ACE Improves Ethanol Today Magazine

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has launched an enhanced digital presence for its bimonthly industry trade magazine Ethanol Today and will feature a new look in 2024.

The digital edition of Ethanol Today is now fully integrated into the revamped Ethanol.org website, offering new digital advertising opportunities. The organization will also roll out a new cover design and look for its upcoming print publications.

The publication’s themes cover a wide range of topics, including a review of progress and innovation in the industry over the last 20 years measured with collected data; work to recognize climate-smart farming practices in Low Carbon Fuel Standard markets; market potential, policy updates and other developments for diversifying biofuel markets, such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS); a 2024 election preview highlighting the top policy and legislative biofuel issues on Capitol Hill; updates on clean fuel policies at the state and federal levels; market development for higher ethanol blends; exports; and more. Ethanol Today has focused on providing timely, in-depth information about the people, policies and issues that drive ethanol in America for more than two decades.

“We’re looking forward to rolling out a refreshed look to our 2024 publications, and particularly excited about the enhanced digital experience Ethanol Today readers now have with the magazine’s integration on our website ethanol.org,” said Katie Muckenhirn, ACE Vice President of Public Affairs. “Readers can still access the full print publication and archives online, now with the added ability of accessing individual articles like a standard online news source. We also look forward to offering interested companies advertising opportunities to reach the biofuels industry on this new online forum.”

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Biden Team Hitting the Rural Road

Cindy Zimmerman

Secretary Vilsack and President Biden at the White House, July 2023

President Joe Biden and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will travel to Northfield, Minnesota today to visit Dutch Creek Farms and highlight the administration’s investments in rural America and efforts to support local farmers and communities.

During the visit, President Biden will announce over $5 billion in new investments from his Investing in America agenda – including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act – to advance rural prosperity, economic development, competition, and sustainability. President Biden will also discuss how Bidenomics and his Investing in America agenda are ensuring rural Americans do not have to leave their hometowns to find opportunity.

Over the course of two weeks, President Biden, Cabinet members, and Senior Administration Officials are barnstorming across the country as part of the Investing in Rural America Event Series to highlight how the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments are bringing new revenue to farms, increased economic development in rural towns and communities, and more opportunity throughout the country.

USDA is announcing $1.1 billion across 104 loan and grant awards to upgrade infrastructure in rural communities, including $5 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to further increase the availability of renewable, homegrown biofuels. During a press call Tuesday to announce the president’s visit, Vilsack talked about why they chose to kick off the rural tour in Minnesota.

“There are obviously a lot of folks in Minnesota that understand and appreciate climate smart agriculture and the enormous new income opportunities and environmental benefits,” said Vilsack. “Minnesota also understands and appreciates that the future is in biofuels and the need for us to continue to look for ways to expand the utilization and access to higher blends, particularly in the Midwest.”

Also on the call with Vilsack were Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor to the President and White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator; Neera Tanden, Assistant to the President and Domestic Policy Advisor; and Stephen Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement.

Vilsack Rural America Investment event 29:30

advanced biofuels, Audio, Climate Change, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

Clean Fuels Adds New State Regulatory Director

Cindy Zimmerman

Clean Fuels Alliance America announces the addition of Cory-Ann Wind as Director of State Regulatory Affairs role beginning January 8, 2024, with a primary focus on the West Coast.

Wind has spent the past three decades as a leader in renewable energy and most recently led the development of Oregon’s groundbreaking Clean Fuel Program as the Clean Fuels Program Manager for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). The program, which requires transportation fuel providers to reduce the carbon intensity of their fuels over time, has been credited with driving reductions in Oregon’s transportation emissions since its implementation in 2016.

Wind will continue advancing state and regional policy efforts for biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel under the direction of Jeff Earl, Director of State Governmental Affairs, and alongside Steve Dodge, Director of State Regulatory Affairs for the East Coast.

“Cory-Ann is a welcomed addition to our state affairs team,” Earl said. “Her expertise in renewable fuel programs is unmatched, and she will be a valuable asset to our organization as we work to advance clean transportation policies at the state level on behalf of our members.”

Biodiesel, biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance

ACE Enhances Website and Resources

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) recently unveiled a revitalized website, ethanol.org, to serve as a comprehensive resource for all things ethanol.

The new online platform aims to enlighten and engage visitors about the benefits of ethanol and its role in being part of the climate solution. The website offers a fresh and modern design, making it easier for visitors to navigate and access valuable information. It showcases the latest industry news, research and resources, highlighting the numerous benefits of ethanol as a clean and renewable fuel option.

One of the key goals of the website is to debunk common myths and misconceptions surrounding ethanol. By providing accurate and up-to-date information, ACE aims to address concerns and promote the use of ethanol and the positive impact it has on rural economies and in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The digital edition of ACE’s magazine Ethanol Today is now fully integrated into the website, according to Dave Sovereign, ACE Board President, representing Golden Grain Energy. “In an era where mobile devices are our constant companions and we’re often multitasking, it’s a huge benefit that Ethanol Today now has an enhanced digital footprint for those who want to read content on their smartphones or tablets.”

Educational resources on the website include access to the ACE carbon intensity calculators. Ethanol.org is an integral part of ACE’s ongoing efforts to promote the development and use of ethanol as a clean, sustainable and domestically produced fuel.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Latin American South Dakota Ethanol Tour Wraps

Cindy Zimmerman

A tour this past week allowed stakeholders from Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama to see how ethanol blends have been incorporated in South Dakota as these countries consider implementing ethanol-gasoline blending programs starting in 2024-2025.

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council hosted the tour for the delegation comprised of public officials from the Ministries of Mines and Energy, Environment and Agriculture, and representatives from the private sector and the agricultural industry.

The trade mission visited the farm of Ron and Keith Alverson near Chester where they implement conservation practices on the corn they grow; Dakota Ethanol’s 97-million-gallon-per-year plant near Wentworth; and Vollan Oil, a bulk fuel broker, transporter and retailer in Baltic, on day one. The second day started with visits to the NuStar Energy pipeline terminal and a new Get-N-Go fuel station in Sioux Falls, and after touring POET’s 125-million-gallon Chancellor plant, the tour wrapped up at POET headquarters back in Sioux Falls.

Click here to read more about the tour from ACE.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, International, USGC

Clean Fuels Names New Director of State Governmental Affairs

Cindy Zimmerman

Clean Fuels Alliance America has announced the promotion of Jeff Earl to Director of State Governmental Affairs, following the retirement of Floyd Vergara.

Earl has been a member of the Clean Fuels team for the past two years serving as Director of State Regulatory Affairs and playing a pivotal role in shaping clean fuel policies while building strong relationships with key stakeholders in the industry. In his new role, Earl will lead the organization’s efforts in advocating for enhanced state policies and initiatives to meet the needs of a growing market for biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

As Director of State Governmental Affairs, Earl will oversee a team of government relations specialists while engaging with policymakers at the state level to continue developing low-carbon fuel programs and incentives that support homegrown production of clean fuels.

“I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing the distinguished work that Floyd has accomplished throughout his career,” said Earl. “Our industry is poised for great success, and I welcome the occasion to work with our members to develop policies that recognize the ingenuity of American farmers who provide our country with clean energy solutions for the hard-to-electrify sector.”

Earl holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and mass communications from Southeast Missouri State University and most recently served as legislative director for the Office of Missouri Governor.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Clean Fuels Alliance

Scholarships Available for National Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association and the Renewable Fuels Foundation are once again partnering to offer scholarships for college students and young professionals interested in attending the annual National Ethanol Conference, Feb. 19-21, 2024, in San Diego.

Now in its 15th year, the program is named in honor of Robert “Bob” Sather, an educator who helped found RFA member company Ace Ethanol in Wisconsin. Sather was a past Chair of the Renewable Fuels Foundation. The aim of the Bob Sather Memorial Scholarship is to reach young adults aspiring to a career related to ethanol and open doors and present new perspectives on ethanol’s place in our world today and beyond. The program provides eligible applicants with opportunities to hear from, and engage with, top industry leaders, policymakers, and academic and technical experts.

“Over the last several years, this program has helped introduce a new generation to the ethanol industry, and we are happy to again provide this opportunity to bring students and young professionals to the country’s premier ethanol industry event,” said Delayne Johnson, chairman of the Renewable Fuels Foundation and CEO of Quad County Corn Processors. “The experiences these students receive at the NEC, both educational and networking, help them prepare for meaningful careers tied to renewable fuels, and we highly recommend this scholarship to any student studying in ethanol-related fields—along with young professionals just getting started in the industry.”

The scholarships will fully cover registration fee, hotel, and up to $500 in airfare, and interested college students are asked to submit a 500-word essay explaining how their attendance at the NEC will help them achieve future goals. They should also submit a letter of recommendation and an up-to-date resume. Members of RFA’s Young Professionals Network are also eligible for consideration and need to complete the application questions and provide a resume and letter of recommendation.
Click here for more information.

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

Carbon Pipeline Project Cancelled

Cindy Zimmerman

After working for more than two years on a proposed five-state carbon pipeline project, Navigator CO2 today announced it was cancelling the project due to “the unpredictable nature of the regulatory and government processes involved, particularly in South Dakota and Iowa.”

Matt Vining, CEO of Navigator CO2 remarked, “As good stewards of capital and responsible managers of people, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Heartland Greenway project. We are disappointed that we will not be able to provide services to our customers and thank them for their continued support.”

Vining continued, “I am proud that throughout this endeavor, our team maintained a collaborative, high integrity, and safety-first approach and we thank them for their tireless efforts. We also thank all the individuals, trade associations, labor organizations, landowners, and elected officials who supported us and carbon capture in the Midwest.”

It was also reported this week that Summit Carbon Solutions is delaying the start of its pipeline project by two years and is now expected to begin operations in 2026.

Carbon, carbon capture

Ethanol Summit Continues With Tours

Cindy Zimmerman

Japan delegation visits Valero Energy in Iowa

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Global Ethanol Summit (GES) concluded its formal meetings on Tuesday in Washington D.C., but continued on this week with nearly a dozen tours in ethanol producing states.

Those tours included:

Japan visiting Iowa;
Korea visiting Nebraska;
Latin America (LTA) visiting South Dakota;
LTA visiting Michigan;
LTA visiting Minnesota;
Mexico visiting Colorado;
Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and China visiting Missouri;
MEA visiting Ohio;
Southeast Asia (SEA) and Oceania visiting Kansas;
SEA visiting Wisconsin;
Taiwan visiting North Dakota; and
Vietnam visiting Kentucky.

The GES also included series of memorandum of understanding (MOU) signings between the Council and key ethanol stakeholders from around the world.

“Users are seeing bioethanol’s undeniable benefits and the commensurate increased consumption means there is a growing recognition of what industry leaders have always known – bioethanol is available right here, right now and it is here to stay,” said USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, International, USGC

RFA CEO Remembering the Arab Oil Embargo

Cindy Zimmerman

Blog post by Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO

Fifty years ago this week, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced an embargo on oil exports to the United States in retaliation for America’s support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War. The embargo took a devastating toll on the U.S. economy, as world oil prices quadrupled in a matter of weeks. Americans faced record high gas prices, long lines and rationing at gas stations, and—in many cases—stations that had no fuel at all. More broadly, the 1973 energy crisis was a major driver of the high inflation rates and stagnation that plagued the U.S. economy throughout the remainder of the 1970s.

Five decades later, with war again raging in Israel and global energy markets again on edge, the semicentennial anniversary of the Arab oil embargo provides an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come in improving U.S. energy security—but also how far we still have to go to achieve true energy independence.

A few years after the Arab oil embargo was lifted, newly elected President Jimmy Carter signed legislation focused on strengthening U.S. energy security and better insulating the economy from global oil shocks. Among many other provisions, the bill included the first-ever tax incentives supporting the production and use of renewable fuels. And, thus, the seeds of today’s U.S. ethanol industry were planted.

Continue reading on the RFA Blog.

Ethanol, Oil, Opinion, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA