SAF Coalition Welcomes Ten New Members

Cindy Zimmerman

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition this week welcomed ten new companies and organizations into its membership, bringing its total count to more than 50. Those joining the coalition include recognized leaders in energy, aviation, aerospace and SAF production.

The SAF Coalition, founded in April 2024, supports policies that will expand the supply of low-carbon, commercially competitive SAF and create jobs while increasing U.S. fuel production and innovation. Its membership includes airlines and aircraft operators, agricultural enterprises, aircraft and aircraft equipment manufacturers, airports, technology developers, labor unions, and biofuel producers.

The Coalition’s ten new members are:
• Biotechnology Innovation Organization
• EarthOptics
• Honeywell
• Infinium
• Marquis Sustainable Aviation Fuel
• National Air Carrier Association
• Shell
• SkyNRG
• Southwest Airlines
• Syzygy Plasmonics

BIO, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, SAF

Clean Fuels Sues EPA Over Heavy-Duty Truck Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

Clean Fuels Alliance America is the latest group to file a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over emissions standards.

Clean Fuels asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to review the Environmental Protection Agency’s final Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3. In the final rule, EPA evaluated a range of potential alternative fuel and engine configurations for 2027-2032 heavy duty vehicles. However, the agency specifically declined to consider biodiesel and renewable diesel in combination with existing engines that are already widely available.

“EPA put its thumb on the scale to favor electric and hybrid vehicles that are not guaranteed to be widely available in the timeframe addressed by this rule,” said Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs for Clean Fuels Alliance America. “The agency refused to consider the increasing availability of biodiesel and renewable diesel as an achievable, affordable technology for meeting the goals of the heavy-duty truck rule by 2032.”

Multiple organizations have filed lawsuits against aspects of EPA’s recently finalized emissions standards representing biofuels producers, farmers, truckers, car dealers, and the oil industry.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance, EPA

Brazil Upholds 18% Tariff on U.S. Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Despite appeals from the U.S. government, ethanol exporters and importers, Brazil’s Ministry of the Economy (CAMEX) has chosen to continue its 18 percent tariff on U.S. ethanol.

U.S. ethanol interests, with support from the Brazil Association of Fuel Importers (ABICOM) and the U.S. government, previously submitted comments advocating for permanent tariff removal during a public consultation period that ended on April 11.

In a joint statement, the Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. Grains Council and Growth Energy, reacted to CAMEX’s decision.

“This tariff has placed a heavy financial burden on Brazilian consumers in a misdirected effort to protect the domestic Brazilian ethanol industry, which enjoys free and increasing access to the U.S. market. The U.S. industry remains united in seeking parity with Brazilian exports with reciprocal market access and will seek to take additional measures to rectify this unfair tariff treatment. We are committed to striving for fair and balanced trade in ethanol with Brazil.”

Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, Trade

NCGA and AFBF File Second Lawsuit Against EPA

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency was hit with another lawsuit today over its emissions standards, this time challenging the agency’s heavy-duty vehicle emissions standards for model years 2027-2032.

The National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, and the American Petroleum Institute filed the lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals claiming EPA exceeded its authority with “targets that rely too heavily on electrification and do not fully appreciate the role low-carbon fuels like ethanol play in the transportation sector.”

“EPA has tried to impose a one-size-fits-all approach to addressing climate change by prioritizing electric vehicles over other climate remedies like corn ethanol,” said Minnesota farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Harold Wolle.

The groups also noted that EPA’s standard will put America’s farmers and their livestock at risk and would have a devastating impact on America’s truckers and the supply chain. “Small business truckers makeup 96% of trucking and could be regulated out of existence if the EPA’s unworkable heavy-duty rule comes into effect,” said Todd Spencer, president, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.

This is the third lawsuit filed against EPA over its emissions standards in the past week.

AFBF, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

RFA and NFU File Separate Lawsuit Over EV Mandate

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association and National Farmers Union have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging recently finalized light- and medium-duty vehicle emissions standards.

This action is separate from the lawsuit filed last week by National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, and American Petroleum Institute to “ensure that ethanol producers and farmers have a strong and independent voice in the proceedings.”

RFA and NFU claim in the lawsuit that “EPA clearly lacked the authority to adopt the regulation, which essentially mandates the production of battery electric vehicles while, at the same time, ignoring other technologies—like low-carbon ethanol and flex fuel vehicles—that reduce emissions from light- and medium-duty transportation.”

“EPA grossly exceeded its statutory authority by finalizing regulations that effectively mandate the production of EVs, while blatantly excluding the ability of flex fuel vehicles and low-carbon, high-octane renewable fuels like ethanol to achieve significant vehicle emissions reductions,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “By relying on the false premise that battery electric vehicles have ‘zero emissions’ and no impact on the climate, the regulation essentially forces automakers to swiftly ramp up the production of EVs and phase out liquid-fueled vehicles that could actually deliver the same—or better—emissions reductions. America’s ethanol producers and farmers would be severely injured if EPA’s regulation were allowed to stand.”

Electric Vehicles, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NFU, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Farmers, Car Dealers and Oil Companies Sue Over EV Push

Cindy Zimmerman

An unlikely coalition of farmers, car dealers, and the oil industry have joined together to push back against the push for mandated electric vehicles.

The National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation and six auto dealers representing 16 brands and collectively operating dozens of dealerships in major markets across the country joined the American Petroleum Institute today in filing a lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s light-duty and medium-duty vehicle emissions standards for model years 2027-2032. The groups said EPA exceeded its congressional authority with the regulation and rendered a decision that values one tool for fighting climate change over others.

NCGA and AFBF argue that the emissions standards, which require 68% of new passenger vehicles and 43% of new medium-duty trucks and vans to be electric by 2032, “ignore the proven benefits corn ethanol offers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions” and will hurt farmers by driving up the cost of farm vehicles and forcing farmers to “rely on a charging network that does not yet exist in rural areas.”

AFBF, Ag group, corn, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

Renewable Diesel Growth Impacts Feedstock Trade

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) reports that tremendous growth in demand for renewable diesel over the past few years is resulting in significant impacts to global feedstock trade.

Renewable diesel, like biodiesel, is produced from the same renewable feedstocks such as vegetable oils, animal fats, or used cooking oil (UCO). The difference is that renewable diesel is produced using a hydrogen treatment which makes it chemically equivalent to petroleum diesel and can therefore be blended at higher levels and transported using existing pipelines.

As a result, the United States is rapidly expanding imports of animal fats and vegetable oils to both use as feedstocks for renewable diesel production and to backfill other feedstocks, like soybean oil, that have been diverted to renewable diesel production.

The report says the drastic expansion of renewable diesel production has been policy driven and while it is expected to continue to grow and alter feedstock markets the rate of growth “will be highly dependent on federal and state policies, availability of feedstocks, and sustained U.S soybean meal export gains.”

Read the report.

Biodiesel, biofuels, renewable diesel, USDA

Iowa Corn Pumped for NASCAR Series Race

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa Corn is pumped up for the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race in the state, happening this weekend in Newton, Iowa. The Iowa Corn 350, Powered by Ethanol, will showcase the performance of ethanol at the fastest short-track on the planet, which is surrounded by corn fields.

“As a farmer, seeing NASCAR run on ethanol is a proud moment. It’s proof that our hard work growing renewable crops can power something as thrilling as a race car, while also driving us towards a greener future.” stated Stan Nelson, a farmer from Middletown and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board President. “Gearing up for the weekend ahead, I am pleased to share with the NASCAR family how we utilize higher blends of ethanol to make a sustainable difference every day with a cleaner-burning, more affordable fuel option at the pump.”

The Iowa Corn 350, Powered by Ethanol, will take place at 6 p.m. CT, Sunday, June 16, 2024, and be shown live on USA Network.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NASCAR

Study Shows Plug-in Hybrid Flex Fuel Vehicle Advantages

Cindy Zimmerman

A new study released by the Renewable Fuels Association this week documents the economic and environmental benefits of the world’s first plug-in electric hybrid flex fuel vehicle (PHEFFV), concludes that it offers distinct advantages over fully electric vehicles.

Last year, RFA converted a 2022 Ford Escape plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to a flex fuel vehicle capable of operating on gasoline and any blend of denatured ethanol up to 85 percent. After a 15-month study on the vehicle, RFA found some impressive results when using E85, including:
– Reductions in lifecycle GHG emissions that rival, or outperform, the GHG reductions achievable with many battery electric vehicles;
– Substantial reductions (when compared to gasoline-powered vehicles) in emissions of harmful tailpipe pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and carbon monoxide (CO);
– Lower cost of ownership and operation (purchase price, fuel cost per mile) than a similar BEV; and
– No meaningful loss in fuel economy, with the Escape experiencing just a 1.5 percent reduction in miles-per-gallon compared to the EPA estimated rate using E10.

According to the report, “Combining plug-in technology and flex fuel capability makes this vehicle the most adaptable and flexible in the world. It can be refueled with any fuel at any time, offering optimal convenience and affordability to the consumer. The PHEFFV overcomes many of the barriers to BEV adoption commonly cited by consumers, including limited driving range, high purchase price, reliability, and lack of refueling (recharging) infrastructure.”

Read more from RFA.

E85, Electric Vehicles, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

FEW Awards Honor Industry Leaders

Cindy Zimmerman

Jeanne McCaherty, Guardian Energy, received Women in Ethanol award

Jeanne McCaherty, CEO of Guardian Energy Management and former Renewable Fuels Association chair, was recognized with this year’s Women in Ethanol Award (WIE) at the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW) Tuesday.

McCaherty was awarded this honor during the second annual award ceremony. Ethanol Producer Magazine recognized women within the ethanol industry and highlighted the crucial role women play in the growth and success of the ethanol industry. The award ceremony celebrated all women who have made significant contributions to the industry, whether it be through scientific research, business leadership, or advocacy efforts.

In addition to McCaherty, David Zimmerman, CEO of Big River Resources, LLC, and Mark Yancey, CTO of D3MAX and SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC, were recognized at the 40th annual FEW being held in Minneapolis this week.

Zimmerman received the 2024 High Octane Award for his leadership, integrity, and passion for the biofuels industry. Zimmerman has led the company to achieving financial goals, prioritizing a safe work environment, and guiding the industry’s trade organization. Along with being CEO, he is a current board member of Growth Energy, Renewable Fuels Association, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Illinois Renewable Fuels Association, and Wisconsin Renewable Fuels Association.

Yancey was awarded the 2024 Award of Excellence for contributions to the industry through research, technical advisory, and development activities. Yancey has over 30 years of experience in the ethanol industry including project development, technology commercialization, and has assisted in developing seven bioenergy plants. His current responsibilities include the development and design of the D3MAX process and licensing the D3MAX technology to customers. The first commercial D3MAX plant is in operation at Ace Ethanol in Stanley, Wisconsin.

Other honors presented Tuesday at FEW include the 2024 recipients of the Kathy Bryan Memorial Scholarship, Cali Gutz and Peyton Graves. Cali will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Peyton will be attending Purdue University–West Lafayette this fall. In addition, former BBI owner Mike Bryan received the 2024 Distinguished Service Award for his advocacy, leadership, and commitment to ethanol production worldwide.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO congratulated all of this year’s honorees, in particular Zimmerman and McCaherty who serve on the RFA board.

“RFA is thrilled to see David Zimmerman and Jeanne McCaherty being recognized for their invaluable contributions to the U.S. ethanol industry,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Our association—and the entire ethanol industry—is lucky to have such thoughtful and passionate leaders in our midst. The industry as we know it today simply would not exist without the vision and dedication of people like Jeanne and David. We congratulate them on their well-deserved awards and look forward to celebrating their achievements today at the FEW.”

The 40th annual FEW began on Monday, June 10, and will run through Wednesday, June 12 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, FEW, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA