Growth Energy Names Emily Skor as CEO

Joanna Schroeder

Emily Skor will be taking over the role of CEO for Growth Energy effective May 16, 2016. She most recently served as the Vice President for Communications of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) and the Executive Director of the CHPA Educational Foundation. Former and acting CEO and Growth Energy Co-Chair Tom Buis will continue to serve in his role as Board of Director’s Co-Chair.

E.Skor Headshot copy“For the last seven years, Tom Buis has been a tremendous ally to the ethanol industry, leading Growth Energy through some of its toughest fights, and on behalf of the entire organization, we are thankful for his service and continued commitment to the industry,” said POET Executive Chairman and CEO and Growth Energy Co-Chair Jeff Broin. “As the ethanol industry continues to evolve – facing new opportunities and challenges – Emily is poised to lead Growth Energy as our next generation leader for next generation fuels. Emily brings a new perspective on policy, reputation management and communications to the organization during this dynamic time for the industry.”

At CHPA, Skor oversaw public affairs campaigns, integrated strategic communications into legislative campaigns and coordinated ally development. Before joining CHPA Skor served as Senior Vice President at Dezenhall Resources, a nationally recognized crisis communications and issues management firm. For more than a decade, she helped Fortune 500 companies and industry associations manage issues affecting brand confidence and corporate reputation through media, advocacy, coalition building and consumer education campaigns. She is a Minnesota native and graduate of Wellesley College.

“Since its inception, Growth Energy has been a champion for pro-biofuels policies and represented thousands of voices for the ethanol industry,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “The organization and its members are committed to advancing fuel technologies that are proven to be better for the environment and automobile engines. I am thrilled to be part of this effort to take Growth Energy to the next level. As more consumers and automakers alike embrace higher blends of ethanol and legislators continue to support its environmental benefits, we will protect our environment for future generations and give drivers choices at the pump.”

Company Announcement, Growth Energy

#ACE16DC Gets Update on China DDGs Investigation

Cindy Zimmerman

Back in January, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) initiated an investigation into anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of U.S. produced distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The U.S. Grains Council has been on top of the situation from the start and provided an update for members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) meeting in Washington DC this week.

ace16dc-erbUSGC Director of Industry Relations Lyndsey Erb says the issue is important because China is such a huge market for the ethanol co-product used as animal feed. “China had been the largest importer of U.S. DDGS, taking 56% of exportable supplies last year,” said Erb. USGC has been coordinating the response from the U.S. ethanol industry to provide the information needed to help address the concerns and get China back in the market.

“We’re still very much in the beginning stages,” Erb says. “Ultimately the case has to wrap up between a year and a year and a half after the initiation so we still have a long road ahead of us in this case but such a large percentage of the U.S. industry is joining the Grains Council to fight that we are optimistic we can put together a good defense.”

Erb explains more in this interview: Interview with Lyndsey Erb, USGC

ACE 2016 DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, International, USGC

Nebraska Congressman Visits #ACE16DC

Cindy Zimmerman

ace16dc-smithAll Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) wants is for consumers to be able to have the choice to fill up with 15% ethanol all year long. That’s why he introduced H.R. 1736 to extend the current EPA Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver to include E15.

“My bill would reverse this antiquated, non-scientific regulation out of EPA that was created in 1990,” said Rep. Smith during an interview at the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) annual legislative fly-in. “It’s about generating interest and enthusiasm by consumers to exercise their choice.”

Smith recognizes that getting any legislation passed during this election year is challenging, but he hopes to find a legislative vehicle on which to attach the bill.

In this interview he also makes some comments about the budget and appropriations process going on in Congress right now: Interview with Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE)

ACE 2016 DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Political Strategist Speaks to #ACE16DC

Cindy Zimmerman

ace16dc-tewesAs we all know in this contentious presidential campaign, most candidates spend at least as much time attacking their opponents as they do talking about their own good qualities and experience. That is a strategy that the ethanol industry should employ more often, according to an experienced political strategist.

