IRFA, ACE & Auto Channel RFS/E15 Briefing

Joanna Schroeder April 30, 2013

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and The Auto Channel are bringing together a panel of experts in the fields of renewable fuels, automotive and vehicle technology and fuel retailing to discuss important issues regarding E15 fuel, the so-called blend wall, and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The briefing will highlight how E15 and the RFS are key parts of an “all of the above” American energy solution.

The event is taking place on Thursday, May 2, 2013 from 9:30 am to 11:00 am EST in Washington, D.C. at the Congressional Meeting Room South CVC 217 in the Capitol Visitors Center.

Speakers include Bruce Vollan, Owner, Midway Service, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Marc Rauch, Executive Vice President, the Auto Channel; Ron Lamberty, Senior Vice President, American Coalition for Ethanol; and Monte Shaw, Executive Director, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association.

Please RSVP to T.J. Page, with the IRFA at 515-252-6249 or via email.

Alternative energy, biofuels, E15, RFS

100 Days of Action to Fight Climate Change

Joanna Schroeder April 30, 2013

The Sierra Club is celebrating a successful campaign, “100 Days of Action to Fight Climate Disruption,” that began with President Obama’s inauguration and concluded on Earth Day. The goal of the campaign was to push the president to take bold action that would avert the climate crisis. According to Sierra Club, over one million Americans from across the country participated in events as well as signed petitions and sent letters to decision makers.

“In his inaugural address and again during the State of the Union, President Obama invited a national climate conversation. Over the past one hundred days, more than one million Americans responded to that invitation with a demand for bold action on climate disruption,” said Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club. “The past one hundred days have seen major climate victories — from President Obama’s designating five new national monuments that will protect our wild places from fossil-fuel drilling and mining, to the Mayor of Los Angeles announcing that the city will be coal-free by 2025. Now we’re looking to the President to follow through with his climate commitments and secure his legacy with bold climate solutions like rejecting the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.”

The 100 Days of Action to Fight Climate Disruption campaign launched on January 14, just before President Obama’s second inauguration, and provided a framework of administrative steps the President can take to help curb climate disruption. During the past 100 days, a Forward on Climate Rally was held in Washington, D.C. in what the Sierra Club is calling the country’s largest rally with more than 50,000 people in attendance. In addition, climate advocates met with policy makers and held Climate Legacy Town Hall meetings and other grassroots events.

“With President Obama well into his second term, the next few months and years will be pivotal in the fight to address climate disruption and move America toward clean energy,” said Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club. “Over the past one hundred days, the American people have shown that they are ready and willing to join the President in this fight that is not only winnable, but one in which we are already beginning to succeed. Working together, the President and the American people can fight the climate crisis, reenergize the American economy, create millions of jobs, and give our children the type of future they deserve.”

Climate Change, Environment

New Partnership for RFS Solutions

Joanna Schroeder April 30, 2013

A new partnership has been formed to give the biofuel industry Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) solutions. The National Association of Shell Marketers and RINAlliance have partnered to aid petroleum marketers with renewable fuel blending and EPA compliance matters.

“RINAlliance is extremely excited and honored to have the support and endorsement of the National Association of Shell Marketers and we look forward to playing a role in the success of its fuel distributors,” said Dawn Carlson, president of RINAlliance, Inc. “NASM understands the regulatory burdens of petroleum marketers and recognizes the value RINAlliance brings to its members.”

As the past few months have demonstrated, RIN values are the driving factor when it comes to renewable fuel blending. The positive economics are easily assessed and the ultra-competitive petroleum industry has taken notice of blending benefits.

Jennifer Richards, president of NASM, added, “Our marketers across the U.S. benefit from the consulting expertise of RINAlliance as their professionals have the longest and most successful track record in understanding RINs and serving the needs of renewable fuel blenders.”

