Renewable Fuel for Ocean Vessels Bill Introduced

Cindy Zimmerman

Legislation introduced recently by U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and John Garamendi (D-CA) would allow companies to preserve RIN credits under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for renewable fuel used for ocean-going vessels.

“Ocean-going cargo ships, tankers, and passenger vessels have a need for low-carbon, low-sulfur biodiesel and renewable diesel which provides an additional market for biofuels,” said Miller-Meeks. “This legislation allows for RINs to be generated for renewable marine fuel without requiring an obligation on any parties.”

The legislation is supported by Clean Fuels Alliance America, the American Soybean Association, and the North American Renderers Association (NARA), in addition to the Iowa Biodiesel Board, Iowa Soybean Association, the American Waterways Operators and other groups seeking to increase use of low-carbon fuels and reduce carbon emissions in international shipping and travel.

“International shipping companies and cruise lines are increasingly seeking low-carbon biodiesel and renewable diesel to meet climate goals and consumer demand,” said Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs for Clean Fuels. “This commonsense legislation will remove a regulatory roadblock and enable biodiesel and renewable diesel producers to meet the low-carbon fuel needs of shipping companies at a competitive price. It will allow refiners and blenders to keep RINs for fuel used in ocean-going vessels that are currently being sacrificed.”

ASA, Biodiesel, biofuels, Boats, Clean Fuels Alliance

ASTM International Honors Clean Fuels’ Fenwick

Cindy Zimmerman

Clean Fuels Alliance America is proud to announce that Scott Fenwick, Technical Director, has been awarded the prestigious Sydney D. Andrews Scroll of Achievement by ASTM International in recognition of his contributions to the committee responsible for the standards on petroleum products, liquid fuels and lubricants (D02).

ASTM, the globally recognized leader responsible for standardizations used around the world, presents the Scroll of Achievement to individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to the development and delivery of standards within their respective committees. This esteemed accolade underscores Fenwick’s long career in advancing the clean fuels industry, especially through his work with D6751, the ASTM specification for biodiesel.

Since 1998, Fenwick has served on various subcommittees within D02 leading numerous working group activities and interlaboratory studies, and receiving multiple awards in Excellence, Appreciation and Society Service. In 2018, Fenwick was appointed chairman of the D02 Committee, serving over 2,500 members who oversee more than 800 standards relating to petroleum products and lubricants.

Read more from Clean Fuels.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Clean Fuels Alliance

Treasury Expected to Release SAF Guidance

Cindy Zimmerman

It is being reported that the Treasury Department may release highly-anticipated guidance on sustainable aviation fuel tax credits, possibly this week.

In anticipation of the announcement, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said this guidance represents a “make-or-break” opportunity for the future of sustainable aviation fuels. “The Treasury guidance will go a long way in determining whether U.S. farmers and ethanol producers are able to significantly contribute to the goal of decarbonizing the aviation sector, or if they’ll be left by the wayside,” said Cooper. “All we’re asking for is a fair, science-based methodology that gives us an opportunity to compete.”

Cooper says RFA hopes the guidance will include explicit and specific recognition of the Argonne GREET model as an allowable methodology for determining the carbon intensity of various SAF production pathways. “Without recognition of the GREET model, we fear commercial SAF production will simply not materialize at the scale necessary to truly decarbonize the aviation sector in the decades ahead. The ambitious goals of the Biden administration’s SAF Grand Challenge will not be realized unless we are able to tap into the vast resources of American agriculture.”

aviation biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, SAF

Ethanol Exports Dip in October

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. ethanol exports moved three percent lower in October after an up month in September, but still maintained a respectable 117.1 million gallons (mg), according to the latest report from the Renewable Fuels Association. Year-to-date exports, totaling 1.16 billion gallons, are steady with last year at this time.

