Clean Fuels Showcases What’s New at #Classic24

Cindy Zimmerman

It was over 30 years ago that soybean farmers found a new market for their product in fuel made from soybean oil that was eventually called biodiesel, but the market for that clean fuel has expanded to include new feedstocks and opportunities.

Clean Fuels Alliance America, formally known as the National Biodiesel Board, hosted a Learning Center Session at the 2024 Commodity Classic last week in Houston to discuss the rapid growth of biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel demand and coordinated growth of feedstocks, including new oilseed crops.

Panelists included Doug Whitehead, Clean Fuels COO; Greg Anderson, Nebraska Soybean Board and Clean Fuels Board Member; Courtney Lawrenson, AGP and Clean Fuels Board Member; Mike DeCamp, CEO, CoverCress Inc; Scott Hedderich, Director, Nuseed; and Alan Weber, Partner, M4.

Listen to their discussion here:
Classic24 Clean Fuels learning session 33:56

In an interview, CoverCress CEO Mike DeKamp said these kinds of alternative feedstocks are essential to meet the the capacity coming on line for renewable fuel production such as renewable diesel and SAF. “We need crops that can grow in between these fallow periods (that are) not in competition with corn or beans,” he said, admitting that it is going to take time to develop these crops. “At the end of the day, if we can’t give value to the grower, it’s not going to work.”

Classic24 Mike DeKamp, CoverCress 8:58

2024 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, Clean Fuels Alliance, feedstocks, renewable diesel, SAF, Sustainability

Biden Administration Delays GREET Model Revision

Cindy Zimmerman

Officials from the Biden administration faced over 11,000 farmers and agricultural industry representatives today at the Commodity Classic in Houston and announced that they will miss a self-imposed March 1 deadline to complete modifications to the GREET model for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

“We’re going to take a few more weeks – and I mean weeks, not months – to make sure that the guidance is correct, that it acknowledges the work that’s being done in reducing greenhouse gas emissions relative to transportation fuels, and the good work that’s being done out in the field to embrace climate-smart practices,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The model is critically important for determining eligibility for the Inflation Reduction Act’s “40B” SAF tax credit and the administration agencies involved – EPA, DOT, USDA, and DOE – had been adamant they would meet the March 1 deadline and the expectation was it would be announced by Vilsack and EPA Administrator Michael Regan at Commodity Classic.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack remarks
Classic24 Vilsack remarks 22:48
EPA Administrator Michael Regan remarks
Classic24 Regan remarks 8:43
Sec. Vilsack and Admin. Regan press conference
Classic24 Vilsack-Regan presser 17:40

RFA CEO Geoff Cooper with Sec. Vilsack and EPA Admin. Michael Regan

“While we are pleased to hear progress is being made on the modified GREET model, we are disappointed by this additional delay,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Getting the modeling right could open the door for America’s farmers and ethanol producers to participate in an enormous decarbonization opportunity. But getting it wrong will strand investments and assure the failure of the Biden administration’s climate objectives.”

Cooper was able to chat briefly with Vilsack and Regan about the delay and get some more insight into the decision. “Climate smart agriculture practices seem to be the big piece that the agencies are still struggling with in terms of how that gets folded into the model,” said Cooper.

Classic24 RFA CEO Cooper on GREET delay 6:35

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings added that since the credits are to be based on lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, every single point of carbon intensity has value, which makes it essential to get the details around any modifications to the GREET model right. “That’s why we wrote the Interagency Working Group earlier this week to emphasize the importance of a GREET model for 40B and 45Z which includes meaningful carbon credits for climate-smart agriculture practices as illustrated by ACE’s multi-year project supported by USDA’s NRCS RCPP program. We also cautioned the Interagency Working Group against a final model approach which arbitrarily inflates land use change penalties that have been disproven by real-world observations of what is actually occurring.”

Audio, aviation biofuels, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, SAF, USDA

ZimmCast on Clean and Renewable Fuels

Cindy Zimmerman

ZimmCastThe push for everything to be more carbon neutral and sustainable has never been stronger, and that continues to increase the demand for clean and renewable fuels.

Clean Fuels Alliance America and the Renewable Fuels Association have both held their annual conferences this year to focus on the challenges and opportunities for the U.S. biofuels industry. The Clean Fuels Conference was held in Fort Worth and the National Ethanol Conference took place in San Diego.

This episode of the ZimmCast includes comments from leaders of both organizations, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and representatives from the two major players in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) industry – Gevo and LanzaJet.

Listen to the episode here:ZimmCast 726 - Clean and Renewable Fuels (22:25)

That’s the ZimmCast for this week. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for listening.

