ICYMI: National Biodiesel Conference

The National Biodiesel Conference & Expo was held at the Fort Worth Convention Center January 22-24. The event included a vehicle showcase and ride-and-drive opportunity alongside demonstrations and presentations on the latest in the industry. This conference also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the National Biodiesel Board.

Among the highlights was an award to USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky for his work in helping develop the biodiesel industry during his years as CEO of the American Soybean Association. Other highlights – a panel with the makers of the Discovery Channel’s Hot Grease documentary about the biodiesel industry, a petroleum industry leaders panel, and the biodiesel vehicle showcase featuring the latest from Ford, John Deere, General Motors, Caterpillar, and Optimus – with a semi that served as the stage back screen.

In case you were not able to attend, here are some resources:

The Biodiesel Conference Blog
2018 National Biodiesel Conference Photos
2018 Biodiesel Conference Virtual Newsroom

AgWired Energy, Biodiesel, John Deere, National Biodiesel Conference, Tractor, transportation, Trucks

Growth Energy Presents Industry Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

Kwik Trip’s Joel Hirschboeck with Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor

Growth Energy presented the 2018 America’s Fuel Award to Joel Hirschboeck, general manager of fuel marketing and procurement at Kwik Trip, Inc.

The award, which is the organization’s highest honor, was presented at last week’s ninth annual Executive Leadership Conference (ELC). The America’s Fuel Award is presented every year to an individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to act as a champion for the renewable fuels industry.

“We are thrilled to recognize Joel with the America’s Fuel Award in recognition of his guidance, vision and positive impact on the growth of the entire biofuels industry,” Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said. “Under his leadership, Kwik Trip rolled out 300 E15 sites in just four months and ushered in a new model for expansion.”

Growth Energy also presented the following individuals with TOBI awards, given each year to Growth Energy members who exhibit innovation, fortitude, perseverance, and leadership within the biofuels industry:
• Paige Donnelly, Public Engagement Manager, Novozymes
• Gunner Greene, COO/GM, Iroquois Bio-Energy
• Brian Schasel, Environmental/Technical Manager, Big River Resources
• Jerry Tegels, Ethanol Business Development Manager, Buckman
• Steve Walk, COO, Protec Fuel Management
• Rob Walther, VP of Federal Advocacy, POET

Ethanol, Growth Energy

Partial Win for Biodiesel in Budget Deal

Cindy Zimmerman

Grateful but disappointed is how the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) describes the industry feeling after the two-year budget deal passed by Congress last week included a retroactive extension of the biodiesel tax credit for 2017, but not 2018.

“The industry is grateful to our champions for their tireless efforts to ensure that all of our members’ transactions in 2017 will be properly covered by a retroactive extension of the blenders credit,” said Kurt Kovarik, NBB vice president of federal affairs. “Candidly, we are disappointed that some of the negotiators prevented the extension from covering 2018, as well.”

Iowa Biodiesel Board executive director Grant Kimberly says the fact that it was not extended into 2018 still leaves the industry in limbo. “These businesses are in the same precarious situation of having to roll the dice with their business decisions, betting on whether it will come back for 2018. We are disappointed in this.”

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director Monte Shaw was more blunt in his assessment. “(T)his is the most ridiculous outcome I’ve ever seen. We will continue to work for a quick extension for 2018 and ultimately a common-sense long-term extension.”

Biodiesel

Manito Transit Acquires Lobdell Transportation

Cindy Zimmerman

Manito Transit of Bloomington, Illinois has acquired the assets of Lobdell Transportation, Inc., a family-owned trucking company based in Lena, Illinois. The acquisition comes with 21 tractor units, 22 fuel tankers, and eight pressure vessels capable of hauling propane and anhydrous ammonia, as well as a two-bay maintenance shop. Manito Transit now operates 120 trucks, serving customers in 13 states.

“We are excited to build new relationships with external customers in this area, while expanding our footprint to better serve our current customer base,” said Brandon Curtis, Manito Transit General Manager. “We remain committed to providing excellent service for our patrons and this acquisition will enhance those efforts.”

Manito Transit, distributes fuel oil, biodiesel, soybean oil, ethanol, chemicals, lube oil, fertilizer, and propane for farm, commercial, and industrial use, serving Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota.

I caught up with Brandon yesterday to find out more about this acquisition and what it means for their customers: Interview with Brandon Curtis, Manito Transit

Audio, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, transportation

NCERC Technician Awarded NEC Scholarship

Cindy Zimmerman

A former steel mill worker pursuing a degree while working full-time in the U.S. ethanol industry is this year’s student scholarship winner to attend the Renewable Fuels Association’s National Ethanol Conference next week in San Antonio.

Christopher Wense is a full time Ethanol Plant Operations Technician at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and is working toward a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management and Applied Engineering at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill.

