White Energy Appoints New CEO

Cindy Zimmerman

— White Energy of Plano, Texas has appointed Brian Steenhard as Chief Financial Officer, joining Greg Thompson, who became CEO of White Energy in September.

“Brian will be a tremendous asset to White Energy. He has a strong track record of successfully increasing revenues and generating value for ethanol and energy companies,” Thompson said.

Steenhard has extensive experience in the renewable energy industry. He previously served as CFO of Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc., where he implemented a turnaround strategy that generated more than $200 million of equity value for Aventine’s shareholders. His work included securing capital to modernize the company’s ethanol facilities and generate new product lines with enhanced revenue streams.

Steenhard also served as a vice president of Hawkeye Energy Holdings, a large privately-held ethanol company, where he helped grow top-line revenues from $400 million to $1 billion.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Industry Submits High-Octane Comments

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol industry stakeholders submitted comments this week to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding the Midterm Reivew of 2022-2025 CAFE and GHG standards and how high octane ethanol blends can help clean the air.

Comments from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) encouraged the agencies to consider the beneficial impacts of high-octane, low-carbon (HOLC) fuels on fuel economy and GHG emissions and underscored that EPA has the authority and responsibility to regulate minimum gasoline octane ratings. “We were very encouraged to see EPA specifically ask for comment on the ‘potential for high-octane blends’ in the notice announcing the reconsideration of the last administration’s Final Determination,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “Such fuels can serve as an important tool for complying with increasingly stringent future fuel economy and tailpipe GHG standards.”

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) recommended changes in the way the agency tests new vehicles and how ethanol is treated as a fuel. “While the CAFE-GHG program has resulted in meaningful progress with respect to fuel efficiency and GHG emissions, this progress will plateau unless EPA increases the octane rating of fuel used in future engines,” said Brian Jennings, ACE Executive Vice President.

And a coalition of stakeholders led by the Urban Air Initiative (UAI) said ethanol can help meet efficiency and CO2 reduction goals if given access to the market. “We commend EPA for giving this important issue of fuel economy and carbon reductions the thorough and complete evaluation it requires, and correcting the serious errors in the technical assessment issued last November,” said UAI President Dave VanderGriend.

The Urban Air Initiative-led effort included the Clean Fuels Development Coalition, Nebraska Ethanol Board, Nebraska Ethanol Industry Coalition, Glacial Lakes Energy, Siouxland Ethanol, Prairie Horizons Agri-Energy, Little Sioux Corn Processors, South Dakota Farmers Union, and Nebraska Farmers Union.

EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Senators Call on EPA to Keep RFS Strong

Cindy Zimmerman

Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) are leading a bipartisan group of 38 senators in calling for a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as the Environmental Protection Agency works toward finalizing biofuels volume requirements for 2018.

In a letter to EPA Scott Pruitt this week, the senators urged “the continued implementation of the RFS as intended by Congress and the release of a strong final rule that would give consumers more choices at the pump, strengthen the economy, and make the country more secure.”

EPA’s formal 2018 RFS proposal would maintain the 15 billion gallon statutory requirement for conventional biofuels, but would slash the cellulosic biofuel target by nearly one-quarter. Recently EPA issued an additional proposal with further cuts to the 2018 RFS volumes and now there are rumors that the agency is considering allowing U.S. biofuel export volumes to count toward compliance with the RFS.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen applauded the efforts of the senators. “EPA is sending all the wrong signals on a program that has helped clean the air, reduce dependency on petroleum and boost local economies,” said Dinneen. “We thank the senators for their leadership and hope Administrator Pruitt heeds their call to implement a final 2018 RFS that follows Congressional intent.”

EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, RFS

Biodiesel Drives Manufacturing

Cindy Zimmerman

The biodiesel industry is celebrating Manufacturing Day℠ today – a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers that occurs on the first Friday in October each year.

Biodiesel is a driving force in America’s manufacturing sector, supporting more than 64,000 good paying, clean energy jobs across the country. These jobs are contributing to a vibrant manufacturing sector, reinvigorating rural economies and driving innovation.

