American Ethanol Website Gets Facelift

Cindy Zimmerman

Growth Energy recently gave the American Ethanol Racing website a new facelift just in time for the new season.

As an official NASCAR partner and sponsor of the 2018 Daytona 500-winning No. 3 Monster Energy Cup Series racing team, Growth Energy is excited to showcase the many engine performance benefits of biofuels in innovative, engaging ways. The dynamic, revamped website is sleeker and more user-friendly in order to reflect the exciting progress that has been made with the American Ethanol program. The new site also creatively balances thrilling content for racing fans, helpful everyday information for consumers, and technical performance material for automotive professionals.

“Our American Ethanol partners are among the best motorsports athletes, engine performance experts, and ethanol supporters in the world, and this website will serve as a hub for content that communicates the value of biofuels through their stories and expertise,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor.

American Ethanol has recently taken on new partners representing a wide variety of performance motorsports to help spread the biofuels story to an even greater audience, and is also working on comprehensive biofuels and engine performance education program. One of the partners we’re most excited to be working with is Nth Moto out of Minneapolis. Find out more about them in the video below:


American Ethanol, Ethanol, Growth Energy, NASCAR

Biodiesel Board Grows Membership

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) added two more organizations last month, welcoming commodity merchandising company WWS Trading, and biodiesel equipment manufacturer All Line Equipment.

“NBB’s primary goal has always been to advance the biodiesel industry, and one of the many ways we achieve that is by connecting our members to one another,” said Brad Shimmens, Director of Operations and Membership. “We help bridge the gap between biodiesel producers, feedstock suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and more, providing new opportunities for business while helping the industry to reach new heights.”

NBB is celebrating 25 years as an industry organization this year.

Biodiesel, NBB

Iowa Producer Revives California Plant for Low-Carbon Biodiesel

Cindy Zimmerman

WIE president Brad Wilson and Iowa Biodiesel‘s Grant Kimberley

An Iowa biodiesel producer recently celebrated the re-opening of a shuttered California plant to manufacture a cleaner-burning biofuel that will help meet California’s low carbon fuel demands.

Western Iowa Energy (WIE) in Wall Lake recently purchased Agron Bioenergy, a biodiesel production facility in Watsonville, California that was idled in 2016. This marks the first time WIE has expanded its operations outside of the state of Iowa.

“The Low Carbon Fuel Standard has made California the epicenter for biodiesel demand, and that drove our decision to expand outside of Iowa,” said Brad Wilson, WIE president and general manager. “Our access to affordable agricultural materials that score low on carbon intensity and our desire to participate in the growing California biodiesel market made this facility purchase a good business decision.”

Watsonville City Council Members and a Santa Cruz County Supervisor were among the local dignitaries who attended. “The reopening of the Agron plant represents an opportunity to expand the city and state’s commitment to the environment and economy, and we’re proud to be a part of that,” said Bill Horan, WIE chairman.

The Iowa plant has the capacity to produce 45 million gallons of biodiesel per year and the Agron facility can produce 15 million gallons per year.

Biodiesel, Low Carbon Fuel Standard

Biodiesel No Problem in RFS Talks

Cindy Zimmerman

Of those Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) stakeholders at last week’s White House meeting, only Renewable Energy Group, Inc. President and CEO Randy Howard walked out feeling like his industry was safe.

Howard, who joined other top biofuel company executives who met with the President, Vice President Pence, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, and some petroleum refiners to discuss the RFS, says it was made clear there is no problem with biodiesel.

“My first priority in meeting President Trump was to thank him for his support of American renewable fuels and his commitment to the RFS,” said Howard. “The President understood that RIN prices go down with continued growth of biofuel volumes. Then, it was made abundantly clear by all parties in the room that none of them have an issue with biodiesel’s role in the RFS.”

Howard said he looks forward to continuing the dialogue with the Administration on behalf of biodiesel. The president has reportedly asked for yet another meeting with stakeholders after two last week failed to produce a consensus on how to address the issue of high Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs).

Biodiesel, REG, RFS, RINS

B20 Biodiesel Use Translates to $1.2M Health Cost Savings

Cindy Zimmerman

Pictured: Ken Crowley, Village of Oak Park; Sarah Mark, City of Moline; John DeRosa, ALA; J.D. Schulte, City of Moline; and Ben Schaefer, ALA

Illinois communities that routinely use B20 biodiesel fuel in diesel vehicles receive an estimated $1.2 million in health cost savings, according to data submitted by 15 members of the B20 Club, a partnership between the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) checkoff program and the American Lung Association in Illinois (ALAIL). B20 Club members include Illinois-based municipalities, trucking companies, fuel suppliers and other fleets that use biodiesel blends of 20 percent or more for at least six months of the year.

“Vehicles fueled with B20 biodiesel generate less harmful emissions that contribute to asthma, bronchitis, cardiovascular disease and other health ailments,” says John DeRosa, ALAIL environmental health director. “Considering hospitalizations, lost work days and other health costs, using B20 translates into an estimated savings of $1,218,100 for the communities where B20 Club members operate.”

ALAIL compiled the health cost savings estimates based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) diesel emission quantifier (DEQ). Estimates are based primarily on biodiesel’s ability to reduce particulate matter (PM), a mixture of small particles and liquid droplets that are major components of air pollution. When inhaled, PM affects the heart and lungs and causes serious health problems.

As a group, the 15 B20 Club members reduce PM in their communities by a total of 1.2 tons per year. Using biodiesel also reduces carbon emissions. B20 Club members reduce carbon dioxide in their communities at a level equal to planting 295,141 trees. These fleets collectively use 6.3 million gallons of biodiesel annually to fuel 4,899 vehicles.

