Biodiesel Means Jobs

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and several of its member companies are highlighting the plight of industry workers who are impacted by the uncertainty over the future of the biodiesel tax incentive.

“Because the biodiesel tax incentive has been expired for sixteen months, many companies are facing a very uncertain future. With the on-again, off-again nature of the credit, biodiesel companies are forced to build the credit’s value into contracts – and hope that Congress extends the policy at the end of the year,” said Kurt Kovarik, NBB Vice President of Federal Affairs. “Many companies have essentially priced their products at a loss for more than a year. The economic pressure of these losses while waiting on Congress to act is now threatening the future of the industry, putting jobs at stake. It is urgent that Congress act immediately to provide the biodiesel industry certainty for 2018 and 2019.”

Four biodiesel companies shared photos of their employees to show how many jobs are at stake. Chris Peterson, President of Hero BX in Erie, Pennsylvania, said, “Our employees are hardworking and industrious Americans, making a great-working green product. These blue-collar workers have committed to the biodiesel industry, finding jobs in the new green economy. It is unfortunate that members of Congress have not shown the same dedication to the industry by letting the lapsed credit situation continue.”

Other companies included Newport Biodiesel in Rhode Island, American GreenFuels in Connecticut, and Lakeview Energy in Missouri. With plants in nearly every state, the U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel industry supports more than 60,000 jobs, paying more than $2.5 billion in annual wages and generating more than $11 billion in economic impact. Every 100 million gallons of biodiesel production supports 3,200 jobs.

Biodiesel, NBB

Conference This Week on Water for a Hungry World

The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska (DWFI) kicks off the 2019 Water for Food Global Conference today in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The conference will convene leading international experts and organizations to discuss “Water for a Hungry World: Innovation in Water and Food Security,” focusing on the next generation of research, smart technology, policy development and best practices that are achieving breakthroughs in this vitally important mission. The conference headlines a week of water and food security-related presentations, side events, networking opportunities and tours.

The conference includes farmers and agriculturalists from around the world and DWFI Executive director Peter McCornick says innovation is the key word when it comes to feeding a hungry world using less water resources. “Innovations in technology, innovations in practice, and innovation around policy,” said McCornick.

McCornick talks more about the conference and the work of the institute in this interview: Interview with Peter McCornick, DWFI executive director

Stay tuned for more interviews and news from the conference this week.

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, water

Wisconsin’s Ace Ethanol Installs Whitefox ICE System

Cindy Zimmerman

Ace Ethanol in Stanley, Wisconsin has become the fifth plant to install a Whitefox ICE system at Ace Ethanol’s plant in Stanley, Wisconsin. One-third of all Wisconsin ethanol plants now have a Whitefox ICE system installed, according to Whitefox Technologies Limited. Wisconsin is home to nine ethanol plants and is the ninth largest ethanol producing state in the country.

Neal Kemmet, president and general manager at Ace Ethanol, LLC and Fox River Valley Ethanol LLC said, “After seeing the benefits of the Whitefox ICE™ membrane system at Fox River Valley Ethanol in Oshkosh, we were eager to replicate the energy reduction solution at Ace. Whitefox has demonstrated its ability to help our two plants reduce energy consumption and reduce loadings on our columns and mole sieves.”

Ace Ethanol co-founder Bob Sather with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper

Whitefox’s membrane solution is a key part of a wider project that will integrate with D3MAX technology for taking corn kernel fiber-to-ethanol, enabling significant energy savings for the integrated facility. Ace Ethanol, which started production in 2002, will be the first ethanol plant to integrate the patented D3MAX technology with its existing corn dry mill.

At the recent 2019 National Ethanol Conference, Ace Ethanol co-founder Bob Sather was excited about the future for cellulosic ethanol and the D3MAX technology.

“Cellulosic is the way we are going now, together with (corn) ethanol – we’ll be able to do both,” said Sather, who has served on the boards of both the Renewable Fuels Association and the American Coalition for Ethanol.

In this interview, Sather talks about how the ethanol industry has grown over the years.
NEC19 Interview with Bob Sather, ACE Ethanol

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

RFA Joins Field to Market

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has become the first biofuels organization to join Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, a leading multi-stakeholder initiative working to unite the agricultural supply chain in defining, measuring and advancing the sustainability of food, fiber and fuel production in the United States.

As an active member of Field to Market, RFA will collaborate with the Alliance’s diverse membership—including farmers, conservation groups, leading companies, academia and other stakeholders—to promote and advance continued efficiency improvements and sustainable development throughout the renewable fuel supply chain.

The entire ethanol production process has seen remarkable progress and innovation over the past few decades, and emerging technologies promise to further improve the industry’s environmental and economic performance, according to RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Ethanol is already making our transportation fuels market more sustainable by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and cutting toxic tailpipe pollution,” says Cooper. “We look forward to building upon that record of success and working with Field to Market to measure and document our progress using metrics and approaches grounded in science and agreed upon across the value chain.”

Field to Market engages in broad communication and collaboration with stakeholders to ensure a coordinated approach to sustainable agriculture that is grounded in science. By providing useful measurement tools and resources, Field to Market helps growers and the supply chain track and promote continuous improvement at the field and landscape levels.

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, Sustainability

Iowa Funds Another Year of Blender Pump Program

Cindy Zimmerman

The Iowa legislature has funded another year of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP).

Commonly referred to as the state’s blender pump program, RFIP provides cost-share grants to Iowa retailers wishing to upgrade fueling infrastructure to offer E15, E85 and/or biodiesel blends. The program has led to millions of dollars of private economic investment and hundreds of new stations offering biofuels at the pump.

The program’s funding of $3 million for FY2020 was passed by the Iowa legislature this week.

“RFIP has accomplished exactly what it was designed to do, increase consumer fuel choice and promote private economic investment,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Managing Director Lucy Norton. “Another year of funding will ensure that more Iowa retailers can continue to build off of this success and driver access to Iowa’s clean-burning biofuels will grow.”

To date, RFIP has funded 782 projects for blender pumps, storage tanks, and other fuel infrastructure. Reimbursement can be up to 70 percent of the installation costs, up to a maximum of $50,000 per project, with a five-year commitment to sell E15, E85 or biodiesel blends.

blends, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Report on EPA Proposals and Deadlines

Cindy Zimmerman

The EPA proposal to allow year-round sales of E15, as well as reform the market for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINS), was just announced March 12 – but the accelerated timeline for the rule means the comment period will be over on Monday April 29.

In this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” Renewable Fuels Association Senior Strategic Advisor Bob Dinneen talks about the upcoming deadline, and explains another rule EPA has proposed that would publish the names of companies that seek and are granted small refinery exemptions (SREs). He also provides an update on the number of SREs pending at EPA and how the industry is pressing the agency to stop granting them.

Ethanol Report on EPA proposals and deadlines

Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes

Audio, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report

Senator Says Trade is Top Concern in Iowa

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined Tariffs Hurt the Heartland, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and Kinze Manufacturing, for a town hall meeting in Williamsburg, IA Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Iowa equipment manufacturers, farmers, small business owners, and others impacted by tariffs.

The conversation included the impact of steel and aluminum tariffs on Iowa businesses and the state’s economy, as well as the impact of tariffs on China and retaliatory tariffs that have been levied on almost all U.S. agricultural food exports. “The best thing that we can do right now is simply just make sure that we’re getting these trade deals done, make sure those tariffs are coming off, that is the best way to keep our farmers in business,” said Sen. Ernst.

Listen to the Senator’s comments at the event here:
Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst at AEM town hall

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio

2019 Can-Am Defender Ag Sales Event

chuck zimmerman

Hey farmers and ranchers, Can-Am is offering approved ag businesses a rebate worth up to $1,500 on select 2019 Can-Am Defender models. The program runs from now until June 30, 2019. Here’s some more information.

Built for a hard day’s work, the Can-Am Defender lineup includes a wide range of packages and engine options to fit the unique needs of workers everywhere. Defender side-by-side vehicles can tow up to 2,500 lbs. They can also handle up to 1,000 lbs in the innovative cargo box, which features cut-outs in the bed for five-gallon buckets to stay in place while driving, anchor points, and a large, easy to use, tailgate.

Farmers and ranchers can make work easier and more comfortable with the wide range of accessories available straight from the factory. Accessories offered by Can-Am include windshields, heaters, bed toolbox, tool holders, additional lighting, snow plows, track kits, and a variety of racks for more organized storage.

Click here to learn more about the U.S.A. Ag Sales Event.

For more information on all Can-Am vehicles, visit www.can-am.brp.com.

Having used these vehicles I can personally attest to their ruggedness and value in the situations you might need them for. I have had the opportunity to test drive them for deer hunting the last two seasons.

Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Farming

Passing of Dale Tolifson

Cindy Zimmerman

Minnesota farmer and Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) board member Dale Tolifson passed away April 23. He was 73 years old.

Tolifson was a founding member of CVEC and had served on the board since 1996. He was chairman of the board from 1997 until 2009. Dale also served on the board of directors for Minnesota Corn Growers and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE). Last year he was presented with the ACE annual Grassroots Leadership Award for his efforts to cultivate interest in higher ethanol blends in both their community and throughout the country.

“In his quiet and humble way, Dale Tolifson has made an everlasting mark on the U.S. ethanol industry,” said ACE CEO Brian Jennings. “During the 1980s farm crisis, Dale helped lead the effort for farmers to band together and form the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Cooperative. He was an original board member of CVEC when they began grinding corn in the mid-1990s. Never one to complain, Dale has suffered more than his fair share of health setbacks, but he was also a fighter. He fought to make life better for farmers, and by virtue of the fact that CVEC’s original shareholders have received more than 10 times their investment, he succeeded in fighting for farmers. About the time CVEC began operating, Dale lost both of his kidneys, but he successfully received a transplant and was able to live a long, happy and meaningful life. He was a true grassroots pioneer for farmers and U.S. ethanol. I’ll always have fond memories of working alongside Dale when he was a leader with CVEC, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, and of course, during his time as a board member with ACE. My heart aches for his wife Sandy and Dale’s family, but I also have the comfort of knowing that Dale is at peace.”

Listen to an interview with Tolifson when he received that award at the 2018 Annual ACE Conference –
ACE18 Interview with Dale Tolifson, CVEC

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News

NFU Concerned E15 Waiver Will Impact Higher Blends

Cindy Zimmerman

National Farmers Union (NFU) is concerned EPA’s proposed rule allowing year-round use of E15 gasoline will make it harder for retailers to sell higher level blends of ethanol.

In a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, NFU President Roger Johnson urged EPA to rewrite a provision contained within the rule that could amount to a cap on ethanol. It is viewed within the farm community as yet another barrier to family farmers and ranchers being able to sell farm products for biofuel production.

“Farmers Union is eager for EPA to follow through on its promises to get an E15 waiver out of the door by June 1,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “But we are concerned that certain provisions within EPA’s rulemaking unnecessarily work against expanded use of higher level blends of ethanol.”

NFU’s concerns stem from EPA’s interpretation of the “substantially similar” clause of the Clean Air Act, which prohibits the sale of any fuel or fuel additive that is “not substantially similar” to fuels or fuel additives used in the certification of new vehicles. EPA has limited its “substantially similar” interpretation to only an E15 blend, making the prospects of using higher level blends of ethanol harder to achieve. “For that reason, we respectfully request that EPA clarify that the Clean Air Act’s “substantially similar” provisions for gasoline do not cap ethanol at 15 percent,” said Johnson.

E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NFU