New Study: Corn Ethanol Reduces GHG Emissions

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new study, that compared the greenhouse gas emission reductions of corn ethanol and those of crude oil production and fracking, corn ethanol’s carbon intensity is declining while the carbon intensity of petroleum is increasing. The study was conducted by Life Cycle Associates and found that the carbon impacts associated with Canadian_tar_sandscrude oil production continue to worsen as more marginal sources of fuel are introduced into the fuel supply.

According to the report, “As the average carbon intensity of petroleum is gradually increasing, the carbon intensity of corn ethanol is declining. Corn ethanol producers are motivated by economics to reduce the energy inputs and improve product yields.”

The study, commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), found that average corn ethanol reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 32 percent compared to average petroleum in 2012. This estimate includes prospective emissions from indirect land use change (ILUC) for corn ethanol. When compared to marginal petroleum sources like tight oil from fracking and oil sands, average corn ethanol reduces GHG emissions by 37-40 percent.

As more unconventional crude oil sources enter the U.S. oil supply, and as corn ethanol production processes become even more efficient, the carbon impacts of ethanol and crude oil will continue to diverge. The study predicts that by 2022, average corn ethanol reduces GHG emissions by 43-60 percent compared to petroleum.

“The majority of unconventional fuel sources emit significantly more GHG emissions than both biofuels and conventional fossil fuel sources,” according to the study. “The biggest future impacts on the U.S. oil slate are expected to come from oil sands and fracking production.” In the absence of biofuels, “…significant quantities of marginal oil would be fed into U.S. refineries, generating corresponding emissions penalties that would be further aggravated in the absence of renewable fuel alternatives.”

The study also reveals several fundamental flaws with the GHG analysis conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) regulations. Read More

biofuels, Environment, Ethanol, Oil, Research, RFA

And the Experts Keep On A Comin

Joanna Schroeder

The 8th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit and Trade Show is just around the corner (January 28, 2014) and the list of experts keeps on a comin. The event’s host, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), has announced a new panel, “The Future Engine Technology Enhanced by Ethanol and Biodiesel” that will feature two experts on future engine designs and auto manufacturing. Registration is still open.

IowaRFAlogoThe panel includes Thomas Apostolos, who is President of Ricardo, Inc., a world-leading engine design, technology, and innovation company. Joining Apostolos will be Reginald Modlin, Director of Regulatory Affairs for Chrysler Group LLC, a leading automobile manufacturer.

“Summit attendees will hear how higher blends of renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel will shape the engine designs of the future with the potential to maximize performance while lowering environmental impacts,” said IRFA Managing Director Lucy Norton. “This panel will be an excellent compliment to previously announced speakers including Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and representatives of the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Renewable Energy Lab, and Love’s Travel Stops.”

Attend the 2014 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit and Trade Show and enter to win a new John Deere Flex-Fuel Lawnmower capable of running on E85. You must be a registered attendee and submit a “Don’t Mess With the RFS” comment to the EPA at the Summit and be present to win.

automotive, Biodiesel, biofuels, conferences, Ethanol, Iowa RFA

Iowa Renewable Fuel Awards Go To…

Joanna Schroeder

DanielsenThis years Biodiesel and Ethanol Marketing Awards went to Russ and Barb Danielsen from Southern Iowa Oil and Jason Stauffer from STAR Energy. The 2014 winners were announced by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.

“Both winners have gone to great lengths to make biodiesel and ethanol more available to Iowa drivers and I appreciate the effort and investment they have made to promote these home-grown fuels,” Northey said. “Iowa is fortunate many retailers like STAR Energy and Southern Iowa Oil that make it a priority to make the fuels we produce in this state available to customers.”

The Secretary’s Ethanol and Biodiesel Marketing Awards were designed to recognize businesses that market the renewable fuels they have available through creative efforts including, but not limited to: hosting special events highlighting their renewable fuels, development of creative signage, initiation of new advertisements or marketing efforts, and dramatically increase renewable fuel availability.

StaufferThe winners were announced and recognized during the Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Stores of Iowa Annual Meeting in Des Moines, Iowa on January 14, 2014.  The Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa (PMCI) is a non-profit state trade association serving the needs of independent petroleum marketers and convenience store owners throughout the state of Iowa.

Russ and Barb Danielsen own Southern Iowa Oil and are the winners of the 2014 Secretary’s Biodiesel Marketing Award winner.  Southern Iowa Oil is a family business serving the surrounding areas of Albia and Centerville and they have their own retail locations in Chariton, and Corydon.

The Danielsen’s are long-time supporters of the renewable fuels industry and have made it a priority to offer biodiesel options to all of their customers.  Their retail locations proudly sell biodiesel blends and work to promote this home-grown environmentally friendly fuel.

Jason Stauffer, Manager of Retail Fuels Marketing and Business Development for STAR Energy in Manson, is the 2014 Secretary’s Ethanol Marketing Award winner.  STAR Energy provides customers with a variety of renewable fuel options and is committed to the biofuels industry.