The B20 Club was launched in 2015 to bring cleaner air to Illinois while supporting Illinois agriculture and the state economy.

Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, Environment

Final 2017 Numbers Show Record Ethanol Production

Cindy Zimmerman

The official tally for U.S. ethanol production in 2017 is 15.84 billion gallons, up three percent from the previous year and a new record, according to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen says the data also indicates record domestic ethanol blending, with 14.4 billion gallons blended into 142.9 billion gallons of finished gasoline, equating to a record average blend rate of 10.08%.

“At this point, the so-called ‘blend wall’ is little more than a speed bump on the road to greater consumer choice, lower pump prices, and cleaner air,” said Dinneen. “Even though 2017 gasoline demand was down a bit from the record level seen in 2016, domestic ethanol consumption was up. That means consumption of blends like E15 and flex fuels like E85 is continuing to rapidly expand across the country.”

RFA notes there has been a four-fold increase in domestic ethanol production since 2005 when the original Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was adopted and just 3.91 billion gallons were produced. “Clearly, the RFS is working as intended to transform our transportation fuel market and drive expanded use of domestically produced, high octane ethanol,” Dinneen said.

While 2017 data for individual state ethanol blend rates is not yet available, data recently released by EIA showed that 30 states and the District of Columbia had average inclusion rates above 10.0% in 2016.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Perdue Answers RINs Question During Town Hall

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue held a town hall on the main stage in the Commodity Classic Trade Show Thursday and answered some questions from a few of the hundreds of farmers who gathered to watch and listen.

Former National Corn Growers Association president Pam Johnson of Iowa wanted to know specifically if the secretary supported a cap on RIN prices. “Because as a farmer, I do care about RINs, because we would be limited to the demand we have now,” said Johnson.

“No, I don’t think a cap on RINs is the solution, but we’ve got to engage in how to use this opportunity to grow demand…we can’t sit back and just say no, no, no, no,” Perdue answered. “My goal is to get the RVP waiver in a way where we can have E15 pumps be the norm by 2022.”

Listen to that exchange here:
Pam Johnson/Secretary Perdue

2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Commodity Classic coverage made possible by
Commodity Classic coverage made possible by FMCCommodity Classic coverage made possible by John Deere
Audio, Commodity Classic, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFS, RINS, USDA

Study Finds RIN Cap Would Devastate Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

A new analysis by University of Illinois economist Scott Irwin finds that the impact of a 10-cent cap on RIN prices, as proposed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, would be “catastrophic” for the renewable fuels industry.

Specifically, such a price cap would serve as the mortar in the oil industry’s attempt to rebuild the “blend wall.” Irwin finds that “…the RINs price cap would remove all incentives for blending E15 and E85” and would be equivalent to “waiving…the conventional ethanol mandate down to the level of the E10 blend wall.”

Meanwhile, the analysis finds that if “…ethanol usage could be pushed up just a few hundred million gallons, …D6 [conventional biofuel RIN] prices would naturally fall to just a few cents. An RVP waiver for E15 might just do the trick.” Still, Irwin finds that the biofuel and agricultural industries would be the losers in any “deal” that exchanges an E15 RVP waiver for a 10-cent RIN price cap. “Agricultural and biofuels interests will find this tradeoff distinctly unappealing, while refining interests will tend to have just the opposite reaction,” he said.

Link to full analysis.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, RFS, RINS

President Meets With RFS Stakeholders

Cindy Zimmerman

A White House meeting Thursday with representatives from both the biofuels and refinery industries was the latest effort this week to try and find a compromise on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that is acceptable to both sides.

Biofuels representatives at the meeting included Todd Becker of Green Plains Renewable Energy; Jeff Broin, POET; Charlie Good, Iowa fuel retailer; Bill Horan, Western Iowa Energy; Randy Howard, REG; and Rick Schwarck, Absolute Energy. Three refiner representative, four senators, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt, and USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky rounded out the group.

Reports are that increasing use of E15 and putting a cap on Renewable Identification Number (RIN) prices were the main options discussed, and ethanol interests hope President Trump favors the E15 approach.

“We continue to believe the appropriate response to unfounded concerns about Renewable Identification Number (RIN) prices is to expand ethanol use by providing RVP parity, allowing E15 and higher blends to be sold year round,” said Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen.

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said, “The President very clearly understands that the path forward is to allow sales of E15 year-round, promote growth, and put more RINs on the market.”

American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings was pleased that retailer Charlie Good, featured in ACE’s Flex Fuel Forward campaign, was included in the meeting to explain how “RVP relief for E15 would immediately reduce RIN prices” while capping RINs would “destroy demand for renewable fuels and raise pump prices for consumers.”

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA

Perdue Pledges “Unequivocal” Support for RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

A lot of drama and speculation preceded the appearance of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue at Commodity Classic, thanks to some reports questioning his support for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), so he wasted no time in stating his “unequivocal” support for the law.

“I have not and will not support any policies in this country that diminish the demand, undermine RFS and are harmful to our agricultural producers,” Perdue said in his address.

The secretary took additional questions about the issue, resulting from the White House meeting earlier this week, during the press conference and even talked about a couple of other issues besides biofuels.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, speech:
Secretary Perdue Speech
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, press conference:
Secretary Perdue Press Conference

Post Update:

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue held a short town hall on the main stage in the Commodity Classic Trade Show. He answered some direct questions about the RFS and RINs from corn growers: Secretary Perdue Main Stage Town Hall

2018 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Commodity Classic coverage made possible by
Commodity Classic coverage made possible by FMCCommodity Classic coverage made possible by John Deere
Audio, Commodity Classic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFS, USDA