ACE Adds New Communications Director

Cindy Zimmerman

Former bioenergy magazine editor Katie Fletcher has joined the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) staff as Communications Director. Fletcher has been a writer for Ethanol Producer Magazine and Biomass Magazine and editor for Pellet Mill Magazine.

“We are excited that Katie Fletcher is bringing her exceptional communication skills, experience in agriculture and biofuels, and enthusiasm for ethanol to the ACE team,” ACE Executive Vice President Brian Jennings said. “Katie is going to develop a stronger and more recognized communications strategy for ACE and our membership.”

Fletcher grew up on the farm of a North Dakota corn grower and holds a Bachelor of Arts in both Communications and Political Science from the University of North Dakota.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News

#Classic17 Features #Propane Power

Cindy Zimmerman

Propane power was on display at the Commodity Classic in many forms. We had the opportunity to walk through what’s new in propane with Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) director of agriculture business development Cinch Munson. Watch the video below and listen to the interview to learn more about propane autogas use on the farm, the new Quick-Connect Nozzle, the changes in the Farm Incentive Program.

Learn more in this interview and the video below: Interview with Cinch Munson, Propane Education and Research


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Enogen Corn Footprint Growing

Cindy Zimmerman

Recently appointed head of Syngenta Enogen Ron Wulfkuhle was at the recent National Ethanol Conference to talk about his new job and the increasing footprint of Enogen corn.

Wulfkuhle, who was formally head of GreenLeaf Genetics, says he jumped at the chance to step into this role at the end of last year. “It’s a really cool place to be in the market because it’s where seed actually comes together with technology, comes together with ethanol,” he said. “We’re creating a market that didn’t exist before.”

Syngenta announced earlier this year that it has reached agreements with ethanol plants from Arizona to Ohio with a combined total capacity of nearly 2 billion gallons. “We’re up to about 24 plants that are using Enogen,” said Wulfkuhle. He adds that Enogen is gaining in popularity because of the value it delivers and the opportunity it provides corn growers to be enzyme suppliers for their participating local ethanol plants.

Learn more in this interview: Interview with Ron Wulfkuhle, Syngenta Enogen

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ACE DC Fly-in During Ag Week

Cindy Zimmerman

fly-in-2017The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is holding its annual Washington, DC fly-in March 22-23 during National Ag Week – the first week of spring.

ACE Director of Strategic Projects Shannon Gustafson says there will be lots going on in the nation’s capitol that week so it is a great time for ethanol supporters to be there. “We are trying to coordinate our messages with some of the other groups that are going to be out there,” said Gustafson. National Ag Day activities are being held on March 21.

This is the 9th annual fly-in and coming during the first 100 days of the Trump presidency gives ethanol advocates a timely opportunity to discuss maintaining the Renewable Fuel Standard and expanding market opportunities for higher ethanol blends. “It gives our members an opportunities to share their stories,” said Gustafson who was at the Commodity Classic last week encouraging farmers to attend. “Even if it’s last minute, we’re happy to have you.”

Click to get registration and hotel information and listen to my interview with Shannon from Classic here: Interview with Shannon Gustafson, ACE

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Bipartisan Bill Would Allow E15 Sales All Year

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) this week introduced legislation that would extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to ethanol blends above 10 percent, which would allow retailers across the country to sell E15 and other higher ethanol blends all year.

“It would also ensure a fair playing field for higher ethanol blends, expanding fuel choices and strengthening our energy diversity,” Fischer said.

“Biofuels give consumers more options and reduce fuel prices at the gas pump,” said Donnelly. I am proud to join my colleague Senator Fischer, along with Senator Grassley, in a bipartisan effort to eliminate the senseless restriction on ethanol producers and consumers,”

“The EPA has never acted on its authority to grant a Reid vapor pressure waiver for E15,” added Grassley. “This bill proposes a legislative fix to fill the void.”

Extending the RVP waiver is a top priority for the ethanol industry.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

RFA CEO Speaks Out

Cindy Zimmerman

After sending the ethanol industry into an uproar this week over his talks with a Trump administration adviser about potential changes to the point of obligation under the RFS, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen visited the Commodity Classic in San Antonio to talk about the issue.

“We remain opposed to changing the point of obligation because we are concerned that it would undermine the integrity of the program by creating a compliance mechanism that is unworkable, or that in a transition there would be disruption in the marketplace that would hurt the industry,” said Dinneen. “If – and only if – those two concerns can be addressed, we’d be okay with moving the point of obligation.”

