Biodiesel Industry Considering Options Against Argentina

The U.S. biodiesel industry is considering legal options as imports of subsidized biodiesel have continued to increase since the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) Fair Trade Coalition filed an antidumping petition in March alleging that dumped biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia have injured U.S. producers.

“What we’re seeing is a vast amount of imports continue to flood into our ports,” said NBB vice president of federal affairs Anne Steckel on behalf of the coalition. “We’ve received information of potentially 75 million gallons of biodiesel flooding our ports soon, a significant increase from the import levels we saw in January, February and March.”

Steckel says they are considering their legal options, which includes filing a “critical circumstances” request that allows the government to impose duties retroactively on imports reaching U.S. shores up to 90 days prior to the Department of Commerce’s preliminary determinations, which will not be until later this year. “We’re taking the appropriate legal steps to ensure that we have accurate duties put on those imports.”

Learn more about the situation and last week’s biodiesel industry congressional visits to discuss issues such as moving to a producer’s tax credit in this interview: Interview with Anne Steckel, NBB

AgWired Energy, Audio, Biodiesel, International, Soybean

Blue Flint Ethanol Celebrates a Decade

Cindy Zimmerman

Blue Flint Ethanol near Underwood, ND is the latest plant to celebrate ten years of operations.

The 70 million gallon facility has produced over 650 million gallons of ethanol in its 10 years of operations. Located adjacent to Coal Creek Station, it is the first co-located, directly integrated ethanol plant in the world. As a by-product of generating electricity, Coal Creek Station produces process steam which Blue Flint Ethanol uses as the thermal energy in its ethanol production process. Since Blue Flint began producing ethanol and dried distillers grains in February 2007, the plant has evolved into a biorefinery, integrating corn oil production and an E85 blending station.

Blue Flint is owned by Midwest AgEnergy Group and was named after the blue flint corn grown by Indian tribes that once lived in the Missouri River Valley near the plant.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

The Growing Enogen Footprint

Enogen hosted about 1,200 farmer-customers at the American Ethanol E15 250 Presented by Enogen. As Enogen continues to grow, the NASCAR race held at Iowa Speedway was the perfect place to spotlight the farmers who supply the Enogen which will produce about 2 billion gallons of ethanol this year.

“We see this race as a great opportunity to support the efforts of E15. E10 is already blended in 89% of the fuel consumers purchase. The E15 market is just developing and can really help corn farmers. As Enogen, I can’t think of a better place for us to step up and demonstrate how we can help famrers,” said Ron Wulfkuhle, head of Enogen at Syngenta.

Ron said the Enogen footprint is growing in local communities providing new income and incentives. Other examples of those helping to expand that footprint include partnerships with Growth Energy and Kum & Go to contine sharing the message of the clean-buring, high-octane fuel E15 gives customers.

Listen to my complete interview with Ron here: Interview with Ron Wulfkuhle, Enogen at Syngenta

View and download photos from the race here: American Ethanol E15 250 Presented by Enogen Syngenta Photo Album

Agribusiness, AgWired Energy, Audio, biofuels, corn, Ethanol, NASCAR, Syngenta

U.S. Ethanol Production Growing

Cindy Zimmerman

Fuel ethanol production capacity in the United States is 15.5 billion gallons this year or 1.01 million barrels per day (b/d), according to the latest EIA U.S. Fuel Ethanol Plant Production Capacity report.

Total capacity of ethanol plants in operation increased by more than 600 million gallons per year or about four percent from 2016, with most of the increased capacity coming from the Midwestern states, which produce 14 billion gallons per year. The top three states—Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois—account for more than half of the nation’s total ethanol production capacity.

Actual production is running pretty close to nameplate capacity so far this year. According to the EIA data through June 23, ethanol production is still running just a little more than the million barrel per day mark, with an annualized rate of 15.36 billion gallons.

Energy, Ethanol, Ethanol News

ASTM Awards Ethanol Industry Leaders

Cindy Zimmerman

Two ethanol industry technical experts were honored this week by members of ASTM International gathered for their D02 2017 meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.

The ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants presented Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Director of Regulatory Affairs Kelly Davis with the “Award of Excellence” for her service to the committee and work to enhance fuel quality standards.

Catherine Woodliff with The Anderson’s, Chair of RFA’s Technical Committee, received the D02 “Appreciation Award” for her guidance and leadership during discussions on U. S. Tier 3 gasoline regulations resulted in a timely update to Specification D4806 for denatured fuel ethanol.

The ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants promotes knowledge and the promulgation of standard specifications, classifications, test methods, practices, guides, and terminology in the technical fields of petroleum products, liquid fuels and lubricants.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Fox River Valley Ethanol to Install Whitefox ICE™

Cindy Zimmerman

whitefox_logoFox River Valley Ethanol has agreed to become the third U.S. ethanol plant to install a Whitefox ICE™ modular bolt-on system at its plant in Wisconsin following installations at Pacific Ethanol in California and Pine Lake Corn Processors in Iowa.

Fox River Fox River Valley President Neal Kemmet says they are installing the Whitefox ICE™ solution to remove process bottlenecks and reduce energy consumption. The objective is to free up capacity in the distillation-dehydration section to enable an increase in production of up to 15% and reduce steam consumption.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

E15 at the Pump with Kum & Go

Kum & Go stores launched E15 about two years ago because of the growing demand for higher octane and a lower cost fuel option for customers. We met up with Jim Pirolli, Vice President of Fuels at Kum and Go, during the recent NASCAR American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen to learn more about those blue pumps.

“We found E15 to be a fuel that 9 out of 10 cars on the road can use. It provides a great pathway for us to differentiate ourselves and another choice at the pump,” Pirolli said.

This is Kum & Go’s second year on board with Richard Childress Racing and their first year sponsoring #62 Brendan Gaughn. “We’re excited just to be affiliated with NASCAR and their green initiatives and American Ethanol.”

Pirolli reminds us that E15 is a great way to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and said Kum & Go has a strong focus towards sustainability overall. They have over 100 LEAD certified stores and offer recycling at the pump.

Listen to my complete interview with Pirolli here: Interview with Jim Pirolli, Kum & Go

View and download photos from the race here: American Ethanol E15 250 Presented by Enogen Syngenta Photo Album

Agribusiness, AgWired Energy, Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, NASCAR

RFA Leader Talks Trade During UNICA Ethanol Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen addressed participants of the 2017 Ethanol Summit this week in São Paulo, Brazil.

Dinneen’s remarks focused on trade, President Trump, and the environment. “The president has repeatedly expressed his support for biofuels, ethanol and for the Renewable Fuel Standard and we are extraordinarily confident that President Trump understands what we are trying to do and will help this industry grow,” said Dinneen. “His agenda, which includes dramatically removing and repealing regulations that only thwart the development of business, is much needed for our industry and we look forward to his regulatory reform agenda and helping us open up new market opportunities across the country.”

Dinneen expressed his concerns about Brazil’s recent trade decision regarding ethanol. “I was surprised when UNICA and the Brazilian government proposed a new tariff on U.S. ethanol – that does not help anybody. It hurts Brazilian consumers who will be denied access to the lowest cost octane on the planet. I implore you to continue to support free trade and the free flow of ethanol across the globe,” said Dinneen.

The event, hosted every two years by Brazil’s sugarcane organization UNICA, brings together major stakeholders in the ethanol, sugarcane and renewable fuels sectors from across the world to discuss a variety of topics that are important to their industries.

Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Engine Smart. Earth Kind.

The story of biofuels seems pretty simple when you hear the words, “Engine smart and earth kind,” from Growth Energy’s CEO Emily Skor. The Iowa Speedway is smack-dab in the middle of corn country. You can’t find a better location for the NASCAR Xfinity American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen Syngenta.

“E15 is a win, win fuel for consumers. It’s the 21-century fuel for the 21-century consumer and for their 21-century car,” said Skor. The clean burning fuel boosts performance and is better for the environment using fewer greenhouse emissions leading to cleaner air for us all to breath. Skor said savings at the pump is just icing on the cake when it comes to E15.

As a consumer, even NASCAR at first had questions. But after seeing it in action, they were quick adopters. “If it’s good enough for the most demanding road conditions, then it’s good for driving your kids to soccer practice too,” said Skor.

Listen to my complete interview with Emily Skor here: Interview with Emily Skor, Growth Energy

View and download photos from the race here: American Ethanol E15 250 Presented by Enogen Syngenta Photo Album

Agribusiness, AgWired Energy, Audio, Ethanol, Growth Energy, NASCAR, Syngenta

Enogen Presents American Ethanol E15 250

The NASCAR Xfinity American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen was held Saturday at the Iowa Speedway to help promote ethanol in one of the top producing states. The race marked the fifth year of partnership between Syngenta and Growth Energy to demonstrate the value of E15, which has been powering NASCAR for 10 million miles of competitive racing since 2011.

“The American Ethanol E15 250 is an excellent opportunity for sharing the story and benefits of Earth-friendly American ethanol with consumers. Syngenta is pleased to once again be working with Iowa Speedway, Growth Energy and the FFA in supporting the ethanol industry through our sponsorship of this signature event,” said Ron Wulfkuhle, head of Enogen at Syngenta. “With E15, drivers across the country have a great and more affordable choice at the pump.

Enogen® corn enzyme technology helps to enhance ethanol production and make ethanol even more sustainable. Syngenta is working with a growing number of ethanol plants to expand the opportunity for growers. By the end of 2017, Syngenta anticipates more than 200 million bushels of Enogen corn will have been grown on more than 1 million acres, contributed to nearly 4.5 billion gallons of ethanol produced, and resulted in approximately $60 million in premiums paid to growers.

Earlier this year, Syngenta announced a $340,000 donation to the Prime the Pump Fund. Prime the Pump is helping high-volume, progressive-minded and industry-leading fuel retailers, who will demonstrate the performance, cost savings and profit opportunity of marketing higher ethanol blends, such as E15.

Enogen and Growth Energy held a press conference at the track with Wulfkuhle; Chris Tingle with Enogen; Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor; Jim Pirolli with Kum and Go, and NASCAR driver Brendan Gaughan. Listen to it here: Syngenta, Growth Engery Press Conference

American Ethanol E15 250 Presented by Enogen Syngenta Photo Album

AgWired Energy, Audio, corn, Ethanol, NASCAR, Syngenta