Renewable Fuels Association Features E85 Can-Am Conversion

chuck zimmerman

Can-Am Ethanol ConversionDuring the Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) this year the Renewable Fuels Association featured a racing Can-Am X3 (2018 model) which has been converted to running on E85. This beautiful vehicle wrapped with the RFA’s “Fueled With Pride” image, has been racing this season. The extra horsepower provided by the E85 fuel has provided a performance boost as you’ll hear RFA’s Robert White say in a conversation I had with him (listen below). TIDD Racing is the team racing the Can-Am and they loaned it to RFA for the FEW.

Can-Am E85 Conversion ChartRobert says that TIDD Racing contacted him to discuss opportunities for more horsepower and torque. So they did some research on companies doing E85 conversions and found Evolution PowerSports who had a pretty simple solution. Robert says the conversion gave the Can-Am an extra 50 horsepower! To promote it at FEW he says they gave away 1,000 t-shirts.

Besides the Can-Am in the RFA booth Robert says the organization was very involved in the Fuel Ethanol Workshop program.

  • Geoff Cooper, RFA CEO, gave the opening keynote address
  • Robert was featured in an Association Roundtable: A Look at Our Industry’s Health, the Strength of Its Policy Foundation and the Best Path Forward to Growing Our Market. He also moderated a panel: Building a Plant Culture that will Attract and Retain Top Talent
  • Kelly Davis moderated a panel: Positioning Your Plant Now to Maximize the Coming Opportunities in Low Carbon Fuel Markets and Carbon Sequestration
  • And as we reported previously, Missy Ruff received the TRANSCAER 2018 Chairman’s Award

You can listen to my interview with Robert here: Interview with Robert White, RFA

AgWired Energy, Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Industry Hopes to Stop Small Refinery Waivers

Cindy Zimmerman

Biofuel organizations are hopeful that legislation introduced last week by Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will help stem the tide of Small Refinery Exemptions that have caused demand destruction for both ethanol and biodiesel.

The RFS Integrity Act of 2019 aims to provide “more certainty for rural America by bringing transparency and predictability to EPA’s small refinery exemption process. The bill would require small refineries to petition for Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) hardship exemptions by June 1st of each year. This change would ensure that EPA properly accounts for exempted gallons in the annual Renewable Volume Obligations it sets each November.”

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Geoff Cooper praised the legislation introduced on the heels of President Trump’s visit to an Iowa ethanol plant to celebrate EPA’s final rule allowing year-round sales of E15. “Refiner exemptions have had a devastating impact on the ethanol industry, erasing 2.6 billion gallons of RFS demand over the past two years,” said Cooper. “Any additional small refiner exemptions granted by EPA would totally undermine the demand gains we expect to see from year-round E15, hitting the rural economy hard.”

“The uptick of waivers without reallocation as required by law also means the Congressional intent of the RFS is undermined,” added American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings. “This legislation would help ensure EPA’s abuse of small refinery exemptions is put to a stop by requiring timely reallocation of any granted waiver and ensuring the statutory RFS volumes are enforced.”

The legislation would also require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to properly account for exempted gallons in the annual Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) it sets each November.

“The legislation highlights the fact that EPA’s actions on small refinery exemptions is inconsistent with President Donald Trump’s support for the RFS,” said National Biodiesel Board Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik. “The exemptions handed out last year for 2015, 2016 and 2017 destroyed demand for more than 360 million gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel.”

EPA’s retroactive exemptions for 2015, 2016, and 2017 reduced compliance with the RFS volumes for those years. NBB conservatively estimates the demand destruction at 364 million gallons of biomass-based diesel.

ACE, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NBB, RFA, RFS

ZimmCast 619 – President Trump’s Visit to Ethanol Plant

chuck zimmerman

In this week’s program you will hear from industry attendees to President Trump’s visit to Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) in Council Bluffs, IA.

Included in the program are:
President Trump at SIRE

  • Mike Jerke, CEO, SIRE
  • Craig Floss, President/CEO, Iowa Corn Growers
  • Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
  • Kevin Ross, farmer and 1st VP, NCGA
  • Monte Shaw, Executive Director, IRFA
  • Geoff Cooper, President/CEO, RFA

Geoff provides a wrap-up of the program since I was able to talk with him after the President had toured the facility and given his speech.

