ACE Conference 2026

The Truth Behind Marine Engines & Ethanol

Joanna Schroeder

CNlnqSnU8AAM5jbIn response to a recent misleading piece in BoatUS, which warned of marine engine damage due to ethanol, Keith Holmes, President and Owner of CK Motorsports, a certified Mercury Marine Engine & Racing service dealer, wrote a response that we thought worth sharing with our readers.

The Truth Behind Marine Engines and Ethanol
by Keith Holmes, President & Owner of CK Motorsports

The gasoline used by more than 95 percent of Americans, E10, contains 10 percent ethanol and is safe to use in marine engines. All current boat engines are warrantied for E10 and have been for nearly two decades. Yet for some reason, BoatUS has chosen to ignore this information and the countless owner’s manuals expressly approving the use of E10. They are preying on people’s fears instead of looking at the facts.

Proper care and maintenance are the best and easiest ways to protect boat engines. While E10 is a safe, reliable fueling option for both marine engines and automobiles, higher ethanol blends, such as E15, are not approved for use in marine engines.

Furthermore, no consumer is required to fill up with an ethanol blend, but E10, E15 and other fuels do give consumers the sorely needed ability to choose a fuel that meets their price and performance needs.

As the owner of CK Motorsports, a premier certified Mercury Marine Engine & Racing service dealer that services 400-500 boats annually, and has for over 20 years in Nunica, Mich., I believe it is important to set the record straight when it comes to ethanol and marine engines.

Here are just a few facts and observations I have made over my 20 years servicing marine engines:Read More

Boats, Ethanol, Opinion

BIODEX-SA Earns RSB Certification

Joanna Schroeder

Tunisia-based BIODEX-SA has earned the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) certification for its production of biodiesel. The African company collects waste oils, coverts them into biodiesel, and sells the renewable fuel to the European market.

Roundtable on Sustainable BiomaterialsRSB’s Executive Director, Rolf Hogan said, “We are delighted to add Biodex to the RSB certified companies already producing biofuel in Africa. We welcome their commitment to using waste materials and to processing them with the highest environmental and social standards, as required by the RSB Standard.”

Pr. Dr. Mounir Bezzarga, BIODEX-SA’s CEO, added, “BIODEX-SA is proud to be the first RSB certified organization in Tunisia. RSB certification shows BIODEX-SA’s commitment to respecting the sustainability criteria of waste and the environment.”

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel

Trump and Cruz Rumble Over #Ethanol in Miami

Cindy Zimmerman

debate-trump-cruzThe topic of ethanol came up in last week’s GOP debate in Miami, although it is unlikely to play a big role in the Florida primary this week.

During the debate, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) boasted that he campaigned against ethanol in Iowa because he wants to cut the size of government programs. “When I went to Iowa and campaigned against ethanol mandates, everyone said that was political suicide,” said Cruz. “If we’re going to stop bankrupting our kids and grandkids you’ve got to be willing to take on the lobbyists…specifying these are the programs I will eliminate.”

Donald Trump responded that Cruz did a flip flop on ethanol in Iowa. “Ted did change his view and his stance on ethanol quite a bit at the end,” said Trump. “He did change his view in the hopes of doing well.”

Listen to the exchange here: Cruz and Trump debate ethanol in Miami

Cruz outlined his stand regarding ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard in a January 6 Des Moines Register editorial. He does advocate a “phase out the Renewable Fuel Standard” but at the same time Cruz says he will “vigorously enforce our antitrust laws to ensure that the oil-and-gas industry cannot block access to the market for ethanol producers.”

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, politics, RFS

#FlexMyChoice Fighting for FFV Future

Cindy Zimmerman

flexmychoiceThe Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) launched a new campaign at the 2016 National Ethanol Conference (NEC) designed to help the industry voice support for flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs).

The “Flex My Choice” effort is aimed directly at automakers, auto dealerships, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to the fact that automakers have begun to limit FFV models as the government phases out CAFE credits for producing FFVs.

ethanol-report-adIn this edition of the Ethanol Report, we hear from RFA CEO Bob Dinneen, Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White, and RFA Chairman Randall Doyal with Al-Corn Clean Fuel in Minnesota about #FlexMyChoice and why it is important to make a difference.

Listen to it here: Ethanol Report on Flex My Choice campaign

Audio, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Flex Fuel Vehicles, RFA

HCATT Sponsors Waste-to-Energy Demo

Joanna Schroeder

A waste-to-energy demonstration has kicked off on the campus of the Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG). Sponsored by the High Technology Development Corporation’s (HTDC) Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies (HCATT) the $6.8 million project showcases the efficacy of converting 10 tons of waste per day to electricity to generate a net 200 to 300 kW of baseload power using four generators run from the syngas produced by a gasifier. The demonstration will continue through this summer, and was facilitated through a contract with Biomass Energy Systems, Inc. (BESI).

