ACE Urges #Ethanol Advocates to Call for Support

Joanna Schroeder

Over the past few weeks President-Elect Donald Trump has been announcing his nominations for Cabinet positions including Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While Trump was supportive of biofuels during his campaign, notes Brian Jennings, executive vice president for the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Pruitt has been vocal in his opposition to clean energy including the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) of which he has called “unworkable.”

Jennings explains that all Cabinet nominees, including Pruitt, must have the majority vote of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and 51 votes in the full Senate to earn confirmation. That is why, says Jennings, it is important for senators, who have both leverage and a responsibility, to secure commitments from Pruitt to ensure that programs such as the RFS, and the move to remove regulatory restrictions on the use of E15 and flex fuels are secure, before they vote.

“We are asking ethanol supporters from all walks of life to contact their senators and vet Scott Pruitt properly, and make sure they are comfortable on where he stands on ethanol issues before casting a vote to confirm him to lead EPA,” says Jennings.

ACE is making contacting senators easy with its Action Center. When an ethanol supporter types in his or her information, the result will be the names of his or her two senators. From there he or she can type in a personal message or use talking points that ACE has provided on some of the important questions senators should be asking Scott Pruitt as they meet one-on-one with him during this confirmation process. For example, where will you stand on implementation on the RFS? Will you provide regulatory relief when it comes to reid vapor pressure limitation pressures on E15 and flex fuels?

“Those are the types of assurances or questions we’re encouraging our members to urge their senators to address with Mr. Pruitt and get satisfactory responses from him before a vote to confirm him to lead the EPA,” says Jennings.

Another way to have your voice heard? Participate in ACE’s annual Fly-In. This year it is taking place on March 22-23, 2017 within 100 days of the Trump presidency. And that is what is so vitally important, stress Jennings, because President Trump has a very ambitious agenda he would like to implement during his first 100 days and this new Congress is going to be eager to want to do that.

“So we in the ethanol industry and particularly rural America…have a real opportunity to capitalize on that political goodwill…and try to get some of our priorities addressed in that 100-day time frame,” says Jennings.

To learn more about ACE’s call to action and their Fly-In, listen to my interview with Brian Jennings here: Interview with Brian Jennings, ACE

ACE, Audio, E15, EPA, Ethanol, politics

Fuels America Sends Trump RFS Support Letter

Joanna Schroeder

The renewable fuels industry has come together, through Fuels America, to submit a letter to President-Elect Donald Trump congratulating him on his campaign and his vocal support of biofuels such as ethanol during his campaigning.  The letter, signed by 17 organizations, also calls on the new administration to “stand strong against those who seek to undermine this vital program.”

In the letter the organizations write, “As you noted during the campaign, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) ‘is an important tool in the mission to achieve energy independence for the U.S.’ because ‘energy independence is a requirement if America is to become great again.’ We applaud your commitment to the RFS and share your enthusiasm for reinvigorating the economic powerhouse of America’s heartland.”

The letter continues, “To that end, we look forward to working with your administration to ensure that homegrown renewable fuels like ethanol continue to serve as a source of economic growth in rural communities, a source of affordable fuel options for consumers, and a source of American strength against hostile nations overseas.”

The letter concludes with a call to action for Trump to stand strong against those who wish to undermine the program and an offer of support from the industry to help continue the industry’s growth.

advanced biofuels, Ethanol, Fuels America, RFS

Tobasi Stop Awarded 2016 Distinguished Retailer

Joanna Schroeder

Tobasi Stop, a retail station located in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, has been honored with the 2016 Distinguished Retailer award from the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association. The station sells E15 at three of its retail locations.

“This award recognizes Tobasi Stop’s commitment to offering its customers a clean and locally-produced fuel that is also cheaper than regular unleaded. E15 has been made available in all three Tobasi Stop stations in just 12 months,” said Brian Kletscher, President of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.

Abdalla Tobasi, owner of Tobasi Stop, said of the award, “We decided to offer E15 as it’s a fuel that provides customers a great product at a great price. It also helps our local economy and farmers who are the backbone of our country. Since we began offering E15, more than 60 percent of our sales have been E15.”

Tobasi received the award during an event to launch the Association’s 2016 Annual Report. The report lays out the efforts Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association undertook during the year to grow ethanol use in the state.

“In 2016, the ethanol industry in Minnesota faced new opportunities and challenges. We were well positioned to seize those opportunities and defend the industry from new regulatory challenges,” said Tim Rudnicki, Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association executive director. “We also saw E15 acceptance grow exponentially this year. As at end-October, 4.09 million gallons of E15 has been sold, which is a million more gallons than the volume sold for the whole of 2015. This is a positive development and with more E15 stations coming on board in the next year, we expect Minnesota’s E15 consumption to continue increasing,” he added.

E15, Ethanol

Badger State Ethanol Begins Expansion

Joanna Schroeder

Badger State Ethanol, LLC is beginning an expansion project. The ethanol plant is located in Monroe, Wisconsin, and the improvements will enable the facility to increase ethanol production and performance. When the expansion is completed, ethanol production and co-product output will increase by 45 percent. In addition, the plant is increasing energy efficiency through several projects that will result in a reduction of natural gas usage per gallon by an estimated 20 percent.

The project is a collaboration between Badger State Ethanol and Scott Lucas of LE3, and is slated for completion by the end of first quarter 2017.

Company Announcement, Ethanol

#Ethanol Report on Cabinet Picks

Cindy Zimmerman

ethanol-report-adSome ethanol interests may be getting a little nervous about the oil industry ties of several Trump administration cabinet selections. Those include former Texas Governor Rick Perry for energy secretary, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt for EPA administrator and ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State.

In this Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen says all that really matters is who is in charge: Ethanol Report on Cabinet Picks

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Government, Oil, politics, RFA, RFS

Iowa RFA Announces 2017 Officers

Cindy Zimmerman

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) this week announced new board members and officers for 2017, elected at last week’s annual meeting.

2017 IRFA Board of Directors Officers
President Eamonn Byrne, Lakeview Plymouth Energy
Vice President Steve Bleyl, Green Plains
Treasurer Bill Howell, POET Biorefining – Coon Rapids
Secretary Derek Winkel, Renewable Energy Group, Inc.
Executive Dir. Monte Shaw (non-voting)

The IRFA Executive Committee is comprised of the IRFA Officers and other members as elected by the Board. Elected to join the IRFA Officers on the Executive Committee for 2017 are:

Past President Tom Brooks, Western Dubuque Biodiesel
At-Large Craig Willis, Archer Daniels Midland
At-Large Rick Schwarck, Absolute Energy

“We are grateful for the leadership of Tom Brooks this year and we look forward to confronting the challenges and opportunities in 2017,” said newly-elected President Eamonn Byrne. “We intend to work with President-elect Donald Trump’s administration to implement a robust Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that ensures greater consumer choice at the pump.”

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Iowa RFA

Trump Team Filling Up with Oil Interests

Cindy Zimmerman

Trump picks former Texas Gov. Rick Perry for Energy Secretary

Former Texas Governor Rick Perry, the man who sought a waiver for his state from the Renewable Fuel Standard and was consistently ranked as bad for the ethanol industry during his two presidential bids, has been tapped by President-Elect Donald Trump to be Secretary of Energy. With ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson picked as Secretary of State and Oklahoma AG Scott Pruitt chosen to head the EPA, it may seem that oil-friendly interests have taken a strong position in the new Trump administration.

Some ethanol interests are understandably a little concerned. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) issued a call-to-action to its grassroots membership today, urging ethanol supporters to ask their senators to work during the confirmation process to get some reassurance that Pruitt will support ethanol. ACE notes that Pruitt filed a ‘friend of the court’ brief in support of a lawsuit to overturn EPA’s approval of E15 for 2001 model-year and newer vehicles and has called the RFS “unworkable.” On the other hand, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor last week congratulated Pruitt on his nomination and looks forward to “working with him to carry out President-elect Trump’s strong commitments to protecting the Renewable Fuel Standard.”

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who has accepted the position as Trump’s ambassador to China, got his assurances about Pruitt from the president-elect himself. During his weekly press conference Monday, Branstad said he talked to Trump during his “Thank You” tour in Des Moines last week. “First thing Trump told me is ‘don’t worry about him, he’s going to be for ethanol,'” Branstad said, laughing. “I think that was a condition he laid out when he appointed him.”

Listen to Branstad’s comments here: Gov. Branstad on Trump and RFS

ACE, biofuels, Ethanol, Growth Energy, RFS

Green Biologics Ships First Butanol Order

Joanna Schroeder

UK-based Green Biologics has shipped its first customer order of biobased n-butanol and acetone from its manufacturing biorefinery in Little Falls, Minnesota. The company has developed several partnerships that include distribution agreements with Acme Hardesty, Nexeo Solutions, and Caldic, and has also developed a strategic partnership with HOC Industries. The facility was purchased by Green Biologics in December 2014 from Central Minnesota Ethanol Cooperative and was renamed to Central MN Renewables (CMR). Over the past 18 months, the company retrofitted the 21 million gallon per year ethanol plant with advanced fermentation technology to produce biobased n-butanol and acetone and expects the facility to be producing at full capacity in the next 12-18 months.

Photo Credit Green Biologics

“The start of our first commercial facility is a critical milestone in building our position within the industry as a global renewable speciality chemicals company,” said Sean Sutcliffe, Chief Executive of Green Biologics. “We’re very proud to announce the start of shipments to key customers in highvalue markets and look forward to working with existing and new collaborators to bring a wide range of sustainable, environmentally-friendly products to shelves.”

The company brands its biobased products, alternatives to petrochemical materials including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, personal care and consumer products. Green Biologics sells its products under the name BioPure, which has received USDA BioPreferred status. The company offers a wide portfolio of 100 percent bio-based products in addition to n-butanol and acetone, including high purity 100 percent bio-based isopropyl alcohol and a range of specialty esters of n-butanol, isopropanol and other biobased alcohols.

David Anderson, global vice president of marketing for Green Biologics, added, “There’s a clear and urgent demand within consumer and industrial markets for more sustainable products that can deliver improved performance over traditional petro-based commodities. We’re meeting this need by creating high-value, performance-driven speciality chemicals and formulated products, all sourced from the chemicals produced at our commercial facility, and continuing to work in collaboration with industry leaders who share our vision.”

biobutanol, biochemicals, bioproducts

Turf Feeding Kicks off Hydroponic #Biofuels Project

Joanna Schroeder

Turf Feeding Systems has been selected to design, build and manage a unique hydroponic biofuels project in Mexico for Zphere Works. The biojet fuel will be produced from Jatropha grown on an 80,000 acre Monarca plantation in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. Turf Feeding Systems says this is the first project to bring together products and technologies to create a large-scale high yield hydroponic agriculture.

Hydroponic greenhouse – Photo Credit: Turf Feeding Systems

“Hydroponics is the high end of horticulture with high tech irrigation, fertigation and grow lighting to push greenhouse plant production to maximum limits. However, we are doing all that and more taking the crop out of the greenhouse and putting it on 80,000 acres to produce high yield crops for biojet fuel and food,” said Michael Chaplinsky, President of Turf Feeding Systems.

Chaplinsky continued, “We have a worldwide team of agronomists, engineers and scientists who open new pathways to grow plants and crops with yields of 50% to 100% over traditional field production. We are using proprietary irrigation, special fertigation and probiotic organics, which will reduce irrigation water 50%, reduce fertilizer and chemicals by 60% and produce ultra-high yield crop production.”

The project will also utilize satellite pastures, food crops and greenhouses for food production. The plantation will also be used as a teaching tool for rural farmers in the region. Chaplinsky said he believes the project will become a cornerstone for a new sustainable ag model for the region.

“A research and development (R&D) center will be the first phase of the Monarca project, with a teaching and marketing center. The R&D center will have a complete genetic and testing laboratory, a hydroponic growing greenhouse and field testing of Jatropha and other crops. This will change agriculture and build the economy of the rural Yucatan peninsula,” Chaplinsky concluded.

advanced biofuels, Agribusiness, aviation biofuels

Half of U.S. Breaks Through ‘Blend Wall’

Joanna Schroeder

New data from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) finds that nearly half of the U.S. has broken through the so-called “blend wall” in 2015.  Gasoline purchased in 25 states as well as the District of Columbia, contained more than 10 percent ethanol on average. This, says the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), demonstrates that the spurious “E10 Blend Wall” is crumbling. In 2015, DOE data showed the average ethanol blend rate was 9.91 percent. In response to the data, RFA says its “completely undermines” the proposed legislation to reduce the amount of ethanol content in the country’s fuel supply to no more than 9.7 percent from Reps. Bill Flores (R-Texas) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

Based on the 2015 data published by the DOE’s Energy Information Administration,  the state with the highest average ethanol blend was Minnesota with 12.5 percent. On average, ethanol fuels such as E85 are available at nearly one out of every eight stations in the state. Iowa comes in second with an average of 11.5 percent up from 10.3 percent in 2014 and 9.5 percent in 2013.

Six coastal states also exceeded 10 percent of ethanol blended into their gasoline including California, Oregon, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Louisiana, with no states, for the first time ever, having an average ethanol content below 9 percent although Vermont ranked last with 9.18 percent. These numbers are up from 2014 when the national average was 9.83 percent and 22 states plus the District of Columbia were above 10 percent.

RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen said the DOE data underscore that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is working as intended to drive increased use of ethanol and other biofuels. “As E15 and ethanol flex fuels like E85 have gained in popularity in recent years, the so-called blend wall has been reduced to a pile of rubble,” Dinneen said. “This data clearly shows that the RFS is delivering on its promise to expand consumer access to lower-cost, cleaner fuel options at the pump. And with EPA putting the RFS back on track in 2017, the share of renewables in our nation’s motor fuel will only continue to grow.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, RFS