“Manufacturing Day 2017 is an appropriate time to reflect on the biodiesel industry’s economic contributions,” said Donnell Rehagen, National Biodiesel Board CEO. “With nearly 90 NBB-member plants, American-made biodiesel is produced in almost every state in the country. There are countless real-life examples of the power of biodiesel supporting the American economy and jobs throughout the supply chain. From the farmers who grow the feedstocks, to the producers who make the fuel, to the marketers and distributors who ensure it gets to the end users – biodiesel is an economic and job creation success story.”

Biodiesel

Ethanol Industry Leader Calls on EPA to Maintain RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

RFA chairman Mick Henderson talks with biker filling up with E10 at Sturgis

In an op-ed published this week in The Hill, the chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) urges EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to stick with President Trump’s vision for an America First energy policy and keep the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) strong.

Pointing to EPA actions and rumors of actions in recent weeks to reduce volume obligations and lower demand for ethanol, Commonwealth Agri-Energy general manager Mick Henderson said Pruitt apparently “has not gotten the memo from the White House that the RFS is to be protected and allowed to grow the market for biofuels, while providing consumers with more choice and savings at the pump.”

Henderson was just re-elected as chairman of the RFA this week during the organization’s annual meeting in Des Moines. Henderson’s ethanol plant, located in Hopkinsville, Ky., produces 35 million gallons of ethanol per year from 12 million bushels of corn. Henderson has been with Commonwealth Agri-Energy since 2003 and has served on the RFA Board of Directors since 2006.

RFA also elected Neil Koehler of Pacific Ethanol as Vice Chairman, and Charles Wilson of Trenton Agri-Products as Treasurer.

EPA, Ethanol, Opinion, RFA

ACE Partners with EPA Smart Sectors Program

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is one of the participants in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Smart Sectors program launched this week to provide a platform for collaboration with regulated sectors to help the agency develop forward-thinking ways to improve environmental outcomes.

“The Smart Sectors program is designed to effectively engage business partners throughout the regulatory process,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “When industries and regulators better understand each other, the economy, public, and the environment all benefit.”

Smart Sectors is partnering with trade associations from 13 industry sectors selected for their environmental and economic impacts. ACE represents biofuels under the oil and gas sector as the only ethanol industry association representative invited to partner in the launch.

“We’re grateful Administrator Pruitt invited ACE to participate in this Smart Sectors program given the timely and critical ethanol issues currently under consideration at EPA,” said Brian Jennings, ACE Executive Vice President. “We will take advantage of this opportunity to work with EPA to ensure that RFS implementation grows demand for biofuels, to continue pushing for RVP relief for E15 and higher ethanol blends, and to position high-octane fuel as a solution to fuel economy and emissions standards.”

Organizations chosen to represent the agricultural industry in the program are the American Farm Bureau Federation and CropLife America.

ACE, Ag group, EPA

Help Finally on the Way for USDA

Secy Perdue greets McKinney and Censky before Senate hearing (USDA Photo)

Over five months after he took office, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue finally has some help on the way.

Yesterday, the Senate voted to formally approved the nominations of Stephen Censky as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, and Ted McKinney as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.

“I am pleased that the U.S. Senate was able to work in a bipartisan and swift manner to confirm Stephen Censky and Ted McKinney,” said Senate Agriculture Committee chair Pat Roberts (R-KS). “Secretary Perdue, help is on the way.”

“I commend the Senate for confirming these two experienced, prepared, and capable nominees, who will provide the steady leadership we need at USDA,” said Secretary Perdue in a statement. “We eagerly await their arrival at USDA, and urge the Senate to continue to act on other nominees who are awaiting confirmation.”

The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing with both nominees on September 19. Tomorrow, the committee will hold a hearing on the nominations of Greg Ibach of Nebraska to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and Bill Northey of Iowa to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. No hearing has been scheduled yet for Sam Clovis of Iowa, President Trump’s controversial pick for Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, USDA

Groups Urge Trump to Stop EPA Changes to RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

Biofuels stakeholder organizations have sent a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to “act quickly to prevent actions” at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that threaten to undermine future growth of the biofuels industry under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

“If the proposed changes are finalized, EPA’s actions would cause severe harm to our industry, undermining your efforts to drive economic growth and secure America’s status as the global leader in biofuel production,” wrote the 11 organizations, which include the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), National Biodiesel Board (NBB), and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

The letter is a response to rumors of EPA considering “drastic, unprecedented changes” designed to benefit petroleum refiners in which U.S. biofuel export volumes would count towards compliance with the RFS, on top of EPA’s reduction in the total 2018 RFS renewable fuel blending requirements below the levels required in 2017 and consideration of further reductions to the 2018 RFS volumes.

“President Trump has been a strong and consistent supporter of fuel ethanol generally and the RFS specifically,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “However, recent proposals by EPA appear to run counter to the president’s renewable energy vision.” Click here for Dinneen’s comments on EPA’s consideration of further reductions in the RFS.

In the letter, the groups clarified that they oppose any weakening of the 15 billion gallon conventional biofuel requirement, believe the proposed reduction of the 2018 advanced biofuel requirement is unwarranted and the current treatment of imports and exports under the RFS should be maintained.

ACE, Biodiesel, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NBB, NCGA, RFA, RFS

Crappie Masters Tourney Educates Boaters on Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

The Crappie Masters Tournament Trail recently ended its 2017 season with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) as co-title sponsor of the event in an effort to educate boaters, conservation enthusiasts and consumers about using ethanol in boats and other marine applications.

The 2017 tournament trail kicked off in January and ran through late September, with 18 events in multiple states, highlighting the boating community’s use of 10% ethanol.

In addition to being a co-title sponsor of the tournament, RFA sponsored one of the teams, Terry Richard and Casey Rayner of Louisiana. “Traveling tournaments, we couldn’t do it without our sponsors,” Richard said after the championship weigh-in on September 23 in Greenville, MS. “We’ve traveled about 14 tournaments this year and there’s good turnout at every tournament.”

Richard says every tournament they used 10 percent ethanol (E10) in their boat. “We have a 56 gallon tank on our boat,” he said. “We’ve put over 1200 gallons of (E-10) fuel in our boat and had zero fuel-related issues with our boat…so if ethanol’s causing that big an issue and I’m running 1200 gallons of fuel through my boat I should have already had an issue.”

RFA plans to continue its co-title sponsorship of the 2018 Crappie Masters Tournament Trail, along with Bass Pro Shops. Other sponsors of the tournament include Missouri Corn Growers and American Ethanol.

RFA Crappie Masters team Terry Richard and Casey Rayner

Crappie Masters National Championship photo album

Audio, Boats, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

It’s Pink at the Pump Month in Iowa

Cindy Zimmerman

Over 30 Iowa E15 retailers are pretty in pink this month, participating in the 2nd annual Pink at the Pump™ campaign to raise funds for breast cancer support services and research while increasing consumer awareness about E15.

“As a breast cancer survivor, I encourage everyone to make a difference in someone’s life by choosing to use E15 and reduce the cancer-causing pollutants in our environment – it’s easy, it’s simple, it can save the life of someone you love,” said Kathy Buckman Gibson, breast cancer survivor and President of Buckman Laboratories International, which provides biofuels plants with technologies and tools to reduce energy and water use.

Participating E15 retailers will donate three cents of every gallon of E15 sold from October 1 through October 31 to National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and The Hormel Institute.

“During Breast Cancer Awareness Month we often look for ways to help stop this terrible disease,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Managing Director Lucy Norton. “By choosing E15 consumers can fight breast cancer right at the gas pump. Ethanol is the world’s cleanest source of fuel octane. More clean ethanol means less toxic chemicals are needed to boost octane. And what’s better, E15 has an 88 octane rating and is typically priced five to 10 cents less than 87-octane E10.”

Pink at the Pump™ is a joint effort between IRFA and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board in partnership with National Breast Cancer Foundation and The Hormel Institute. For the entire month of October, participating locations will feature pink nozzle guards for E15, pink promotional t-shirts for staff, and many other pink point-of-sale materials.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA