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NEC scholarship winners David Orreg and Daehwan Kim pose with RFA chairman Mick Henderson

“The bigger the coalition, the more you can get done,” said Henderson. “We have an opportunity to be bold. If we don’t grab opportunities when they’re in front of us, what are we waiting on?”

Opportunities come in the form of working with industries like the refiners and the auto makers. It also comes from new research, like that being done by two Purdue University Ph.D. students, David Orreg and Daehwan Kim, who received the NEC scholarships this year from RFA and the Renewable Fuels Foundation, on which Henderson served for over four years. “Every year I got to meet with the students and talk with them about about what comes next,” he said. “Innovation and entrepreneurship are a big part of this industry.”

Listen to this interview with Mick from NEC: Interview with RFA Chairman Mick Henderson, Commonwealth Agri-Energy

National Ethanol Conference photo album

Military veterans involved in the biofuels industry, like East Kansas Agri-Energy (EKAE) President and CEO Jeff Oestmann, are requesting that the Commander-in-Chief deploy the use of ethanol and other renewable fuels in the fight to make America First in energy.

“Missing from the president’s (America First Energy) plan is any mention of ethanol or biofuels in general – we are seeking to change that,” said Oestmann, who served in the Marines, during the opening general session of the National Ethanol Conference yesterday. He and other U.S. military veterans working in the ethanol industry drafted a letter to President Trump to remind him that “ethanol is a crucial domestic energy source that plays an important role in reducing oil imports.”

Oestmann says nine of the 52 employees at EKAE are veterans, as are a good percentage of the attendees at the conference who were asked to stand – including Geoff Cooper and Robert White with the Renewable Fuels Association. “Working and investing in the ethanol industry allows us to continue honoring our commitment to making America stronger and more independent,” said Oestmann, encouraging all veterans present to sign the letter to President Trump during the conference at the RFA booth.

Listen to Oestmann (Oohrah!) here: EKAE CEO Jeff Oestmann at #RFANEC

National Ethanol Conference photo album

President Donald Trump sent greetings to National Ethanol Conference attendees this week and his regrets that he could not attend.

In a letter to the NEC read by Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen, President Trump reiterated his unwavering support for ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard.

“Rest assured that your president and this administration values the importance of renewable fuels to America’s economy and to our energy independence. As I emphasized throughout my campaign, renewable fuels are essential to America’s energy strategy,” Trump wrote.

“As important as ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard are to rural economies, I also know that your industry has suffered from overzealous, job-killing regulation. I am committed to reducing the regulatory burden on all businesses, and my team is looking forward to working with the Renewable Fuels Association, and many others, to identify and reform those regulations that impede growth, increase consumer costs, and eliminate good-paying jobs without providing sufficient environmental or public health benefit,” Trump added.

Listen to Dinneen read Trump’s letter: Trump letter to #RFANEC

National Ethanol Conference photo album

Reporters covering the National Ethanol Conference in San Diego had questions about a number of topics when given the opportunity to have a press “scrum” with Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen.

The first questions centered on the discussion Dinneen had on stage at the NEC with petroleum industry representatives and how the industries can work together. “I’ve been trying to move the dialogue to a different plane where we’re talking about the future growth and certainty for both our industries,” he said.

One issue Dinneen ran out of time to discuss with the panel was the point of obligation change requested by the petroleum industry under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which was requested by the petroleum industry. “Our view is that it should not change, I think it would create a lot of uncertainty in the program that would not be healthy,” said Dinneen. “What happens with that issue I can’t judge.”

Listen to the reporter Q&A here: RFA CEO Bob Dinneen press questions

National Ethanol Conference photo album