If the industry is at the same time able to secure additional opportunities for ethanol, Dinneen says “it would be malpractice not to pursue those opportunities.” In addition, Dinneen says there could be an opportunity to require the EPA to revisit carbon profile modeling to reflect benefits of corn ethanol.

Dinneen says he has been discouraged by the way some in the industry have reacted this week without all the facts. “I believe that once the industry fully appreciates what these discussions have been about and understand the narrow parameters we’re talking about that people will appreciate the value it presents,” he said.

Dinneen explains more in this interview and will also talk about the issue on Agri-Talk Friday. Interview with Bob Dinneen at Commodity Classic

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#Ethanol Controversy Talk at #Classic17

Cindy Zimmerman

The controversy that erupted this week within the ethanol industry over alleged backroom deals with the Trump administration to change the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has generated a lot of discussion this week at the annual Commodity Classic in San Antonio. The event is the annual meeting for thousands of corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum farmers from around the country.

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president Wesley Spurlock of Texas says they are talking with all sides about the issue which has pitted ethanol organizations that corn growers support against each other. “I think we set and watch and let cooler minds prevail,” said Spurlock.

Maintaining the RFS remains a top priority for NCGA, as is getting EPA to waive the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) requirement to allow the year round use of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent in all markets, but the organization has never taken a stand on the point of obligation change that was requested by oil refiners. “We know that there is a definite monetary value if we get the RVP fixed,” said NCGA first vice president Kevin Skunes of North Dakota. “We don’t have enough information now to take a stand on the point of obligation.”

NCGA CEO Chris Novak says they want to look at what impact changing the point of obligation might have. “That may change (retailers’) incentive for offer higher blends,” he said.

Listen to comments about the issue during a Commodity Classic press conference: NCGA press conference - ethanol

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GROWMARK Growing as a Propane Retailer

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK ranked as the fifth largest propane retailer in the United States by LP Gas Magazine with sales of over 211 million retail gallons of propane during 2016.

“Propane is used for a lot of different reasons,” says Zach Baugher, GROWMARK Propane Marketing & Technical Services Manager. “Home heat, livestock building heat, grain dryers, and now we’re starting to see an increase in autogas and irrigation motors.”

Baugher says autogas has tremendous growth potential. “We see it as the area that will grow the most between now and 2025,” he said, noting that fueling infrastructure is what is currently restricting expansion. “But we’re really seeing a push for propane-powered school buses right now because of the total cost of ownership savings.”

In this interview, Baugher talks about how GROWMARK is preparing to serve the growing market for propane autogas and how increased use of propane for irrigation motors is being fueled by promotion efforts from the Propane Education and Research Council‘s Farm Incentive Program. Interview with Zach Baugher, GROWMARK Propane

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White House Denies RFS Change Plans

Cindy Zimmerman

After a day of volatile grain trading based on news stories, the White House late Tuesday denied that there was an executive order in the works to change the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Wednesday, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) made inquiries about the matter and issued a statement. “Based on conversations my staff and I had, there’s no reason to believe that such an executive order is pending or imminent,” said Grassley. “As I’ve said before, keeping the point of obligation where it is now, with refiners and importers, has worked and makes sense. Moving the point of obligation from a handful of refiners to hundreds or thousands of small fuel retailers would undermine the integrity and viability of this successful program.”

The industry uproar had an impact on grain trade Tuesday and on the market for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) which would be affected by a change in the point of obligation.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFS

#RFANEC Attendees Introduced to EXIM Bank

Lizzy Schultz

One of the sessions held during last week’s National Ethanol Conference gave attendees the opportunity to learn more about the Export Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), the official export credit agency of the U.S. government.

In her presentation, Sandra Donzella, Deputy Managing Director for the Western Region, explained how EXIM provides help to exporters by filling financing gaps and managing export risks through its loan, guarantee, and insurance programs.

“There are great opportunities available right now for U.S. ethanol exports, and as you seek to do business internationally, you may find a key factor that is likely to impact your ability to win business and succeed internationally is whether or not you have the financial resources and flexibility able to offer your potential customers abroad competitive prices,” Donzella said.

EXIM is not a bank and does not provide many direct loans, instead offering lenders with financial solutions that help exporters to mitigate risk while they work to become more competitive on the global market. Companies of all sizes and within all sectors, including agriculture and ethanol, have utilized the resources available from EXIM.

Some of the financial solutions offered by EXIM include the ability to provide working capital guarantees to commercial lenders who provide financing to U.S. exporters, as well as term financing and export credit insurance.

Listen to the entire presentation here:
#RFANEC Presentation-EXIM Bank

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