ACE Urges Senators to Press Wheeler on Ethanol Issues

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) wants senators to get some promises from Andrew Wheeler before they vote to confirm him as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

ACE CEO Brian Jennings sent a letter to U.S. Senators this week asking them to “secure tangible documentation on two critically important ethanol issues” – finalizing a Reid vapor pressure (RVP) rule to allow E15 use year-round before the summer driving season, and reallocating ethanol blending obligations waived under the Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) provision of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

The RVP rule is particularly time-sensitive because it needs to be finished before June 1. But Jennings says the government shutdown is not a credible excuse for a delay in the rulemaking, noting as an example how USDA put forward a new food stamp work requirement proposal in just eight days. “It has been more than 100 days since the President directed EPA to initiate a rulemaking to allow E15 use year-round,” the letter stated. “What is taking EPA so long to act?”

EPA intends to combine the RVP rule with reforms to the way Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) are handled under the RFS, but in the letter Jennings told senators that Wheeler “should be encouraged to decouple RIN reforms from the RVP rule to ensure E15 can be offered for sale by June 1.”
Read the letter.

ACE, E15, EPA, Ethanol

National Biodiesel Foundation Update

Cindy Zimmerman

The mission of the National Biodiesel Foundation (NBF) is outreach, education, research and demonstration activities for the advancement of biodiesel.

“We do things the National Biodiesel Board can’t do,” says Biodiesel Foundation president Jeff Lynn of Illinois. That includes such activities as Congressional tours to educate legislators about where biodiesel comes from and how it is made, as well as how it is used. The foundation also hosted its third Sustainability and Land Use Change workshop in St. Louis last September.

Lynn joined NBF Executive Director Tom Verry on stage at the 2019 Biodiesel Conference to talk about some of the foundation’s 2019 activities, and to help with this year’s live auction for a Yellowstone Tour and a chartered fishing trip.
NBB19 Foundation report

Lynn also represents the Illinois Soybean Association on the NBB board and in this interview he talks about the importance of farmer support for biodiesel, Illinois’ B20 Club, and how everyone can help fund the foundation any time we buy something on Amazon!
NBB19 Interview with Biodiesel Foundation Board president Jeff Lynn, Illinois

2019 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, Education, National Biodiesel Conference

Study Finds Minimal Corn Ethanol Land Use Change

Cindy Zimmerman

A newly released study published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics finds no evidence to support concerns about large indirect land use change effect of corn ethanol causing expansion in cropland and reduction in grasslands and forests.

Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) members Madhu Khanna and Yijia Li from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Ruiqing Miao from Auburn University, analyzed the effects of corn ethanol expansion on land-use in their study ‘Effects of Ethanol Plant Proximity and Crop Prices on Land-Use Change in the United States.’

“We now have actual data on land-use change that has occurred since the ethanol expansion began in 2007 and can test whether the predictions of these models have held up,” said Khanna. “Interestingly, the raw data shows that although corn ethanol production more than doubled between 2007 and 2014, total cropland acres in 2014 were very similar to those in 2007 and the crop price index was lower in 2014 than in 2007.”

The study finds that the overall impact of corn ethanol production on increasing total crop acreage was very negligible. Despite producing almost 15 billion gallons of corn ethanol in 2014, total crop acreage in 2014 increased by less than 1% due to the change in ethanol production capacity as compared to 2008 and by about 0.5% due to a change in crop price over this period.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Indirect Land Use, Research, Sustainability

EIA Report Makes Case for Higher Ethanol Blends

Cindy Zimmerman

Forecasts calling for higher fuel prices in the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) newly released Annual Energy Outlook 2019 (AEO2019) makes the case for higher ethanol blends and lower cost options like E15 at the pump, according to Chris Bliley, vice president of regulatory affairs at Growth Energy.

“Consumers deserve cleaner, more affordable options, and that’s exactly what higher ethanol blends like E15 can deliver. Regulators at the EPA must act quickly on the president’s pledge and open the door to competition at the fuel pump all year long,” said Bliley.

The EIA report says consumption of transportation fuels will increase considerably between now and 2050, and that retail prices for motor gasoline and diesel fuel will increase between 76 and 82 cents per gallon in the next 30 years, mainly due to increasing crude oil prices. The report also finds that light-duty vehicle miles traveled will increase by 20 percent, “growing from 2.9 trillion miles in 2018 to 3.5 trillion miles in 2050 as a result of rising incomes and growing population.”

