ACE Fly-in Gives Lawmakers Ethanol Education

Cindy Zimmerman

Dave Sovereign (L) and Sen. Chuck Grassley

Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa is possibly the biggest supporter of ethanol in Congress, but he can always use more information to share with his colleagues who may disagree.

During the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Fly-in this week, Golden Grains Energy chairman Dave Sovereign, who is also a farmer and a fuel retailer near Cresco, Iowa, gave the senator some hard numbers to show how higher blends of ethanol save consumers real money. “The numbers are staggering,” said Sovereign. “We’re in a community of about 4,000 people, a county of 10,000, and we showed over $200,000 in savings in fuel costs.”

Sovereign is also president of the ACE Board of Directors and was pleased with the energy of the members who went to meetings with lawmakers and their staffs on Capitol Hill this week. “We had great conversations and I think we did a lot of positive things while we were here.”

ACE-DC 23 Dave Sovereign, Golden Grain Energy (4:33)

It has been four years since the last fly-in and ACE CEO Brian Jennings said it was great to be back with members telling their stories at such a critical time for the industry. “It’s great to see so many members, whether it’s corn farmers or ethanol producers or retailers, enthusiastic about standing up and speaking out for this industry,” said Jennings. “And the timeliness of this couldn’t be better with the summer driving season coming up and certain bills that were introduced.”

Jennings says grassroots members of ACE making that connection with their members of Congress is very important. “I think this helps the Senators Grassley, Ernst and Klobuchar of the world be re-energized to fight even harder on our behalf,” he said.

ACE-DC 23 ACE CEO Brian Jennings (5:58)

Photos

2023 ACE DC Fly-in Photo Album

Find more audio from the ACE Fly-in here:
ACE Fly-in Virtual Newsroom

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Next Generation Fuels Act Introduced in House

Cindy Zimmerman

A bipartisan group of 20 lawmakers in the House Thursday introduced the Next Generation Fuels Act, legislation to phase in higher gasoline octane levels through the greater use of ethanol and companion to the bill introduced last week in the Senate.

American Coalition for Ethanol members meet with Rep. Angie Craig this week

The legislation was introduced with co-sponsors Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) and her Republican colleagues in the Iowa congressional delegation, Reps. Ashley Hinson (IA-02), Zach Nunn (IA-03), and Randy Feenstra (IA-04), as well as Reps. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Darin LaHood (R-IL), and Angie Craig (D-MN).

Additional original co-sponsors include Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Dan Kildee (D-MI), André Carson (D-IN), James Comer (R-KY), Mike Bost (R-IL), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Mike Flood (R-NE), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Mary Miller (R-IL), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH).

The Next Generation Fuels Act is supported by the National Corn Growers Association, Renewable Fuels Association, American Coalition for Ethanol, National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau Federation, and many other farm and biofuels organizations and companies.

ACE, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Senator Klobuchar Fires Up ACE Fly-in Participants

Cindy Zimmerman

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), co-sponsor of both the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023 and the Next Generation Fuels Act in the Senate, left the American Coalition for Ethanol DC Fly-in participants fired up after a day of Capitol Hill visits.

Specifically the Retailer Choice Act would address the number one priority for ethanol right now, which is year-round sales of E15 nationwide. “There is absolutely no argument for not doing that. We were doing it, it was going fine, and then the court steps in, and then we did it for the summer – I mean, come on! It’s just a ridiculous situation.”

Listen to the senator’s remarks here:
ACE-DC 23 Sen. Amy Klobuchar (16:06)

2023 ACE DC Fly-in Photo Album

Find more audio from the ACE Fly-in here:
ACE Fly-in Virtual Newsroom

ACE, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

ACE DC Fly-in Kicks Off With EPA Official

Cindy Zimmerman

Environmental Protection Agency Senior Agricultural Advisor Rod Snyder was happy to be able to join the American Coalition for Ethanol to kick off the organization’s first fly-in since 2019, but he unfortunately had little to say about the most important issue on the industry’s plate – allowing sales of E15 this summer.

“While I can’t comment specifically at this time, please note that the agency is continuing to consider available options for this year and discussions are on-going,” said Snyder, who was very careful not to make any statements that might indicate what EPA may or may not do, despite the fact that time is running out.

When pressed by ACE members, Snyder said, “We’re trying to leave no stone unturned in terms of exploring what we can do. Certainly, we are very committed to working within the constraints of the law to make sure any steps we take are not challenged or overturned.”

Snyder noted that the waiver last year had never been done before and since it was announced April 12 last year by President Biden himself at an Iowa ethanol plant he does expect a level of involvement by the White House if it goes that route.

Listen to his remarks here:
ACE-DC 23 EPA Sr. Ag Advisor Rod Snyder (32:13)

Photos

2023 ACE DC Fly-in Photo Album

ACE, Audio, E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News

New Poll Says Voters Want E15 Available Year-Round

Cindy Zimmerman

Voters say they want their E15, according to a new Morning Consult poll for the Renewable Fuels Association.

With retail gas prices remaining elevated, nearly 70 percent of poll respondents support increasing the availability of E15 to help lower fuel prices and support energy independence. Just 13 percent of those surveyed did not support expanded availability of E15. Meanwhile, 62 percent support recently introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow the lower-carbon E15 blend to be sold year-round nationwide. Only 15 percent of respondents do not support the legislation, while 23 percent had no opinion. Morning Consult polled 1,978 registered voters March 20-23, across all demographics.

Click here for the topline data.

In addition, the poll found that ethanol favorability and support for the Renewable Fuel Standard have reached record highs with 69 percent of respondents expressing a favorable opinion of ethanol, while 66 percent support the RFS. These are the highest numbers since RFA kicked off baseline polling in June 2016.

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

Ethanol Watching Carbon Pipeline Future in Iowa

Cindy Zimmerman

The Iowa House approved a bill last week that would restrict the use of eminent domain by carbon pipeline companies and thereby “create a de facto ban on new projects that allow Iowa ethanol producers to install carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology,” according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA).

The legislation would require pipeline companies to obtain voluntary easements for 90% of their proposed route before they would be allowed to use eminent domain for the remainder. “This bill will hurt Iowa ethanol production, which hurts Iowa corn prices, which hurts Iowa farmers and the economy,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “IRFA will continue to fight for a fair and equitable path forward for CCS technology in the Iowa Senate.”

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds commented on the carbon pipeline issue during a press availability earlier this month at the National Ethanol Conference in Orlando, noting that she had to be careful what she said.

“We have legislation going through the chamber so I have to be careful about how I comment, it’s been my policy not to weigh in to existing legislation,” said Reynolds. “But I’ve made it very clear there are laws on the books, eminent domain should be used as a last resort. Landowners should be compensated well.”

Reynolds said she believes carbon capture and sequestration is “the future of ethanol so it’s extremely important” and that as governor, her “role is to add value to what we do and ethanol and biofuels is a big component for that.”

Listen to Reynolds’ comments here:
Gov. Reynolds comments on carbon pipelines (2:05)

Audio, Carbon, carbon capture, Ethanol, Ethanol News

EPA Pressed to Take Action on E15

Cindy Zimmerman

It was April 12, 2022 when President Biden traveled to an ethanol plant in Iowa to announce an emergency waiver to allow the sale of 15 percent ethanol (E15) in the summer months – and once again the industry finds itself in the same situation a year later.

In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan last week, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper noted that the same fuel supply circumstances that justified emergency waivers last summer still exist in the marketplace today.

“War in Ukraine continues to disrupt the U.S. fuel supply,” Cooper wrote. “Total U.S. gasoline stocks fell to just 229.6 million barrels last week, 5 percent below year-ago levels and the lowest for this time of year since 2015. Meanwhile, total stocks of crude oil and petroleum products are also down 5 percent from a year ago and have fallen to a 19-year low for this time of year.”

Earlier this month, EPA proposed to approve petitions from eight states that would allow the year-round sale of E15 in their states, but not until next year, leaving the country again without E15 in the summer.

Members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) are heading to Washington DC this week to meet with lawmakers and hear from EPA officials, and CEO Brian Jennings says the topic of year round E15 will be a major priority for them.

“EPA’s proposed delay makes a more permanent, nationwide E15 solution even more critical, and ACE will remain engaged with Congress and our industry partners,” Jennings said.

Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) is among members of Congress who are pressuring the administration to take action on E15. “They need to stop dragging their feet on these ethanol-related issues because this is about doing the right thing for consumers and doing the right thing for agriculture at the same time,” said Hinson on the latest Agri-Pulse Newsmakers.

The governors have also called on EPA to take emergency action ensure uninterrupted access to E15 throughout the summer 2023 driving season if the agency is unable to implement their proposal in time. Signing on to a letter last week were Govs. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), Jim Pillen (R-NE), Tim Walz (D-MN) and Kristi Noem (R-SD).

They wrote, “we ask that EPA use its authority under Clean Air Act to apply the same volatility limitations to both E10 and E15 during the 2023 summer ozone control season to address extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances across our nation caused by the war in Ukraine.”

During an EPA virtual hearing on the governors’ proposal, Cooper said despite the fact that EPA delayed in responding to the petition, “there remains no economic, environmental, or legal justification for the agency to delay implementation by another year.”

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

Ethanol Industry Worth $2.7 Billion to MN Economy

Cindy Zimmerman

Minnesota’s ethanol industry contributed $2.7 billion to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022, according to a new study by the University of Minnesota Extension, sponsored by MN Bio-Fuels.

The study found the industry produced 1.34 billion gallons of ethanol last year, up from 1.27 billion gallons in 2021, resulting in $8 billion in economic activity through sales and supported 25,820 jobs in Minnesota. The study said the ethanol industry also contributed $1.9 billion in income for Minnesota residents and paid $183.8 million in state and local taxes in 2022.

“This economic impact report from the University of Minnesota Extension shows that the ethanol industry continues to play a major role in Minnesota’s economy. Among other critical findings, the report notes that last year ethanol plants across the state purchased 479 million bushels of corn from Minnesota farmers, employed nearly 26,000 Minnesotans, produced 3.95 million tons of dried distillers grains for Minnesota livestock, and 409 million pounds of corn oil for biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel applications. The takeaway, as the report so succinctly states, is that ‘ethanol production creates economic activity in Minnesota’,” said Brian Werner, executive director at the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels).

The study said the 3.95 million tons of dried distillers grains produced in 2022 was enough to support 1.9 million cows, 2.4 million pigs and 59.3 million turkeys and chickens.

“For context, Minnesota farms have 2.2 million cattle, 8.6 million pigs, and 37.5 million head of turkeys,” the study said.

In addition, the study said the 409 million pounds of corn oil produced by Minnesota’s ethanol industry in 2022 was sufficient to produce 53.1 million gallons of biodiesel. Minnesota’s biodiesel production capacity is 85.5 million gallons.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Preliminary Agenda Announced for 2023 FEW

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol Producer Magazine has announced the preliminary agenda for the 2023 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW) taking place June 12-14, 2023 in Omaha, Nebraska.

This year’s agenda includes three co-located events: Biodiesel Summit: Sustainable Aviation Fuel & Renewable Biodiesel, Carbon Capture & Storage Summit, and the annual Ethanol 101.

“In addition to ethanol production, management, and product diversification for ethanol producers, this year’s agenda is covering multiple topics about carbon capture and storage, biodiesel and renewable diesel production, as well as sustainable aviation fuel production,” says John Nelson, vice president of operations, sales and marketing at BBI International. “And as we have in the past, the agenda will allow those new to the industry to learn some of the basics in Ethanol 101, taking place Monday, June 12th.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News, FEW

Ethanol Report with More #NEC23 Highlights

Cindy Zimmerman

The centerpiece of the 2023 National Ethanol Conference was a new concept vehicle that runs on both electricity and up to 85 percent ethanol.

In this edition of The Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association VP of Industry Relations Robert White talks about the new Flex Fuel EV, which has already become a trade show star. We also hear from Jeff Wilkerson, Government Policy and Regulatory Affairs with Pearson Fuels, who was on a panel at the NEC talking about E85 in California, where sales last year topped a million gallons. And Phillip Morris with the Locust Street Group provides some insights from the latest consumer focus group study presented at the NEC.

Ethanol Report 3-23-23 17:52

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.

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Audio, automotive, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA