Op-Ed Urges Brazil to Reject Ethanol Tariffs

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen teamed up with former UNICA Chief Representative Joel Velasco to pen an op-ed for Brazilian newspaper Estado de S.Paulo urging the country’s leaders to resist returning to failed protectionist policy over ethanol.

“As the primary advocates for our respective industries, we fought many impassioned battles over trade and tax policy,” wrote Dinneen and Velasco. “As old warriors who have fought this insipid battle too many times before, we implore leaders in Brazil to say no to a return to a protectionist past.”

“There will be no winners, only losers,” the two continue. “Consumers will pay more for ethanol blended gasoline in Brazil. Farmers in both countries will suffer from lost markets. Carbon emissions will rise if U.S. ethanol is replaced by increased petroleum.”

Read the translated version of the op-ed.

Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, International

Ethanol Supporters Disappointed in E15 Bill Delay

Cindy Zimmerman

It was no surprise that the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works decided last week not consider the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act (S. 517) before August recess, given the strong opposition to the bill by committee leadership, but it was still a disappointment to the industry which has vowed to continuing fighting for the legislation to allow E15 to be sold year round.

“ACE members appreciate the leadership of Senators Fischer (R-NE) and Donnelly (D-IN) for spearheading bipartisan legislation to extend Reid vapor pressure (RVP) relief to E15 and higher ethanol blends, and we won’t give up in the face of obstruction from opponents in the Environment and Public Works Committee,” said American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Executive VP Brian Jennings. “As senators return to their home states during the upcoming August recess, we encourage ACE members press them on the need to whip up enough bipartisan support to eventually enact this legislation.”

From the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) – “It is unfortunate that some have turned a focused effort to remove an outdated regulatory barrier into a referendum on a wide range of other issues unrelated to a simple question, which is whether a consumer choice barrier for three months of the year is still justified.”

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said, “We will continue to work with our bipartisan sponsors to enact this bill to provide drivers across the country cleaner fuel options year-round that are better for the environment and save Americans money every time they fill up the gas tank.”

The committee held a hearing on the bill last month where Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) made his opposition clear.

ACE, corn, E15, Ethanol, Government

Senator Blasts Ethanol from the Floor

As over 200 corn growers were meeting in the nation’s capitol this week, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) blasted corn ethanol in an attempt to kill legislation that would allow 15% ethanol blends to be sold year round, instead of being restricted in some areas during the summer months.

Inhofe began his speech by complaining that “the fossil fuel industry has long been under assault” from people who want to put it out of business but thanks to the election of President Trump “help has arrived.”

The National Corn Growers Association refuted Inhofe’s remarks that, “Land is increasingly set aside for the production of corn to feed the mandate, and the more corn that is diverted to ethanol production, the less there is for our food consumption and for ranchers who need corn to feed their livestock, making the cost of our food rise,” and “Fuels with corn-ethanol are less efficient than gasoline or diesel—by 27 percent.”

The nation’s corn farmers would like to assure Senator Inhofe that, despite his claims to the contrary, corn productivity has increased significantly over the past 10 years, going from an average of 150 bushels per acre in 2007 to 174.6 bushels per acre in 2016. Today’s efficient farmers produce more than enough corn to meet feed, food, and fuel needs, in an increasingly sustainable manner. Corn farmers are also proud that, based on actual corn and ethanol production experience over the past 10 years, ethanol currently results in 43 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline.

Energy Information Administration (EIA) data dispute other claims by the Oklahoma Republican. Inhofe said that “with the shale revolution our dependency on foreign energy has stopped” so the Renewable Fuel Standard is no longer needed. According to EIA, the United States imported just over 10 million barrels per day of petroleum, or about 25 percent of our consumption, with over half coming from OPEC and Persian Gulf nations.

Inhofe also stated that to comply with the RFS, the U.S. has “become reliant on foreign imports of soybeans and ethanol from South America to count towards the RFS.” But, again according to EIA, foreign imports of ethanol have dropped from a high of 11.7 million barrels in 2012 to only 862 thousand last year.

Listen to Inhofe’s remarks here: Sen. Inhofe floor speech

AgWired Energy, Audio, corn, Ethanol, Government, NCGA

15 Year Celebration for Glacial Lakes Energy

Cindy Zimmerman

Glacial Lakes Energy CEO Jim Seurer – from @ACEethanol

Glacial Lakes Energy (GLE) this week celebrated its 15th anniversary and a recently completed unit train shipping facility at its 100-million gallon per year ethanol plant in Watertown, SD plant.

“For the past 15 years, we are proud to have made a significant contribution to our local economy, the value-added agriculture industry, our national energy security and ultimately to consumers,” said GLE CEO Jim Seurer. “Our new state-of-the-art unit train shipping facility is a perfect fit for our future and well positions the company for the next 15 years.”

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen says Glacial Lakes has been a leader in the industry for higher ethanol blends. “Consumers win when there’s a choice at the pump and they benefit even more when they have access to higher ethanol blends such as E30 (30% ethanol), adding high performance octane while lowering prices at the pump. Glacial Lakes Energy has led this effort, and the company’s commitment and leadership is appreciated by the entire industry,” said Dinneen.

Glacial Lakes recently held an E30 Challenge donating 30 cents for every gallon of the fuel sold to the Watertown Boys and Girls Club.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

New Propane Irrigation Engines Available

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has partnered with Origin Engines to develop new 5.7- and 6.2- liter engines, EPA-certified and optimized for industrial applications like irrigation and power generation.

Pete Stout, Origin Engines

PERC invested in the research and development of Origin’s new engines, providing industry expertise and financial support through the research, development, and testing process for the new technology.