STAR Energy’s Fort Dodge location began offering E15 to customers in December and also offers E20, E30 and E85 fuel options to customers. Jason has been instrumental in the establishment and promotion of this site and making additional renewable fuels available to customers.

Biodiesel, biofuels, E15, Education, Ethanol

MAPCO to Sell E15

Joanna Schroeder

A big announcement for the availability with consumers this week with the announcement that MAPCO Express, one of the country’s largest retail chains, they will begin offering E15 to consumers. MAPCO has set a goal of offering E15 at all pumps at 100 stations.

Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), said of the news,  “This is a major market breakthrough for E15. MAPCO is to be applauded for its MAPCO Express retail storeunwavering commitment to bring cost-saving fuel choice to its consumers. MAPCO studied performance and demand for E15 and made a solid decision to put consumers first and foremost. MAPCO consumers will soon have a money-saving, renewable, octane-boosting choice at the pump. We believe other retailers will soon follow MAPCO’s lead.”

MAPCO operates 362 convenience stores in seven states under the MAPCO Express®, MAPCO Mart®, East Coast®, Discount Food Mart™, Fast Food and Fuel™, Delta Express®, and Favorite Markets® brand names.

Today, E15 is offered at nearly 60 stations in 12 states.

biofuels, E15, Ethanol, RFA

New Illinois Farm Bureau Prez: RFS Top Priority

John Davis

ilfb-guebertMembers of the American Farm Bureau Federation have met in San Antonio, Texas, where they have been talking AFBF policy. And the new Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert says ethanol and the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) remains the top priority for farmers in his state and the region.

“Midwest farmers have worked so hard and so long to get those standards where they are today,” he told Chuck right before heading into a policy session at the meeting. Richard added they have even overcome some of the price spikes for commodities that go into the green fuel, so other sectors aren’t hurt by high prices for someone else’s feedstocks. “It’s just difficult for us to understand why we’re being forced to rollback those standards.”

He went on to say that he doesn’t understand the Obama Administration’s position that most renewable energy experts agree will hurt biofuel producers and markets, especially in the rural economy, considering how the president has repeated his dedication to green energy, including biofuels, time and time again.

You can hear all of Chuck’s interview with Richard here: Interview with Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert 2014 AFBF Convention Photos

Audio, biofuels, EPA, Farm Bureau, Government, Legislation, RFS

Group: Budget Creates Uncertainty for Biofuels

John Davis

AGEC-logo1The $1.1 trillion U.S. budget deal passed by the House and awaiting action from the Senate has removed discretionary funding for Farm Bill energy programs, according to a group that considers ag-based energy issues. And this story from BioFuels Journal says the Agriculture Energy Coalition (AgEC) feels the 2014 Consolidated Appropriations agreement underscores the need for Congress to get busy on a 5-year farm bill.

The Omnibus provides $3.5 million in funds for the Rural Energy for America Program, but rescinds $40.7 million from the Biorefinery Assistance Program and another $8 million from the Bioenergy for Advanced Biofuels program.

Lloyd Ritter, co-director of the AgEC, said, “Today’s Omnibus Appropriations bill will create uncertainty for renewable energy and energy efficiency leaders across the country who have been working with private lenders and USDA to access credit for biorefinery and other important energy projects.

“The Farm Bill currently in conference should provide stable policy and the necessary investments in energy programs to help these projects create jobs and economic opportunities.

“Thousands of hardworking American agriculture and renewable energy producers need Congress to adopt a new 5-year Farm Bill now more than ever.”

The article goes on to point out how programs, such as the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, the Biorefinery Assistance Program, and the Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP), have supported the rural economy while producing more domestic, renewable energy.

biofuels, Government, Legislation

EC Approves Neste’s Biodiesel Sustainability System

John Davis

nesteecEuropean Commissioners have approved the sustainability verification system developed by Neste Oil that the company uses to ensure its biodiesel is produced under sustainable conditions. This company news release says the system “complies with the standards set for reliability, transparency, and independent third-party auditing.”

The new, officially approved verification system covers all diesel fuel produced from renewable feedstocks. In accordance with the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive, strict limits are imposed on where feedstocks can be cultivated and where cultivation cannot take place. Forestland must not be cleared to produce biofuels and inputs cannot be grown on peat bogs, wetlands, other high carbon stock land, or in environmentally sensitive areas. The system also establishes strict requirements covering issues such as the traceability of the supply chain.

“To date, we have primarily relied on the RSPO and ISCC verification systems,” says Pekka Tuovinen, Neste Oil’s Director, Sustainability and Supplier Compliance. “Our own system, which has now been approved by the Commission, is a useful addition for verifying the sustainability of renewable inputs, particularly waste and residues.”

Recently, the palm oil used as a feedstock in some of Neste’s biodiesel was shown to be gained through sustainable means.

Biodiesel, International

ACORE Names Four to Board of Directors

John Davis

acore-logoFour new members are joining the Board of Directors for the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE). This news release from the group that advocates for a variety of renewable energy solutions says Dan Adler, Matt Cheney, Kathleen Weiss and Michael Ware were elected to fill vacancies on the board.

“ACORE directly benefits from the impressive credentials, experience, and industry expertise of this Class of 2014 ACORE Board of Directors. These distinguished individuals will help ACORE to achieve our mission to create a more secure and prosperous America with clean, renewable energy, and continue to be the voice for the entire renewable industry community regardless of technology,” said ACORE President and CEO, Michael Brower.

“Last year, the ACORE Board unanimously developed and ratified a strategic plan for ACORE to achieve greater impact, and reach new audiences in 2014 and beyond,” continued Brower. “The proven business and industry leadership of our Board and our members defines the way forward for renewable energy policy and finance, and I am excited and very much looking forward to working closely with the Board and with these new members. I am particularly pleased to see long-time ACORE Board member Michael Ware returning for another term; his vision, sagacity and willingness to ‘roll-up his sleeves and get it done’ reflect his abiding loyalty to ACORE. Equally, Dan Adler, the true architect of the ACORE strategic plan, returning to the Board is a wonderful guarantee of sustained focus and certainty, which is to us, a very good thing.

You can read profiles of each of the four new members here.

Renewable Energy

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFRegistration is now open for exhibitors looking to showcase their projects, equipment, services and state-of-the-art technology to the geothermal community at the GRC Annual Meeting and GEA Geothermal Energy Expo in Portland, Oregon, September 28, 2014 through October 1, 2014. The Expo is the world’s largest gathering of the geothermal industry, providing support for geothermal resource exploration, characterization, development, production and management.
  • The Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) is pleased to welcome DuPont as a new member. AEC represents worldwide leaders in the effort to develop and commercialize the next generation of ethanol fuels, ranging from cellulosic ethanol made from dedicated energy crops, forest residues and agricultural waste to advanced ethanol made from municipal solid waste, algae and other feedstocks.
  • In the closing week of 2013, merger and acquisition activity in the wind power generation sector surged as multiple utilities divested their stakes in a number of wind energy portfolios/assets. Acquisitions of over 1.8 GW of wind capacity at the operational and development stage were announced, making it one of the most active weeks for wind M&A activity since 2006, according to Clean Energy Pipeline. International renewable energy consultancy, Natural Power, were involved as vendor or buy-side advisors in more than 1GW of these transactions.
  • With the Environmental Protection Agency’s final QAP ruling expected this winter, Genscape is reporting a growing demand for its QAP and other RIN integrity solutions with more than 40 producers already participating. According to the company, producers participating in Genscape’s QAP services have observed an increase in the price they get for their RINs once they have achieved the compliance status. An increasing number of downstream buyers are requiring QAP as part of their RIN purchasing risk management. Genscape’s Susan Olson and Robert Barton will also be offering their expertise in a panel on Tuesday morning at 9 am PT, Navigating the QAP during the National Biodiesel Board Conference beginning in San Diego on January 20, 2014.
Bioenergy Bytes

Ethanol Supporters Will March in Washington

Joanna Schroeder

Ethanol supporters are being called to action to “march” in Washington D.C. in support of the biofuel. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has announced the dates for its sixth ACE Biofuels Beltway Logoannual Washington, DC fly-in commonly referred to as the “Biofuels Beltway March“. Ethanol advocates and supporters will meet with key administration officials and Members of Congress on March 25-26, 2104.

Last year nearly 100 ethanol supporters from more than a dozen states participated in the event and met with a majority of U.S. legislatures as well as key decision makers such as those working for the EPA.

“The most effective lobbyists aren’t lobbyists at all, but rather farmers, ethanol producers, Main Street business leaders, retailers selling higher ethanol blends, and other grassroots individuals whose daily lives benefit from ethanol,” said Brian Jennings, ACE Executive Vice President. “ACE’s fly-in will once again feature these real people to deliver ethanol’s message to the top decision makers inside the Beltway.”

“While we successfully countered Big Oil attempts to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in Congress last year, this year we must encourage EPA officials not to cave in to Big Oil demands to reduce the RFS and maintain bipartisan support in Congress,” Jennings explained. “We encourage people from all walks of life who support ethanol to sign-up now for this important opportunity to show and tell the success story of the U.S. ethanol industry.”

Jennings said in addition to focusing on the RFS, participants will explain in their own words how blends such as E15 and E85 are helping reduce gasoline prices, cut harmful emissions, and help retailers offer more choices to consumers. The official host hotel of the ACE fly-in will be the Liaison on Capitol Hill. To register, or to find out more details about the ACE fly-in, contact Shannon Gustafson.

ACE, biofuels, Ethanol