Kwik Star Adds 17 E15 Locations in Iowa

Cindy Zimmerman

Kwik Star has recently added E15 to 17 of its Iowa locations, bringing the total E15 fueling locations for the state now to 121.

Kwik Trip – which operates in Iowa under the name “Kwik Star” – intends to add E15 to almost all of its 550 locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa over the next few years.

“Kwik Trip prides itself in offering the best customer experience and the most choices,” said Kwik Trip General Manager of Fuel Procurement and Marketing Joel Hirschboeck. “This is just another example of how we provide industry leading guest service, by offering a new product with more octane at a lower cost than Regular Unleaded.”

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw says the recent E15 openings makes Kwik Star Iowa’s 2nd biggest provider of E15 for drivers. “Kwik Star is bringing E15 to new areas around the state and introducing consumers to a high-preforming fuel that reduces cancer-causing chemicals and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Shaw.

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA

Sec. Perdue Defends Trump Budget

Farmers and ranchers are concerned about President Trump’s “Taxpayer First” budget released this week but Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue defended significant cuts to USDA in the name of balancing the budget.

“I don’t think there’s any reason to sugar coat this,” Perdue said to reporters on a press call Tuesday. “But I believe the people knew what they were doing when they elected President Trump…I think many believe as I do – I just don’t think it’s moral to continue to kick a $20 trillion debt down to our grandchildren.”

The budget cuts USDA staff, crop insurance, conservation programs, and food assistance and eliminates funding for some programs including the Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development (FMD) program and the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. Joining Perdue on the call was Acting Deputy Secretary and Budget Officer Michael Young, who ran USDA for the first four months of this year and was the one who actually worked on the budget before Secretary Perdue was confirmed. He explained the budget cuts and answered all of the reporters’ questions.

Perdue and Young will both testify before the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture today at 10 am Eastern time.

Listen to the press conference here. USDA budget presser

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, Audio, USDA

Branstad Confirmed as Chinese Ambassador

Cindy Zimmerman

Biofuels interests are pleased with final approval of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad as U.S. Ambassador to China by a vote of 82-13 in the Senate.

“While we hate to lose such a passionate supporter for renewable fuels as governor, there are a number of vital trade issues with China that have a major impact on our industry,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw. “With over three decades of international trade experience and his personal relationship with the Chinese president dating back just as long, we look forward to working with Ambassador Branstad in his new role to knock down artificial trade barriers between U.S. ethanol and distillers grains and China.”

Branstad is the longest serving governor in history and upon his resignation Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. “Throughout her tenure as a state senator and Iowa’s Lt. Governor, Kim Reynolds has been a steadfast advocate for renewable fuels,” said Shaw.

The Iowa Biodiesel Board also welcomed Reynolds as Governor. “We have no doubt she will be an extremely capable governor who will continue to care deeply about science, agriculture and biofuels, recognizing the benefits these key industries bring to our state,” said Executive Director Grant Kimberly.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Cellulosic and Retail Companies Lobby for E15 Waiver

Cindy Zimmerman

Cellulosic biofuel and retail fuel companies have joined the effort to urge the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to pass legislation that would extend the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol (E15) and allow sales of higher blends year-round across the nation.

The Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act was introduced by Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Thune (R-SD), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) and 13 other bipartisan Senators in March. Novozymes, Protec Fuel, and Kwik Trip were among the companies that joined Growth Energy to urge passage of the bill.

“We see a legislative fix to RVP as the strongest signal to continue to spur business and jobs growth and put more money back in American pockets,” said Adam Monroe, President, Americas, Novozymes, a company with over a decade of experience developing enzyme technologies to convert agricultural waste into low-carbon cellulosic ethanol.

“There is no reason for the current RVP burden that blocks retailers, like us, from offering our customers less expensive, earth-friendlier fuel choices year-round,” said Steve Walk, COO of Protec Fuel.

“This long-overdue fix simply holds E15 to the same standard as conventional blends, which means more affordable options for our customers and fewer baseless restrictions on retailers,” said Joel Hirschboeck, General Manager of Fuel Procurement and Marketing of Kwik Trip.