Paul Tewes of the Smoot Tewes Group (STG) has 20 years experience as a political operative and he believes that in the ethanol public relations battle, there is a clear villain on the other side. “We’re only going to win if we always make it a contrast with oil,” said Tewes, speaking to members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) meeting in Washington DC this week. “We always have to continue to stress our positives because there are so many of them but we have to contrast that with the negative facts about the oil industry.”

Listen to an interview with Tewes here: Interview with Paul Tewes, Smoot Tewes Group

ACE 2016 DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, politics

RenFuel & Nordic Paper to Build Biofuel Plant

Joanna Schroeder

Sweden is going to be the home of a new advanced biofuel pilot plant that will use lignin as the feedstock. RenFuel and Nordic Paper are citing the facility in Bäckhammar in Värmland, and the project has been granted 71 million kronor by the Swedish Energy Agency. Using lignin from the pulp industry RenFuel has developed a method to convert the renewable residual black liquor to Lignol, or lignin oil. From there, it can be used as raw material in the production of advanced biofuels replacing both gas and diesel fuels. In addition, the project aims to assist the pulp industry with a new revenue source: waste black liquor feedstock.

RenFuel CEO Sven Lignol showcases Lignol.

RenFuel CEO Sven Lignol showcases Lignol.

“Our product Lignol is key to achieving the goal of a fossil-free vehicle fleet by 2030. It is very gratifying to finally be able to test the product on a large scale thanks to the cooperation with Nordic Paper and the funding from the Energy Agency,” said Sven Löchen, president of RenFuel.

The pilot plant, to be built at the Nordic Paper’s pulp mill in Bäckhammar, is expected to be online in early 2017. The two partners hope that Lignol will provide a significant source of bioenergy to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and help the country meet its goal’s of a fossil-free vehicle fleet by 2030.

Per Bjurbom, CEO of Nordic Paper, added, “The pulp and paper industry is an important link in the bio-economy. Through such cooperation, we can concretely contribute to the growing fossil-free future. It feels extremely positive.”

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic

#Ethanol Supporters Storm the Hill #ACE16DC

Cindy Zimmerman

ACE president Ron Alverson (2nd from left) with other members after Hill visits

ACE president Ron Alverson (2nd from left) with other members after Hill visits

Nearly 70 grassroots members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) stormed the Hill Wednesday at the organization’s 8th annual fly-in.

ACE members participated in more than 125 meetings with lawmakers representing 36 states to convey the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and bipartisan legislation to extend Reid vapor pressure (RVP) relief to E15 and higher ethanol blends.

ACE president Ron Alverson of Dakota Ethanol says his visits on Capitol Hill went very well. “We had good discussions, they asked good questions, generally it was a pretty positive day,” said Alverson, noting that members are much more informed about ethanol than they were just a few years ago.

There is good support among ethanol-friendly members of Congress for the RVP bill, but Alverson says the sense he got from his meetings is that very little will be done this election year. “They said probably nothing at all,” he said.

Alverson is pleased with the turn out for this year’s fly-in, which has grown from just 25 attendees the first year to 60-80 on average now. “Quite frankly, it’s hard to handle more than that,” he said. “We 60 people we can cover the meetings pretty well.”

Listen to my interview with Alverson here: Interview with Ron Alverson, ACE

ACE 2016 DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Proposed Tax Credit Amendment for CO2 Capture

Joanna Schroeder

A new amendment has been proposed by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) that would provide a tax credit for technologies that are able to convert CO2 into products such as advanced biofuels, animal feed and biochemicals. The proposed language would create a new utilization tax incentive to complement section 45Q of the tax code, which already provides credits for the adoption of carbon capture and sequestration technologies.

ABO logo“We thank Senator Whitehouse for his leadership and recognition that a number of innovative technologies are coming of age that can help the United States achieve substantial, permanent reductions in CO2 while producing valuable commodities,” said Matt Carr, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization in response to the amendment. “Carbon utilization technologies are attracting broad congressional support, and common-sense policy like this can play a key role in accelerating how quickly algae and other utilization technologies will improve our energy and economic security.”

Algae cultivation is one viable way to transform CO2 into products such as advanced biofuels or biochemicals and products used in industries such as the health and beauty industries. In addition, the Algae Biomass Organization says algae companies across the U.S. are working to commercialize new technology advances that also convert CO2 to fertilizer, plastics and feed ingredients.

advanced biofuels, algae, biochemicals, bioproducts, Legislation

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1Gevo has announced that ASTM International has now completed its process of approving the revision of ASTM D7566 (Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons) to include alcohol to jet synthetic paraffinic kerosene (ATJ-SPK) derived from renewable isobutanol. The ASTM process is now completed in all respects.
  • According to the latest April 2016 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) and Summer Transportation Fuels Forecast, U.S. drivers are expected to pay the cheapest summer gasoline prices in 12 years with ongoing low crude oil prices. EIA is also reporting, “Low pump prices and continuing growth in employment contribute to more driving, resulting in a forecast of record high gasoline demand this summer.”
  • Advanced Energy Economy is reporting employment in California’s advanced energy industry grew 18% last year, six times the statewide employment growth rate. More than half a million California workers spend some or all of their time on advanced energy (energy efficiency, advanced electricity generation, biofuels, advanced grid technology, and advanced vehicles).
  • The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) has announced its selection of Congressman Scott Peters (D-CA) as a Legislator of the Year for 2016. Representative Peters receives the award in conjunction with BIO Legislative Day Fly-In.
Bioenergy Bytes

How Reid Vapor Pressure Impacts #Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Reid vapor pressure (RVP) is one of those scientific terms reminiscent of high school chemistry but it has a significant impact on fuel at the pump, especially in the summer months.

ace16dc-lambertyAmerican Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) senior vice president Ron Lamberty gave a brief lesson on RVP to attendees at the organization’s annual legislative fly-in this week as they prepared to visit lawmakers and ask them to back legislation the would address how it impacts retail sales of E15. “When you put it in a car, gasoline needs to vaporize so you can burn it, so a higher RVP in the winter is good because it’s colder, but in the summer when it’s hot, gasoline automatically vaporizes a little bit itself,” said Lamberty. EPA’s current rules require gas to have nine pounds of RVP in the summer but adding 10% ethanol, even though it has a lower RVP, the combination increases the total RVP to about 10. The one pound waiver that was added to the rule several years ago dealt with that, but it was specific to 10 percent ethanol only. “That means you can’t use E15 even though it actually has a lower Reid vapor pressure than E10 does,” said Lamberty. The legislation seeks to change that rule.

In this interview, Lamberty gives an update on labeling USDA’s Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership (BIP), and new FTC labeling guidelines for mid-level ethanol blends. Interview with Ron Lamberty, ACE

ACE 2016 DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News

ACE Shows Faces of #Ethanol in Roll Call

Cindy Zimmerman

ace16dc-goodIn conjunction with the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) annual legislative fly-in this week, the grassroots ethanol organization is running ads in Roll Call, a popular Capitol Hill publication. Today’s ad highlights the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and bipartisan legislation to extend Reid vapor pressure (RVP) relief to E15 and higher ethanol blends.

Charlie Good, an ASE-certified mechanic and convenience store owner from Nevada, Iowa, is featured in print and digital ads on April 13 in support of bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) to allow gas station owners to sell E15 year-round by updating EPA’s Reid vapor pressure regulation, which currently restricts the use of E15 in conventional gasoline areas of the country from June 1 to September 15. Good offers multiple fuel blends to his customers. “It does take your gallons down in the summer,” said Good. “I think it’s an unjust and unscientific law. People don’t understand why it’s okay one day it’s not okay the next day.”

Delayne Johnson, CEO of ACE-member Quad County Corn Processors, will be featured in a Roll Call print ad on Thursday highlighting how the RFS has enabled his company to become the first to successfully commercialize cellulosic biofuel from corn kernel fiber. Quad County produces two million gallons of cellulosic biofuel annually in addition to 35 million gallons of conventional biofuel.

Listen to an interview with Good here: Interview with Charlie Good, Iowa fuel retailers

ACE 2016 DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Retailers