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 The bill would fix outdated EPA regulations and extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to ethanol blends above 10 percent, allowing retailers across the country to sell E15 and other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

Imports of U.S. Ethanol to Brazil Soar

Cindy Zimmerman

As Brazil continues to consider tariffs on imported ethanol from the United States, the country just keeps importing more, remaining by far the top destination in the world for U.S. ethanol.

According to government data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Brazil imported 64.3 million gallons (mg) of U.S. ethanol in May, bringing the total for the first five months of this year to 255 mg of U.S. ethanol, compared to 279 mg for the entire 2016 calendar year. Second place Canada imported less than half the amount Brazil did in May at 31.3 mg of U.S. ethanol.

U.S. ethanol exports totaled 119.2 million gallons (mg) in May, up 37% from April shipments. Year-to-date U.S. ethanol exports stood at 594 mg through May, indicating an annualized export total of 1.43 billion gallons.

Meanwhile, the U.S. brought in 9.6 mg of fuel ethanol in May from Brazil—the first time since August 2016 that any meaningful import volumes have been recorded.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports

Bayer Showcases InVigor® Canola Hybrids

The canola was in full bloom for the Bayer Showcase Plot Tour this week in North Dakota, soaking up the spotlight on the latest InVigor® canola hybrids.

U.S. InVigor Sales Lead Kristie Sundeen says the Liberty Link trait canola hybrid just celebrated 20 years on the market and the most recent hybrids with pod shatter reduction technology are gaining in popularity. “It keeps the canola from shattering as we get closer to harvest, so it allows for straight cutting canola,” said Sundeen. “Probably 50 percent of our market has switched from swathing to straight cut.”

Sundeen says this year they have been working on trials to evaluate the agronomics of the InVigor hybrids. “We have two locations looking into everything from the seed size to seeding depth, to hybrid evaluation, seeding rates, a little bit of everything.”

Learn more about Bayer InVigor® canola hybrids in this interview: Interview with Kristie Sundeen, Bayer, InVigor Canola

Bayer Showcase Plot Tour – North Dakota Photo Album

AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, canola

Happy 5th Birthday E15

Cindy Zimmerman

Scott Zaremba at his Lawrence, Kansas station – July 10, 2012

It was five years ago this week that Scott Zaremba, owner of Zarco 66 in Kansas, made history by becoming the first retailer in the nation to offer 15% ethanol (E15) for sale to motorists. Since that time, the growth of E15 availability has expanded, with nearly 900 stations in 29 states currently offering the fuel blend.

“Thanks in part to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership Program and the industry-funded Prime the Pump initiative, more and more stations are offering E15,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen. Since 2012, Dinneen says more than 1 billion miles have been driven on the fuel without a “single verified case of misfueling, “engine damage,” or inferior performance” reported.

He adds that even greater E15 expansion will occur once retailers can sell E15 year round, instead of being prohibited from selling it in more than two-thirds of the nation’s gasoline market during the summer ozone control season, as legislative and regulatory fixes continue to be pursued.

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Helio Celebrates Win at Iowa Corn 300

Helio Castroneves celebrates Iowa Corn 300 win with Iowa corn growers

The IndyCar spotlight was on Helio Castraneves Sunday as he cruised to his first win in three years at the Iowa Corn 300 and celebrated with his trademark Spider-Man climb up the track fence – giving the #IowaCorn300 hashtag lots of Twitter traction, since it was coincidentally the opening weekend for the new Spider-Man: Homecoming movie.

The race showcases Iowa’s corn farmers, who awarded Helio with the Iowa Corn 300 trophy in victory lane. Iowa Corn Promotion Board President Larry Klever kicked off the race by saying “Drivers, start your Iowa corn ethanol power engines” while Iowa Corn Growers Association President Kurt Hora waved the green flag.

“This event continues to be an excellent platform for promoting and showcasing the true power and performance of ethanol,” said Klever. “Over the past decade, INDYCAR drivers have logged millions of miles racing on E85.”

Hora says the race was a good time to celebrate the Iowa Corn Growers Association 50th anniversary this year. “We thank our Iowa Corn members and their families for helping us celebrate 50 years and another great Iowa Corn 300,” he said.

Iowa corn growers members heard from a number of fans and visitors who stopped by their hospitality tent, including IndyCar driver JR Hildebrand, who finished second in the race, as well Senator Joni Ernst, Reps. Rod Blum, and Dave Loebsack, and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.

AgWired Energy, corn, Ethanol, Events, Indy Racing

Siouxland Ethanol Improves Efficiency with Energy Recovery

Cindy Zimmerman

Siouxland Ethanol is only one month into a new MSW Energy Recovery (MER) project and already results have exceeded expectations.

The Nebraska-based ethanol plant reports that natural gas usage for the month of June was lowered by 17.8%, from 23,200 BTU’s per gallon to 19,058 BTU’s per gallon, which will result in nearly $1 million in savings on an annualized basis.

“Siouxland Ethanol plans to apply for a new carbon index score from the California Air Resources Board (CARB),” said president and CEO Nick Bowdish. “We anticipate our new CI score will be 4-5 points lower than our current score of 72.63. The new CI score, made possible by the MER project, will provide additional value for all of the ethanol that we currently sell in the California market.” Application to CARB for a new lower CI score will be submitted after three months of operational data is gathered.

MSW Consulting, Inc. is the design-build engineering firm that developed the MER project and Siouxland Ethanol is pleased to be the first ethanol plant in the country to install it.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Low Carbon Fuel Standard