Welcome to the 2019 National Ethanol Conference

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) 2019 National Ethanol Conference is kicking off today in Orlando with the theme “Powered with Renewed Energy.”

The annual golf tournament and networking tour are underway first off this morning. The tour is visiting Leu Gardens, an amazing 50-acre botanical oasis recognized as an historical landmark in Orlando. The venue includes palms, flowering trees, azaleas, vines, bromeliads and tropical philodendrons.

The annual golf tournament is sponsored this year by Bioleap, which provides innovative technical solutions and complete engineering services to the renewable fuels industry.

RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper got the golf tournament off on a shotgun start and in this interview he talks about what is in store when the conference officially gets underway with the general session on Tuesday morning, including the annual State of the Industry report, which he will be delivering for the first time. Interview with Geoff Cooper, RFA CEO

2019 RFA National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

AgWired Energy, Audio, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Lowest Weekly Ethanol Production Since 2017

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol production for the week ending February 1 was the lowest the industry has seen in over 15 months.

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production fell to 967,000 barrels per day (b/d), or 40.6 million gallons per day, which was down 45,000 b/d (4.4%) from the previous week. This was the lowest weekly production level since October 2017. The four-week average ethanol production rate declined to 1.015 million b/d, the lowest since April 2018, equivalent to an annualized rate of 15.56 billion gallons. Weekly production was 8.5% lower than the level a year ago, while the four-week average was 3.8% lower.

Ethanol stocks dropped to 23.9 million barrels. Stocks were relatively steady in most regions but fell in the Gulf Coast, reversing an increase the previous week.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Study Finds RFS2 Has Reduced GHG Emissions

Cindy Zimmerman

A new study finds that the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) has succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions more than the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) original expectations.

The analysis, conducted by Life Cycle Associates and commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Foundation, concludes that there has been nearly 600 million metric tons of GHG reduction since 2007, compared to EPA’s expectation of 422 million metric tons.

Using the latest available data and modeling tools, the study found that the conventional ethanol consumed in 2018 reduced GHG emissions by 43 percent compared to petroleum, even when hypothetical “land use change” are included. That compares to EPA’s initial projections that conventional ethanol would achieve only a 20 percent GHG reduction versus petroleum.

“As this study demonstrates, renewable fuels like ethanol are an incredibly effective tool for reducing GHG emissions,” said Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). “As the new Congress turns its focus to climate change and efforts to reduce GHG emissions, we encourage lawmakers to recognize and build upon the incredible success of the RFS.”

The 600 million metric tons of GHG reduction achieved under the RFS is equivalent to the GHG savings that would result from removing roughly half of the nation’s automobiles from the road for a full year or shutting down 154 coal-fired power plants for a year, according to EPA.

Life Cycle Associates Managing Director Stefan Unnasch will be presenting this report on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at RFA’s National Ethanol Conference in Orlando.
Click here to read the full report.

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USDA Deputy Secretary to Address National Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky will be a keynote speaker on the final day of the 24th annual National Ethanol Conference to be held Feb. 11-13 in Orlando.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Deputy Secretary Censky in particular, has been an effective voice and determined advocate for farmers and renewable fuel producers,” said Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper. “USDA and Deputy Secretary Censky played a key role in the Administration’s decision to allow the year-round use of E15 and promoting ethanol in countless countries around the globe.”

Earlier this week, Censky spoke at a Farm Foundation Forum about implementing the 2018 farm bill now that the federal government is back at work.

Censky said USDA is using a “Fitbit” type of approach to tracking goals. “We have our own ‘FBit’ we call a Farm Bit at USDA and it’s a Farm Bill Implementation tracker,” said Censky.

Censky chairs USDA’s Farm Bill Implementation Working Group that includes representation from each of the agency’s mission areas. “We have asked all of our agency’s to fill out this ‘FarmBit,'” said Censky. “We look forward to sharing more details of what the timelines are going to be in the next few weeks.”

Listen to Censky’s comments here:
USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky at Farm Foundation Forum

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EPA Nomination Advances to Full Senate

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) voted 11-10 along party lines Tuesday to advance the nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

“Mr. Wheeler has served as deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency since April of 2018, when the Senate confirmed his nomination with bipartisan support,” said Committee Chair Senator John Barrasso (R-WY). “Just last week, 63 agricultural and forestry groups wrote in support of Mr. Wheeler’s nomination to be the administrator.”

Ethanol organizations are continuing to call on Wheeler to take immediate action on approving year-round E15 and reallocating ethanol blending obligations lost to small refinery exemptions. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) sent Wheeler a poster-sized letter signed by hundreds of 2019 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit attendees asking him to keep President Trump’s promises to rural America. IRFA Policy Director Nathan Hohnstein is pictured here holding the signed letter.

