EPA Final Rule Details

Cindy Zimmerman

EPA’s Bill Wehrum at 2019 ACE Fly-in

EPA Assistant Administrator Bill Wehrum provided details to reporters Friday morning of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule related to retail sales of 15% ethanol blended fuel and renewable identification number (RIN) transparency.

EPA finalized regulatory changes to allow gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) to take advantage of the 1-psi Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver that currently applies to E10 during the summer months. EPA is also finalizing regulatory changes to modify certain elements of the renewable identification number (RIN) compliance system under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, in order to bring greater transparency to the market and deter price manipulation.

Wehrum explains the final rule and how it differs from the proposed rule. “We’re doing this because it’s a very important presidential priority,” said Wehrum. “We think this is a win-win, we think it’s going to provide substantial additional market opportunity for ethanol producers.”

Wehrum said EPA is confident in the legality of the final rule. “We know there are folks that disagree with us and some are going to challenge what we’ve done today… but we believe we have very good defenses to the claims that they are going to bring and we believe we are going to prevail in the end.”

Regarding the controversial portion of the proposed rule that would have impacted blender pumps, Wehrum said the final rule makes no changes in blender pump regulation.

Listen here: EPA Assistant Administrator Bill Wehrum press conference

Audio, E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Report on Year Round E15

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association is celebrating the start of summer and a new era for higher blends of ethanol with the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule granting a Reid Vapor Pressure waiver for 15 percent ethanol (E15) to allow retail sales of the fuel in the summer.

In this edition of The Ethanol Report podcast, (RFA) president and CEO Geoff Cooper discusses the decision and what it means for the ethanol industry. He also comments on concerns about small refinery exemptions and corn planting delays in the Midwest.

Ethanol Report on Year Round E15

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Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, RFA

Ethanol Industry Applauds Final Rule Allowing Year-Round E15

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol industry stakeholders are thrilled with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule allowing retailers to sell gasoline containing 15% ethanol (E15) year-round.

“E15 already has a proven track record for saving drivers money at the pump and reducing emissions, and today’s action will ensure that more Americans are able to enjoy those benefits. Year-round E15 will also provide a badly needed long-term demand boost for our industry and America’s farmers, who face a number of daunting challenges today,” said Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper.

The second part of the rule proposed by EPA regarding Renewable Identification Number (RIN) transparency was scaled back from the original proposal and will now require “public disclosure when RIN holdings exceed specified thresholds” while collecting “additional data to improve market transparency and enhance EPA oversight.”

RFA CEO Geoff Cooper comments on E15 rule

National Corn Growers Association President Lynn Chrisp said, “Farmers are facing some tough times which makes this announcement particularly welcome. We thank President Trump for following through on his promise to rural America and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and supporters in Congress for their outspoken commitment to year-round E15.”

“This move to approve the year-round use of E15 in time for the summer driving season provides consumers with more choices when they fill up at the pump, driving demand for our farmers and improving the air we breathe. While the Trump Administration and USDA are expanding the ethanol market in the United States, we continue to fight for more export markets in Brazil, Mexico, China, and other countries across the globe,” said Secretary Perdue.

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings said, “We’re grateful EPA kept the President’s promise to get the rulemaking done on time and we will work to ensure retailers understand their hands are no longer tied by red tape preventing them from offering a lower priced, higher octane E15 fuel to their customers all year starting this summer. For the ethanol industry and farmers, this means greater market access — more ethanol demand over the long term as additional retailers begin offering E15.”

ACE CEO Brian Jennings interview on E15 rule
Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Nebraska Governor to Kick Off ACE Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts will be the keynote speaker for the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) 32nd annual conference August 14-16 in Omaha.

Governor Ricketts will kick off the general session on Wednesday, August 15, welcoming attendees and providing an update on how Nebraska is advancing ethanol in the marketplace. “For decades, ethanol has been an amazing success story, helping grow Nebraska and communities all across the heartland,” said GovernorRicketts. “We look forward to hosting the 32nd annual conference of the American Coalition for Ethanol in Omaha this year.”

The 2019 ACE conference general session will follow Governor Ricketts’ welcome with an update from ACE leadership. Jennings will be joined by Ron Lamberty, ACE Senior Vice President, and Duane Kristensen, ACE Board President representing Chief Ethanol Fuels’ two Nebraska plants in Hastings and Lexington, in discussing the past year’s successes and challenges and highlighting upcoming opportunities for ACE members.

More information and registration is available on-line.

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Corn Growers Sponsor FUELS2019

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) was a proud sponsor of the Fuels Institute FUELS2019 conference in Dallas last week, which provided attendees with the opportunity to take a deep dive into topics around internal combustion engines, the future of retail, biofuels and more. FUELS2019 explored the market through a series of panel discussions and presentations that evaluated the pressures from the environment, government regulations and consumer behavior.

“This was a great opportunity to build new relationships, especially with the members of the retail community,” said Director of Renewable Fuels Mark Palmer. “Gaining insights from the various sectors represented at the conference helps us better understand the challenges and opportunities we have for getting more ethanol into the marketplace.”

There were roughly 150 participants in attendance from all aspects of the liquid transportation industry including retailers, refiners, auto manufacturers, ethanol producers and RIN traders.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

RFA Welcomes New Communications Director

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) welcomes new Communications Director Ken Colombini to its staff this week. Colombini will work out of RFA’s headquarters in suburban St. Louis and will be responsible for the development and implementation of a broad range of communications strategies and tactics to support RFA’s mission and objectives.

Colombini has been a free-lance communications consultant since 2016, after serving at the National Corn Growers Association for the previous nine years, where he led NCGA’s multiple-award winning communications team and also helped create and lead the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance. This was preceded by communications management experience at Anheuser-Busch and in California state government, where he served as a governor’s speechwriter and as chief communications officer for the California State Parks system. Colombini holds a bachelor’s degree in the liberal arts from Thomas Aquinas College in California.

“As someone who has worked closely with American farmers, I’m very much looking forward to this role, where I can help communicate the real, historic and measurable value of ethanol and other renewable fuels,” Colombini said. “RFA has been an industry leader for nearly four decades, and I’m proud to now be part of the team.”

To get the latest buzz on ethanol, follow RFA on Twitter at @ethanolrfa and Ken Colombini at @kencolombini.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

GROWMARK Launches New Website Design

A new website design is enhancing the user experience for GROWMARK customers.

“It is designed to help GROWMARK customers and prospects find the information they need quickly,” said Heather Thompson, manager of digital communications. “Useful tools on the new site include a directory of GROWMARK sales representatives and a locator for GROWMARK crop nutrients terminals.”

The new GROWMARK.com is designed to help users find key sales contacts and locations easily on the home page. In addition, the Careers and News sections are located prominently near the top for ease-of-use.

“GROWMARK is committed to delivering solutions everyday,” said Krista Wolf, manager of brand strategy and marketing communication. “This new platform will help connect our customers to the products and brands they are looking for in an efficient manner.”

GROWMARK’s Digital Communications team designed and tested the site for several months before the launch. It follows the successful relaunch of FSSystem.com.

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, GROWMARK, technology

NYC Biodiesel Champion Awarded for Service

Cindy Zimmerman

New York City Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman was honored last week with a Sloan Public Service Award for his extensive environmental and sustainability efforts on behalf of the city.

As NYC’s first Chief Fleet Officer, he oversees 31,000 vehicles used by city agencies and offices and has created the nation’s greenest fleet, with nearly 20,000 vehicles using alternative fuels, including biodiesel.

National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell Rehagen offered his congratulation to Kerman on behalf of the industry. “We in the U.S. biodiesel industry greatly appreciate and applaud Keith’s integrity and dedication to improve New York with the use of biodiesel and other low-carbon fuel alternatives,” said Rehagen. “Through the implementation of biodiesel in New York City fleets, New York has become a widely-renowned nationwide leader in biodiesel use, reducing their carbon footprint tenfold.”

The Sloan Public Service Awards program has been recognizing NYC employees at all ranks and levels of government for over 38 years. Kerman has been with the NYC government for 25 years, first at the Parks Department and then at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.

Biodiesel, NBB

Nebraska Ethanol Board Welcomes New Administrator

Cindy Zimmerman

The Nebraska Ethanol Board (NEB) announced a new administrator has been chosen to become official following the next board meeting this Friday, May 31.

Roger Berry is a Nebraska farmer who has served in senior positions with agricultural organizations. Most recently, he spent over three years as Director of Market Development at the Nebraska Corn Board. In that role, Berry worked with NEB staff to carry out ethanol promotion events, spoke about ethanol markets and policy at industry conferences and was involved in industry ethanol policy discussions.

“I commend the NEB members on their choice in Roger Berry to serve as Administrator following my departure,” said current NEB Administrator Sarah Caswell. “Roger is the right person to lead the work of the board at this crucial time for Nebraska’s ethanol industry. He knows the importance of ethanol as a value-added agriculture market, especially during these times of trade uncertainty and an ongoing downturn in the farm economy. His farming background and deep experience and knowledge of the industry will enable him—from day one—to effectively direct the work of the NEB and its staff to carry out the mission of the NEB to the benefit of Nebraska’s ethanol industry stakeholders, including farmers, ethanol producers, consumers and the state’s economy.”

“We thank Sarah for her great work on behalf of the board,” said Nebraska Ethanol Board Chairperson Jan tenBensel. “Her guidance and forethought on industry issues is commendable, and we appreciate all she’s done. This will allow for a seamless transition to Roger, who is a familiar face who is well-known and well-respected in the ag community. He has notable, established relationships with commodity and trade groups both locally and nationally. Roger will be another great asset to the agency.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News

ACE Returns to Tijuana for Ethanol Forum

Cindy Zimmerman

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty continued his ethanol retailer education tour of Mexico last week with an encore appearance in Tijuana, the western-most city in Mexico and largest city of Baja California State. This trip marks Lamberty’s fourth time to the country this year to speak at ethanol technical information forums for Mexican petroleum equipment installers and retailers, sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the Mexican Association of Service Station Suppliers (AMPES).

“This is my eleventh marketer workshop with the U.S. Grains Council in the past year and a half, and the workshops, along with a multitude of other efforts in Mexico, are working,” Lamberty said. “More Mexican retailers are buying ethanol–mostly E10 purchased at U.S. terminals and delivered to stations in the northern states, like here in Baja California–and interest is increasing all over the country.”

Because it’s only minutes from San Diego’s fuel terminal, some Tijuana retailers are already selling E10, and the city is expected to be a top destination for U.S. ethanol in the short-run. Tijuana is also a major gateway to the interior of Mexico for road transportation, and by sea via the port of Ensenada. Fuel ethanol consumption in Mexico is still low, with its use as a transportation fuel not permitted until 2017 and lack of private infrastructure, but over 30 fuel terminals are currently under construction in Mexico. Mexico’s refineries operate far below capacity, with 70 percent of the fuel sold in the country imported.

Lamberty has also spoke at ethanol technical forums in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Monterrey, Mérida, Mexico City, Xalapa, Chihuahua, León, and Guadalajara.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports