ACE Explores Ethanol’s Expanding Role in Carbon Market

Cindy Zimmerman

As Congress was passing sweeping legislation last week with provisions targeted on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the American Coalition for Ethanol was holding its annual conference focused on ethanol’s role in turning down carbon intensity.

ACE CEO Brian Jennings says the Inflation Reduction Act “recognizes the role farmers and biofuel producers can play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and validates the work ACE has put forth to position corn ethanol as a meaningful part of the climate solution.”

Among several sessions focused on carbon reduction, the final panel at the ACE conference offered more insight into the world of carbon sequestration strategies to achieve GHG reductions and provide significant return on investment for low carbon producers.

ACE Board Member and farmer Ron Alverson moderated the panel with Jim Pirolli, Chief Commercial Officer, Summit Carbon Solutions and Scott Rennie, CEO, Vault 44.01.

ACE22 remarks Jim Pirolli, Summit Carbon Solutions (23:57)

ACE22 remarks Scott Rennie, Vault 44.01 (23:05)

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, Carbon, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Farming

Bill Includes Farms and Biofuels for Climate Action

Cindy Zimmerman

Farm and biofuel organizations are pleased with provisions included in the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law by President Biden Tuesday, including new funding to encourage agricultural conservation programs and advance biofuels.

“Through this legislation, Congress and the administration recognize that farmers’ voluntary climate-smart agricultural practices are an important part of addressing climate change,” said Brooke Appleton, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) vice president of public policy. “We are also particularly pleased to see Congress and the administration acknowledge that low-carbon biofuels like ethanol are needed to help decarbonize transportation and improve energy security.”

The law allocates $19.9 billion for U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs and $1 billion for additional conservation technical assistance. For biofuels, the legislation includes $500 million for infrastructure for greater market deployment of higher blends of biofuels as well as new tax credits based on carbon reduction to incentivize clean fuels and new sustainable aviation fuel.

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the bill puts ethanol on a sustainable path for growth and investment. “Several provisions within this bill are very important to the U.S. biofuels industry and will result in American families having greater access to low-carbon, more affordable, domestically made renewable fuels. We look forward to helping the administration implement the key provisions within this legislation.”

RFA Senior VP, Government & Public Affairs, Troy Bredenkamp summarizes the provisions in the bill that help farmers and biofuel producers contribute more to a low carbon future.
RFA's Troy Bredenkamp on Inflation Reduction Act (3:51)

Audio, biofuels, corn

USDA Forecasts Lower for Corn

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA has lower forecasts this month for corn production, supplies, exports, and ending stocks.

The August Crop Production report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimates corn production down 5% from last year, forecast at 14.4 billion bushels while soybean growers are expected to increase their production by two percent from 2021 to 4.53 billion bushels.

In this month’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, the 2022/23 U.S. corn outlook is for lower supplies, reduced feed and residual use, slightly higher food, seed, and industrial use, smaller exports, and lower ending stocks. Projected beginning stocks for 2022/23 are 20 million bushels higher based on a lower use forecast for 2021/22, where a reduction in corn used for ethanol is partially offset by greater use for glucose and dextrose.

The season’s first survey-based corn yield forecast, at 175.4 bushels per acre, is 1.6 bushels below last month’s projection. Total U.S. corn use for 2022/23 is reduced 45 million bushels to 14.5 billion. Feed and residual use is lowered 25 million bushels based on a smaller crop. Corn used for glucose and dextrose is projected higher based on observed use during 2021/22. Exports for 2022/23 are cut 25 million bushels to 2.4 billion. With supply falling more than use, ending stocks are lowered 82 million bushels to 1.4 billion. The season-average corn price received by producers is unchanged at $6.65 per bushel.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Feed, USDA

FEW Heading to Omaha for 2023

Cindy Zimmerman

BBI International has announced that the 39th Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW) will take place June 10-12, 2023 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

“We are thrilled to be bringing the FEW back to Omaha for the first time since 2018,” says John Nelson, vice president, sales & marketing for Ethanol Producer Magazine. “Our 2018 FEW was one of the largest FEW conferences we’ve had in a decade, making it the perfect location for the 2023 FEW.”

The website for the 2023 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo is now LIVE online.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, FEW

Clean Fuels Celebrates Rebrand with Missouri Governor

Cindy Zimmerman

MO Gov Mike Parson and other officials with Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen (right)

Clean Fuels Alliance America welcomed state and local officials to its headquarters in Jefferson City, Missouri Tuesday to celebrate rebranding and expanding.

Clean Fuels, formerly known as the National Biodiesel Board, expanded its brand this year in recognition of the multiple, rapidly growing clean fuels it represents, including biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin and other elected officials and civic leaders joined Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen to recognize the expanded focus. Clean Fuels has been based in Jefferson City since its founding in 1992 and includes over 120 member companies from across the country, including agriculture commodity groups, fuel producers and distributors, and equipment manufacturers.

“Today’s ribbon cutting represents a major milestone for our industry, which began from humble roots 30 years ago and is increasingly playing an essential role in efforts to decarbonize our nation and our world’s fuel supply,” Rehagen said. “Our industry has seen and will continue to see significant growth as the world focuses on clean energy. Our members produce some of the cleanest fuels on the plant and are an integral part of the solution for sustainable energy that’s not only affordable but also scalable and available now. Further, our new name and brand represents the connected energies of our members and positions our industry for a clean fuels future.”

Biodiesel, biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance

ACE Conference Brings the Intensity

Cindy Zimmerman

The 35th ACE annual conference was a success on many levels, rolling with the unexpected just like the industry.

As the conference got underway on Thursday and Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts was five minutes into his remarks, the fire alarm went off in the hotel requiring everyone to evacuate out the side door and down the steps. It turned into an exceptional group photo op for everyone with the governor and everything just proceeded as scheduled after that.

ACE CEO Brian Jennings says they were pleased to see attendance back up to pre-COVID levels and he was encouraged by the remarks he heard from EPA agricultural advisor Rod Snyder about year-round E15. “I believe EPA will move forward at some point this fall…with a rulemaking to allow these 8 or 9 Midwestern states to permanently sell E15,” said Jennings.

Listen to Jennings’ conference wrap up interview here:
ACE22 interview with ACE CEO Brian Jennings (4:57)

Find photos and audio from the ACE conference here:
35th American Coalition for Ethanol Virtual Newsroom

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EPA Ag Advisor Updates ACE Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Rod Snyder, Senior Advisor for Agriculture at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was a keynote speaker for the 35th American Coalition for Ethanol annual conference Friday in Omaha to provide an update on the role of biofuels in forthcoming EPA actions.

Regarding year-round sales of E15 (15% ethanol), Snyder says EPA recognizes the importance of higher level ethanol blends and is working with eight Midwest governors who have submitted requests under the Clean Air Act to allow sales under a state by state basis. “We are taking steps to promulgate a run as quickly as possible,” said Snyder. “Our intent remains to finalize this action before the 2023 summer driving season.”

Snyder talks about some of the biofuels provisions included in the Inflation Reduction Act, including $500 million to expand blender pumps and infrastructure, extension of the biodiesel tax credit, and incentives for sustainable aviation fuel.

ACE22 remarks - Rod Snyder, EPA (27:46)

2022 ACE Annual Conference Photo Album

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Doyal Honored with ACE Highest Honor

Cindy Zimmerman

ACE president Dave Sovereign (L) presents Merle Anderson award to Randall Doyal

Randall Doyal, industry leader and retired CEO of Al Corn Clean Fuels, was honored by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) this week with its highest award, the Merle Anderson Award. ACE president Dave Sovereign, Golden Grain Energy, presented the award to Doyal during the ACE Annual Conference this week in Omaha.

Doyal got his start in the ethanol business back in the early 1980’s when a twist of fate changed him from a carpenter/preacher to an ethanol plant manager in New Mexico, and from there to Claremont, Minnesota where he has been a leader in the industry for the past quarter century.

Listen to some of his story in this interview.
ACE22 interview -award winner Randall Doyal (10:03)

2022 ACE Annual Conference Photo Album

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ACE Focused on Increasing Demand for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Intensity is the theme for the 35th annual American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) conference and CEO Brian Jennings says the organization remains intensely focused on the on the ethanol-demand side of the equation.

“That means our most urgent priority is capitalizing on ethanol’s ability to reduce pump prices and emissions to secure uninterrupted market access for E15 on a year-round basis,” said Jennings in his annual membership address.

ACE is also committed to helping farmers monetize climate-smart agriculture through ethanol. “ACE was established in 1987 because farmers were trying to add value to their commodities and save their rural communities,” said Jennings. “We believe farmers should have the opportunity to monetize climate-smart practices by selling their corn to an ethanol plant which has a pathway into a clean fuel market, where carbon credits fetch significantly greater value than in voluntary programs, generating more than enough revenue to justify making changes to their farming practices.”

Listen to Jennings’ remarks here:

ACE22 CEO Brian Jennings remarks (17:04)

2022 ACE Annual Conference Photo Album

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Nebraska Governor at ACE Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts once again welcomed the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) annual conference to Omaha, as the organization held the event here last in 2019.

After a brief interruption for a fire drill, the governor stressed his strong support for the ethanol industry and talked about some of the actions Nebraska has taken to keep it strong.

ACE22 remarks by Nebraska Gov. Ricketts (26:22)

2022 ACE Annual Conference Photo Album

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