#FlexMyChoice Massages at #Classic16

Cindy Zimmerman

classic16-rfaVisitors to the 2016 Commodity Classic had the opportunity to voice their support for Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) and relax their aching muscles at the same time at the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) booth.

It was the first opportunity for RFA to get their recently launched “Flex My Choice” campaign in front of the agriculture industry and Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White says many of the people they spoke to at Classic had no idea that auto makers were cutting their production of FFVs. “It doesn’t matter what part of agriculture you’re coming from, the phasing out or elimination of flex fuel vehicles will be devastating to the advancement and growth of our industry,” said White.

Beginning this year, the fuel economy credits given to auto makers for building flex fuel vehicles were phased out. “Ironically, now we have incentives for natural gas vehicles, so we’re encouraging fossil fuel usage over an alternative like E85,” White said.

Classic attendees who visited the RFA booth were able to fill out post cards to be sent to the main three automobile manufacturers, as well as EPA. While doing that, they were also able to get a nice chair massage, which was welcome relief for many who spent the day walking through the huge trade show catering to corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum farmers.

Listen to Robert explain more about Flex My Choice in this interview: Interview with Robert White, RFA, at Commodity Classic

2016 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, Commodity Classic, corn, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Flex Fuel Vehicles, NCGA, RFA

NCGA Identifies Ethanol as Driver for Demand

Joanna Schroeder

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) held a press conference this week during 2016 Commodity Classic to discuss several key issues facing the corn industry and highlight the efforts currently in place to create solutions to the challenges that have been facing growers.

NCGA president Chip BowlingNCGA Present Chip Bowling, a corn grower from Newburg, Maryland, said that the most important action the organization is taking on behalf of its members is creating more demand for corn products. Ethanol, said Bowling, is an important element to increasing demand.

“Ethanol is the most important driver for future growth of corn demand,” said Bowling during his remarks. “We’re investing in fuel pump infrastructure that will give customers more access to higher ethanol blends. USDA has provided $100 million in matching grants to help us with this effort. We’re also pushing for changes that would give every American year round access to E15. At the same time we’re protecting the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which provides renewable, clean energy and increases our nation’s energy independence.”

Bowling noted that in January, NCGA banded with other organizations in court to challenge the EPA’s renewable volume obligations (RVS) under the RFS, which are under statutory levels. “We’re pushing for our case to be heard before EPA announces 2017 RVO numbers that are supposedly coming out at the end of March.”

Listen to the full press conference here:
NCGA Press Conference at Commodity Classic

2016 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, corn, Ethanol, NCGA

U of York Team Aids in Biofuel Enzyme Research

Joanna Schroeder

A global research team is working together to help develop more efficient production methods for biofuel production. Scientists at the University of York are part of this team looking at how natural occurring enzymes can be used to degrade microbe-resistant biomass. The research is part of ongoing study of a recently discovered family of enzymes produced by fungi and bacteria, which are able to break down tough cellulose-based materials such as plant stems. The hope is that by understanding how the naturally occurring enzymes work, they can then be improved for industrial purposes, principally the production of biofuels from sustainable sources.

leaffeat

Photo credit: Julia Walton

Professor Paul Walton and Professor Gideon Davies of the Department of Chemistry at York, two members of the team recently presented the first published molecular structure of one of the key enzymes (lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases or LPMOs) involved in these processes. The paper appeared in Nature Chemical Biology.

The research shows how the ‘active site’ of the enzyme changes when it binds to plant cell wall cellulose, and this knowledge, say the scientists, is important in advancing understanding of the reaction chemistry.

“LPMOs have overturned our thinking about biomass degradation in biology; they are also essential components in the commercial production of bioethanol from cellulosic feedstocks,” said Professor Walton. This new structure will help chemists and biochemists improve the efficiencies of these important enzymes.”

Professor Davies added, “When we can understand structure and chemistry we can improve environmentally-friendly processes for the benefit of all. This work, by a combined European team, gives us unparalleled molecular insight into one of the key reactions catalysed by fungi. It is truly exciting.”

