, including two specific to corn and the ethanol co-product distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) equaling 900,000 metric tons of U.S. corn and 250,000 metric tons of U.S. DDGS.

Iowa welcomed over 50 members of the Vietnamese delegation to the Iowa State Capitol for the signing and remarks were given by H.E. Do Duc Duy, Vietnam Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, and Ralph Lents, Iowa Corn Promotion Board President.

Additionally, the Vietnam government is currently exploring the expansion of its E5 RON92 mandate to all grades of gasoline. This change would mean an additional 200 million gallons of new ethanol demand potential. The Ministry of Industry & Trade, the key policymaker, and regulator for fuel in Viet Nam, is working towards a nationwide E10 mandate for the policy expansion, aiming to finalize a policy decision in 2025.

Iowa Corn, in conjunction with the U.S. Grains Council, has been actively engaged in Vietnam for the past two years as they have evaluated the potential for ethanol in their country. This included hosting a high-level government delegation in Iowa last summer where we were able to showcase the benefits of using ethanol. If Vietnam moves to a nationwide E10 mandate across all grades of gasoline, this will be a huge win for Iowa’s corn farmers.

Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports

Iowa Awaits Governor Decision on Carbon Pipeline Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

Gov. Reynolds at 2023 Iowa RFA Summit

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds may hold the fate of the state’s ethanol industry in her hands as ethanol advocates and farmers are urging her to veto a bill restricting carbon sequestration pipelines.

“It’s happening. Nebraska is doing it. North Dakota is doing it. Indiana is doing it. Illinois projects are moving forward. Brazil is doing it big time. It’s happening,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw during a press call on the subject last week. “This is not whether or not CCS is going to happen. The question here is whether or not Iowa is going to be left behind and for that reason we also would urge a veto.”

“We have to look at long term survivability of the corn industry. And right now, we’re not doing that with this legislation,” said Iowa corn grower Vic Miller.

Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) CEO Mike Jerke said they plan to invest $45 million to connect to the Colorado-based Tallgrass Trailblazer CO2 pipeline. “Tallgrass is a company that’s been in the pipeline business for a long time, they operate over 10,000 miles of pipe across the United States,” said Jerke. “These pipelines have every kind of service, from natural gas to petroleum to water. One of their pipelines they had deemed to be redundant and that pipeline happened to go from Wyoming through the state of Nebraska. And so they went through a process to repurpose this pipeline to for CO2 duty and because of where SIRE is located, we were able to strike an agreement with them and hook up to their pipe or that is our intent and expectation.”

Jerke says the Iowa legislation could limit their ability to participate. “This limitation is put specifically only on pipelines that are transporting liquid carbon dioxide. The language limits the permits to 25 years,” he said. “The existing language in statute said the maximum was 25 years, but then the death blow is you cannot renew a permit if you’re transporting liquid liquefied carbon dioxide. We cannot renew it, so we’re making a significant investment.”

Listen to their arguments for the governor to veto the legislation here:
Iowa RFA press call on Carbon Pipeline bill 27:27

Audio, Carbon, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA

One Big Beautiful Bill Includes Ethanol and Farm Provisions

Cindy Zimmerman

President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” passed in the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday morning on a vote of 215-214, with all Democrats and two Republicans voting against. The bill includes several provisions important to America’s ethanol producers and farmers.

“In addition to extending the 45Z clean fuel production credit by four years, the bill also reinstates crucial tax benefits that will stimulate research, experimentation, and innovation across the ethanol supply chain,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “As the bill now moves to the Senate, we hope additional improvements can be made to ensure these tax policies truly drive demand growth for American-made renewable fuels.”

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition’s Executive Director, Alison Graab, says the bill extends the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z) through 2031. “This legislation provides the long-term certainty SAF producers need to scale operations, drive private sector investment, and benefits American farmers and rural economies. Sustainable aviation fuel is a vital solution for advancing U.S. energy dominance, driving rural economic growth, and establishing the United States as a global frontrunner in SAF production.”

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says the bill “modernizes farm bill programs and extends and improves critical tax provisions that benefit America’s small farmers and ranchers. Updated reference prices will provide more certainty for farmers struggling through tough economic times. Making business tax deductions permanent and continuing current estate tax exemptions will ensure thousands of families will be able to pass their farms to the next generation.”

The bill includes an increase to the estate and gift tax exemption amounts to $15 million per individual and $30 million per couple, adjusted for inflation annually and makes this exemption permanent. Other provisions include a permanent increase to the Section 199A Small Business deduction from 20% to 23%, expanding the limitation on Section 179 from $1 million to $2.5 million, reinstating the 100% bonus depreciation for five years and extending the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023.

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