During an appearance last week at the National Biodiesel Conference, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said they continue to hope the administration will get the year-round E15 rule done in time for the summer driving season. “We want to see a rule that not only comes out on time, but that’s strong and solid and will withstand litigation,” said Skor.

Meanwhile, Growth Energy reports that consumers across the U.S. have logged a total of 7 billion miles on 15 percent ethanol so far and are working on the #NextBillion.

“The market wants higher blends, the market wants E15, the consumers want it, so there is a lot of continued retailer excitement,” Skor said.

E15 is sold as Unleaded88 or Regular88 by major retailers like Kwik Trip, Sheetz, Casey’s, Cumberland Farms, Thorntons, Kum & Go, RaceTrac, QuikTrip, Rutter’s, Minnoco, Protec Fuel, Murphy USA, and Family Express at more than 1,700 stations across 30 states, and that number will continue to grow.

Listen to the full interview with Skor here:
Interview with Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, biofuels, E15, Ethanol, Growth Energy

Corn and Ethanol Co-Sponsor 2019 Crappie Masters Tournament

The 2019 Crappie Masters Tournament Trail is about to begin a new year of showcasing the benefits of 10 percent ethanol blends for fishing and boating. The first of 16 tournaments begins Friday, February 1 in Deland, Florida on the St. Johns River.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) are co-title sponsors of the tournament for the third consecutive year to help fuel the knowledge of participants.

“We have done significant education outreach to the boating community on the benefits of 10 percent ethanol blends (E10), and have helped push back on misinformation on higher blends like E15,” said Crappie Masters President Mike Vallentine. “Every Crappie Masters tournament winning team for the past four years has safely used E10 fuel with no reported engine issues.”

RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White says they have seen the partnership pay off as boaters become more educated and, in turn, educate others. “The winners of the 2018 season highlighted the numerous environmental and performance-related benefits of using E10 in their boat. For nearly 30 years, E10 has been used in all types of marine engines and the fuel blend is approved for use by all major marine engine manufacturers, helping to clean the air and water,” he added.

“This season, we are excited about continuing to engage with boaters and anglers about the benefits of the renewable corn ethanol they fill up their boats with throughout the tournament trail,” said NCGA Ethanol Action Team Chair and Missouri farmer Jay Schutte. “Not only are there a number of environmental benefits to fuel blended with 10 percent ethanol, but as the world’s cleanest and most affordable octane source, ethanol helps maximize engine performance.”

Crappie Masters Television will also highlight each tournament. The weekly show can be found on the Pursuit Channel, which is on DIRECTV 604, Dish Network 393, Verizon, CenturyLink and Roku.

The 2019 Crappie Masters Tournament Trail season runs through September 28. Click for the full schedule.

Listen to an interview here with Robert White and Missouri Corn Director of Market Development Bradley Schad from last year’s tournament about why this has been such a good educational opportunity for corn farmers and ethanol producers.
Interview with Robert White, RFA, and Bradley Schad, MO Corn

AgWired Energy, Audio, corn, Ethanol, NCGA, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Kaffka Honored with Biodiesel Inspiration Award

Cindy Zimmerman

Dr. Stephen Kaffka, Extension Agronomist with the Department of Plant Science at the University of California-Davis, is the recipient of this year’s Eye on Biodiesel Inspiration Award. Presenting the award to Dr. Kaffka were National Biodiesel Board Sustainability Director Don Scott and CEO Donnell Rehagen.

Dr. Kaffka has served as an instrumental leader for many years in advocating for environmental stewardship and agricultural sustainability. His passion in these areas have made him a strong influence in the biodiesel industry.

Dr. Kaffka has been a key advisor during implementation of the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard. He participated in California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Indirect Land Use Change Expert Workgroup and the LCFS Sustainability Workgroup. His expertise on agricultural production bridged the gap between the good things that farmers can do, and the environmental metrics desired by the ARB and their stakeholders who place environmental protection as a top priority. As a result, biodiesel producers are participating in an expanding California market while the carbon reduction goals are being exceeded. Dr. Kaffka’s work is a prime example of how the biodiesel industry is built on research and sound scientific data, but always needs conscientious experts to communicate that understanding across diverse constituencies.

Audio file – NBB19 Inspiration Award presentation to Dr. Kaffka

2019 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Ethanol Conference Scholarship Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association and the Renewable Fuels Foundation have awarded two student scholarships for the 24th annual National Ethanol Conference next month in Orlando. This is the tenth consecutive year in which this scholarship has been made available to students.