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Audio, aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, Clean Fuels Alliance, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ethanol Volumes Up in 2023, Blend Rate Hit Record

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest data from the Energy Information Administration show that U.S. ethanol production and consumption rose nearly two percent in 2023 to reach their highest levels since 2019, while the blend rate hit a record 10.39 percent, pushing further above the hypothetical 10-percent “blend wall,” according to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

Once again, the ethanol blend rate exceeded 10% each month, twice approaching 10.70 percent. This progress is the result of continued expansion in the number of retail stations offering E15, a blend containing 15% ethanol that is typically priced at a significant discount to regular unleaded gasoline, together with waivers by the Biden administration allowing E15 to be sold year-round. Additionally, EIA’s estimate of E85 sales hit a record high, as ethanol flex fuels such as E85 have been especially popular in California under the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

“It is clear from the data that drivers are choosing mid- and high-level blends of ethanol where those fuels are offered. While American consumers still face elevated prices for many basic necessities, ethanol saves them money at the pump,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper.

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

GREET Model May be Announced at Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

A record number of attendees at the Commodity Classic today will hear from both USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Administrator Michael Regan in an unprecedented appearance that is expected to announce the updated GREET model that would allow corn-based ethanol to qualify as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) credits.

Mary Kay Thatcher, Federal Government and Industry Relations for Syngenta, says speculation is they will be bringing good news. “They both requested to be here so you have to believe that in an election year, you don’t bring bad news,” said Thatcher. “The speculation is that Administrator Regan will indeed announce something about the GREET model.”

However, Thatcher says it may take some time to figure out the details of the announcement. “I suspect it’s going to be so darn complex…it’s really going to take a few days to read the fine points.”

Listen to this interview with Thatcher and stay tuned for the news from Classic today.
Classic24 Mary Kay Thatcher, Syngenta 5:29

2024 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Audio, aviation biofuels, Commodity Classic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Syngenta

Ethanol Industry Partners for Progress

Cindy Zimmerman

L-R: Troy Bredenkamp, RFA; Lance West, API; Rick Gezelle, Toyota; Marykate O’Brien, Southwest Airlines; Doug Kantor, NACS; Harold Wolle, NCGA

Powered by Partnerships was the theme of the 2024 National Ethanol Conference last week in San Diego and the partners for the ethanol industry now include some brand new alliances and former adversaries.

The Partnering for Progress panel at the conference included representatives from the petroleum industry, car makers, airlines, convenience stores, and farmers.

Much of the conversation centered around lowering carbon intensity and being part of the sustainable aviation fuels market. “If we’re going to motivate farmers to produce low carbon corn, there has to be a financial incentive for them,” said National Corn Growers Association president Harold Wolle.

NCGA president and Minnesota farmer Harold Wolle

The highly anticipated revision of the GREET model that will determine the future for corn ethanol in SAF is expected to be announced March 1, as Wolle and thousands of corn growers are gathered this week in Houston for the Commodity Classic. “I want to see a model that accurately depicts what we’re doing on the farm,” said Wolle. “We need to be able to show that we have lower carbon intensity corn as a feedstock for ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel.”

In addition to Wolle, the panel included Lance West with the American Petroleum Institute, Rick Gezelle of Toyota, Marykate O’Brien with Southwest Airlines; and Doug Kantor, NACS. RFA Senior VP, Government & Public Affairs Troy Bredenkamp moderated the conversation.

NEC24 Partnering for Progress panel 1:00:14

NEC24 Interview with Harold Wolle, NCGA 5:20

2024 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, aviation biofuels, Carbon, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, NCGA, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

ACE Submits Land Use Change Analysis to SAF Group

Cindy Zimmerman

Ron Alverson and Brian Jennings

In advance of the March 1 expectation for the modified GREET model to be announced, American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings sent a letter this week to members of the Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Interagency Working Group tasked with determining the changes.

Accompanying ACE’s letter was an analysis prepared by Ron Alverson of the ACE board of directors comparing modeled estimates of land use change (LUC) to what has occurred in the real world.

“As the much-anticipated deadline nears for 40B GREET for SAF, I stress the importance of GHG credits for climate-smart agriculture practices and a final methodology based on real-world observations of land use change instead of inflated assumptions generated from unreliable economic models,” Jennings wrote. “ACE believes carbon credits for climate-smart agriculture are essential because they incentivize on-farm practices which can reduce or even prevent land use change-related emissions.”

The ACE letter also references a recent USDA decision to provide $25 million for a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) led by ACE. The funding will help farmers adopt reduced tillage, nutrient management and cover crops on nearly 100,000 acres across 167 counties surrounding 13 ethanol facilities partnering with ACE in a 10-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

“Our USDA-RCPP project can help members of the Interagency Working Group minimize or even control land use change if you ensure GREET is used to provide carbon credits for climate-smart ag practices, not only for 40B, but also for the 45Z clean fuel production credit,” said Jennings.

ACE, aviation biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, SAF

Senate Introduces Ocean-Going Renewable Fuels Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) this week introduced the Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act to allow companies to preserve Renewable Identification Number credits (RINs) under the RFS program for renewable fuel, when the fuel for use is in ocean-going vessels.

The legislation designates renewable fuel used in ocean-going vessels as an “additional renewable fuel” (similar to jet fuel) under the Renewable Fuel Standard. This will enable biodiesel and renewable diesel producers to preserve Renewable Identification Number credits (RINs) in the RFS program, when the fuel is used in ocean-going shipping.

Clean Fuels Alliance America strongly supports the legislation, along with the Nebraska, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana Soybean Associations, and other groups seeking to increase use of low-carbon fuels and reduce carbon emissions in international shipping and travel.

“The international shipping industry is seeking to decarbonize and clean fuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel are available today to help,” said Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs for Clean Fuels. “This commonsense legislation will enable biodiesel and renewable diesel producers to meet the low-carbon fuel demand from shipping companies operating on both coasts and the Great Lakes. It will open new markets to American clean fuel producers and their farmer partners.”

The RFS currently excludes “fuel used in ocean-going vessels” from the definition of transportation fuels and from refiners’ and blenders’ obligations. Refiners and blenders are currently required to retire RINs from any biodiesel and renewable diesel used in vessels with Class 3 engines operating in international waters, including the Great Lakes. In 2023, 6.8 million D4 RINs were retired under this rule.

Kovarik talked about the legislation, which has already been introduced in the House, during his policy update at the recent Clean Fuels Conference.
Clean Fuels Conference - Kurt Kovarik Remarks 8:52

Audio, Biodiesel, Clean Fuels Alliance, renewable diesel

Southwest Invests $30 Million in LanzaJet SAF Growth

Cindy Zimmerman

Sustainable fuels technology company LanzaJet today announced a $30 million investment by Southwest Airlines for the development of a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility and collaborate on the corn stover to ethanol technology company SAFFiRE Renewables.

LanzaJet plans to undertake project development efforts for the SAF production facility in the United States, with Southwest as the anchor SAF offtaker. The biorefinery is expected to utilize LanzaJet’s pioneering technology, which is capable of scaling production to the levels needed to decarbonize aviation through widely available and sustainable feedstock, emerging commercial residue-based feedstock solutions, and promising economics. LanzaJet will also support Southwest’s efforts to commercialize SAFFiRE’s technology that processes corn stover into ethanol.

​“The U.S. is an incredibly important market for us – it’s our home, where our technology originated and scaled, the site of our and the world’s first commercial ethanol-to-SAF plant, and an important opportunity to support the existing U.S. biofuels and ethanol industries with our leading ethanol-to-SAF technology,” said Jimmy Samartzis, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaJet. ​“The alignment of Southwest and LanzaJet is a powerful combination that has the potential to integrate the SAF value chain and to double-down on the US ethanol, aviation, and biofuel industries. Our work together will lead us closer to meeting aviation’s decarbonization goals by continuing to scale SAF production in the United States, while also tapping into the U.S. ethanol industry’s potential to catalyze the next generation of SAF production.”

The U.S. facility to be developed by LanzaJet is also intended to enable the opportunity to convert SAFFiRE’s cellulosic ethanol into SAF.

LanzaJet recently opened Freedom Pines Fuels – the world’s first commercial-scale ethanol-to-SAF plant, located in Soperton, Georgia, which serves as a blueprint for utilizing first-of-its-kind innovation to scale SAF production and enables LanzaJet’s aspiration for 1 billion gallons of SAF production by 2030.

Samartzis spoke just last week to the National Ethanol Conference – listen to his comments.
NEC24 Jimmy Samartzis, LanzaJet 19:36

2024 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, aviation biofuels, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, SAF

Beth Calabotta Grant Winner Announced

Cindy Zimmerman

The Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation has awarded the Beth Calabotta Sustainable Education Grant to Pranab Adhikari.

Adhikari is currently pursuing a computer science degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also works as a data analyst intern at the City of Madison where he is involved in overseeing the implementation of initiatives such as the B100 biodiesel pilot programs actively contributing to the operation of almost 500 diesel assets on blends of B5, B20 and B100. This grant provides Adhikari the opportunity to attend this year’s Clean Fuels Sustainability Workshop where he will share his work with industry and scientific leaders in the field.

“The journey into biomass-based diesel is not just a career choice for me, it’s a personal commitment to environmental stewardship and the promotion of sustainable alternatives,” Adhikari wrote in his application. “My experience has taught me that the intersection of technology and alternative fuels is where innovation thrives, and it is this intersection that I aim to explore and contribute to in my future endeavors.”

The Beth Calabotta Sustainable Education Grant was established in 2018 to help deserving students interested in clean fuels, science and research. The grant honors scientist and past Foundation director Beth Calabotta whose legacy and dedication to biodiesel sustainability made a lasting impact on the industry.

Biodiesel, biofuels, biomass, Clean Fuels Alliance