NBB Seeks Higher Biodiesel Volumes

Cindy Zimmerman

Comments filed by the National Biodiesel Board on the proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2019 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2020 urge EPA to increase the volumes in both categories and to fully account for small refinery exemptions.

In a letter accompanying the comments, Kurt Kovarik, vice president of federal affairs for NBB, writes, “The biomass-based diesel industry has proven year after year that it can deliver increasing volumes. We appreciate the agency’s recognition of that fact and welcome the signal of growth in the proposed rule. NBB asks that you fully support the industry’s growth by setting the biomass-based diesel volume for 2020 at 2.8 billion gallons and increasing the 2019 advanced biofuel volume to allow growth.”

NBB’s comments demonstrate that the increased biomass-based diesel volume is achievable with available feedstocks. “Most importantly, once EPA has set the annual volumes, it must ensure they are met,” Kovarik continued. “The volumes EPA ultimately finalizes will be meaningless if the agency continues to retroactively reduce them through small refinery exemptions.”

Biodiesel, EPA, NBB, RFS

Syngenta Names New Biofuels Account Managers

Cindy Zimmerman

Jeff Oestmann and Anne Osentowski at 2018 ACE Conference

Syngenta has added two new key account managers to support its expanding U.S. biofuels business, which includes more than 30 ethanol plants across 12 states.

Anne Osentowski and Allen Ziegler will be part of a team that supports the growing number of ethanol plants using Enogen® corn and is helping broaden access to both Enogen corn and Cellerate® process technology.

Osentowski is an industry veteran, having spent almost 20 years in the biofuels industry, and joins Syngenta from RPMG, which is among the largest ethanol marketers in the nation. She is a graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato, and holds a degree in Corporate Finance.

Ziegler’s involvement in the biofuels industry spans 20 years of global experience in all sectors of production and feedstocks, most recently starting Archangel Inc. in 2015, specializing in antimicrobial technology. He previously served as the director of Biofuels Marketing for Ashland/Solenis and holds a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on finance, chemistry and microbiology from Fort Hays State University.

Osentowski joined Enogen Biofuels Operations head Jeff Oestmann last week at the 2018 American Coalition for Ethanol annual conference. Learn more about her in this interview –
Interview with Anne Osentowski, Syngenta Enogen biofuels account manager

2018 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, Enogen, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Syngenta

ACE White Paper on Low Carbon Benefits of Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) released a White Paper on “The Case for Properly Valuing the Low Carbon Benefits of Corn Ethanol,” coinciding with a general session panel at the 31st annual ACE conference in Minneapolis last week.

The panel highlighted the paper in a discussion on updates to lifecycle modeling and opportunities on the horizon for ethanol as a low carbon fuel. Members of the panel included Bill Hohenstein, Acting Director of the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, Office of the Chief Economist, USDA; Ron Alverson, member of ACE’s Board of Directors representing Dakota Ethanol and a chief contributor to the White Paper; and Brendan Jordan, Vice President of the Great Plains Institute.

“The ACE White Paper makes a compelling case that lifecycle GHG modeling must reflect the latest science if low carbon fuel programs are to achieve their desired results,” said Jordan. “The Great Plains Institute agrees there is a huge opportunity for existing corn ethanol plants to lower their carbon footprint through innovative technology and updated lifecycle modeling.”

“Since the direct effects on soil carbon stocks of each biofuel feedstock crop can have a very large impact on carbon intensity, it is crucial that this accounting is included in the modeling,” Alverson said. “The trend is biofuel’s friend — petroleum-based transportation fuel lifecycle GHGs continue to rise and biofuel lifecycle GHGs continue to improve.”

Click here to read the White Paper and listen to the panel and interviews with Jordan and Alverson below.

Low Carbon Fuel panel with Bill Hohenstein, USDA; Ron Alverson, Dakota Ethanol; and Brenden Jordan, Great Plains Institute –
ACE18 Low Carbon panel

Former ACE President Ron Alverson, Dakota Ethanol, talks about White Paper on Low Carbon Benefits of Corn Ethanol –
Interview with Ron Alverson, Dakota Ethanol

Interview with Great Plains Institute Vice President Brendan Jordan
Brendan Jordan, Great Plains Institute

2018 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Stakeholders Submit RFS Comments

Cindy Zimmerman

Friday was the final day to submit comments to the EPA on proposed 2019 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) and ethanol stakeholders made sure they had their say.

Despite the EPA specifically noting that comments on small refinery exemptions would be “deemed beyond the scope of this rulemaking,” every group commenting had something to say about the need for the agency to make up for the billions of gallons lost by the waivers.

Renewable Fuels Association
“RFA’s strongly held position is that EPA’s final rule must account for projected small refinery exemptions in calculating the 2019 RVO percentages. The agency has already shown it knows how to do so and has explained why accounting for projected exemptions best meets the statutory intent of the RFS.”

Growth Energy
“The proposed RVO has failed to account for the 2.25 billion gallons lost due to small refinery exemptions. By failing to account for these exemptions, EPA has made the numbers hollow turning the clock back on the RFS by 5 years.”

American Coalition for Ethanol
“While the proposed rule purports to maintain the 15-billion-gallon conventional blending target for the 2019 RVO, nearly 50 Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) will reduce ethanol blending far below 15 billion gallons…As a result, D6 RIN prices have cratered…This, consequently, has reduced the incentive to blend ethanol with gasoline.”

National Corn Growers Association
“While EPA may not want feedback on how the agency is failing to maintain the integrity of the RFS and administer the volume standards in accordance with the law, corn farmers will provide that feedback nonetheless and make our voices heard.”