This year’s scholarship winners are Krista Russell and Devin Brand.

Russell recently graduated with a degree in Agricultural Systems with a focus in Agriculture Education at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. This past summer she interned at the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center (NCERC), and is now pursuing a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. With assistance from NCERC, she will be working with K-12 students within the St. Louis region to educate them about ethanol and agriculture.

Brand is a senior at South Dakota State University and will graduate this summer with a degree in Agriculture Business. He grew up in a family of third and fourth-generation dairy and corn/soybean farmers. This past summer, he interned with the Colorado Corn Growers Association, where he learned about ethanol’s economic, environmental, and vehicle performance benefits. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in agricultural policy.

The scholarships provide students enrolled in higher education who intend to pursue a career in the industry with complimentary registration, airfare and lodging to the conference, giving them the opportunity to connect with roughly 1,000 leaders, policymakers, and experts associated with the renewable fuels industry.

The NEC will take place Feb. 11-13 at the JW Marriott in Orlando. Click here for registration and other information.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

2019 Biodiesel Conference Wrap Up

Cindy Zimmerman

Hundreds of biodiesel leaders from across the country gathered for the 2019 National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego to ENGAGE in thought provoking discussions to help advance America’s advanced biofuel.

Keeping with the theme of ENGAGE, here are some key takeaways from the conference:

E – Educate: One of the main goals of the conference was to educate attendees on all things biodiesel so the schedule included informative speakers and educational opportunities on topics such as the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard, West Coast carbon markets, and new vehicle technology.

N – Navigate: While there is still policy uncertainty, biodiesel experts at the conference shared insights to help attendees navigate the future on the federal and state level. There was also plenty of good media coverage at the event from top policy news outlets including Agri-Pulse and Brownfield Ag News.

G – Gather: Over 800 biodiesel producers, distributors, retailers, and other industry advocates gathered for the conference this year, one of the biggest crowds in recent years.

A – Answer: NBB worked extensively to ensure this year’s conference was interactive and answered all attendee questions about the future of biodiesel, such as new regulations, critical policies, alternative fuels, biodiesel branding, and environmental impacts.

G – (Next) Generation: Each year the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel program offers scholarships to college students for an opportunity to participate alongside other industry experts at the conference. The program is intended to foster professional relationships between budding and established scientists, share accurate information, and increase collaboration with academia and the biodiesel industry. At this year’s conference, scholarship winners had the opportunity to share their extensive biodiesel research during a poster session and held a breakout session, One Small Step: The Next Generation of Biodiesel Scientists, to share their key findings and industry breakthroughs.

E – Environment: The environment is always top of mind at the National Biodiesel Conference and sessions discussed how biodiesel companies can commit to the reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions and advance affordable, domestic renewable fuels to clean the environment.

NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen wraps up the conference in this interview:
NBB19 Wrap up interview with CEO Donnell Rehagen

The conference may be over but coverage on the
Biodiesel Conference Blog continues, so check there for more audio and video content being posted.

2019 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

advanced biofuels, Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, biofuels, National Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Ethanol Report from Biodiesel Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has played the most important role in the adoption of biofuels in the United States, both ethanol and biodiesel, making allies of both industries.

At this week’s National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper was part of a panel discussion on the future of the RFS and how ethanol and biodiesel can continue to work together to keep the program strong.

In this Ethanol Report, Cooper talks about how the two industries are coordinating with each other, what set and reset means as far as the RFS is concerned, how the government shutdown may impact the year round E15 rulemaking, and plans for the upcoming National Ethanol Conference next month in Orlando.

Ethanol Report from Biodiesel Conference

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Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, RFA, RFS

Biofuels Leaders Engage in RFS Discussion

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2019 National Biodiesel Conference concluded Thursday with a panel discussion entitled “To 2022 and Beyond: Renewable Fuels in the Next Decade,” featuring renewable fuel industry leaders discussing the Renewable Fuel Standard and what is on the horizon for 2020.

National Biodiesel Board chief operations officer Doug Whitehead moderated the discussion between NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen and his ethanol organization counterparts Emily Skor, Growth Energy and Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association.

Listen to their conversation here:
NBB19 RFS panel

2019 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Biodiesel Conference Blog

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, National Biodiesel Conference, NBB, RFA, RFS