That’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

Listen to the ZimmCast here: President Trump visits Ethanol Plant

AgWired Energy, Audio, biofuels, Energy, Ethanol, ZimmCast

Ethanol Report on Presidential Visit

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association was thrilled to host President Donald J. Trump as he visited the Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) ethanol plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa on June 11 to celebrate year round sales of E15 (15% ethanol).

This Ethanol Report podcast includes some of the president’s remarks at the plant and interviews with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper, SIRE CEO Mike Jerke, and National Corn Growers Association first vice president Kevin Ross.

Ethanol Report on Presidential Visit

More interviews and photos from the president’s visit can be found here:
President Trump Visits SIRE Ethanol Plant

Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, RFA

USDA Picks Kansas City as New Home for ERS, NIFA

The Kansas City area will be the new home for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), according to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.

“Following a rigorous site selection process, the Kansas City Region provides a win win – maximizing our mission function by putting taxpayer savings into programmatic outputs and providing affordability, easy commutes, and extraordinary living for our employees,” said Secretary Perdue. “The Kansas City Region has proven itself to be hub for all things agriculture and is a booming city in America’s heartland. There is already a significant presence of USDA and federal government employees in the region, including the Kansas City ‘Ag Bank’ Federal Reserve. This agriculture talent pool, in addition to multiple land-grant and research universities within driving distance, provides access to a stable labor force for the future. The Kansas City Region will allow ERS and NIFA to increase efficiencies and effectiveness and bring important resources and manpower closer to all of our customers.”

USDA conducted a Cost Benefit Analysis and conservative estimates show a savings of nearly $300 million nominally over a 15-year lease term on employment costs and rent or about $20 million per year, which will allow more funding for research of critical needs like rural prosperity and agricultural competitiveness, and for programs and employees to be retained in the long run, even in the face of tightening budgets. On top of that, state and local governments offered generous relocation incentives packages totaling more than $26 million. Finally, this relocation will give USDA the opportunity to attract a diverse staff with training and interest in agriculture. You may click HERE to view USDA’s Cost Benefit Analysis.

“We did not undertake these relocations lightly, and we are doing it to enhance long-term sustainability and success of these agencies. The considerable taxpayer savings will allow us to be more efficient and improve our ability to retain more employees in the long run. We will be placing important USDA resources closer to many stakeholders, most of whom live and work far from Washington, D.C. In addition, we are increasing the probability of attracting highly-qualified staff with training and interests in agriculture, many of whom come from land-grant universities. We look forward to this new chapter as we seek to fulfill our motto at USDA, which is to ‘do right and feed everyone,’” added Secretary Perdue.

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, USDA

RFA’s Missy Ruff Receives National Safety Award

Carrie Muehling

RFA’s Missy Ruff, left, received the TRANSCAER Chairman’s Award at an RFA Committee Meeting with RFA VP for Regulatory Affairs Kelly Davis.

TRANSCAER presented the 2018 Chairman’s Award to Missy Ruff, technical services manager for the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

The award recognizes a TRANSCAER team member who has contributed above and beyond the normal call of duty to advocate, demonstrate and implement TRANSCAER’s principles. Ruff received the award during the RFA Committee Meeting prior to the start of the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Indianapolis.

“Your accomplishments and contributions deserve our recognition,” wrote TRANSCAER Chairman Keith Silverman in his award letter to Ruff. “The award reflects the endless hours that you personally contribute to plan, organize and implement TRANSCAER training dedicated to the safe handling of ethanol and awareness response training for emergency responders across the U.S.”

TRANSCAER is a voluntary national outreach effort that focuses on assisting communities to prepare for and respond to a possible hazardous material transportation incident. TRANSCAER members include volunteer representatives from the chemical manufacturing, transportation, distribution, hazardous material storage and handling, emergency response and preparedness, and related service industries as well as the government.

“No one is more deserving of this recognition than Missy Ruff,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Her dedication and tireless efforts to maintain the ethanol industry’s impeccable safety record should be celebrated. Missy has made it her personal mission to ensure first responders in every state are trained and prepared for any situation. Missy is a highly valued member of the RFA team, and I appreciate everything she does to help the ethanol industry thrive.”

Ruff leads RFA’s award-winning safety initiatives and assists with numerous technical and regulatory initiatives, including rail issues. In addition to her work with TRANSCAER, she has planned and executed hundreds of Ethanol Safety Seminars and workshops across the country training thousands of attendees. Missy works closely with state and federal agencies, industry partners, emergency responders, consumers, petroleum marketers and retailers among others.

Renewable Fuels Association, safety

Growth Energy: American Drivers Reach E15 Milestone

Carrie Muehling

Just after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced approval of year-round sales of E15, Growth Energy recognized that United States drivers have now logged 10 billion miles on the road using the E15 blend.

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor was among many who attended President Trump’s visit to Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE).

“This is a great day for Iowans,” said Skor. “It’s a great day for American drivers and rural Americans across the country. I am thrilled to be here on behalf of ethanol producers to thank the President for following through on a promise he made. He said he would make sure the EPA gave us year round access to E15, that they would do it in time for the summer driving season. They met that deadline and so we’re very happy to be here.”

Skor said while the group is thankful for the E15 announcement, there is more work to be done including addressing small refinery exemptions, upcoming renewable volume obligations numbers, and the significant need for access to markets on the global trade front.

Interview with Emily Skor, Growth Energy

President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant Photo Album

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Growth Energy, Renewable Energy

FEW High Octane Award Goes to Steve Vander Griend

Cindy Zimmerman

Steve Vander Griend, Technical Director of the Urban Air Initiative, received the High Octane Award this week at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW). The High Octane Award is presented each year by BBI International and Ethanol Producer Magazine to a person whose passion and unstoppable pursuits have significantly benefited the ethanol industry.

Vander Griend was recognized for his dedication and passion to learn and educate the industry about the technical and regulatory details related to fuel and ethanol. Thanks to his attention to detail, the ethanol industry is better educated about issues with the MOVES Model, the importance of splash blending and how real world driving conditions and fuels are key to accurately reflect ethanol emissions.

“It is an honor to receive this award, as many people know, I’m just a little passionate about the benefits of ethanol. It is a great fuel and has a great story to tell,” said Vander Griend.

Vander Griend was nominated by his peers and selected as the winner by previous recipients of the High Octane Award.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, FEW

Behind the Scenes with President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) CEO Geoff Cooper and Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy CEO Mike Jerke shared their thoughts about President Donald Trump’s behind the scenes tour of the ethanol plant Tuesday.

Jerke and Cooper met the president as he arrived at the plant and escorted him in to meet some local farmers and plant employees and learn more about ethanol. Both said President Trump took a very active interest in the plant and listened to concerns they raised about Small Refinery Exemptions hurting demand.

Listen to comments from Jerke and Cooper and watch the White House highlight reel from the visit below.

Press call with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper and SIRE CEO Mike Jerke

President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant Photo Album


Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Biodiesel Industry on Capitol Hill This Week

Cindy Zimmerman

Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) with NBB Chairman Kent Engelbrecht and Vice Chairman Chad Stone.

Over 70 National Biodiesel Board (NBB) members are in the nation’s capital this week to meet with 130 Congressional offices and discuss the status of the biodiesel tax incentive and the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Kurt Kovarik, NBB’s Vice President of Federal Affairs, stated, “Biodiesel and renewable diesel are produced, distributed and used across the United States. The industry supports more than 60,000 jobs across multiple economic sectors. Gathering in Washington each year is important to our members so that they can meet as constituents with their Representatives and Senators. We are hosting a record 130 meetings this year to discuss the uncertainty our industry’s companies and workers along with farmers are facing, due to the biodiesel tax incentive’s lapse and the negative impact of small refinery exemptions on the Renewable Fuel Standard.”

NBB thanked Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and 19 other Representatives for urging House leaders in a letter this week to immediately extend the biodiesel tax incentive.

“Biodiesel and renewable diesel represent a sustainable and alternative fuel source that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and supports thousands of green jobs across the country,” the letter stated.

Biodiesel, NBB