Iowa Ethanol Production Up, Biodiesel Steady

Cindy Zimmerman

In 2023, Iowa ethanol production increased to a record-breaking 4.6 billion gallons, up from the previous record of 4.5 billion gallons in 2022, according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA).

“Given relatively stable ethanol demand over the last few years, it was a pleasant surprise to crunch the numbers and find Iowa ethanol producers again increased production,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “It is a testament to the innovation and efficiency of both Iowa corn growers and ethanol producers. Looking forward, in order to provide opportunities for further growth in the short term we need to see year-round E15 finalized quickly. But we also have the opportunity to unlock a new market, sustainable aviation fuel, that can drive massive biofuels growth for the next three decades.”

IRFA also reports Iowa biodiesel production last year remained steady at 350 million gallons, nearly the same as the 349 million gallons produced in 2022. Reflecting the expansion of soybean crush capacity nationally and in Iowa, soybean oil increased to 77 percent of the feedstock for Iowa biodiesel production.

The IRFA compiled production information from industry surveys, public reports, and other industry sources.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA

Report: Biofuels Needed for MN Clean Transportation Standard

Cindy Zimmerman

A working group report shows biofuels must be included in a fuel- and technology-neutral Clean Transportation Standard (CTS) for Minnesota to achieve its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals.

“The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association is committed to working with the legislature to ensure any CTS program is fuel- and technology-neutral so that we can meet GHG reduction targets while offering market opportunities to our state’s robust renewable fuel industry,” said Executive Director Brian Werner.

A CTS work group established by the Minnesota legislature last year met over the last 6 months and submitted a final report to the state legislature today with recommendations on how to reduce the carbon intensity (CI) of all fuels used for transportation in Minnesota. The work group has 40 members, including MN Bio-Fuels Executive Director Brian Werner.

“The final report makes it clear that any CTS program must take into consideration Minnesota’s unique characteristics, such as our abundant farmland, resilient farmers, and thriving bioeconomy. That means in order to meet the GHG reduction targets the CTS program must tap into the strength and ingenuity of our state’s agriculture and bioprocessing sectors while supporting communities in rural Minnesota,” Werner said.

In 2023, the Minnesota legislature established the work group and set initial targets for CI fuel reduction of at least 25 percent by 2030, 75 percent by 2040, and 100 percent by 2050.

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News

International Grains Council Considers Biofuels Outlook

Cindy Zimmerman

International Grains Council photo

The United States hosted the 59th International Grains Council Session and 2024 Grains Forum this past week in New Orleans, Louisiana. The IGC discusses world grain market developments, monitors changes in national grain policies and provides critical grain and oilseed market information and analysis to its members.

The event kicked off with a Mississippi river tour sponsored by the North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA), ending at Cargill’s Westwego export terminal. IGC and the United States then hosted the 2024 Grains Forum “Biofuels market outlook and grains market development,” which assessed the current situation of the global biofuels sector and implications of the further developing energy industry will be for food and feed sectors. FAS Administrator Daniel B. Whitley kicked off the session. He was joined by the Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, who highlighted how agricultural sectors can take advantage of the growing global demand for energy by embracing new technologies and innovations in biofuel development.

The forum also included numerous roundtable discussions on topics such as opportunities for biofuel development in global markets, grain and oilseed market outlooks and biofuel perspectives, the impact of biofuels uses on grains trade, and long-term prospects for biofuel development. Throughout the meetings, the U.S. delegates were able to showcase the importance of climate-smart agriculture in future opportunities for biofuels markets.

Biodiesel, biofuels, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, International, Soybeans

Nebraska Retailers Urged to Apply for HBIIP Grants

Cindy Zimmerman

Nebraska is one of 22 states that recently received a portion of $19 million awarded recently by USDA under the Higher Blend Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) with 16 retail locations receiving grants. The Nebraska Ethanol Board is urging retailers across the state to take advantage of the program during the current signup period.

Launched in July 2023 with a $450 million budget, HBIIP aims to boost sustainable fuel markets by supporting ethanol and biodiesel infrastructure improvements. USDA continues to accept applications for funding to expand access to domestic biofuels. These grants will support the infrastructure needed to reduce out-of-pocket costs for transportation fueling and distribution facilities to install and upgrade biofuel-related infrastructure such as pumps, dispensers and storage tanks. There are three quarterly application windows left, and the program ends Sept. 30, 2024. The next application deadline is March 31, 2024.

Check out the Nebraska Ethanol Board’s HBIIP 101 for application deadlines, resources for grant writing and technical support, webinars, and tips on making the application process easier.

E15, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

2024 NEC Scholarship Awards Announced

Cindy Zimmerman

2023 National Ethanol Conference scholarship winners and Foundation board members

The Renewable Fuels Foundation announces eight 2024 recipients of the Robert Sather Memorial Scholarship, which annually offers opportunities for students and young professionals to attend the National Ethanol Conference (NEC), which takes place this year February 19-21 in San Diego.

This year’s scholarship winners are:
– Nicholas Defenbaugh, senior at Orion Technical College and a maintenance technician at Big River Resources
– Troy Hurren, first-year Ph.D. researcher at UC Riverside’s Center for Environmental Research and Technology
– Adam Loker, junior in agricultural communications at Southern Illinois University
– Kabirat Nasiru, data and statistics analyst at the National Science Foundation
– Trevor Pfeifer, staff accountant at Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy in Council Bluffs
– Diana Ramirez, Ph.D. candidate in agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue University
– Jordan Devries, master’s degree student in horticulture at Michigan State University
– Sally Schmidt, master’s degree student in agriculture communications at the University of Missouri

“The Foundation is thrilled to offer a record number of scholarships for our 2024 conference,” said Delayne Johnson, chairman of the Renewable Fuels Foundation and CEO of Quad County Corn Processors. “Our event’s theme this year is ‘Powered by Partnerships’; through our scholarship program, we are proud to partner with the next generation of thought leaders, innovators, and industry influencers. Reviewing these applications and learning about these young people’s goals and accomplishments was an eye-opener—and a true source of optimism for the future of the U.S. ethanol industry. We look forward to interacting with them at the National Ethanol Conference, and the great things they will do with the knowledge they gain and the networking they conduct.”

Now in its 15th year, the NEC scholarship program is named in honor of Robert “Bob” Sather, an educator who helped found RFA member company Ace Ethanol in Wisconsin. Sather was a longtime chairman of the Renewable Fuels Foundation, whose mission is to meet the research and education needs of the U.S. fuel ethanol industry. The aim of the Bob Sather Memorial Scholarship is to reach young adults aspiring to a career related to renewable fuels, open new doors for them, and present new perspectives on ethanol’s place in our world today and in the future. Scholarships totaling nearly $120,000 have been awarded to more than 60 students and young professionals since the program began.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Summit Carbon Solutions Partners with POET

Cindy Zimmerman

Summit Carbon Solutions and POET have announced a partnership to expand the carbon opportunity across the Midwest by incorporating POET’s 12 facilities in Iowa and five facilities in South Dakota into the Summit project. This addition will facilitate the capture, transportation, and permanent storage of 4.7 million metric tons of CO2 annually from the 17 POET bioprocessing plants.

“This initiative is aimed at enhancing the financial profitability of our farmers, contributing to higher land values, and ensuring a more prosperous future for farm families and communities,” said Lee Blank, CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions. “Our focus is on tangible benefits that directly support the backbone of our nation’s agricultural industry.”

The timeline for the addition of these plants is strategically planned. The plants in South Dakota will be included in the upcoming state application, ensuring a streamlined integration into Summit’s existing project framework. Meanwhile, for the plants in Iowa, separate applications will be filed, acknowledging the unique requirements and opportunities in each state. This structured approach allows Summit to efficiently expand our project scope while adhering to local regulations and needs.

biofuels, Carbon, carbon capture, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Whitefox Technologies Adds to Team

Cindy Zimmerman

Whitefox Technologies recently announced it has expanded its team and operations in the United States to support its growing US customer base.

Over the past six months, the team at Whitefox has added close to 10 new employees to its US division. In June, Michael Rice was hired as the Director of Project Delivery and Customer Service, along with Katie Garcia and Zachary McCoy who joined Melanie Zimmer as Customer Support Engineers. On the Commercial team, Jackie Hayes joined as the Business Development Manager and acts as a central person for building relationships with both new and existing customers. Abbie Seibart, Yelizar Rozenberg and Steve Gerberding more recently joined the Project Execution and Engineering team to support the design and project delivery of Whitefox ICE® installations in the US.

Whitefox successfully developed its ICE® portfolio of solutions by working closely with US ethanol producers. Its solutions cut energy and water consumption by 10-50%, aligning with both the US ethanol industry’s Net Zero goals and COP28’s phased approach away from fossil fuels. Having established a 5% market share since 2016, Whitefox is navigating increasing demand and is investing to build a strong US based team to both support its existing customers and deliver new projects.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

Biodiesel Proves its Worth in Cold Weather

Cindy Zimmerman

Biodiesel is able to reduce carbon even in the extreme low temperatures combined with heavy snowfall the nation has seen over the month of January, according to Optimus Technologies which offers the Optimus Vector System with an 89% runtime on 100% biodiesel.

The cities of Ames IA, Madison WI, and Washington DC all utilize Optimus Technologies for their snowplows and are adopting 100% biodiesel (B100) as the decarbonization solution for their heavy-duty fleets as part of their commitment to reducing carbon emissions and transitioning towards renewable energy sources today.

Optimus Technologies founder Colin Huwyler says, “The decision to adopt 100% biodiesel for heavy-duty fleets represents a significant step towards environmental sustainability and decarbonization for these communities while supporting local economies and domestically produced fuels. I am thrilled that Optimus can be a critical partner for these leading cities embracing innovative solutions for cleaner transportation.”

The utilization of B100 is contributing to substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with these cities near and long-term sustainability goals.

Biodiesel, Carbon, Clean Fuels Alliance

NCGA Cobcast on Corn, Ethanol and the RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest episode of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Cobcast podcast features a discussion on how the Renewable Fuel Standard changed the corn industry and made ethanol one of the most important markets for corn.

The podcast features agricultural economist Scott Irwin from the University of Illinois; Julie Busse, a member of the NCGA ethanol team; and Bradley Schad, CEO of the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and Missouri Corn Growers Association. They’ll provide some important context about ethanol’s history as a fuel, and also tell us how you can get involved with critical efforts to secure its future.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

corn, Ethanol, NCGA, Podcasting

Iowa Ethanol Needs Carbon Capture to Benefit from SAF

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa corn farmers and ethanol producers celebrated the start of production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) this week at LanzaJet Freedom Pines Fuels but a new study shows the state needs carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) to reap benefits from increased use of ethanol-to-jet SAF.

“Today and every day going forward, American farmers and ethanol producers are losing demand until we get carbon capture and sequestration online,” stated Monte Shaw, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) executive director, who was in Georgia to witness the LanzaJet grand opening. “LanzaJet is proving that SAF from ethanol is here today. Now it is up to us to produce a qualifying ethanol feedstock. Iowans need to realize that CCS is the key to the new market. Regardless of individual views on carbon policy, our business is making the products our customers want and right now we can’t do that.”

Currently, no Iowa ethanol plant has a carbon intensity score low enough to qualify as a SAF feedstock and only one plant in the entire country is using CCS to produce SAF-friendly ethanol. By contrast, Brazil produces over 7 billion gallons of ethanol with a carbon score expected to qualify for SAF production.

A new study by Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS) has found that fully maximizing the potential of the SAF production in Iowa will have a generation impact.

To meet the demand, DIS projects that Iowa would build:

11 new 200-million-gallon-per-year ethanol plants
5 new ethanol-to-jet SAF production facilities
3 new facilities that convert soybean oil, fats and greases to SAF.

“The construction and ongoing operations of these facilities hold the promise to fundamentally transform rural Iowa in ways even bigger than the current biofuels industry,” stated David Miller, DIS chief economist and report author. “We have the opportunity to set the stage for the next 25 years when corn production will rise to 20-21 billion bushels per year based on current acres. No other market but SAF can utilize that corn. If we do not embrace low carbon ethanol to unlock SAF, we are likely to lose 20 million acres of corn across the Midwest and the $10 billion in farm income those acres create. What will our legacy be?”

IRFA held a press call this week to introduce the study. Listen to it below.
Iowa SAF Study press call 29:00

Audio, aviation biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA, SAF