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings wrote to senators last week urging them to get Wheeler’s promise he will finalize a legally-defensible RVP rule for year-round E15 by summer, and reallocate waived ethanol blending obligations. “As the full Senate takes up his nomination, it is critical for the Acting Administrator to repair the damage done to renewable fuels by his predecessor,” said Jennings.

Wheeler has been the acting administrator at the EPA since July of last year, when former administrator Scott Pruitt resigned.

ACE, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA

Next Gen Biodiesel Scientists Take One Small Step

Cindy Zimmerman

As we celebrate 50 years since that first small step for man on the moon, the Next Generation of Biodiesel Scientists (NGBS) are continuing to take that giant leap for mankind doing research here on Earth for the future.

NGBS co-chair Jennifer Greenstein, North Carolina State University, moderated a panel of four young scientists from around the world during the recent National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego. Haixin Peng, Auburn University is from China; Shyam Paudel, Missouri University of Science and Technology, grew up in Nepal and is another NGBS co-chair; Santhosh Poojary, NMAM Institute of Technology-Nitte in India; and Tatiana Melloa at Louisiana State University comes to us from Brazil. What they all have in common is a love for science and biofuels.

A few years ago, Jesse Mayer was NGBS co-chair during his studies at the University of Nevada-Reno. He now works in San Diego at Thermo Fisher Scientific, so when he heard the biodiesel conference was going to be there, Jesse wanted to come and share his story about how being involved with NGBS helped him in his job search. Watch the video below and check out the student activities at the conference in this photo album.


advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, Video

Growth Energy Sues Over Small Refinery Exemptions

Cindy Zimmerman

Growth Energy has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) failure to address small refinery exemptions in its 2019 renewable volume obligation (RVO) rulemaking issued late last year.

“EPA’s inaction on addressing lost gallons due to small refinery exemptions in this rulemaking is a clear violation of law,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “In doing nothing to remedy these and other deficiencies, EPA has again failed to meet its statutory obligation to ensure that annual RVOs are met each year. Today’s filing calls for greater accountability from EPA to ensure that every renewable fuel obligation is fulfilled as the law intended.”

Despite repeated challenges by Growth and others in 2018, both in petitions and comments to the agency and before federal courts, EPA has steadfastly failed to make good its statutory obligation to ensure that RVOs established by the Agency are met each year. EPA explicitly refused to take up the issue of small refinery exemptions in its 2019 RVO rulemaking, stating that such exemptions were “beyond the scope” of the rulemaking.

Growth Energy filed extensive comments challenging EPA’s refusal to address the issue, in particular challenging EPA’s failure to reallocate renewable volume obligations of exempt refiners.

EPA, Ethanol, Growth Energy

Novozymes’ Bioenergy Business Grew in 2018

Cindy Zimmerman


2018 was a very good year for Novozymes’ Bioenergy business with 12% organic sales growth, on top of a strong 11% growth in 2017, according to the company’s latest annual report.

Tina Sejersgård Fanø, Executive Vice President, Agriculture & Bioenergy says growth in the sector was driven by the launch of new yeast products – Innova Drive and Lift – for conventional biofuels. Novozymes also saw good performance in Latin America with producers expanding into corn-based ethanol production.

“We´re happy to see continued discussions supporting expanded use of biofuels. In the U.S. we are awaiting clarity on E15, which is expected sometime before summer,” said Fanø. “In Brazil, the RenovaBio framework should support the continued expansion of corn-based ethanol production. China is investing in new capacity, and the REDII directive has been adopted in the EU, with Member States now working on the implementation process”

The company estimates that U.S. and global ethanol production was up around one percent in 2018, ethanol producer margins were under pressure and inventory levels were elevated.

enzymes, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Novozymes

Deere Showcases Biodiesel Gator and Mower

Cindy Zimmerman

John Deere took part in the 2019 Biodiesel Vehicle Technology Showcase to highlight biodiesel-friendly vehicles in its consumer lineup.

For one, there is the diesel powered 865M XUV Gator, which is approved for up to B20. New this year is the diesel Z994R Commercial ZTrak™ zero-turn mower.

Learn more in the video below from Steve Geick with John Deere who presented at the National Biodiesel Conference.


advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, John Deere, National Biodiesel Conference

Ethanol Production Lower, Stocks Higher

Cindy Zimmerman

For the week ending January 25, ethanol production was lower while stocks were higher.

According to the latest Energy Information Agency (EIA) data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production decreased 1.8% (down 19,000 barrels per day, or b/d) to an average of 1.012 million b/d—or 42.50 million gallons daily. The four-week average for ethanol production remained at 1.023 million b/d for an annualized rate of 15.68 billion gallons. Weekly production was 2.7% lower than the level a year ago, while the four-week average was 1.6% lower.

Stocks of ethanol increased 2.1% to a 15-week high of 24.0 million barrels. The stocks build occurred primarily on the Gulf Coast.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA