Christianson Receives Highest Honor from ACE

Cindy Zimmerman

L-R: John Christianson, Ron Alverson, and Dave Sovereign

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) presented its highest honor, the Merle Anderson Award, to John Christianson, managing partner of Christianson & Associates, PLLP. The award was presented at the organization’s 37th annual conference last week in Omaha by ACE Board President Dave Sovereign, Golden Grain Energy, and board secretary Ron Alverson, Dakota Ethanol.

Christianson has been a dedicated supporter of the ethanol industry as a professional CPA and growing up on a Minnesota farm. “I’m honored to accept this award in memory of Merle Anderson, who was a true pioneer and consistent in his vision to better the future of American agriculture, especially in Minnesota,” said Christianson, who credits his talented team for his company’s success in helping the ethanol industry expand and grow over the years.

The company started off in the mid-90’s helping farmer-led cooperatives get ethanol plants built, and they have since evolved with the industry to address increasing regulatory complexities, developing their popular Biofuels Benchmarking program for plant performance enhancement.

ACE 24 Merle Anderson award 13:35
ACE 24 Interview with John Christianson 5:36

2024 ACE Annual Conference Photo Album

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USDA Marks IRA Anniversary with HBIIP Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

Sens. Klobuchar and Smith join Sec. Vilsack at The Corner Store

To celebrate the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack traveled to Minnesota to announce the funding of 160 projects in 26 states to expand access to clean energy systems and increase the availability of domestic biofuels. USDA is providing $99.6 million through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) and the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) with funding from the IRA.

Secretary Vilsack made the announcement during a visit to The Corner Store in Inver Grove Heights, which is receiving a $518,250 HBIIP grant to create infrastructure to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. This project will install four E15 dispensers, four E85 dispensers, and two ethanol storage tanks, one of 15 HBIIP project awards for the state totaling $16.5 million. Vilsack was joined by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN).

USDA is awarding $90.3 million in this installment of new HBIIP grants to 89 projects in 26 states, bringing to a total of more than $220 million nationwide to increase access to biofuels at fueling stations.

Prior to his trip to Minnesota, Vilsack spoke to ethanol producers in Omaha at the American Coalition for Ethanol annual conference where he spoke about the importance of increasing the use of higher ethanol blends nationwide.

“It’s also not only the ability to sell it year round. It’s also about the ability to have it more available in more stations and in more states,” said Vilsack. “But in order to do that you have to have the equipment which is why it was important for us to put the higher blend infrastructure program in place…and then convinced Congress and the administration to support our request for $500 million.”

USDA continues to accept HBIIP applications until Sept. 30, 2024.

Listen to Vilsack’s remarks from the ACE conference here:

ACE 24 Sec. Vilsack remarks 48:40

ACE 24 Sec. Vilsack presser 15:17

2024 ACE Annual Conference Photo Album

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ACE Concludes 37th Annual Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol concluded its 37th annual conference on Friday after a fast-paced day and a half of information and networking for the ethanol industry.

“I think folks were energized to hear from the Secretary of Agriculture,” said ACE CEO Brian Jennings at the end of the event. “His unwavering commitment to getting some of these details right that we need in tax credits and getting farmers some credit for activities that right now they’re not getting credit for. And so the time that he spent with us, I think was critical.”

In addition to Vilsack, many of the panels and breakouts were focused on climate smart agriculture and lowering the carbon intensity score of the industry and the work ACE has already been doing since 2021 with the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) across ten states. “We’re going to have rock solid carbon intensity scores for what every single climate smart ag practice you can imagine does in different soil types and different climates,” said Jennings.

The conference included updates from ACE leadership, including Board President Dave Sovereign, Golden Grain Energy, and ACE Chief Marketing Officer Ron Lamberty, and a keynote address from Lee Blank, CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions. Awards recognized John Christianson, Christianson PLLP; Jeff Carpenter, USDA HBIIP manager; and Randy Gard, Bosselman Enterprises.

Interview with Brian Jennings, ACE 11:18

Photos and audio from the conference can be found in the 2024 ACE Annual Conference Virtual Newsroom

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Summit Carbon Continues to Make Progress

Cindy Zimmerman

Summit Carbon Solutions continues to make progress on the pipeline project that has a footprint in five states.

Summit Carbon CEO Lee Blank told attendees at the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) annual meeting this week that he believes the project will get to completion. “I know what this pipeline means to the ethanol industry today, and I know what the infrastructure means to agriculture today, which is why we have to get it completed,” he said.

Blank says they are currently preparing for a series of public meetings around Iowa approved by the Iowa Public Utilities Commission. Approval by the Iowa Utilities Board in June was a significant milestone for the project.

“It’s a wonderful project to reduce carbon. It’s the next step change project for US agriculture, just like the ethanol industry was in 2004, 2005,” said Blank. “And so I try and communicate that to the to the landowner about what would be if we didn’t have the railroad. That’s physically a taking. Our eminent domain that we may or may not have to use is not a taking. We’re actually just trying to put a piece of property under your property and give it right back to you. So ultimately it’s different.”

The pipeline was originally expected to be operational by the end of this year is now looking to be more like late 2026 or 2027, according to a recent report citing remarks from Summit Agricultural Group CEO Justin Kirchhoff.

Listen to Blank’s remarks here:
ACE 24 Lee Blank, Summit Carbon 23:13

2024 ACE Annual Conference Photo Album

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ACE Wants Corn Ethanol to be the Gold Standard

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) 37th annual conference kicked off in Omaha Wednesday with the theme “The Gold Standard.”

“To future-proof our industry, steps must be taken to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,” said ACE CEO Brian Jennings in his opening remarks. “That’s precisely what ethanol producers have been doing; innovating, optimizing, and becoming more efficient. During this time, ACE has tackled the other half of the carbon intensity equation; how ethanol companies can further reduce their GHG emissions based on farming practices. Our goal; to make corn ethanol the undisputed, gold-standard, clean fuel of the future.”

Both Jennings and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discussed ACE’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which generating a great deal of interest. Over the past few weeks, ACE has conducted meetings with more than 500 farmers interested in learning about the opportunity, and those farmers have expressed interest in enrolling nearly 250,000 acres in ACE’s project, approaching five times available funding.

ACE 24 Brian Jennings remarks 12:35

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Vilsack Addresses ACE Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) this week for the first time since 2012 and he thanked them for the work they have been doing on the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

The RCCP started in South Dakota in 2021 and recently received a $35 million investment through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

“You’ve now expanded it to 10 states,” said Vilsack. “You’re providing resources to help farmers reduce tillage to manage nutrients and to utilize cover crops. You have expanded this program and opportunity to 167 counties across those 10 states. You’ve got the possibility of 10s of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of acres being committed to this in an effort to help 13 ethanol facilities make sure they can comply with whatever the carbon intensity score needs to be to be able to take full advantage of new opportunities. You are creating a database that will be verified and measured…And you’re setting the stage for us to make, I think a more powerful case that ethanol needs to be part of the sustainable aviation fuel future.”

Listen to Vilsack’s remarks here:
ACE 24 Sec. Vilsack remarks 48:40

2024 ACE Annual Conference Photo Album

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Export Exchange 2024 Registration Open

Cindy Zimmerman

Registration is now open for Export Exchange 2024, which will be held in Fort Worth, Texas, Oct. 7-9.

The biennial event, which was first held in 2010, is co-sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), and Growth Energy. It is expected to bring together 200 international buyers and end-users of coarse grains and co-products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), with approximately 300 U.S. suppliers and agribusiness representatives.

U.S. suppliers of coarse grains and co-products, industry representatives and members of the grain trade are encouraged to attend and members of the sponsoring organizations are eligible for discounted pricing during online registration.

Previous editions of the conference have each resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in sales of grains and co-products traded on-site or immediately following the event.

In addition to networking opportunities, the event will focus on timely topics related to exports of U.S. corn, sorghum, barley, DDGS and related products. Council-sponsored trade teams from more than 30 countries will also be in attendance, participating in tours before and after the main conference.

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SAF Information Act Introduced in House

Cindy Zimmerman

Reps. Mike Flood and Troy Carter

U.S. Representatives Mike Flood (R-NE) and Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), last week introduced legislation that would require more reporting of data about Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Information Act would direct the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to include regular reporting of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on their weekly and monthly reports, consistent with other fuel types that are regularly reported on by the agency.

“Nebraska is the second largest producer of biofuels in the nation and we’re constantly working to grow our bioeconomy,” said Rep. Flood. “Sustainable Aviation Fuel is an incredible growth opportunity that can help expand the biofuels industry and our rural economy. This commonsense legislation directs the EIA to start including SAF in data sets they publish, allowing stakeholders and industry to better understand how production is developing. Thank you to my colleagues, especially Congressman Carter, for stepping up and pushing to help include SAF in key reports as the industry takes off.”

“Aviation currently represents approximately 10 percent of our nation’s transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions,” said Congressman Carter, Sr. “Without coordinated action between government and industry, these emissions will continue to increase as more people and goods fly through our skies. Sustainable aviation fuel is an exciting, new green fuel with a proven record of success. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure America is on track to meet the growing demand for cleaner transportation and healthier communities. I’m committed to supporting innovative, eco-friendly aviation solutions like this.”

Original co-sponsors of the bill include Reps. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Don Bacon (R-NE), Dina Titus (D-NV), and Hillary Scholten (D-MI).

Among the industry supporters of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Information Act are the Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, the SAF Coalition, Greater New Orleans Inc., American Sugar Cane League, National Corn Growers Association, Growth Energy, Renewable Fuels Nebraska, the Nebraska Soybean Association, the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.

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USDA Forecasting Record Corn and Soybean Yields

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest Crop Production report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is forecasting record corn and soybean yields this year, with higher total production for soybeans and slightly lower for corn.

Corn production is expected to be down 1% from last year at 15.1 billion bushels while soybean production is forecast to be 10% higher than 2023 at a record high 4.59 billion bushels.

Average corn yield is forecast at record high 183.1 bushels per acre, up 5.8 bushels from last year. NASS also forecasts record high yields in Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. As of Aug. 4, 67% of this year’s corn crop was reported in good or excellent condition, 10 percentage points above the same time last year.

Soybean yields are expected to average a record high 53.2 bushels per acre, up 2.6 bushels from 2023. If realized, the forecasted yields in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio will be record highs.

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EPA’s Rod Snyder Steps Down

Cindy Zimmerman

Snyder addresses ethanol stakeholders in Washington DC March 2024

The head of EPA’s newly created Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced he was stepping down this week, after only five months in the new position.

Rod Snyder became senior adviser for agriculture at EPA in October 2021 after serving as president of Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture for seven years. EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced the new office and Snyder as head of it at Commodity Classic in March.

Two weeks later, Snyder addressed members of the American Coalition for Ethanol meeting in Washington D.C., talking about important topics such as updates to the GREET model for implementation of Inflation Reduction Act tax credits and summer sales of E15.

In an exclusive interview with Agri-Pulse, Snyder said he had no “specific plans for his next career move” but will be focusing on his family and personal life. There has been no statement from EPA yet regarding a replacement for Snyder in the ag office.

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