Canada was our largest destination for the 31st consecutive month with exports of 64.6 mg (94% denatured) accounting for 55% of total sales on a 7% increase from September. This is the largest single-country purchase since Brazil’s offtake in March 2019. The U.S. exported 13.7 mg to India (following four months of near-zero volumes) and 12.6 mg to the United Kingdom (down 8% from September). Virtually all remaining ethanol exports were distributed among seven markets, with the largest volumes landing in the Philippines (6.5 mg, +176%), South Korea (6.0 mg, +17%), Peru (5.7 mg, +89%), and Mexico (5.1 mg, -9%). Brazil again was notably absent from the U.S. ethanol export market.

Exports of the ethanol co-product dried distillers grains (DDGS) dropped by 13% in October to a six month low of 896,708 metric tons (mt). Mexico remained the largest destination for the sixteenth consecutive month with exports of 193,524 mt, down four percent from September. So far this year, U.S. DDGS exports total 8.99 million mt, four percent behind last year at this time.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

New NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Corn 350, Powered by Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa Corn is proud to announce the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race in the state – the Iowa Corn 350, Powered by Ethanol – will showcase the performance of ethanol on the world’s fastest short-track, surrounded by corn fields.

“I am pleased to share with the NASCAR family, why choosing higher blends of ethanol benefits everyone,” said Stan Nelson, a farmer from Middletown and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board President. “We can make a sustainable difference today, without buying a whole new vehicle, but by simply choosing to fuel up with ethanol at the pump. And not only are we benefiting the environment but also our economy, as ethanol is the most affordable renewable fuel option on the market today.”

The Iowa Corn 350, Powered by Ethanol, will take place Sunday, June 16, 2024, and be shown live on USA Network. This inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway culminates a weekend that will also include a NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday, June 15 and ARCA Menards Series racing on Friday June 14.

“The Iowa Corn 350, Powered by Ethanol, will give us as farmers a platform across the country to share the benefits of ethanol with consumers and fans,” said Jolene Riessen, a farmer from Ida Grove and the Iowa Corn Growers Association President. “We know that a partnership like this is unique and will be impactful! With the audience NASCAR captures, Iowa Corn will be able to share the benefits of ethanol while also showcasing farmers from our great state.”

Grandstand tickets and camping for the Iowa Corn 350, Powered by Ethanol, are already sold out and only a select number of tickets remain for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series races. Remaining tickets can be purchased by visiting www.iowaspeedway.com and fans looking to buy or sell reserved seats for the Iowa Corn 350, Powered by Ethanol, should visit SeatGeek, the Official Ticket Marketplace of NASCAR.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NASCAR, Racing

Clariant Closes sunliquid® Bioethanol Plant in Romania

Cindy Zimmerman

Global specialty chemical company Clariant is shutting down its sunliquid® bioethanol production plant in Podari, Romania, and downsizing related activities of its Biofuels & Derivatives division in Germany.

After developing the sunliquid® technology, Clariant had taken the decision in 2017 to establish its own commercial sunliquid® plant in Podari, which began producing bioethanol in the second quarter of 2022. In July 2023, Clariant started a strategic evaluation of the options for the plant after it became clear that the plant did not achieve Clariant’s targeted operational parameters.

Clariant management has concluded that, given continued losses, the economics of the plant in Podari cannot justify for Clariant to continue ramp up which would require significant additional capital expenditure. Following today’s announcement, activities within the business line Biofuels & Derivatives that supported the development and ramp-up of the plant will be downsized. Required capabilities to maintain the technology and to fulfill existing contractual obligations will be kept.

In June 2022, Clariant had announced the first commercial cellulosic ethanol had been produced at the sunliquid® plant and that they had signed a multi-year agreement with Shell to supply the product. It was reported to supply approximately 50,000 tons of second-generation biofuels derived from 250,000 tons of locally sourced agricultural residues, primarily in the form of straw.

advanced biofuels, biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News

US Ethanol Exports Rebounded in September

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. ethanol exports were up 18% in September to 120.5 million gallons (mg), thanks in part to global denatured fuel sales reaching an 18-month high, according to the latest analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association.

Canada was our largest destination for the 30th consecutive month with exports of 60.4 mg, accounting for half of total sales despite a 3% decrease from August. Exports to the United Kingdom climbed 1% to 13.6 mg while Colombia cut its U.S. imports by 23% to 8.3 mg. Virtually all remaining ethanol exports were distributed among ten markets, with the largest volumes landing in Oman (7.8 mg, up from zero and the largest volume in nearly 4 years), Mexico (5.5 mg, +167% to a 5-month high), South Korea (5.1 mg, up from essentially zero), the United Arab Emirates (4.8 mg, up from zero), the European Union (3.9 mg, -28% to a 9-month low), and Jamaica (3.2 mg, +149% to a 7-month high). Brazil and India again were notably absent from the market. Year-to-date ethanol exports total 1.04 billion gallons, trailing last year by 3% at this time.

Exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS) also rebounded in September, up 9% to 1.03 million metric tons (mt). Mexico remained the number one destination for the 15th consecutive month with exports of 201,607 mt, despite a 14% decrease from August.

DDGS exports revived in Vietnam (139,553 mt, +6% to a 12-month high), South Korea (110,316 mt, +32% to a 5-month high), and Canada (63,359 mt, +7% to a 3-month high). The other half of September exported DDGS was distributed to 32 markets, with larger volumes heading to Indonesia (61,961 mt), the United Kingdom (61,807 mt), and Colombia (40,299 mt). Year-to-date U.S. DDGS exports total 8.09 million mt, which lags 6% behind last year at this time despite an upward trendline.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Michigan Advanced Biofuels Coalition Grows

Cindy Zimmerman

The Michigan Advanced Biofuels Coalition (MiABC) now represents land, air and sea with the addition of three new stakeholders that support sustainable carbon reduction solutions in three different transportation sectors. The new stakeholders are Gevo, Inc., Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision (SDEV) and Waterfront Petroleum Terminal Company.

“Interest in advanced biofuels continues to grow in Michigan as communities seek to reduce carbon emissions from air, ground and water transportation systems. Three new MiABC stakeholders share a vision of expanded biofuel availability in our state,” says Hanna Campbell, demand specialist for Michigan Soybean Committee (MSC), a founding member of MiABC.

Founded in 2022 by MSC and the Michigan Soybean Association, MiABC works to increase understanding and adoption of biodiesel and other advanced biofuels produced from renewable resources such as soybean oil.

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News

EPA Fines Iowa Ethanol Plant Under Clean Air Act

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined POET Biorefining – Menlo LLC a $89,860 penalty for alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act.

According to EPA, the Menlo facility is a “major air emission source” that failed to comply with federally enforceable permit provisions intended to limit harmful releases of air pollution. After reviewing POET Biorefining facility records in 2022, EPA alleged that the company failed to properly operate the facility’s scrubber, which is designed to limit releases of volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants. In response to EPA’s findings, the company corrected the alleged violations and implemented procedures to ensure that the scrubber operates within required parameters.

EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Iowa and Nebraska Push EPA for Final E15 Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

The attorney generals of Nebraska and Iowa this week filed a motion for summary to force the Environmental Protection Agency to finalize a rule allowing eight Midwest states to sell E15 year-round.

The motion says EPA’s lack of action on the waiver request filed by the states in April 2022 causes harm to the “public interest…public health…(and) also creates economic harms.”

“This entire dispute boils down to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency failing to meet a nondiscretionary deadline,” the motion reads, noting that the Clean Air Act requires EPA to issue a rule setting aside the waiver if requested by governors and requires that the rule be finalized within 90 days. “Now, more than 400 days later and more than a year after that 90-day period expired, EPA’s continued delay risks yet another year without the fuels the Governors requested—and that they are entitled to under the Act. Each day that this case continues, unresolved, is a day that EPA continues its now long-standing violating of the Clean Air Act.”

In addition to Iowa and Nebraska, the eight states also include Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News