He added that Kwik Trip plans to add E15 at more than 500 locations in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin over the next few years.

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Novozymes, Protec Fuel, Retailers

Ethanol and Biodiesel Groups Testify on Trade Issues

Cindy Zimmerman

Bob Dinneen, RFA and Anne Steckel, NBB testify at Commerce Department hearing

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) both testified at a U.S. Department of Commerce hearing Thursday to provide input on a recent Executive Order concerning significant trade deficits.

The NBB testified about the harm being caused to the U.S. biodiesel industry from increasing volumes of imports from Indonesia, while RFA was focused on China’s recent protectionist barriers imposed on U.S. ethanol and dried distillers grain.

“Between 2014 and 2016, the trade imbalance with respect to biodiesel has grown 95 percent,” testified Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs at NBB. “Unfair trade practices have caused this significant surge in biodiesel imports and growing trade deficit, such as massive subsidization by the Indonesian government and dumped pricing by Indonesian biodiesel producers and exporters.” NBB filed an antidumping and countervailing duty petition in March making the case that Argentine and Indonesian companies are violating trade laws by flooding the U.S. market with dumped and subsidized biodiesel.

“China’s recent anti-dumping and countervailing tariffs on ethanol and DDGS are significantly injuring U.S. ethanol producers and farmers, and undermining the substantial investments our industries have made in developing a trade relationship with the country,” said RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen, who noted that China’s recent actions have contributed to lower prices for ethanol and DDGS. Ethanol prices have fallen 15 percent since mid-December 2016, while DDGS prices have fallen steadily since the summer of 2016. Today, DDGS prices are approximately 40 percent lower than in June 2016.

Read more about RFA’s testimony

Read more about NBB’s testimony

Biodiesel, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, International, NBB, RFA

Iowa Gets 104th E15 Station

Cindy Zimmerman

Decorah, Iowa has become the 104th E15 retail station in the Hawkeye State.

“E15 and E85 are growing in popularity in Iowa and we want our customers to have these high-quality fuel choices,” said Craig Patel, Manager of Decorah Mart, located in northeast Iowa. “We’re providing our customers with more value by selling E15 for 10 cents under E10 and they say they still enjoy the same fuel economy. And we want to be a leader in the community by offering earth-friendly ethanol blends that contribute to the local economy.”

Decorah Mart received a cost-share grant from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) to help upgrade their fueling infrastructure. RFIP grants can cover up to $50,000 in installation costs per project, with a five-year commitment to sell E15, E85 or biodiesel blends.

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Fishing Tournament Owner Defends Ethanol Ad

Cindy Zimmerman

As the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) expanded its boating and ethanol advertising campaign this week, the owner of a Missouri-based fishing tournament defended the ads against an attack by a boating organization.

BoatUS sent out a scathing press release attempting to discredit RFA’s campaign and associated infographic by pointing out the “hard truth” as opposed to RFA “spin,” including:
SPIN: E10 is the “preferred choice by professionals” with supporting quotes by the National Boat Racing Association and Crappie Masters.
HARD TRUTH: Both organizations are sponsored by the RFA.

The hard truth is that RFA’s association with Crappie Masters is completely transparent and noted in the press release announcing the campaign. “It is true that RFA is a first year sponsor of Crappie Masters, but not the Anglers, who have spoken volumes in support of E10 in their motors,” said Crappie Masters president Mike Vallentine. “Nearly three years ago, Crappie Masters began a bonus program, offering additional winnings for the teams that use E10 in their motors. To date, every winning team has collected the E10 bonus, with no reported engine issues.”

Vallentine takes issue with BoatUS saying that phase-separated fuel is “a result of too much water in moisture-attracting ethanol fuels” saying, “Ethanol does not cause water phase separation. Bad gasoline ingredients do. Ethanol is a drying agent.”

“Crappie Masters is a proud supporter and believer in E10 fuel, as well as a proud supporter of America’s farmers, and believes fuel grown at home is the best option for everyone,” Vallentine adds.

Boats, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Novozymes Expanding Nebraska Facility

Cindy Zimmerman

On Tuesday, Novozymes announced a new $36 million investment at its Blair, Nebraska manufacturing facility, which produces enzymes for renewable fuels.

“Nebraska’s biofuels industry has been a focus for my administration on trade missions because of the international investment we’ve seen here in Nebraska,” said Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts. In 2015, Governor Ricketts visited Novozymes’ headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark to meet with senior executives, strengthen Nebraska’s relations with the company, and encourage further investment in the state.

“With stable, clear policies like the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) that encourage competition at the gas pump, we will continue to grow the market for American ethanol,” said Novozymes Americas President Adam Monroe. “This means expanding facilities like ours here in Blair, adding jobs, and generating more revenue for American towns and workers by increasing domestic production of liquid transportation fuels.”

While the company’s North American presence includes its headquarters in Franklinton, NC, and 10 additional facilities in the United States and Canada, Novozymes’ Blair plant currently serves as its only American facility dedicated to the growing biofuel industry.

enzymes, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Novozymes

NBB Submits Regulatory Comments to EPA

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) submitted comments this week to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to a call for input on burdensome regulations.

NBB provided comments on five subjects: (1) funding for additional guidance and compliance assistance, (2) RFS implementing regulations, (3) the proposed Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) rule, (4) Product Transfer Documents (PTD) and (5) vehicle regulations.

Specifically, NBB requests that EPA add approved feedstocks to Table 1, clearly define heating oil for biodiesel, raise the threshold for upward delegation of RIN assignments, provide funding for additional guidance and compliance assistance, reconsider the CARBIO program, and maintain or increase RFS volume requirements. In the comments, NBB also suggests changes to the proposed Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS) rule, Product Transfer Documents requirements and vehicle regulations.

Biodiesel, EPA, RFS

Mexico Important Trading Partner for Corn

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts asked grain industry officials from Mexico and the United States join him Tuesday for a press conference to highlight the importance of Mexico to U.S. agriculture and how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has benefited both countries.

“Bilateral trade with Mexico has helped grow agriculture in our state over the years,” said Governor Ricketts. “Mexico is Nebraska’s largest export market for corn, dairy, sugar, and sweeteners, and second largest market for soybeans, wheat, sorghum, and distillers grains. All of this combined accounts for thousands of Nebraska jobs. I’m encouraged by local and national discussions to expand trade, and am committed to helping grow our trade relationship with Mexico so we can continue to grow Nebraska.”

The Nebraska Corn Board, the U.S. Grains Council, and the National Corn Growers Association are hosting a team of Mexican grain and industry officials in Nebraska for a town hall and industry meetings. Approximately 20 percent of U.S. corn and corn co-products are exported and Mexico is the largest market for U.S. corn. In 2016, U.S. corn exports to Mexico totaled 13.3 million metric tons (523.5 million bushels) of corn, valued at $2.5 billion. The U.S. also exported 1.9 million metric tons of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a byproduct of ethanol.

“Having these industry leaders here in the United States this week to share how NAFTA has impacted their companies and their country is invaluable to helping us communicate how important strong trade policy with our nearest neighbors is to the continued success of U.S. grain producers and exporters,” said USGC CEO Tom Sleight.

Jon Doggett, NCGA executive vice president and head of public policy, says NAFTA has been a major catalyst for economic growth in the corn industry and Mexico is the largest market for U.S. corn. “We will work closely with the Trump Administration and Congress to build on the successful trade relationship we have with our neighbors in Mexico, and make sure a modernized NAFTA is a win-win for both our countries,” said Doggett, who stresses calling changes in NAFTA “updating” or “modernizing” rather than “renegotiating.”

Listen to the press conference here: Nebraska presser on trade with Mexico

Agribusiness, AgWired AgNewsWire, AgWired Energy, Audio, corn, Grains, NCGA, Trade, USGC