ACE Conference 2026

What Do You Think of The Senate Immigration Bill

Talia Goes

Before we get to our new Zimmpoll let’s look at the results of our latest one which asked the question, “How good was your first cutting of hay?” Many of you felt your hay crop was better than last year. Hopefully this is a good sign for this season.

Our poll results: Thirty-five percent said Better Than Last Year, twenty-five percent said Same as Last Year, twenty-five percent said Worse Than Last Year, and fifteen percent said Other. The “Other” responses claimed it is too wet to cut hay. All this moisture is a cure for the drought but seems to have delayed hay season in parts of the country.

Untitled

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What is your opinion of Senate immigration bill?” With a Senate vote of 82-15 to allow further debate on legalizing the nation’s 11 million unauthorized immigrants, update the hiring process and make legalization a breeze. President Obama claims it is “the best chance we’ve had in years”. How do you feel? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

ZimmPoll

Biodiesel Advocates Descend on DC

John Davis

nbb-logoBackers of one of our favorite green fuels, biodiesel, have headed to Capitol Hill. This news release from the National Biodiesel Board says the group of biodiesel producers, distributors and feedstock suppliers representing more than two dozen states, including the delegation from Iowa we previously told you about, are making their case for a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS):

“The petroleum lobby is making a lot of noise about renewable fuels and we’re coming to town to make sure that Congress hears the other side of the story,” said Todd Ellis, vice president of sales and business development at Seattle-based Imperium Renewables. “Despite what you might hear, the RFS is working, and we’re building a new American fuels industry that is creating jobs, producing cleaner fuel, and ultimately helping consumers.”

“We’ll be reminding Congress that biodiesel is an EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel that is here today and that is exceeding its RFS targets, with two consecutive years of 1 billion gallon production,” Ellis added.

During their Hill visits, they also will advocate for a long-term extension of the biodiesel tax incentive, which is slated to expire again at the end of the year.

“No matter how much domestic oil and gas we find through fracking or new drilling, consumers will continue getting hurt by unstable global petroleum markets until we develop alternatives to oil,” said Anne Steckel, NBB’s vice president of federal affairs. “That’s why Congress passed the RFS in the first place with huge bipartisan support, and it’s why we can’t let up on these goals now.”

NBB points out that last year the biodiesel industry supported around 50,000 jobs around the country.

Biodiesel, Government, Legislation, NBB

USDA: $98.6 Mil Available for Advanced Biofuels

John Davis

usda-logoThe USDA is making available up to $98.6 million to support the production of advanced biofuels. This news release from the agency says it will be an opportunity for eligible producers to submit applications and strengthen the rural economy:

“The United States is on the path to a cleaner, more secure energy future,” [Agriculture Secretary Tom] Vilsack said. “By helping producers to support and expand the production of advanced biofuels, USDA is ensuring that Rural America is a key component of President Obama’s ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy to reduce the Nation’s reliance on foreign oil.”

The payments are provided through USDA Rural Development’s Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, commonly referred to as the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program. It was established in the 2008 Farm Bill to support the expansion of advanced biofuel production. Payments are made to eligible producers based on the amount of biofuel produced from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Examples of eligible feedstocks include crop residue; animal, food and yard waste; vegetable oils; and animal fat.

Producers use the payments to offset production costs and in some instances expand their operations. For example, in 2012, Sequential-Pacific Biodiesel, a biodiesel facility based in Salem, Ore., increased its annual production by approximately 1 million gallons, or about 20 percent. Sequential-Pacific primarily uses locally sourced waste vegetable oils in its production of biodiesel. The support USDA Rural Development provided through its Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels helped the company buy equipment that increased the speed of production and pre-treatment of feedstock.

If producers didn’t apply for payments during the October 2012 application window, they may now apply for these payments for third and fourth quarter fiscal year 2013 production as well as for any applicable incremental production. Applications must be in by July 11, 2013. More information is available here on the Federal Register.

Since 2009, more than 275 eligible producers in 44 states have received payments.

advanced biofuels, biofuels, Government, USDA

All the World’s A Stage

Joanna Schroeder

With debate on Capitol Hill on the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and pressure from oil companies to lower cellulosic fuel mandates as part of the legislation, BBI FEW-13-World-Stagerealized that the time was right to feature a panel discussing the progress to commercialization of several major renewable fuels players to bring advanced biofuels to market.

All the World’s a Stage: A Front Row Seat to the Construction and Commissioning of the Industry’s First Cellulosic Facilities panel during the Fuel Ethanol Workshop in St. Louis, Missouri, was moderated by Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Advanced Ethanol Council. Also on the panel (from left to right):

  • Henrik Maimann, CEO New Bio Solutions Section & VP, Dong Energy Power
  • Mark Niederschulte, Chief Operating Officer, INEOS Bio
  • Steve Mirshak, Global Business Director – Cellulosic Ethanol, DuPont Industrial Biosciences
  • Chris Standlee, Executive Vice President, Abengoa Bioenergy
  • Wade Roby, POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels

Each panelist gave an update on their company’s project and from there, an open question and answer dialogue occurred. One of the major themes: how to bring and keep investments in the advanced biofuels sector to ensure commercialization is achieved.

Listen to the full panel discussion here: All the World's A Stage

Visit the 2013 FEW Photo Album.

advanced biofuels, Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, FEW

Association Roundtable: Mid-Year Ethanol Policy Update

Joanna Schroeder

This year’s general session during the Fuel Ethanol Workshop diverged from past years. Rather than have a keynote speaker, the three leaders of the country’s largest ethanol associations came together on one stage to discuss current U.S. ethanol policy. The Association Roundtable: Mid-Year U.S. Ethanol Policy Update, panel was moderated by Tom Bryan, president of BBI International and FEW13-Association-Roundtablefeatured Bob Dinneen, CEO and president of the Renewable Fuels Group (RFA), Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy and Brian Jennings, executive vice president of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE).

The discussions ranged from market access and how Big Oil is trying to block higher blends of ethanol, such as E15 and E85 from being sold to consumers, RINs, the ongoing debate over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the recent three white papers that were released for comment and the status of a farm bill. Interestingly, all three ethanol advocates, who are also Washington insiders, noted that all of the current issues and debates have been fueled by Big Oil.

The panel was informative, entertaining and at some points downright uncomfortable but Buis, Dinneen and Jennings all agreed that although there is a battle, they are confident ethanol will win. The groups’ final call: each and every person needs to be involved in the fight.

Listen to the full panel discussion here: Association Roundtable: Mid-Year Ethanol Policy Update

Visit the 2013 FEW Photo Album.

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, FEW, Growth Energy, RFA

Ethanol Fuels Promotion in Minnesota

Joanna Schroeder

E85 PumpFriday, June 14, 2013, drivers of flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) can fill up for less at the Short Stop Quick Mart at 4725 Quail Road NE, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. FFVs drivers can use any blend of ethanol from E10 to E85, 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline. The promotion will take place from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm and there is a 25 gallon limit per vehicle.

The Short Stop Quick Mart is one of a growing number of fuel retailers in Minnesota with a flex pump that offers both E85 and mid-level blends of ethanol fuels. During the promotion, prices will be discounted by the following amounts:

  • 85¢ off per gallon E85
  • 50¢ off per gallon E50
  • 30¢ off per gallon E30
  • 20¢ off per gallon E20

Kelly Marczak, director of environmental programs for the American Lung Association in Minnesota, said flex fuel vehicle owners who use E85 instead of gasoline are helping to reduce air pollution. “Vehicle emissions are the single largest source of air pollution in Minnesota, and an FFV fueled by E85 emits less than the same vehicle fueled with gasoline. These fuels are cleaner-burning, made in Minnesota and almost always cost less than regular unleaded.”

Supporters of the promotion include Short Stop Quick Mart (Bauerly Oil), Benton/Sherburne County Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, American Lung Association in Minnesota and the Minnesota Clean Air Choice Team. To see if you drive an FFV, click here.

biofuels, E85, Ethanol, Promotion

Mike Bryan’s Call to Arms

Joanna Schroeder

FEW13-mbyranMike Bryan, CEO of BBI International kicked off the 29th International Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) with a call for action for not only the biofuel associations, but for every single person who attended the event. He began by asking the standing room only crowd if they were getting angry, frustrated and a little nervous over the bashing from some legislators as well as ethanol detractors such as Big Oil.

