Latin American Group Tours SD Ethanol Supply Chain

Cindy Zimmerman

Latin American delegation tours Dakota Ethanol

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, in conjunction with the U.S. Grains Council, hosted stakeholders from Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama this week to see how U.S. ethanol is made, distributed and sold as they consider blending programs in 2024-2025.

The trade mission group visited a farm, two ethanol plants, fuel stations, a rail receiving and blending facility, and a pipeline terminal. “By coming to South Dakota and seeing the process from the corn field to the fuel pump, diverse groups of stakeholders can visualize what is possible and hopefully shorten the time it will take to implement ethanol blending programs in their countries,” said Ron Lamberty, ACE Chief Marketing Officer.

According to Federico Salcedo, U.S. Grains Council Regional Ethanol Consultant for Latin America who is helping lead the group, these technical visits to the ethanol-producing states in the U.S., such as South Dakota, are an opportunity for representatives of public and private sectors from foreign countries to learn about the ethanol value chain in the U.S.

“Being able to learn first-hand about ethanol production, processing, and marketing stages helps these delegations and countries identify the economic, social and environmental opportunities of ethanol blends,” Salcedo said. “The U.S. Grains Council is committed to showcasing the United States’ experience with other countries, such as Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama, that are considering starting in the near future ethanol-gasoline blending programs.”

The South Dakota tour was one of 11 organized by USGC following this weeks Global Ethanol Summit in Washington D.C. Other states hosting tours included Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado, Ohio, Kansas, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Kentucky.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USGC

Adopt GREET Bill Re-introduced in Senate

Cindy Zimmerman

Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) reintroduced the Adopt Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Act this week, legislation that would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its greenhouse gas modeling for all renewable fuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Specifically, the bill would require EPA to apply the Argonne National Lab’s GREET Model to any fuel for which EPA has approved a pathway and deemed qualified for the RFS. EPA would then be required to update its modeling every five years or report to Congress to affirm its modeling is current or otherwise explain why no updates were made.

“It’s past time for the EPA to update its greenhouse gas modeling for all biofuels, which would more accurately reflect the emissions reductions achieved by ethanol, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel,” said Thune. “This would not only underscore how homegrown biofuels can be a cleaner part of our energy security and environmental policy, driving value for South Dakota farmers, but also make biofuel exports more attractive to countries seeking to lower their transportation emissions.”

“It is critical that the EPA’s greenhouse gas modeling for biofuels be updated to fully reflect the newest science and technology,” said Klobuchar. “This legislation will allow us to fully recognize how ethanol, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel can contribute to our emissions reduction goals while expanding and promoting the use of clean energy and rural jobs across the country.”

The legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Mike Rounds (R-SD). The bill is also supported by the Renewable Fuels Association, American Coalition for Ethanol, National Corn Growers Association, and the National Oilseed Processors Association.

ACE, biofuels, Carbon, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Registration Opens for 2024 National Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Registration is now open for the Renewable Fuels Association 29th annual National Ethanol Conference, taking place in San Diego February 19-21. The 2024 event is themed “Powered by Partnerships” to reflect the deeply collaborative and cooperative nature of the ethanol industry.

“As our industry expands into new areas of innovation, we have found ourselves working with a broader community of partners, ranging from airlines to railroads, and from automakers to oil companies,” said RFA Board Chairman Erik Huschitt, CEO of Badger State Ethanol. “And we’ve seen our bonds grow even stronger with our traditional allies like farmers and fuel retailers. We all have realized that the net-zero-carbon future we each seek can only be realized through cooperation and collaboration, and this is the perfect theme for our program in San Diego. The 2024 National Ethanol Conference is going to be a terrific opportunity for learning and networking in an atmosphere truly powered by the partnership of all those present.”

Early bird registration provides substantial discounts until Nov. 30, and RFA members enjoy additional savings. For more information and to register, visit www.NationalEthanolConference.com.

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

Ethanol Groups Comment on Proposed CAFE Standards

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol producers, farmers, and even the petroleum industry were united in comments opposing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s proposed new CAFE standards for Model Year 2027–2032 cars and trucks.

The Renewable Fuels Association, National Farmers Union and National Corn Growers Association filed joint comments Monday saying the proposed new fuel economy standards “greatly missed the intent” of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy program to enhance energy security that will lead to an “over-reliance on foreign critical minerals due to its myopic dependence on electric vehicles.”

The comments call on NHTSA to work with the Environmental Protection Agency to re-institute strong incentives for flex fuel vehicles that use lower-carbon, American-made ethanol. “Whether FFVs currently run on gasoline or E85, building up the portion of the fleet capable of running on E85 gives the country an additional option to address potential future oil or critical mineral crises in a way that can protect our national security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Comments from American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings said they support “technology-neutral policies which provide market participants with a host of options for compliance, because the tasks of decarbonizing the transportation sector and maximizing fuel economy are too important and complex for a one-size-fits-all solution.”

ACE’s comments discuss 1) legal problems associated with the proposal including vehicles that operate only on electricity, 2) the economic feasibility of NHTSA’s proposed rule, 3) energy security and environmental concerns about the proposal, and 4) how high-octane fuels such as higher ethanol blends should be part of the solution to achieve fuel economy standards and reduce carbon pollution from transportation emissions.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) commented that the proposed standards “amount to a de facto ban on cars and trucks using liquid fuels, which can and should be a part of the solution to reduce carbon emissions.”

API supports technology-neutral policies at the federal level that drive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions in the transportation sector, taking a holistic “all-of-the-above” approach to fuels, vehicles, and infrastructure systems.

ACE, automotive, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Grains Council Ethanol Summit This Week

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is holding its Global Ethanol Summit (GES) this week in the Washington D.C. area for the first time since 2019.

USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand said there were more than 350 participants from over 40 countries. “I’m thrilled to see so many industry leaders and policymakers gathering here in the Washington area with the common goal of implementing environmental and human-health friendly bioethanol in regions around the world,” said LeGrand. “Carbon emission reduction is possible today through increased biofuel consumption, and U.S. producers have the capacity to supply that transition.”

GES is an education and trade forum that seeks to elevate bioethanol’s international visibility and ongoing successful initiatives as a viable decarbonization solution within the transportation sector. Tuesday’s program, sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), will include seven concurrent sessions covering a variety of detailed topics on biofuel uses and the latest research regarding its carbon reduction capabilities.

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Chief Marketing Officer Ron Lamberty drove his custom Hybrid Electric Flex Fuel vehicle, affectionately known as HEFF, 1,300 miles to speak at the summit Tuesday about retailer ethanol blending economics and margin opportunities. Lamberty was asked to bring his hybrid to the summit as several countries consider implementing hybrids that run on ethanol blends.

The GES includes participants from more than 40 countries with the objective to increase global momentum for decarbonization through expanded ethanol use. The event covers a variety of ethanol topics from supply and demand to lifecycle analysis. On the ethanol infrastructure and compatibility track, Lamberty will speak on ethanol blending economics as a former fuel retailer and c-store owner himself.

The summit will conclude Tuesday with remarks from RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper.

ACE, Ethanol, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, USGC

Tom Buis to Keynote Carbon Capture Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

The keynote speaker for the National Carbon Capture Conference & Expo taking place November 7-8 in Des Moines, Iowa will be Tom Buis, Chief Executive Officer at American Carbon Alliance.

Buis, who formerly served as CEO for both Growth Energy and National Farmers Union, will speak about carbon capture and the future of farm income will keynote the general session panel on November 7th.

The National Carbon Capture Conference & Expo is designed specifically for companies and organizations advancing technologies and policy that support the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from all sources, including fossil fuel-based power plants, ethanol production plants and industrial processes, as well as directly from the atmosphere. The program will focus on research, data, trends and information on all aspects of CCUS with the goal to help companies build knowledge, connect with others, and better understand the market and carbon utilization. Additional keynote speakers include Cody Johnson, CEO, SCS Technologies, and Jim Mullin, Executive Director of Carbon Utilization, Navigator CO2.

Carbon, corn, Ethanol

RFA Finds E15 Sales Grow but Still Restricted

Cindy Zimmerman

A new analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) finds sales of E15 (15% ethanol fuel) surged over the past three months compared to the same period last year, but warns that growth is at risk unless the government takes action to allow sales of the blend again next summer.

RFA examined data from the Minnesota Department of Commerce, which is the only monthly data set available that includes E15 volumes and prices, and found sales of E15 in the state were up 10 percent compared to the summer of 2022, hitting a monthly record in August as gasoline prices escalated.

The increase in sales was also facilitated by a combination of ethanol’s cost-competitiveness relative to petroleum-based gasoline blendstock, the incentive provided by credits used to demonstrate compliance with the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (referred to as Renewable Identification Numbers, or RINs), and the continued expansion of the number of retail stations offering E15. E15 was priced at an average discount of $0.16/gallon in Minnesota this summer (Figure 2). Retailer interest in offering E15 has been motivated by positive consumer response as well as favorable economics, including equipment cost sharing available through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program administered by the USDA.

However, sales of E15 next summer are still in limbo because a 2021 D.C. Circuit Court ruling in favor of oil refiners overturned a 2019 rule allowing E15 to be sold year-round, and EPA has yet to implement regulations for a request by Midwest governors to opt out of the 1-pound vapor pressure waiver that is provided to E10 allowing year-round sales of E15.

Although the comment period on the proposal ended April 30, the agency inexplicably still has not issued a final rule. With the switch to summer 2024 gasoline specifications less than seven months away, EPA needs to publish the final rule approving the governors’ petition as soon as possible, so that supply chain participants can plan and coordinate adequately.

Still, the optimal solution for supply chain participants, consumers, and the environment is for Congress to enact legislation allowing permanent year-round sales of E15 nationwide. Nearly a year ago, a broad coalition of energy and agriculture organizations called on Congress to adopt such legislation. The restriction on E15 is an anachronism from a time when the usage of renewable fuels was not commonplace, and action is needed to ensure uninterrupted sales of this less-expensive, cleaner, lower-carbon fuel.

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ethanol Report with RFA Chairman Erik Huschitt

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association held its annual membership meeting in Des Moines last month and Erik Huschitt, CEO of Badger State Ethanol, was re-elected as chairman of the organization.

Huschitt, of Monroe, Wisc., has been with Badger State since January 2002 and currently serves as president of the Wisconsin BioFuels Association. He also has spent years on the board of the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association, which plays a vital role in Wisconsin’s feed and grain industries.

In this edition of The Ethanol Report, we talk with Huschitt about how he got involved in the ethanol industry and discuss some of the priority issues for RFA in the coming year.

Ethanol Report 10-12-23 25:30

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Yield10 Bioscience Gives Update on Herbicide Tolerant Camelina

Cindy Zimmerman

Yield10 Bioscience announced recent advancements toward enabling weed control for Camelina cultivation and supporting grower adoption of the crop for production of low-carbon intensity feedstock oil for the biofuel market.

“The Yield10 team is making significant progress toward our goal of launching elite herbicide tolerant Camelina for producing feedstock oil for the biofuels market,” said Kristi Snell, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of Yield10 Bioscience. “We aim to facilitate the seamless integration of Camelina with current weed control and crop rotation practices of major crops in order to enable the planting of Camelina on large-scale acreage. This winter, we anticipate that our program will achieve another important milestone as we conduct field tests of stacked HT winter Camelina for the first time. We will also continue to execute on seed scale-up and regulatory activities in support of the planned commercial launch of our elite HT and stacked HT Camelina varieties.”

Yield10 is developing Camelina with tolerance to a broad leaf herbicide, which has been used safely in commercial crop production for over 25 years, in addition to developing a herbicide package incorporating tolerance to over-the-top application of broadleaf herbicide as well as tolerance to soil residual Group 2 herbicides, which are commonly used to control weeds in cereal crops.

aviation biofuels, biofuels, feedstocks

Honeywell and Granbio to Produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

Honeywell and Brazil’s GranBio Technologies are partnering to produce carbon neutral sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from biomass residues at a planned demonstration plant in the U.S.

GranBio’s patented AVAP process converts biomass, including forest and agricultural residues, to pure low-cost, low-carbon-intensity sugars, lignin, and nanocellulose. The cellulosic sugars are converted to both SAF, through Honeywell’s ETJ technology, and biochemicals, through a separate process.

Using forest biomass-derived ethanol from the AVAP process, jet fuel produced from Honeywell’s ethanol to jet fuel process can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero on a total lifecycle basis, compared to petroleum-based jet fuel.

“The AVAP technology has great potential, depending on feedstock and plant configuration to allow carbon negative SAF with current life cycle analysis,” said Bernardo Gradin, GranBio CEO. “Plus, in addition to vast forest and agricultural residue available for feedstocks, there is an enormous potential to retrofit idle pulp and paper facilities in the U.S., revitalizing forestry value chains and rural manufacturing with great social, environmental, and economic impact.”

GranBio’s subsidiary AVAPCO was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to receive an $80M grant to support the demonstration plant that will produce ~2 million gallons per year of SAF upon start-up in 2026.

Honeywell now offers solutions across a range of feedstocks to meet the rapidly growing demand for renewable fuels, including SAF. In addition to Honeywell UOP Ecofining™, Honeywell’s renewable fuels portfolio includes ethanol to jet technology and the recently announced Honeywell UOP eFining™, which converts green hydrogen and carbon dioxide into eFuels.

aviation biofuels, biofuels, SAF