ISA Launches Interactive B20 Club Webpage

Cindy Zimmerman

The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) recently launched an updated B20 Club webpage that features an interactive map of Illinois-based organizations that utilize 20% biodiesel and higher blends to fuel their fleets.

“The B20 Club of Illinois is proud to launch our updated website and recommit ourselves to our core mission of educating fleets and stakeholders on the immediate benefit of implementing lower-carbon and cleaner-burning fuels like B20. Doing so provides measurable benefits that provide a cleaner today and better tomorrow,” said Bailey Arnold, Director of Clean Air Initiatives at the American Lung Association and the Program Lead for the B20 Club.

The B20 Club is a partnership between the Illinois Soybean Association checkoff program and the American Lung Association that recognizes a select group of organizations throughout Illinois with strong commitments to run their fleets on biodiesel blends of 20 percent or greater. Since 2014, B20 Club members have consumed more than 88.5 million gallons of B20 and higher biodiesel blends, contributing to cleaner air and more sustainable operations. In total, member fleets have provided an estimated $13.2 million in health benefits and reduced CO2 and equivalent emissions equal to planting more than 2.5 million trees.

Biodiesel, Soybean, Soybeans

Nebraska Governor Signs New Law to Boost E15 Sales

Cindy Zimmerman

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed new legislation this week that contains provisions to increase consumer access to E15 fuel in the state, boost higher blend ethanol tax credits, improve the NextGen program and cut red tape for food trucks.

During the signing event, Governor Pillen hosted a food truck from Norfolk at the Governor’s Residence to drive home the benefits contained in the new law. “This is a great day for agriculture in Nebraska,” said Gov. Pillen. “It gives drivers more choices as to what fuel they buy, improves a program to help new farmers and provides clarification for a growing industry that is catching fire across communities large and small – food trucks.”

Nebraska ranks second in the nation for ethanol production but comes in 45th for its ethanol blend rate. The bill will make it possible for more consumers to fill up with E15 at their local fuel retailers, while providing fuel retailers a boost in tax credit for each gallon of higher blended ethanol sold.

“Nine out of 10 fuel retailers in Nebraska will be able to offer E15 without expensive upgrades to their fuel infrastructure and dispensing system,” said Reid Wagner, Nebraska Ethanol Board (NEB) executive director. “The framework created through LB562 offers a pathway to increase access to higher blends while minimizing costs to fuel retailers and maximizing savings for consumers.”

Ethanol organizations thanked Gov. Pillen for signing the new law. “It’s safe to say this new law is a win for drivers, a win for agriculture and a win for all of Nebraska,” said Dawn Caldwell, executive director, Renewable Fuels Nebraska. “In addition, it gives Nebraska’s renewable fuel producers, our farmers, our workers, our engineers and our innovators the chance to keep doing what they do best – fueling our communities, our state and our country.”

“This new law will help Nebraska families save money on a fuel choice that is also good for their state’s economy and environment,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “The use of lower-cost E15 has been shown to provide emissions reductions as well as cost savings, and the use of more American-made ethanol supports thousands of jobs in Nebraska and across America’s heartland.”

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Chief Marketing Officer Ron Lamberty said, “This incentive should encourage marketers to look past all the misinformation about high equipment costs to sell E15 and find out most of their current equipment is already E15 compatible. We should see more Nebraska stations selling E15 in a short period of time, and when drivers try E15, they like it and keep using it.”

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

Reps Ask USTR to Address Brazil Ethanol Tariff

Cindy Zimmerman

More than 20 members of Congress, led by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), sent a letter this week to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai asking her to prioritize ethanol export competitiveness and address unfair import tariffs imposed on American ethanol by Brazil.

The letter highlighted the importance of biofuel and ethanol production for rural communities throughout the country and how recently announced import tariffs by Brazil on American ethanol would negatively impact American agriculture, which previously received duty-free treatment from Brazil.

In the letter, the Members wrote in part, “We believe the double layer issue of a tariff imbalance and an impenetrable RenovaBio is unjustified and puts American ethanol and farmers at risk. We strongly urge you to prioritize American ethanol export competitiveness in the Brazilian market by addressing these unfair policies. Further, if Brazil continues with its unfair treatment of American ethanol, we stand ready to work with you to consider measures that protect U.S. farmers and biofuels producers and counter these unfair trade practices.”

Bipartisan supporters from ethanol states including Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Michigan, and Wisconsin signed the letter, but it was interestingly also signed by Rep. Mike Lawler, a freshman Republican from New York.

Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Trade

North American SAF Conference Planned for August

Cindy Zimmerman

BBI International and the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) are presenting the first annual North American SAF Conference & Expo at the Minneapolis Convention Center August 29-30, 2023.

“We’re really excited to participate in the execution of this inaugural event,” said Steve Csonka, CAAFI’s Executive Director. “CAAFI’s leadership team is pleased to augment BBI International’s intention to create an annual, world-class, SAF-focused conference and exposition, encompassing interests and activities from across North America. The timing is right to move SAF to such a dedicated, mainstream event.”

This year’s inaugural North American SAF Conference & Expo will provide two days of content for the sustainable aviation fuel industry. The program is set to mirror much of CAAFI’s focus, which is to encourage the development of alternative jet fuel options that promote environmental improvement and energy supply security for aviation.

Attendees of the event will gain a better understanding of opportunities to engage in commercial activities, by hearing about fuel certification and qualification, SAF research and development, environmental and economic metrics, and an inside look at the current SAF marketplace and where it may be heading in the future.

aviation biofuels, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, SAF

Dairy Distillery and Milk Producers Partner for Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) and Ontario-based Dairy Distillery recently announced a joint initiative to transform a dairy byproduct into what they say will be “the world’s lowest carbon-intensity ethanol.”

Dairy Distillery developed technology to transform a lactose-rich dairy byproduct, called milk permeate into vodka, aptly named Vodkow. This high value use of milk permeate caught the attention of MMPA whose Constantine, MI facility produces 14,000 tonnes a year that’s being used for animal feed. Looking to create more value for its dairy farmer members, MMPA partnered with Dairy Distillery to build a plant to process its milk permeate into 2.2 million gallons of ethanol. When blended with transportation fuel, the permeate ethanol will offset 14,500 tonnes of carbon a year. This offset will reduce the carbon footprint of the milk processed at Constantine by 5%.

“I’ve been inspired by MMPA dairy farmers and their commitment to sustainability. Using a milk byproduct to reduce the carbon footprint of dairy is an innovation that will make a significant contribution to MMPA’s net zero carbon emissions goal.” explains Dairy Distillery CEO Omid McDonald.

The $41 million ethanol plant, which is scheduled to start production in early 2025, received $2.5 million in funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund. The project includes the construction of a new, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system that will produce natural gas to power the ethanol plant’s distillation system, further lowering the carbon footprint of the milk permeate ethanol.

dairy, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Argentina and Indonesia Biodiesel Duties Extended

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) last week announced its findings after its five-year (“sunset”) review of antidumping and countervailing duty orders on biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia and determined that revocation of them “would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.”

As a result, the existing orders on imports of this product from Argentina and Indonesia will remain in place. Clean Fuels Alliance America welcomed the final determination regarding the orders the U.S. Department of Commerce first finalized in 2018.

“Clean Fuels’ Fair Trade Coalition fought hard to protect domestic biodiesel producers from the potential resumption of unfair trade practices,” stated Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs with Clean Fuels. “Our members have made significant investments to meet growing demand for better, cleaner fuels. We appreciate Commerce and the International Trade Commission carefully reviewing the information provided by the Fair Trade Coalition and preserving trade remedies that have been vitally important to our biodiesel industry.”

According to the law, the Commerce department initiated the required five-year review in March 2022 and Clean Fuels’ Fair Trade Coalition fully engaged in the process and filed substantive responses during the review.

Biodiesel, Clean Fuels Alliance, Trade

Ethanol Blends Well With Summer

Cindy Zimmerman

As summer gets underway, the Renewable Fuels Association is once again sponsoring the Ethanol Days of Summer fuel giveaway contest, and encouraging both motorists and boaters to get educated on ethanol and save money at the pump.

RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White says the popularity of the fuel giveaway contest has grown as the availability of higher ethanol blends has grown. “More than 5,700 stations are now selling E85 across more than 3,000 cities, and more than 2,900 stations in 31 states offer E15,” said White.

Drivers are invited to report retail fuel station prices for higher blends of ethanol like E15 and E85 either through E85prices.com, or on Twitter by tagging @EthanolRFA and including the hashtags #ethanol #E15 #E85 and #fuelprices. Contestants will be entered into a random weekly drawing for a $250 pre-paid credit card to be used for fuel purchases. Each week, RFA will award $250 in free fuel from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

RFA is also continuing its outreach this year to boaters with education on using E10 blends in marine engines. White authored a blog post on the topic to encourage boat owners to get the facts. “We don’t want anyone using more than E10 but it comes down to routine maintenance and following the directions and advice of the engine manufacturers, boat manufacturers and fuel manufacturers,” White said, noting that he includes information direct from Mercury-Marine.

White says RFA has teamed up with two fishing champions this year to carry the message of ethanol in tournaments where they compete. Dylan Faulconer, a crappie angler from Kansas who fishes in tournaments throughout the Midwest, and Ryan Armstrong, an active participant in Major League Fishing, a league that travels the countryside chasing the biggest bass.

Learn more about ethanol in the summertime in this interview:
Interview with Robert White, RFA (7:58)

Audio, E15, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ethanol Report on New RFA Team Members

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association recently created two new positions in the organization with the future of ethanol in mind and hired a couple of talented young experienced individuals to round out a team ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Tad Hepner is the organization’s new Vice President of Strategy and Innovation and Justin Schultz is RFA’s new Director of Environment, Health & Safety. Both have unique backgrounds in the ethanol industry that are especially suited to their new roles.

A South Dakota native, Hepner started his ethanol career with POET and moved on to work for Clariant, a multinational company which, among other projects, has a cellulosic ethanol plant in Romania. He will be focused on building demand and new markets for ethanol and other bio-products.

“We’ve seen increased focus on things like renewable diesel, as well as SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel),” said Hepner. “There’s a couple of processes out there that can use ethanol as a biochemical intermediate for the production of these materials.” He adds that plants also produce distillers’ corn oil as a byproduct, which can also be used.

Schultz started in the ethanol industry at Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy in 2009 and has managed regulatory, safety, and compliance issues for the Council Bluffs, Iowa, biorefinery.

Schultz says safety is personal for him and he wants to be sure ethanol producers understand the purpose of safety regulations. “Safety is absolutely one of the most important things that we can do in this industry,” said Schultz. “So, my role at RFA is to explain to plants why we’re doing this and why it’s important.”

Learn more about these two new RFA staff members who are looking forward to helping the ethanol industry grow in this latest edition of “The Ethanol Report.”
Ethanol Report 5-24-23 22:13

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

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

Yield10 Bioscience and Marathon Partner to Use Camelina for Renewable Fuels

Cindy Zimmerman

Yield10 Bioscience recently announced an agreement with Marathon Petroleum Corp. for a potential investment and offtake agreement for low-carbon intensity Camelina feedstock oil to use in renewable fuels production.

“Yield10 continues to execute on our commercialization plan to supply low-carbon intensity Camelina feedstock oil to the growing North American biofuel market through a network of supply chain alliances,” said Oliver Peoples, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Yield10 Bioscience. “We look forward to working closely with Marathon’s team to finalize a definitive investment and offtake agreement as the basis for a strategic alliance in biofuels over the long term.”

biofuels, feedstocks

Summit Agricultural Group Enters SAF Race

Cindy Zimmerman

Summit Agricultural Group this week announced the creation of Summit Next Gen, a sustainable aviation fuel production platform to provide a scalable supply of low-carbon jet fuel. Summit Next Gen will utilize Honeywell’s Ethanol to Jet processing technology to convert ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which “creates an additional market for low-carbon ethanol producers and advances the sustainability goals of the difficult to decarbonize aviation industry.”

Growing low-carbon markets, recent state-level programs, and incentives created under the Inflation Reduction Act that are broadly supported by the biofuels, energy, and aviation industries catalyzed the creation of Summit Next Gen to meet growing demand for SAF. Sustainable aviation fuel is nearly identical to petroleum-based jet fuel sources and is currently approved at blend rates up to 50% by ASTM International providing a “drop in fuel” solution.

“The creation of Summit Next Gen and our partnership with a technology leader like Honeywell UOP sets a new standard for the agriculture, ethanol, and aviation industries,” said Bruce Rastetter, CEO of Summit Agricultural Group. “The agriculture and ethanol industries have a long history of continuous improvement producing more with less, and this has enabled forward-thinking ethanol producers to be favorably positioned for the present challenge of helping aviation reduce its carbon footprint.”

aviation biofuels, Carbon, carbon capture, SAF