“Ladies and gentleman, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, we are at war,” said Bryan. “And this morning, I’m going to issue a call to arms. We are in a battle for the very survival of this industry.”

Listen to Mike Byran’s opening session remarks here: Mike Bryan, BBI

Visit the 2013 FEW Photo Album.

advanced biofuels, Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, FEW

Global Renewable Fuels Calls Food Lobby Letter Misleading

Cindy Zimmerman

grfa_logo1Officials with the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) say a letter criticizing biofuels sent to British Prime Minister David Cameron by a group led by two of the world’s largest multinational food companies is “biased and misleading.”

“Nestlé Chairman, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe who co-authored this misguided attack on biofuels has no credibility on this issue,” said Bliss Baker, spokesperson for the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance. “I find it somewhat convenient that a person who sits on the Board of ExxonMobil would criticize biofuels.”

The letter issued to Prime Minister David Cameron ahead of his hosting of the upcoming G8 meetings has failed to highlight the tremendous impact that high oil prices have had on global food prices. The letter has ignored the recent World Bank publication, Long-Term Drivers of Food Prices, which examined the relative contribution of various sector and macroeconomic drivers on food price increases from 1997–2004 to 2005–12.

The World Bank report “concludes that most of the price increases are accounted for by crude oil prices (more than 50 percent)…oil prices mattered most during the recent boom period because they experienced the largest increase.“ The report goes on to say “most of the contribution to food price changes from 1997-2004 to 2005-12 comes from the price of crude oil, which for maize and wheat is 52 percent and 64 percent, respectively.”

“There is little doubt that during the recent period of volatile food price spikes and record oil industry profits, oil prices were the most important driver of food prices,” said Baker.

Read more here.

biofuels, Food prices, International, Oil

Biodiesel Tour de Force

Joanna Schroeder

This week, six Iowa biodiesel producers, a soybean farmer and several Iowa Biodiesel Board staff will be visiting Capitol Hill to urge Iowa’s Congressional delegation to continue fighting for a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The group joins more than 100 other biodiesel advocates from two dozen states in lobbying for Congressional support.

IowaBiodieselBoardLogo“Oil interests have this policy in their cross hairs, and we need our delegation to continue their passionate fight against such backward-thinking attacks,” said Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board. “Our message is that the RFS is highly effective energy policy, doing what Congress intended: creating jobs, reducing emissions and building domestic sources of energy.”

Also in the group are leaders from the Iowa Soybean Association, who are visiting D.C. for an annual membership meeting of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB). The group will also advocate for a long-term extension of the biodiesel tax incentive that is slated to expire at the end of this year.

“No matter how much domestic oil and gas we find through fracking or new drilling, consumers will continue getting hurt by unstable global petroleum markets until we develop new options besides oil,” added Anne Steckel, NBB’s vice president of federal affairs. “That’s why Congress passed the RFS in the first place with huge bipartisan support, and it’s why we can’t let up on these goals now.”

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Education, NBB

Northcore Intends to Buy Renewable Diesel Plant

John Davis

bluehorizonAn asset management and social commerce company intends to get into the renewable diesel business. This company news release says Northcore Technologies Inc. has signed a letter of intent with Cielo Gold Corp. to buy the Alberta, Canada-based Blue Horizon Bio-Diesel demonstration plant that produces renewable green diesel fuel from municipal solid waste:

Under terms of the LOI, Northcore will purchase the assets in exchange for the issue of common shares of Northcore equivalent to a 48% ownership position in Northcore. Northcore will receive a 50% share of the profits resulting from commercialization of the renewable diesel assets, which include new production plants that will be financed by Cielo.

The President of Blue Horizon Bio-Diesel, Don Allan, has been appointed as CEO of Northcore and to its board of directors.

“The quality of our renewable diesel has exceeded original expectations,” Allan said. “We are clearly focused on building value for shareholders, through the business growth potential of our innovation as the first high quality renewable diesel producer in Canada.”

Northcore is calling its shareholders together on July 23 to approve the deal.

Energy, Miscellaneous