Sustainable Aviation Fuel Would Benefit Midwest

Cindy Zimmerman

A new study on the economic impact of sustainable aviation fuel production and use finds it would provide great benefits to the Midwest since two of the major feedstock for SAF will likely be corn and soybean oil. The study, conducted by Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS), was released last week at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit.

In order to reach the 35-billion-gallon goal, the study found that 63 new 200-million-gallon-per-year ethanol plants, 30 new ethanol-to-jet SAF production facilities and six new oils/fats SAF production facilities would need to be built.

DIS report author David Miller concluded: “SAF production provides a substantial opportunity for Midwestern states, Midwestern farmers, and Midwestern renewable fuel producers to prosper in the coming years if the SAF Grand Challenge comes to fruition and the Midwestern states take steps to be active participants in making the roadmap come to life. The pathway that DIS estimates most likely to be realized has [oils/fats]-based SAF and ethanol-to-jet (ETJ) being the two most prominent pathways for SAF production at least for the next 20 years.”

In addition to a huge economic jolt from the construction of the new SAF infrastructure, ongoing operations would:

Boost employment by 224,440 jobs
Increase labor income by $9.3 billion
Add $427 million to farm revenues in ethanol plant basis premiums alone
Raise farm income by $11,670 for a typical 1000-acre farm split 50/50 between corn and soybeans.

With corn production grow outpacing demand, without the new SAF market corn farmers would face an extended period of overproduction, resulting in:

Reducing corn acreage 68 million acres by 2050
Slashing of farm revenues by nearly $10 billion per year
Cutting farm income by $60,240 for a typical 1000-acre farm split 50/50 between corn and soybeans.

Click here to read the full study.

aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA, SAF

WASDE Calls for Record Corn Production

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Agriculture dropped its latest World Agricultural Supply Demand Estimate report on Friday, calling for record U.S. corn production in 2023-2024. The corn outlook also calls for more corn to be used for ethanol, increased feed and residual use, and higher ending stocks.

Corn production is estimated at a record 15.3 billion bushels, up 108 million as an increase in yield to a record 177.3 bushels per acre is partly offset by a 0.6-million acre decline in harvested area. Total corn use is raised 75 million bushels to 14.6 billion. Corn used for ethanol is raised 50 million bushels to 5.4 billion. Feed and residual use is raised 25 million bushels to 5.7 billion, based on indicated disappearance during the September-November quarter as reflected by the Grain Stocks report, and historical revisions to production and stocks from 2018 to 2022 following the recent Agricultural Census results. With supply rising more than use, 2023/24 corn stocks are up 31 million bushels. The season-average corn price received by producers is lowered 5 cents to $4.80 per bushel.

Additionally, U.S. oilseed production for 2023/24 is estimated at 122.4 million tons, up 0.9 million from last month. Soybean production is estimated at 4.2 billion bushels, up 35 million, led by increases for Illinois, Missouri, and North Dakota. With slightly lower beginning stocks, soybean supplies are up 31 million bushels from last month. The soybean oil balance sheet adjustments include increased imports and biofuel use, and lower exports and food, feed, and other industrial use. Lower food, feed, and other industrial use is partly offset by
higher imports and consumption of canola oil.

Biodiesel, biofuels, biojet fuel, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Soybeans, USDA

Nebraska Ethanol Raises $18K for Breast Cancer

Cindy Zimmerman

For the sixth October in a row, Nebraska gas stations have united, raising thousands of dollars for cancer research as part of Fuel the Cure. The 2023 campaign raised $18,733, and the six-year campaign total has grown to $64,572.

Annually, throughout October, drivers opting for higher blends of ethanol fuel like E15, E30 and E85 triggered a 3-cent donation for each gallon sold at participating stations. Ethanol, a natural octane booster derived from Nebraska field corn, plays a pivotal role in displacing harmful aromatics in gasoline linked to cancer, heart disease and respiratory issues. The campaign’s grand total comprises additional contributions from industry partners and participating Nebraska ethanol plants. This includes Siouxland Ethanol in Jackson and E Energy Adams in Adams who have donated to other cancer centers and organizations over the years as part of this campaign.

Donations from fuel retailers benefit the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha, a nationally distinguished cancer facility that uses the most advanced biomedical and technological tools available to identify the causes behind cancer to create precise therapies for each cancer patient. This includes Nebraskans, as well as cancer fighters worldwide.