The new research resulted from a European consortium project entitled Critical Enzymes for Sustainable Biofuels from Cellulose (CESBIC) involving York and the Universities of Copenhagen and Cambridge, CNRS Aix-Marseille Université, France, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, and industrial partner Novozymes A/S in Denmark.

advanced biofuels, enzymes, Research

ROUSH Aids Nestlé Waters Switch to Propane

Joanna Schroeder

ROUSH CleanTech has recently assisted several companies convert to greener fleets. Nestlé Waters North America is adding 150 medium-duty beverage delivery trucks (Ford F-650) fueled by propane autogas. According to ROUSH CleanTech, over the vehicles’ lifetime, the 155 Ford F-650 trucks will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 24.6 million pounds. These units will be deployed beginning in April.

“Becoming a better steward of our environment is a priority for Nestlé Waters,” said Bill Ardis, national fleet manager for Nestlé Waters North America, speaking at the NTEA Work Truck Show. “We’ve been running propane autogas vehicles since 2014. Because of gI_86569_Nestle Waters F650the proven emissions reductions and cost savings, we knew it was the right choice to expand our fleet with this domestically produced alternative fuel.”

Each delivery truck is equipped with a California Air Resources Board- and Environmental Protection Agency-compliant ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas fuel system with a 45-usable gallon fuel tank. Mickey Body in High Point, North Carolina, upfitted the vehicles with side-load beverage bays.

The new medium-duty delivery trucks, added to the company’s existing autogas fleet of 30 Ford trucks of the same model, will also help the company save on maintenance and fuel costs. Ardis added, “Autogas allows us to operate without compromising standard delivery methods and reduce operational costs. Customers have already noticed that our trucks operating on autogas are quieter and cleaner,” said Ardis who noted their fuel savings per gallon is about $1.

“Fueling beverage delivery trucks with propane autogas offers the best total cost of ownership,” said Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH CleanTech. “By choosing this safe, abundant and American-made fuel, fleets around the nation have reduced operating costs and lowered their carbon footprint.”

Alternative energy, Propane

RFA: API Understates Benefits of RFS

Joanna Schroeder

Is the American Petroleum Institute (API) changing its RFS tune? In a recent interview with POLITICO Pro Energy’s Morning Energy, API President and CEO Jack Gerard said his organization was pivoting its strategy toward reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rather than continuing to call for an outright repeal. A change of tune for sure but whether it’s on key remains to be seen.

dontmesswithRFS_logoRenewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen responded to Gerard’s comments. “API claims they are winning and that the RFS no longer holds the political currency it once did. So why are they then changing course? The reason for the change in approach is that API’s narrative on the RFS is a fiction and Jack Gerard knows it. API can’t continue to support repeal of the RFS because Americans want fuel choice, they want to reduce our dependence on petroleum, they want to address global climate change, they want the evolution of our transportation fuel system to continue. They want the RFS. API knows repeal of the RFS will never happen so they need to change course. That’s not winning. That’s recognizing that you have lost.

“But their ‘reform’ will be equally bankrupt. They will attempt to eviscerate a program they despise because it has robbed them of their monopoly and name it reform. Eliminating the corn ethanol part of the RFS, for example, would render the RFS a toothless tiger. More than 90 percent of the RFS is currently met by corn ethanol, so they would get their monopoly back. That would just tighten oil supplies and raise consumer gasoline costs. More importantly, without corn ethanol, the foundation for next-generation biofuels would be eliminated and the tremendous progress we have made toward cleaner, lower carbon fuels would be lost. That’s not reform. That’s capitulation to an overly entitled oil industry that simply does not share America’s desire to see cost-competitive low-carbon fuels in the marketplace.

“It galls Jack Gerard and the API that support for ethanol and the RFS remains strong among consumers and the Congress despite all the money they have thrown at creating their false narrative. Their acknowledgement today that they need to change course is a white flag. They’ve given up. But beware their next move. It too will not be in the best interests of consumers or American energy and environmental policy.”

biofuels, Ethanol, RFA, RFS

Mid American Agri Products Adds Cellunator

Joanna Schroeder

Mid American Agri Products/Wheatland (MAAPW) has gone online with Cellunator from Edeniq at its ethanol and biodiesel facility located in North Platte, Nebraska. According to Edeniq, the technology will increase the plant’s 44 million gallons per year (MGPY) of ethanol production by pretreating the corn slurry to liberate additional starch. The MAAPW facility also produces three MGPY of biodiesel. The resulting cellulosic ethanol gallons will quality for D3 RINS under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Edeniq-Logo“We selected Edeniq’s Cellunator technology because of its proven track record at accessing residual starch and its ability to also pretreat corn kernel fiber to enable production of cellulosic ethanol at our plant,” said Robert Lundeen, CEO of MAAPW.

In addition to installing Cellunators, MAAPW has an option to license the Pathway Technology. Edeniq’s Pathway Technology integrates Edeniq’s Cellunator equipment with cellulase enzymes to convert corn kernel fiber to cellulosic ethanol. The company says its Pathway Technology utilizes existing fermentation and distillation equipment to produce up to 2.5 percent cellulosic ethanol and a 7 percent increase in overall ethanol yield.

“We are excited that Mid American Agri Products/Wheatland has partnered with us to increase their ethanol yield,” said Brian Thome, President and CEO of Edeniq. “We look forward to continuing to work hand in hand with their team to maximize their return on investment with our technology.”

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, corn, Ethanol

Growth, RFA Urge U.S. to Action Against China

Joanna Schroeder

Back on January 12, 2016, the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM) filed antidumping and countervailing duty cases against the U.S. distiller’s dried grains industry (DDG). This was not the first time the MOFCOM has filed antidumping charges against the U.S.; however, all earlier cases were dropped.

Photo Credit: Renewable Fuels Association (RFA)

Photo Credit: Renewable Fuels Association (RFA)

Yesterday the ethanol industry including Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), called upon the U.S. government to take action against China on the current DDGs antidumping case. The groups sent a letter to President Obama calling for action through the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Department of Commerce and Department of Agriculture “to challenge both the process and preliminary determinations made by China’s investigating authority through comments to MOFCOM and through the World Trade Organization.”

The letter stated, “The uncertainty and market risk resulting from China’s actions has already triggered substantial financial losses for U.S. distiller’s grains producers. Distiller’s grains prices have plunged more than 25 percent since last summer, while prices for corn and other feedstuffs have been stable or even increased slightly. At a time when both U.S. ethanol producers and farmers are facing serious economic challenges, it is estimated that China’s actions have already resulted in distillers grains losing $30-35/ton in value. This is equivalent to an annualized aggregate loss of $1.2 to $1.6 billion to U.S. ethanol producers, many of whom are small businesses in rural America. Losses would mount further, potentially to $50-60/ton or more, if the anti-dumping and countervailing duty actions ultimately result in a total collapse of distillers grains exports to China, meaning a loss to the U.S. economy of more than $2 billion.”

The letter concluded by asking President Obama to “work closely with the U.S. distiller’s grains industry to mount an aggressive defense of our access to the Chinese livestock feed market throughout China’s antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.”

Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Exports, Growth Energy, RFA

Become a Next Generation Biodiesel Leader

Joanna Schroeder

Jesse Meyer, center, with former co-chairs Dan Browne and James Anderson

Jesse Meyer, center, with former co-chairs Dan Browne and James Anderson

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is calling for the next crop of biodiesel leaders to join the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel program. NGSB is seeking additional co-chairs to help take this student professional organization to the next level. Working with NBB staff, the volunteer co-chairs help establish direction, assist with planning educational content, recruitment efforts and producing webinars and other events. The co-chairs also review and rank scholarship applications to the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, and attend the event.

“The co-chair position has provided me with a unique opportunity to interface with the commercial biodiesel community,” said Jesse Mayer, a biochemistry student at the University of Nevada – Reno who attended this year’s conference. “You will network with top scientists and energy thought leaders while shaping our generation’s contributions to the bioenergy field. This opportunity is much more than a resume builder.”

To apply: You must be a college/university student in a scientific field of study, and have joined NGSB. Send an E-mail to NGSB@biodiesel.org with:

  • Your resume and contact information (include expected graduation date. We will prioritize applicants who can serve for two years or more.)
  • A 500 word summary of your experience with biodiesel, commitment to biodiesel, and why you want to be a co-chair.
  • A biodiesel-related photograph of yourself (optional).
  • Deadline to apply is April 1, 2016.

Want to get a feel of what participating in NGSB is like? Click here to read a few stories from student biodiesel leaders that came out of this year’s annual conference in Tampa, Fl.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Education, NBB

Veteran Reporter Rachel Gantz Joins RFA Team

Joanna Schroeder

rfalogo1Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) Journalist Rachel Gantz is joining the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) team on March 7, 2016. She will serve as RFA’s new communications director and spokesperson and in her role will communicate the organization’s key messages to reporters as well as assist in growing RFA’s media footprint.

“I am excited to join the RFA staff and look forward to working with the media to promote the ethanol industry’s benefits,” said Gantz. “I have written about biofuels for more than 15 years and worked alongside many in the industry. I look forward to continuing that relationship in a different capacity.”

Gantz spent nearly 17 years as a reporter with OPIS where she was a senior reporter covering the biofuels industry. She also worked at Hart Energy Publishing’s Oxy Fuel News and Argus’ Air Daily, covering the biofuels and air emissions industries.

“We are thrilled to have Rachel joining the RFA team,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “She is well versed in the ethanol industry’s legislative and regulatory issues, marketplace priorities and personalities. She’ll be able to hit the ground running. I look forward to Rachel taking the RFA’s press and social media efforts to new heights.”

Ethanol, RFA

Berkeley Lab’s Enzyme Reduces Plant Lignin

Joanna Schroeder

One of the barriers to efficient second generation biofuels is creating a better way to break down the lignin in plants that is then converted to the sugars that create the building blocks of biobased products such as cellulosic ethanol, biomaterials and biochemicals. But this hurdle may be getting lower with research out of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Scientists have demonstrated an enzyme that can be tweaked to reduce lignin in plants.

This illustration shows the molecular structure of HCT that was derived at Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Light Source. The purple and green areas are two domains of the enzyme, and the multi-colored structures between the two domains are two molecules (p-coumaryl-shikimate and HS-CoA) in the binding site. New research shows this binding site is indiscriminate with the acceptor molecules it recruits, including molecules that inhibit lignin production. (Credit: Berkeley Lab)

This illustration shows the molecular structure of HCT that was derived at Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Light Source. The purple and green areas are two domains of the enzyme, and the multi-colored structures between the two domains are two molecules (p-coumaryl-shikimate and HS-CoA) in the binding site. New research shows this binding site is indiscriminate with the acceptor molecules it recruits, including molecules that inhibit lignin production. (Credit: Berkeley Lab)

Lignin is essential to plant health. It resides in a plant’s cell walls and surrounds and traps the sugars inside. In order to extract the sugars, the lignin must first be broken down through chemical pretreament. Thus, the less lignin there is, the less expensive the pretreatment step becomes.

The research was published in Plant & Cell Physiology and focuses on an enzyme called HCT that plays a key role in synthesizing lignin in plants and has been found to be indiscriminate with what molecules it binds with. With this discovery, the researchers introduced another molecule to the enzyme that occupies the binding site usually occupied by the lignin-producing molecule. This swap inhibits the enzyme’s ability to support lignin production. Initial tests showed a decrease in lignin content by 30 percent while increasing sugar production, without weakening the plant.

“Our goal is to tune the process so that lignin is reduced in a plant where we want it reduced, such as in tissues that produce thick cell walls, and when we want it reduced, such as later in a plant’s development,” said Dominique Loque, a plant biologist with the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), a DOE Bioenergy Research Center led by Berkeley Lab, which pursues breakthroughs in the production of cellulosic biofuels. “This would result in robust bioenergy crops with more sugar and less lignin, and dramatically cheaper pretreatment costs.”

Next the researchers want to learn how to adjust the temporal and spatial specificity of the enzyme’s lignin-reduction abilities in plants. They also want to further study the Advanced Light Source-derived enzyme structures to see if HCT can be modified to be even more attractive to the new molecules.

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, enzymes, Ethanol, Research