“We are excited to introduce these highly efficient, innovative engines to the market,” said Pete Stout, product manager for Origin Engines. “We built our product line based on feedback from the end users because their satisfaction is what is most important to us. We are confident they will be very pleased with these new products.”

The new engines complement Origin’s larger 8.0-, 9.1-, and 10.3-liter engines, which were introduced in 2015, and are now available from distributors Industrial Irrigation, KEM Equipment, and Flint Power and Western Power Products. In addition, a new Propane Farm Incentive Program is offering $300 per liter of fuel displacement for propane-powered irrigation engines (up to $5,000 total), according to Cinch Munson, director of agriculture business development at PERC.

Munson and Stout talked about propane engines for irrigation at the 2014 World LP Gas Forum in Miami when the larger propane engines were first announced. Here is a segment of their remarks about the development and benefits of propane irrigation engines in general. PERC’s Cinch Munson and Origin’s Pete Stout

AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, Propane

New E15 Ad Runs in Roll Call

Cindy Zimmerman

As Congress continues to struggle with getting any real work done this year, the Renewable Fuels Association is remaining ever hopeful that lawmakers will pass a fix to allow 15% ethanol to be sold year round.

An ad in the Capitol Hill publication Roll Call today calls on Congress to pass the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, sponsored by Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). The ad shows an E15 pump with red tape across it proclaiming “EPA Red Tape is restraining consumer choice at the gas pump.” The bill would fix outdated EPA regulations and extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to ethanol blends above 10 percent, allowing retailers across the country to sell E15 and other higher-ethanol/gasoline fuel blends year-round, increasing regulatory certainty and eliminating confusion at the pump.

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

American Ethanol Powerboat Wins Again

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Ethanol Mystic Powerboat took home “Top Gun” honors Sunday at the Grand Lake of the Cherokees (GLOC) Shootout with a 200-mph run.

The American Ethanol Mystic Powerboat boat, which usually finishes in the top of its field in competition, is owned by Don Onken and runs on an E90 ethanol blend.

“We have had an excellent run of success out on the water lately, and we’re looking forward to what we can do next month at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, said Orken. “I have been involved in the agriculture and recycling business for decades, so I know how important ethanol is to the farming community, and how important it is to all Americans.”

The boat broke its own record at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout last year with a speed of 217 mph.

American Ethanol, Boats, Ethanol

Blue Ridge Biofuels Proud to Supply Local

Blue Ridge Biofuels (BRB) started as a way for one business to make its own sustainable diesel fuel – now they provide clean burning biodiesel for customers all over Western North Carolina.

The Asheville, N.C.-based company collects over 700,000 gallons of used cooking oil annually from nearly 1,500 restaurants in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia to produce renewable biodiesel according to General Manager Woody Eaton.

“We do bioheat, transportation fuel, we can make biodiesel blends in any ratio from B100,” said Eaton. “Right now our biodiesel blends are the cheapest diesel in our area, so we’re also saving consumers money at the pump,” said Eaton.

BRB is a proud member of the National Biodiesel Board, which Eaton says has helped his small company grow. Learn more in this interview. Interview with Woody Eaton, Blue Ridge Biofuels

AgWired Energy, Audio, Biodiesel, biofuels, Soybean

Censky Nominated as Deputy Ag Secretary

Over two months since he took office, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is finally getting some nominations to fill USDA positions.

Late Thursday, Perdue announced that President Trump has nominated American Soybean Association CEO Stephen Censky to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.

“Our work has only just begun in delivering results for the people of American agriculture, and the experience and leadership skills of Stephen Censky will only enhance our efforts. He will bring enthusiasm and a dedication to this country which will be great assets to USDA’s customers. I am extremely pleased with the nomination for this key position and am hopeful that the Senate will take it up in short order.”

Censky has been CEO of the American Soybean Association since 1996 and the association strongly backs his nomination.

“Steve has guided our organization for 21 years and in that time he has proven himself as an effective, dedicated and visionary voice on behalf of soybean farmers nationwide. Nobody in agriculture is better equipped to assist Secretary Perdue in meeting the needs of farmers with practical solutions than Steve. He is a perfect fit for this role and we give him our strongest endorsement,” said Ron Moore, ASA president from Roseville, Ill.

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) also proudly supports Censky’s nomination. “President Trump’s pick of Steve Censky to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture is an outstanding step forward for agriculture and the countless related markets, like biodiesel, that play a key role in supporting our economy,” said NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen.

The nomination must be approved by the U.S. Senate, which already has a backlog of about 150 presidential nominations not yet approved.

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, ASA, Biodiesel, Government, Soybean, USDA

Industry Preparing for August 1 EPA Hearing

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public hearing in Washington, DC on Tuesday, August 1 for the recently released proposed rule for volume levels of ethanol and biodiesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2018 and 2019.

As with previous RFS hearings, all of the major stakeholders are planning to attend and let EPA know what they like and don’t like in the proposed volume obligations. During an appearance on E&E’s OnPoint Thursday, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen said they are pleased that the proposal maintains the 15 billion gallons for the corn ethanol biofuels category, but they do believe the industry is capable of producing more advanced biofuels than the reduced amount EPA is proposing.

“This reduces the number from 311 million gallons for cellulosic last year to 238 million gallons, but only 17 million gallons is assumed to be cellulosic ethanol,” said Dinneen. This assumes no growth at all in cellulosic ethanol from existing facilities with corn fiber technology, but Dinneen says more plants are planning expansions based on that new technology.

“I think we’ve got to better understand where EPA is coming from and better educate them as to the potential for growth….and I think that there’s still some room before a final rule to educate them as to what the potential truly is,” said Dinneen.

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, RFS