ACE, Audio, biofuels, corn, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, NCGA, RFA, RFS

Ethanol Report with Bikers and Free E10

Chuck Zimmerman

This program comes to you from Sturgis, SD and the annual Motorcycle Rally but specifically from the Sturgis Buffalo Chip Campground with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

In this edition of The Ethanol Report podcast, RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White talks about the Legends Ride which is sponsored by RFA and featured the auctioning of a custom motorcycle built for the Buffalo Chip by Paul Teutul, Jr. Then you’ll get to hear from bikers at The Chip filling up during Free Fuel Happy Hours. Bikers just had to pull up to the permanent pump and fill up with a premium E10 blend of gas. E10 is warrantied by all motorcycle manufacturers and this promotion is part of an educational effort for motorcycle owners who get hit with lots of misinformation. You’ll be able to hear that in some of their comments but overall none of them have any concerns about running their motorcycle on E10.

Ethanol Report with bikers and free E10 Gas

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS
Subscribe via iTunes

Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol Report, RFA, Sturgis

New ACE Board Members

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) announced the election of two new representatives to the organization’s board of directors during its annual meeting prior to ACE’s 31st annual conference in Minneapolis.

Pam Miller, representing Siouxland Ethanol, and Bill Dartt, representing Cardinal Ethanol, are the new board members.

“The ACE board and staff have impressed me for a long time with their dedication to and expertise in the ethanol industry,” Miller said. “ACE has long been the champion of grassroots efforts that make a difference and I’m anxious to help with these efforts.”

“I’ve followed ACE for five years and attended four annual meetings, so I’m anxious to participate in ACE’s efforts to strengthen the ethanol and agriculture industries by partnering with local stations throughout the country,” Dartt said.

ACE18 Interview with new board members Pam Miller and Bill Dartt

2018 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Merle Anderson Award Goes to Owen Jones

Cindy Zimmerman

Owen Jones (L) receives award from ACE past president Lars Herseth

The first Merle Anderson award presented by the American Coalition for Ethanol after the passing of its founder was one of Merle’s good friends, Owen Jones.

“Merle Anderson was my mentor,” said Jones as he accepted the award from past ACE president Lars Herseth. “I am truly humbled.”

Jones is a farmer first, and became interested in ethanol as an alternative fuel during the oil embargo years. “I was concerned about fuel supply and wondered what we could be doing about it.”

Listen to my interview with Owen here: ACE18 Interview with Owen Jones, Merle Anderson award

You can watch the presentation here:


2018 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News

ACE President Sees Strong Ethanol Exports

Cindy Zimmerman

American Coalition for Ethanol president Duane Kristensen with Chief Ethanol in Nebraska says as domestic ethanol demand has been impacted by EPA waivers this year, exports continue to be a bright spot despite current trade wars.

“People around the world can use it for octane or for environmental concerns,” said Kristensen.

As a grassroots organization with a diverse membership, Kristensen says ACE is continuing to fight for increases in the domestic market and push for E15 year round.

ACE18 Interview with president Duane Kristensen

2018 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, Ethanol

Ethanol Industry Loses Pioneer Merle Anderson

Cindy Zimmerman

Merle and Lee Anderson at 2012 ACE Conference

Back in 1987, a man by the name of Merle Anderson saw the need for a grassroots organization to support a new use for corn that would help farmers as well as the entire country. His vision became the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and members of the organization are celebrating Merle’s long and wonderful life this week at the 31st annual meeting after his passing just days ago.

Some of us were hoping to see him one last time this year, since it was back in his home state of Minnesota, but he passed away Monday August 13 at his home in Climax, Minnesota with his sweet wife Lee by his side. He was 96 years old.

Among the many honors he received in his lifetime from numerous organizations, Merle had the distinction of having the highest award given by the American Coalition for Ethanol named after him. The Merle Anderson Award was first given in 1997 and has been bestowed on presidents, members of Congress, and many others who have helped promote ethanol. This year it was presented to one of Merle’s long time friends in the industry, Owen Jones.

We interviewed Merle several times over the years, but my favorite was in 2012, when I interviewed both him and Lee. Listen to that here: Interview with ACE Founder Merle Anderson

Services for Merle will be at Climax Lutheran Church in Climax, MN.
Visitation: from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm with a 6:30 pm prayer service on Sunday, August 19
Funeral Service: 10:30 am on Monday, August 20

Read more from the Grand Forks Herald.

2018 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, obituaries

Diesel Brothers Show Featuring MSR&PC Truck

Chuck Zimmerman

If you missed the last 4th season episode of Diesel Brothers then don’t miss the next episode. The Diesel Brothers Biodiesel Truck will star again. It was on display at this year’s Commodity Classic.

Kris Folland, Pat Sullivan and Craig Bangasser are ready for their close-ups. The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) directors (Bangasser’s term ended in 2017) will appear on the second of a pair of episodes of Discovery’s “Diesel Brothers” show.

Last year, the Council partnered with the DieselSellerz to build a customized truck that runs on biodiesel. The trio of directors met the four “DieselSellerz” last summer at the group’s headquarters in Utah. The directors participated in filming in August 2017 during the foursome’s visit to southern Minnesota, and completed their portion of filming last winter at Commodity Classic in California.

“It’s been a long time coming, and I’m very excited to relive the experience of meeting the DieselSellerz,” Bangasser says. “I had a blast meeting the guys, and the truck is an incredible body of work.”

The truck the DieselSellerz built for MSR&PC was officially unveiled to the public in spring 2018, and has toured the state this summer promoting biodiesel. In May 2018, Minnesota moved to a B20 (20 percent biodiesel) blend in the summer months.

The second episode chronicling the build of “Indomitus” will air 9 p.m. CDT on Monday, Aug. 20.

Biodiesel, Trucks