Fuel the Cure is sponsored by the Nebraska Ethanol Board, Nebraska Corn Board, and Renewable Fuels Nebraska.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

Clean Fuels Alliance America Launches New Podcast

Cindy Zimmerman

Clean Fuels Alliance America is launching a new podcast covering all aspects of the biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel industries.

Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen says the “Better. Cleaner. Now! Podcast” provides a unique opportunity to dive deeper into the clean fuels industry and expertise from Clean Fuels’ program managers. “This project really has been a labor of love from our staff since its inception,” said Rehagen. “Thanks to their perseverance and the support of our Governing Board, we are excited to be able to share our stories and intel on an industry that we are deeply passionate about.”

A new episode of The Better. Cleaner. Now! Podcast will drop every Wednesday and is available wherever you get your podcasts. In episode one, The Benefits Keep Growing, Rehagen joins Heather Buechter, Director of Communications, to preview the groundwork being laid to exceed the association’s vision of reaching 6 billion gallons by 2030.

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance, renewable diesel, SAF

USDA Announces Grants for Biofuels Infrastructure

Cindy Zimmerman

During an address at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit Thursday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the awarding of $19 million in grants to increase the availability of domestic biofuels at gas stations in 22 states. The awards are being made through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) with funding from Inflation Reduction Act.

Some of examples of the grants include:

Casey’s will use a $5 million grant to install ethanol blend fuel dispensers at 111 fueling stations in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota. Using these investments, the company aims to increase the amount of biofuels it supplies by 50 million gallons a year.

Piasa Enterprises Inc. in Illinois will use a $200,000 grant to install two 30,000-gallon biodiesel storage tanks and associated piping at their Hartford fuel distribution center. The company projects an increase in the amount of biodiesel sold by 2 million gallons per year

In Maryland, AC&T Inc. will install two ethanol fuel dispensers and one ethanol storage tank. Through this project, AC&T owners aim to expand the amount of ethanol they supply by over 106,000 gallons a year.

States receiving grants are Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.

During his visit to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit in Altoona, Secretary Vilsack was awarded the Lifetime Champion of Renewable Fuels Award by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). This is only the second time this prestigious honor has been awarded. The first recipient, Gov. Terry Branstad, received the award in 2017 as he was transitioning from the governors office to be the U.S. ambassador to China.

“Sec. Vilsack has been an outstanding and unrelenting champion of renewable fuels throughout his career as a state legislator, governor and now USDA secretary,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Looking at Sec. Vilsack’s entire career, it is clear he understands not just the economic value of biofuels, but the intrinsic values of hope and confidence in the future they provide for rural America.”

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA, USDA

Ethanol Exports Down Slightly in November

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest Renewable Fuels Association analysis of U.S. exports of ethanol shows a one percent drop in November to a still strong 115.9 million gallons (mg).

Canada was our largest destination for the 32nd consecutive month despite a 23% drop in volume. Shipments totaled 50.0 mg (of which 91% was denatured), accounting for 43% of global sales. The U.S. exported 22.6 mg to Colombia (up from essentially zero), which is a record high for that market. India imported 13.5 mg (a -1% decline) while the European Union (down 54%) and United Kingdom (down 39%) each imported 7.7 mg. Virtually all remaining ethanol exports landed in South Korea (3.8 mg, -37%), Mexico (3.4 mg, -33%), Jamaica (3.3 mg, a 6-fold increase), Peru (2.9 mg, -50%), and Singapore (0.8 mg, +47%). Brazil again was notably absent from the market. Ethanol exports through November 2023 totaled 1.27 billion gallons, 3% ahead of the same period in 2022.

Exports of the ethanol co-product dried distillers grains (DDGS) were down seven percent in November to the lowest volume since April at 829,911 metric tons (mt). Shipments to the top ten largest customers were mixed were up three percent overall, while a cumulative decline across smaller markets (-44%) pulled down the November total.

Mexico was our largest destination for the 17th consecutive month with exports of 177,724 mt. Still, this was an 8% decrease from October and a 6-month low. Other larger importers included South Korea (108,922 mt, +42%), Vietnam (101,389 mt, -16%), Indonesia (83,558 mt, +26%), Canada (78,341 mt, – 16% decline), Colombia (52,365 mt, quadrupled to an 11-month high) and China (33,189 mt, +9% to a 22-month high). DDGS exports through November 2023 totaled 9.82 million mt, lagging 3% behind the same period in 2022.

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

Fifth Circuit Asked to Rehear RFS Oil Refinery Exemption Case

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association this week requested that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rehear the challenge brought by certain oil refineries seeking exemptions from the Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

In November 2023, the Fifth Circuit determined it was the proper venue to hear a challenge brought by six small refineries who saw their RFS compliance exemption petitions denied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and ultimately sided with the refiners and overturned EPA’s denial of those exemption petitions.

The petition for rehearing from RFA and other interested parties claims that the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals is the only proper venue for hearing such challenges.

The Clean Air Act specifies that the D.C. Circuit is the only appropriate court to hear challenges regarding EPA actions that are “nationally applicable” and considered by the agency to have nationwide scope or effect. According to RFA’s petition, “The D.C. Circuit has exclusive venue over challenges to EPA’s April and June 2022 decisions to deny small refinery petitions for exemptions from compliance with the RFS program. The panel erred in declining to transfer this case to that Court.”

RFA’s petition points out that the Fifth Circuit’s decision to hear the refiners’ challenge departs from the court’s precedent and past practices. RFA also notes that four other Circuit Courts transferred similar cases to the D.C. Circuit—or dismissed them altogether. Further, the dissenting opinion in the Fifth Circuit’s November 2023 decision agreed that the proper venue for these challenges is the D.C. Circuit because the SRE denials “are inescapably nationally applicable.”

According to RFA, a rehearing is necessary to avoid important and substantial adverse consequences not only to the RFS program and biofuel producers, but also to established precedent on the Clean Air Act’s venue provisions.

EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Presidential Candidates to Speak at Iowa Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

Two Republican presidential candidates have joined the lineup of featured guests at the 2024 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on Thursday, January 11.

Each caucus year, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) invites candidates actively campaigning in Iowa to speak at the annual Summit and Gov. Ron DeSantis and Gov. Asa Hutchinson are planning to attend and share their “biofuels vision” with the crowd of farm and biofuels leaders.

IRFA has supported Biofuels Vision 2024, a coalition of Iowa organizations and citizens tracking candidates’ stances on eight issues vital to the future of biofuels and the Iowa economy. The summit will be held on January 11 at the Prairie Meadows Event Center in Altoona, Iowa. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

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2023 Ethanol Production Expected to Top 2022

Cindy Zimmerman

After hitting a year-end high the week of December 23, ethanol production moderated the last week of 2023 to a five week low of just over a million barrels per day, or 44.06 million gallons daily, according to the latest Energy Information Administration data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association.

That was 24% more than the same week last year and 7.3% above the five-year average for the week. RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper says they have seen a good rebound in ethanol production this year. “We are expecting somewhere around 15.5 or 15.6 billion gallons of production when the final numbers come in,” said Cooper. “We also saw a continued growth in demand from COVID era levels.” The final ethanol production estimate for 2022 was 15.36 billion gallons.

Ethanol stocks ticked up 0.3% to 23.6 million barrels, the largest weekly volume since mid-April, and ethanol exports were estimated at 69,000 b/d (2.9 million gallons/day), which is 47.7% below the prior week.

Listen to Cooper talk about 2023 ethanol production and demand.
RFA CEO Geoff Cooper on 2023 production 1:50

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

Montana Becomes 49th State to Approve E15

Cindy Zimmerman

As of January 1, Montana became the 49th state to allow retail sales of E15, with California now remaining as the only state to prevent the sale of 15% ethanol-blended fuel.

The Montana Department of Labor & Industry last year approved updated state regulations based on the most recent National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) handbook which went into effect at the beginning of the new year.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper urged California to follow Montana’s example.

“We are pleased to see Montana has rung in the new year by becoming the 49th state to allow the sale of lower-cost, lower-carbon E15. Big Sky Country will now be able to enjoy greater savings at the pump and cleaner skies on the horizon. Now it’s time for the very last holdout–California–to step forward and join the rest of the country in allowing consumers to access the more affordable, cleaner-burning E15 fuel option. As we explained in a recent letter to California’s Air Resources Board, the state’s refusal to approve E15 means it is subjecting its drivers to higher prices at the pump, more pollution at the tailpipe, and greater GHG emissions in the atmosphere.”

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