Ethanol Exports Up Despite Brazil Declines

Cindy Zimmerman

Overall U.S. ethanol exports were higher in October compared to September, as shipments from Brazil declined sharply, according to government data released this morning and analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

Total exports were 93.6 million gallons (mg) in October, up 8% from September shipments. Canada was again the top destination importing more than one-third of total exports, up 18% over September. Spain jumped into the U.S. ethanol market for the first time in over three years to take second place with 13.4 mg. And while India’s imports of U.S. ethanol fell 35% from September, it was still ranked third.

Exports to Brazil in October continued their downward slide for the third straight month, impacted by the implementation of a tariff rate quota and 20% tariff in September. Brazil imported just 12.9 mg of ethanol, a 32% decrease from September.

Read more from the RFA blog.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, RFA

Basse Bullish on Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

Even if volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard are mostly stagnant or lower in 2018, agricultural economist Dan Basse of AgResource Company is bullish on growth in the sector next year.

One reason is lower prices for corn, which is helping expand ethanol production plans. The other is the restriction of biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia, countries which have been slapped with countervailing duties by the Commerce Department for dumping low priced subsidized biodiesel on the U.S. market. “The duties are 51 and 72 percent…we’ve got two million tons of biodiesel that will be restricted from coming in,” said Basse. “That means that our balance sheet on soybean oil without significant imports is going to get really tight with time.”

On the same day that Basse was speaking last week to the American Seed Trade Association, the International Trade Commission (ITC) voted 4-0 in favor of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) Fair Trade Coalition’s position that the industry has suffered because of unfairly subsidized imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia. That action, coupled with last month’s final countervailing duties determination by the Commerce Department, paves the way for final countervailing duty orders by the end of December.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Dan Basse, AgResource
Basse’s comments about biofuels during his talk start at 18:00 – Dan Basse, AgResource, presentation

2017 ASTA CSS and Seed Expo photo album

Audio, Biodiesel, biofuels, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Crappie Masters Pleased with Final RVO

Cindy Zimmerman

The Crappie Masters tournament, which promotes the use of E10 fuel in boating, is pleased with the final volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

“The decision to increase the total biofuels number to 19.29 billion gallons shows support and belief in agriculture, the American farmer, conservation, and the environment,” tournament officials said in a statement.

Crappie Masters support for ethanol has been on full display the last three years on the Tournament Trail, as every winning team has collected a cash bonus for using E10 fuel in their outboard with no negative issues or misfueling. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) was a title sponsor of the event this year, along with Bass Pro.

“Crappie Masters surveys have shown E10 fuel is the preferred choice by nearly all the participants across the country who have chosen to become educated on the benefits while enjoying increased performance, lower fuel costs, cleaner emissions, and cleaner and healthier waterways thanks to the RFS requirements, and belief by the EPA.”

Learn more at Crappiemasters.net.

Boats, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, RFS

Growth Energy Launches Digital E15 Campaign

Cindy Zimmerman

Growth Energy is launching a new digital advertising campaign for the holiday season to educate drivers about how E15 (15% ethanol fuel) can save them money.

“E15 is an ideal fuel for drivers on the go during the holiday season,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “This is a time of year when families are on the road more than usual, and E15 is a fueling option that they can feel good about. It’s a 21st century fuel that is good for the environment and the family car.”

Users of Facebook and Twitter in select markets will see ads highlighting the environmental and performance benefits of E15 (fuel containing 15 percent ethanol). E15 is Environmental Protection Agency-approved for use in cars model year 2001 and newer, which make up 90 percent of the vehicles on the road. By using a fuel with more American-made biofuel, drivers will help decrease greenhouse gas emissions and displace more toxic fuel additives linked to cancer and smog. Drivers can also expect to save anywhere from 5 to 15 cents per gallon and get more miles per dollar.

Growth Energy invites drivers to visit GetBiofuel.com to find E15 and E85 retailers near them.

E15, Education, Ethanol, Growth Energy

Nebraska Plant Using Edeniq Cellulosic Technology

Cindy Zimmerman

A Nebraska ethanol plant has been approved to produce cellulosic ethanol using Edeniq’s Pathway technology. Mid America Agri Products – Wheatland LLC (MAAPW) in Madrid began using the technology this month.

“We are thrilled that Mid America Agri Products has joined the growing list of ethanol plants that have received EPA approval to use our company’s technology to produce cellulosic ethanol,” said Brian Thome, president and chief executive officer of Edeniq. “Edeniq’s technology remains the lowest-cost solution for producing and measuring cellulosic ethanol and we remain committed to helping our customers add value to their platforms.”

Edeniq’s technology enables co-production of starch ethanol and cellulosic ethanol at existing corn ethanol production facilities. The company’s Pathway technology uses enzymes that maximize conversion of corn kernel fiber into fermentable sugar with a protocol to measure the output of cellulosic ethanol production. In order for an ethanol plant to generate cellulosic renewable identification numbers (RINs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), it must first receive registration approval from the EPA for its cellulosic production.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Missouri Farm Bureau Listening Session on #FarmBill18

The Missouri Farm Bureau held their annual meeting earlier this week and a highlight for many was the discussion on the 2018 Farm Bill. In a packed house, a Focus on the Farm Bill Seminar took place with Capitol Hill decision makers and thought-leaders in Missouri agriculture.

Panelists:
– Ranking Member House Ag Committee, Congressman Collin Peterson
– Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler
– Chairman Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Chris Giancarlo
– Former Congressman Kenny Hulshof
– Retired Economist, American Farm Bureau Federation, Dr. Bob Young,
– Senior Advisor, USDA Secretary, Brian Klippenstein

Remarks from Collin Peterson, Congressman

Remarks from Chris Giancarlo, CFTC

Remarks from Vicky Hartzler, Congresswoman

Remarks from Kenny Hulshof, Former Congressman

Remarks from Brian Klippenstein, USDA

Remarks from Dr. Bob Young, Retired AFBF

Q&A and Closing Remarks

AFBF, Ag group, AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, farm bill, Farm Bureau

United Ethanol to Install Whitefox ICE™

Cindy Zimmerman

United Ethanol in Milton, Wisconsin is installing a new Whitefox ICE™, a modular bolt-on membrane system designed to increase production rates, improve energy and operational efficiencies and reduce cooling water load.

“The Whitefox system allows us to expand and at the same time reduce natural gas, power and cooling water usage,” said David Cramer, United Ethanol President and CEO.

United Ethanol will become the fourth plant to install a Whitefox ICE™ system, following installations at Fox River Valley Ethanol in Wisconsin, Pacific Ethanol in California and Pine Lake Corn Processors in Iowa. United Ethanol began operations in March 2007 and currently produces about 50 million gallons of ethanol per year. The plant also recovers CO2 through a liquefaction plant and sells it for use in the food processing, beverage, oil recovery, municipal water treatment and chemical industries.

Ethanol, Production

Senator Wants Study of RFS Environmental Impact

Cindy Zimmerman

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) is asking EPA to complete studies assessing the impact of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on air, water, and land quality.

Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) sent a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt last week to request that the agency fulfill its obligation under the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 to provide regular reports to Congress on how the RFS was impacting the environment. The senator notes that under section 204 of EISA, EPA was required to report to Congress on the impacts of the RFS on the environment and resource conservation every three years. To date, EPA has issued only one report, in December 2011. Under section 211(v) of the Clean Air Act, EPA was also required to complete a report on whether the RFS “will adversely impact air quality” by May 19, 2009 but that has never been completed.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen says they also would like to see the study completed. “It may come as a surprise, but we agree with Sen. Barrasso that updated studies and analyses of ethanol’s environmental impacts are needed,” said Dinneen in a comment by email. “We believe EPA should complete the agency’s congressionally-mandated studies on the environmental impacts of the RFS, and believe the results will confirm that biofuels like ethanol offer enormous environmental benefits.”

Dinneen says, “Any objective and science-based analysis would undoubtedly show that ethanol offers clear and significant environmental benefits when compared to the fossil-based fuels it replaces.”

Last year, EPA’s Inspector General issued a report calling on EPA to complete the studies. EPA said it would finish the report under section 204 of EISA by the end of this year and the study under section 211(v) of the Clean Air Act by September 30, 2024.

EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, RFS

Western New York Energy Celebrates 10 Years

Cindy Zimmerman

It was ten years ago this month that Western New York Energy (WNYE) began production at its 62-million gallon per year ethanol plant as the first ethanol plant in New York State.

The ethanol plant uses more than 20 million bushels of locally grown corn every year while also producing more than 160,000 tons per year of high-quality distillers grain. “For the past 10 years, we have been proud to partner with New York farmers to produce a clean, renewable and domestically produced fuel,” said WNYE President and CEO Tim Winters. “We look forward to serving our communities and the U.S. ethanol industry for many years to come, helping to provide consumers with a choice at the pump.”

WNYE is a proud member of the Renewable Fuels Association and RFA CEO Bob Dinneen says they are proud of the plant’s success. “The plant was born from the vision of John Sawyer and his son, Mike,” said Dinneen. “Now, ten years later, the company continues to provide significant economic growth for the community and consumers, driven by the steady hand of Tim Winters and a Board of Directors resolved to maintain its tradition of excellence. On behalf of the U.S. ethanol industry, I pass along my heartfelt congratulations and wishes for many more years to come,” Dinneen added.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

EPA Administrator Shows Support for RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency met with farmers and biofuels producers in Iowa on Friday to show his support for agriculture and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Administrator Scott Pruitt was a guest of livestock producers and ethanol supporters Bill and Nancy Couser on their farm in Nevada, Iowa. Since the visit came just one day after EPA announced the final RFS renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018, that was Pruitt’s first topic to address. “We met the deadline, November 30, to actually get those volume obligations out, something the agency hasn’t done in a number of years,” he said, noting that combined with denial of the petition to change the point of obligation, that provides a lot more certainty for the industry.

Pruitt was also asked about another big issue for the ethanol industry, allowing E15 to be sold year round by treating it the same as E10 when it comes to RVP (Reid Vapor Pressure). “It practically doesn’t make sense, obviously, to be able to sell fuel during certain times of the year and not be able to sell it at other times,” he said. “What we have to do is assess whether the statute allows us to grant a waiver nationally throughout the year. We can do it regionally and we have.”

Pruitt also addressed issues such as WOTUS and what it’s like to work with President Trump – listen to his conversation with Couser here: EPA Admin Scott Pruitt and Bill Couser

Thanks to Iowa Agribusiness Network providing the audio.

Audio, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFS