Iowa Energy Plan Unveiled

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds today unveiled the Iowa Energy Plan, which “assesses current and future energy supply and demand, examines energy policies and programs and identifies emerging challenges and opportunities.”

“Iowa is a leader in biofuels and renewable energy,” said Lt. Governor Reynolds. “That leadership was achieved because of thoughtful planning. Creating a statewide energy plan will keep Iowa at the forefront of energy policy and allow our state to develop a path toward the future.”

The Iowa Energy Plan’s vision statement represents the collective understanding of Iowa’s ideal future in terms of its energy use and resources. The vision considers a planning horizon of 10 years, with 15 objectives and 45 strategies outlined in the 100+ page report.

Several key areas that could positively impact Iowa’s energy economy were identified in the plan, including technology-based research and development, alternative fuel vehicles, and biomass potential.

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw says he is pleased to see the plan intends to build on the role biofuels have played in powering Iowa’s economy “as there is much more biofuels and biomass can do for Iowa in the future. Optimizing vehicles for biofuels and empowering consumers to choose higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel will be keys to unlocking this potential.”

Learn more about the Iowa Energy Plan.

Biodiesel, biofuels, biomass, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Iowa RFA Announces New Communications Director

Cindy Zimmerman

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has announced Cassidy Riley as Communications Director for the organization.

Riley most recently worked as the Central Iowa Field Director for Senator Chuck Grassley’s 2016 reelection campaign. Prior to the campaign she clerked in the Iowa House of Representatives for Rep. Tom Moore. “I’m thrilled to join the IRFA team because I get to use my skills in communications to advocate for the growth of something I believe in – renewable fuels that are good for our economy, environment, and national security,” she said.

Riley is a December 2015 graduate from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Political Science. her responsibilities with Iowa RFA will include media and member relations, social media and web communication, and promotion of biodiesel and biodiesel co-products.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Iowa RFA

Waterford School District Debuts Propane Buses

Joanna Schroeder

Waterford School District (WSD), in Michigan, has debuted 10 new school buses powered by propane autogas. The school district joins nearly 30 others in the state who are also fueling their bus fleets with propane. Each Blue Bird Vision Propane bus is retrofitted with propane fuel systems manufactured by Michigan-based ROUSH CleanTech.

“Prior to joining WSD, I had a very positive experience with propane-fueled buses,” said WSD Superintendent Keith Wunderlich. “School buses operating on propane are environmentally friendly and reliable in cold weather conditions, plus offer cost saving benefits.” Another reason WSD purchased propane buses, said Wunderlich, is because they provide the safety of a quieter running engine.

Wunderlich also noted that although the initial purchase cost of each propane-autogas bus is higher the “savings in overall cost of ownership versus a diesel bus is worth the initial cost.”

The Blue Bird Propane bus is equipped with a Ford Motor Company 6.8L V10 engines. According to ROUSH CleanTech, when compared to diesel, each bus emits 80 percent less smog-producing hydrocarbons and eliminates nearly all particulate matter. The WSD fleet of propane buses will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by around 10,000 pounds and particulate matter by an estimate of 315 pounds each year as compared to the diesel buses they replaced.

“Waterford School District joins hundreds of school districts across America making the decision to find fuel alternatives for their buses,” added Brian Carney, executive director of school bus and customer support for ROUSH CleanTech. “Propane is a proven choice that costs about 50 percent less than diesel per gallon and reduces maintenance costs due to its clean-operating properties.”

Alternative Vehicles, Propane

Losing Topsoil? Plant Switchgrass.

Joanna Schroeder

Switchgrass, an energy feedstock that can be used for biofuel production, now has another benefit: it can improve soil quality and can be grown on farms that have lost fertile topsoil. According to new research from the University of Missouri (MU) College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources has found that switchgrass may be a promising option for growers who have challenges with growing other crops; that is, if there is a good market for the crop. The study was published in a recent edition of the Soil Science Society of America Journal.

The MU researchers studied plots with varying amounts of topsoil. Each plot included corn, soybeans and switchgrass. They found that switchgrass grew well in areas without topsoil and actually improved the soil in those areas.

“Once a farm loses its topsoil due to erosion, the soil recovers very slowly,” explains Stephen Anderson, the William A. Albrecht Distinguished Professor of Soil Science at MU. “Switchgrass can be grown efficiently on eroded claypan soils; farmers who have lost their topsoil may want to consider growing this hardy plant. Switchgrass can be harvested and sold as a biomass crop for ethanol production or as fuel for power plants. While demand depends on the current market for biomass crops, this could be an answer for these farmers who otherwise have challenges obtaining good economic returns growing grain crops on eroded land.”

The research looked at several farming plots with varying levels of topsoil. The plots were established in 2009 and each plot ranged from extra topsoil to no topsoil. According to lead author Syaharudin Zaibon, a doctoral candidate at MU, corn, soybean and switchgrass were grown on each plot for five years. After this timeframe, the researchers looked at the soil density and water permeability of each plot. What was discovered was that the plots that grew switchgrass had improved soil quality with little or no topsoil on which it grew.

“Claypan layers have lower water permeability, making it more difficult for plants to receive water and for farmers to obtain good economic returns from grain crops when the silt loam topsoil is lost from these areas,” Anderson said. “This lower permeability prevents oxygen and water from seeping into the eroded soil. We found that over a number of years, the switchgrass was able to increase, or improve, the water permeability into this eroded soil, leading to an 11 percent higher water saturation than the areas where corn and soybeans were grown. This study shows that not only can switchgrass grow in these eroded claypan soil areas, but it actually can improve the soil over time, potentially opening the door for better production of grain crops subsequently grown in those areas.”

advanced biofuels, Farming, feedstocks, Research

Enogen Provides Benefits for #Ethanol Growers

Joanna Schroeder

Duane Martin manages the Agrisure portfolio for Syngenta corn and soybeans. “We’re very proud of the technology we’ve brought to the corn and soybean market over the last several years- launching more new technology, more new traits, to especially the corn business one the last five years than any other company in the industry.”

The Enogen corn technology is expanding, says Martin who adds that Enogen for ethanol provides a 360 degree value. Ethanol plants who use Enogen see increased efficiency, while growers who supply the grain can see up to a 40 cent per bushel premium upon delivery. And this, says Martin, keeps money in the local, rural economies.

As the company has continued to do research on the Enogen traits, they discovered another value for corn growers who are feeding their own beef or dairy herds. “So for those growers feeding their own livestock, we find that Enogen corn can provide a much more digestible, usable high value feed for either beef cattle or dairy herds,” says Martin.

Learn more about Enogen and Syngenta’s other traits in the full interview here: Interview with Duane Martin, Syngenta

Audio, biofuels, corn, Enogen, Ethanol, Syngenta

Iowa Calls for Renewable Fuels Marketing Award Nominees

Joanna Schroeder

Do you know a fuel retailer who has gone above and beyond marketing renewable fuels including ethanol and biodiesel? Then nominate him/her for the Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards. Awards are given for both the sales and promotion of biodiesel and ethanol and the awards are in their 10th year.

“Fuel retailers continue to take steps to make ethanol and biodiesel more available to Iowa customers and this award is an opportunity to recognize those who have shown leadership in promoting these renewable fuels and making them more available to customers,” said Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

Nominees will be judged on creative marketing efforts and can include such things as hosting special events highlighting their renewable fuels such as a pump promotion, creative and unique signage, advertising and efforts that dramatically increase renewable fuel availability – for example, adding a blender pump to the retail station that sells mid-level biodiesel and ethanol fuel blends.

Click here for the nomination form. Completed nominations can be submitted via email at or mail at Henry A. Wallace Building, Attn: Dustin Vande Hoef, 502 East 9th Street, Des Moines IA 50319.  Nominations must be submitted by Dec. 31, 2016.

Biodiesel, Education, Ethanol, Promotion

Today in Energy Looks at RFS

Joanna Schroeder

With the final 2017 rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in place, a recent Today in Energy looks at a revised biofuels forecast through 2017 published by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) finds that the new rule will have the greatest impact on biomass-based diesel consumption. This category is expected to grow while ethanol consumption is expected to remain largely unchanged.

As explained in Today in Energy, all renewable fuels under the RFS generate Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits. These are used by obligated parties, such as refiners and importers of gas and diesel, to meet their renewable fuel obligations, or requirements, under the RFS. The Biomass-based diesel RINS, also known as D4 RINS, are more valuable than D6 RINS for grain-based ethanol due to their ability to meet multiple RFS targets. The RIN value plus the blender’s tax credit have helped grow the biomass-based diesel consumption in 2015 and 2016.

In the latest STEO, EIA anticipates that biomass-based diesel consumption will increase from 1.7 billion gallons in 2015 to a record level of 2.5 billion gallons in 2017, 0.5 billion gallons above the biomass-based diesel RFS target of 2.0 billion gallons. The additional biomass-based diesel will help meet the advanced biofuel RFS target.

Ethanol is the most-consumed renewable fuel in the U.S., and plays the largest role in compliance with the RFS target for total renewable fuel. EIA forecasts that ethanol consumption will continue to be driven primarily by domestic gasoline demand. Nearly all motor gasoline sold in the country today is blended with up to 10 percent ethanol, but STEO reports that infrastructure, economic, and distribution issues still limit significant growth in ethanol blends above 10 percent.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Ethanol, RFS

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