“In April 2015, I was laid off from U.S. Steel in Granite City, Illinois,” said Wense. “Shortly thereafter, I returned to college, and after researching the growth potential of several industries, I decided to focus on the renewable fuels sector. I see endless growth opportunities for the U.S. ethanol sector, and providing people just like me with rewarding, long-term careers.” Read his story in this op-ed from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

This is the ninth year for the scholarship program by RFA and the Renewable Fuels Foundation awarding students enrolled in higher education with complimentary registration at the conference, giving scholarship recipients the chance to connect with hundreds of leaders, policymakers, and experts associated with the renewable fuel industry.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

The Future of Energy

Onalytica, who specialises in providing Influencer Relationship Management software and supporting professional services to help brands, has identified the Top 100 Influencers, Brands & Publications in Energy.

Our team was excited to see Energy.AgWired.com made the list of influencing publications. Formally, Domestic Fuel, Energy.AgWired has been bringing you the news in renewable fuels since September 2005. We have just wrapped up coverage of the 2018 National Biodiesel Conference and will be heading to the 2018 National Ethanol Conference next week. The Ethanol Report and Driving Ethanol podcasts are other great ways to stay-up-to-date on the industry.

Thanks for the recognition Onalytica!

Agribusiness, AgWired Energy, Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Renewable Energy

Growth Energy Holds 9th Annual Leadership Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Growth Energy is holding its ninth annual Executive Leadership Conference (ELC) this week in Boca Raton, Florida with more than 300 ethanol leaders and supporters in attendance.

CEO Emily Skor kicked off the event with her report to the membership. “This past year, we saw what can be accomplished when we refuse to let others steer the debate away from our goals. … We still have a lot of work to do, but our champions are mobilized and positioned to win,” said Skor. “This is our opportunity for a real conversation about how we are expanding domestic and foreign markets, forging new relationships with retailers, and shaping critical policies within the Trump administration and Congress.”

With the theme “In the Driver’s Seat,” the ELC is featuring a host of panel discussions exploring topics including the state of U.S. agriculture, the global marketplace, domestic and global E15 expansion, the political landscape, and Growth Energy’s efforts to reach consumers and key influencers through its NASCAR partnership and emerging mechanic education initiative.

Ethanol, Growth Energy

Iowa RFA Sends Message to EPA Administrator

Cindy Zimmerman

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has a message for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to answer the question of how to reduce RIN prices associated with the Renewable Fuel Standard – grant E15 the same RVP treatment as all other ethanol-blended fuels.

On January 30th, while Administrator Pruitt was testifying before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit attendees were signing a letter and a poster to the administrator asking him to grant E15 RVP parity. A copy of the letter summit attendees signed, and a photo of the signed poster was sent to Pruitt’s office Wednesday.

“From Harvard professors to Iowa retailers, the experts agree E15 RVP parity is the fastest way to lower RIN prices,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “It is simple supply and demand. Allowing retailers to blend E15 all year round would flood the market with RINs and reduce the price.”

During the Senate committee hearing, Pruitt said EPA is in the process of determining if the agency will provide E15 RVP parity “and we are working to get an answer as soon as we can.”

E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA

Senators Speak Out to Approve Northey Nomination

Cindy Zimmerman

After nearly four months of having the nomination of Iowa’s Bill Northey to the U.S. Department of Agriculture held up by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) brought it up on the Senate floor Wednesday and called on other colleagues to back him up.

Northey was nominated to be USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation in September and quickly confirmed by the Agriculture Committee, but Sen. Cruz put a hold on the nomination in October over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and has refused to budge unless all stakeholders can meet together to agree on a “win-win” situation for both refiners and ethanol producers that would lower prices for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs).

“Mr. Northey would have been confirmed long ago had the lobbyists for the ethanol industry been willing to come to the table and reach a commonsense solution,” said Sen. Cruz.

That struck a chord with Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “Mr. Cruz is also being callously misleading in suggesting representatives of the ethanol industry (including the RFA) have refused to meet to discuss the issue,” said Dinneen. “We have received no invitation to talk, only media reports of his cynical proposed solution to cap the price of RINs.”

Both Dinneen and Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor point out that there is a very simple solution to lower the price of RINs – allow E15 to be sold year round. “Sen. Ted Cruz has held Mr. Northey hostage as a means to drag out his so-called ‘negotiation’ to lower RIN prices, when all this time there has been a solution staring us in the face – RVP relief,” said Skor.

RVP relief is one of two offers Sen. Grassley has made to appease Sen. Cruz. The other is transparency for the RINs market.

Listen to good friends Sens. Grassley and Cruz disagree with one another on this issue.
Sens. Cruz and Grassley comments

Listen to Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) support Bill Northey.
Sens. Stabenow, Ernst and Klobuchar comments

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, Growth Energy, RFA, RFS

Perdue Discusses State of Rural Economy

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue briefed members of the House Agriculture Committee Tuesday on the current state of the rural economy and USDA’s farm bill priorities.

“We’re in a very different situation than when you last contemplated a farm bill,” said Perdue in his opening remarks. “The state of the rural economy is fragile.”

Secretary Perdue was asked about a number of issues impacting different areas of the nation, including sorghum, nutrition programs, dairy, specialty crops, trade, FMD vaccine, getting undersecretaries approved by Congress, labor and immigration, broadband access, precision ag, citrus greening, renewable fuels, cotton, and lots more.

Listen to part of the hearing here: Sec. Perdue State of Rural Economy

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, Government, USDA