“The system itself is clean, highly reliable and rugged,” said Renee Comly, president and CEO of BESI. “We are most pleased to demonstrate how a waste to energy generating system like the installation at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam provides a range of real world advantages and benefits, and how it can play a vital role as we transition towards a world powered by clean energy.”

gI_150400_IMG_0498The Air Force Research Labs (AFRL) selected the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing to demonstrate an integrated micro-grid concept that tests the viability of using renewable energy and micro-grids to assure that the U.S. Air Force (USAF) can continue mission critical operations regardless of the state of the public utility grid or cyber-attack. Phase I of the micro-grid will utilize a rotary kiln gasifier that turns waste into fuel, heat and electricity.

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, who was instrumental in supporting the USAF selection of Hawaii, officiated the demonstration ceremony. “Alternative energy research and development is one of the smartest investments that the military is making today and one that is projected to save lives,” said Schatz. “Hawaii is on the leading edge as a testbed for a variety of renewable energy systems and micro-grid technology that will benefit the entire state.”

JBPHH was selected based on Hawaii’s variety of renewable energy sources, the high cost of electricity, and complexity of the Hawaii Air Guard’s 154th Wing, which operates the F-22, the most advanced fighter in the U.S. inventory.Read More

bioenergy, biojet fuel, Hydrogen, Waste-to-Energy

ICM to Expand Albion Ethanol

Joanna Schroeder

ICM has been hired by The Andersons Albion Ethanol for an expansion project. The company will be designing and building the expansion that will double ethanol production.

ICM_2-color_logoVRTThe dry-mill corn ethanol plant was designed and built by ICM, Inc. in 2006 and engineered for future expansion. As part of the project, the plant will add a combined heat and power system that will generate approximately 7.5MW of electricity and produce steam for the existing and expanded ethanol plant. The ethanol plant expansion and installation of the combined heat and power system is expected to be completed in April 2017.

ICM President Chris Mitchell said, “We’re thrilled to announce the expansion project at the Albion, Michigan facility, and we look forward to continued collaboration with The Andersons to support the economic growth of the region by providing our process technologies and services to advance renewable energy.”

biofuels, Ethanol

Alliance BioEnergy Touts CoProMax

Joanna Schroeder

Alliance BioEnergy Plus is touting the benefits of Harvesting Technology CoProMax for an ethanol plant. When combined with the ALLM CTS process, the company reports a 55 million gallon per year (mmgy) biorefinery can add more than $17 million to the bottom line to a corn ethanol plant without bringing in outside feedstock.

alliance-bioAccording to Alliance BioEnergy, the CoProMax system eliminates the production of thin stillage and utilizes a unique method to extract nearly three times the high value Distillers Corn Oil (DCO) other than what is typical with average production practices. In addition the process provides both a high protein, high fiber distillers grain (with protein levels in excess of 45 percent and containing three quarters of the available corn kernel fiber). The DDGs with high levels of corn kernel fiber can be converted through the CTS unit, extracting even more DCO and adding millions of gallons of cellulosic ethanol output says the company.

The company also says this technology eliminates the need to transport 1,000s of tons of feedstock per day saving costs. In addition, without the feedstock there is no need to add expensive material handling or pretreatment processes.

Alliance BioEnergy says the combined CTS/CoProMax system allows an existing corn ethanol plant the ability to produce cellulosic ethanol by offering both low capital and operating expenses while retaining the ability to expand and add outside feedstocks for additional cellulosic ethanol output.

advanced biofuels, biomass, Cellulosic, Distillers Grains, Ethanol

China Leads in U.S. Ethanol Exports

Joanna Schroeder

According to Ann Lewis, research analyst with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), U.S. ethanol exports increased by 7 percent over December 2015 kicking off 2016 with a strong start. Using U.S. data, the increase marked a 14-month high with the industry shipping 87.1 million gallons (mg), with China taking the lead with a third of the market at 29.4 mg—rivaling the record of 32.6 mg to China last October.

During the same time frame, Canada received just 13.7 mg—the lowest volume of exports north of the border since October 2010. The United Arab Emirates (10.9 mg) and South Korea (10.4 mg) were other top markets in January. Brazil brought in a fairly sizable volume (6.6 mg) considering its recent absenteeism from the U.S. export picture. January’s robust exports equate to 1.05 billion gallons on an annualized basis.

Monthly US Exports Jan 2016Denatured fuel ethanol exports saw a 29 percent month-on-month increase to 65.0 mg in January. China grabbed 29.4 mg (45%) of that market, with Canada (12.2 mg, or 19%), the UAE (8.1 mg, or 12%) and South Korea (5.9 mg, or 9%). Lewis reports that January exports of undenatured ethanol for fuel use fell 29 percent from December to 20.2 mg. Brazil (6.6 mg) and South Korea (4.5 mg) received 55% of undenatured fuel exports, while the Philippines (2.9 mg), the UAE (2.8 mg), Mexico (2.2 mg) and Peru (1.1 mg) rounded out the list. Sales of undenatured ethanol for non-fuel, non-beverage use crashed to the lowest level since February 2013, dipping 64 percent to 212,369 gallons. Similarly, denatured non-fuel use ethanol exports slumped 21 percent to 1.7 mg—the lowest volume in over a year. The U.S. kept exports of non-fuel product close to home with 78 percent of total shipping to Canada and 9 percent to Mexico.

The U.S. imported just a splash of ethanol for fuel use in January. Inbound shipments came from Canada (500 gallons) and the Netherlands (165 gallons). Given the paltry import figure, January U.S. net exports of 87.1 mg were the highest since the record month of December 2011.

January exports of U.S. distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGs) fell 19 percent from January to 800,580 metric tons (mt). DDGS exports to China tallied at 218,961 mt, representing a 3 percent decrease over December volumes but an increase in market share (27% of total U.S. exports vs. 23% in December). On a side note, these volumes were recorded despite the country opening an anti-dumping case against the U.S. for DDGs. Other export markets included Mexico at 195,669 mt, Ireland at 48,456 mt, Canada at 47,617 mt, Thailand at 46,838, Vietnam at 45,744 mt and South Korea at 45,046 mt.

Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, RFA

Comet Biorefining Awarded CA $10.9M

Joanna Schroeder

Comet Biorefining has been awarded CA $10.9 million dollars from the Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDIC) to assist with the construction of its biobased chemicals plant located in Sarnia, Ontario. The biorefinery will convert corn stover into high-purity dextrose sugar. SDTC supports the development of technologies which address the challenges of clean air, soil, water and climate change.

Comet Biorefining logoAndrew Richard, founder of Comet, said, “This funding will support the commercialization of our feedstock-flexible technology and produce a much-needed raw material for the growing bioeconomy. By supporting Comet Biorefining, SDTC is investing in Canada’s environmental goals and economic future.”

Comet’s technology enables sugars to be produced cost- competitively with corn or sugarcane-derived dextrose, the conventional raw materials for today’s biochemical production. Comet’s facilities may be built on a small scale that enables flexibility to locate production close to biomass supplies, reducing transportation costs.

“Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is incredibly proud to support Comet Biorefining,” added Leah Lawrence, president and CEO. “Our mission is to help Canadian cleantech entrepreneurs move their ground-breaking technologies to commercialization by bridging the funding gap between research and market entry. This dextrose sugar plant is the kind of technology that has the potential to generate jobs, growth and export opportunities, and to bring lasting economic, environmental and health benefits to Canadians and the world.”

biochemicals, biomass, biomaterials

Iowa Biofuel Impact Takes Small Step Back

Joanna Schroeder

A new study conducted by John Urbanchuk of ABF Economics and commissioned by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) found that while the renewable fuels industry continues to be a strong driver of Iowa’s economy, its impacts have taken a small step back from last year. The report cited reductions to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as the cause.

Iowa RFA logo-new“Iowa is the leading producer of ethanol in the United States,” said Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad during a press conference at the Capitol to release the study results. “We have been disappointed by the EPA’s unwillingness to restore a robust Renewable Fuel Standard. This study shows how important renewable fuels are for the future of our Iowa economy.”

The study found that in 2015 the renewable fuels industry in Iowa:

  • Supported nearly 43,000 jobs throughout the entire Iowa economy;
  • Generated almost $2.3 billion in household income for Iowans; and,
  • Accounted for about $4.6 billion, or 3.5 percent, of Iowa GDP.

“While Iowa’s ethanol and biodiesel industries continue to power the state’s economy, it’s disappointing that those impacts took a small step backwards last year,” added IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “What may be as equally frustrating is the missed opportunity to really grow Iowa’s economy. When the EPA reduced the statutory RFS levels, it reduced our ability to grow ethanol and biodiesel production, to grow forward-looking investments into new technologies, to grow farm income and to grow Iowa jobs.”

Ethanol, Iowa RFA, RFA