RINAlliance has established a network of qualified renewable fuel producers by working with EcoEngineers to qualify production and RINs. According to RINAlliance, this network allows its blenders access to top tier pricing of their RINs through negotiated contracts with obligated parties while protecting them from regulatory perils.

biofuels, RFS

Senators Urge Probe in EU Ethanol Duty Decision

Cindy Zimmerman April 30, 2013

A bipartisan group of senators are asking for an investigation into a recent anti-dumping decision made by European Union regarding ethanol imports from the United States.

Fourteen Democratic and Republican Senators have joined together to sign a letter sent to the Acting United States Trade Representative (USTR), Demetrios Manatos and Acting Secretary of Commerce, Rebecca Blank, calling on them to review and consider a World Trade Organization (WTO) challenge to the European Union’s controversial and unprecedented anti-dumping duty recently imposed on U.S. ethanol producers.

The letter was co-authored by Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and cosponsored by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Al Franken (D-MN), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tim Johnson (D-SD), John Hoeven (R-ND), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Roy Blunt (R-MO).

In a joint statement, Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen and Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis said they are pleased to see the senators take action in the matter.

“The EU Commission failed to make any particular finding of dumping by any producer or marketer investigated in connection with the case,” said Dinneen and Buis. “The EU’s recent actions are unprecedented and we believe that the World Trade Organization (WTO) will nullify this blatantly protectionist country-wide anti-dumping duty on exports of ethanol from the United States.”

Boise Cab Company Looks to Convert Fleet to Biodiesel

John Davis April 30, 2013

Boise, Idaho is certainly famous for its potatoes, and just about everyone’s favorite way to have those spuds are french fried. A local cab company is looking to take advantage of all that leftover cooking oil by turning it into biodiesel to run in its vehicles. KBOI-TV reports that Recab wants the idea to catch on in other cities in America’s Northwest:

Recab will soon have older model Mercedes Benz cars that have been converted to run on bio-diesel. One of the owners James Orr got the idea from his love of vintage cars and the environment.

“Whenever I realize these cars are as reliable as they are and they could be used in such an eco friendly way that’s what spawned the whole concept,” said Orr.

The company expects its french-fry-powered cabs to be on the road in a couple of weeks.

Biodiesel, Video

Study Shows Ethanol Reducing Footprint

Cindy Zimmerman April 30, 2013

A new study indicates that ethanol production is continuing to reduce its energy and environmental footprint.

The study, entitled “2012 Corn Ethanol: Emerging Plant Energy and Environmental Technologies”, found that recent innovations in corn ethanol production have resulted in increased yield per bushel even as less energy is required for production. Thermal energy use at a typical dry mill ethanol plant has fallen 9% since 2008, the study found, meaning the carbon footprint of corn ethanol continues to shrink.

The authors, Steffen Mueller, PhD, of the University of Illinois at Chicago Energy Resources Center and John Kwik, PE, of Dominion Energy Services, LLC wrote in summary, “Our work includes an assessment of over 50% of operating dry grind corn ethanol plants. On average, 2012 dry grind plants produce ethanol at higher yields with lower energy inputs than 2008 corn ethanol.”

“Furthermore, significantly more corn oil is separated at the plants now, which combined with the higher ethanol yields results in a slight reduction in DDG production and a negligible increase in electricity consumption,” the authors concluded.

Listen to an interview with Steffen Mueller here: Steffen Mueller, study author
Read the study here.

Audio, Energy, Environment, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Europe Urged to Re-reconsider Biofuels Policy

John Davis April 30, 2013

It wasn’t that long ago that Europe was a champion of biofuels, in particular, biodiesel, as just a few years ago the continent adopted a policy of having 10 percent of transportation fuels come from renewable sources, including biofuels. This boosted biodiesel demand, coupled with favorable tax laws and the popularity of diesel vehicles. This piece in Public Service Europe says that when cheaper imported vegetable oils replaced European biofuels crops, there was pushback that was unfounded and really amounted to trade protections for Europeans, and now the continent is moving to a 5 percent usage level … basically where it stands today. But the article says it’s not too late for Europe to re-reconsider its biofuels policy:

Therefore, with this cap, the EU endangers – or reinterprets – its own 10 per cent target leaving the status quo, conventional oil, as the biggest winner. And it strikes a blow to equity and development. Shall we continue to import oil from rich countries so they can become richer rather than taking the opportunity to import biofuels from poor countries? Wild, rapid policy shifts like this have costs. They disrupt markets, stifle innovation and undermine the EU’s credibility.Read More

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Government, International, News, Opinion

ISU Seeks Input on DDGs

Joanna Schroeder April 30, 2013

Iowa State University is conducting a survey of livestock producers use of feed-related co-products from ethanol production (distillers grains). The survey is focused on the beef, dairy, swine and poultry sectors. It is being funded by a coalition consisting of the Renewable Fuels Association, the Distillers Grains Technology Council and the Corn Utilization Councils from Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska.

“The feedback gained from the survey will be used to help improve co-product quality, which can help livestock producers with their feed costs and livestock performance,” said Kurt Rosentrater, a professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, who is leading the effort.

Livestock producers are invited to take the survey online until June 19, 2013.

Agribusiness, Distillers Grains, Ethanol

CEC Debuts First Community-Owned Solar Project

Joanna Schroeder April 29, 2013

The Clean Energy Collective (CEC) has cut the ribbon on the first community-owned solar array resulting from the Community Solar Garden Act. The 2010 Colorado legislation was sponsored by Representative Clair Levy as a means to encourage locally-produced clean energy.

The Boulder Cowdery Meadows Solar Array was built on 3.5 acres of land located in South Boulder County and the 500kWh array will produce an estimated 830,000 kWh of power each year. The energy produced is being delivered to participating commercial and residential customers in Xcel Energy’s territory. The Boulder Cowdery Meadows Solar Array is the first community-owned project in Xcel Energy’s Solar Rewards program, and the state’s first solar array through an Investor Owned Utility (IOU).

“We are particularly excited to be celebrating the grand opening of the Boulder facility,” said CEC founder and Paul Spencer. “This is a significant milestone for Colorado, for Representative Levy, and for the long-term viability of our clean energy future through community solar.”

CEC’s community-owned solar model allows 100 percent of a utility’s ratepayers, including businesses, renters, those with shaded properties, and people of all income levels, the opportunity to own clean, locally-produced energy. Members receive all of the same rebates and incentives of home-sited systems, and receive credit for the power produced directly on their monthly electric bills. Customers can purchase as little as one 1 kilowatt in the Boulder Cowdery Meadows Solar Array or enough fully offsetting their electricity usage.

CEC is also devoting 5 percent of the power produced by the more than 2,000 solar panels, or about 25 kW, to low-income residents through a unique partnership with Boulder Housing Partners, off-setting the electric bills for about 15 families living in BHP apartments.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

ACE: RFS is Catalyst for Innovation

Joanna Schroeder April 29, 2013

The House Energy and Commerce Committee on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) recently released a second white paper, “Agricultural Sector Impacts,” in an effort to make decisions on the future of the RFS. Comments were due today and in response, Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President for the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) notes that the RFS is a catalyst for agricultural innovation worldwide.

Regarding the RFS and U.S. agriculture: “The RFS provides an economic incentive for scientists and technology firms to help farmers sustainably produce significantly more bushels of corn on an acre of existing cropland. Since the RFS was enacted in 2005, these advancements, such as new seed varieties and more sustainable tillage practices, have enabled U.S. farmers to produce, on average, nearly 20 additional bushels of corn per acre than before. Still more innovations, like drought-tolerant genes, are being developed to improve corn yield further. The 2012 drought-ravaged corn crop was twice as large as the drought-ravaged crop of 1988 and three-times larger than the U.S. corn crop 50 years ago. None of this progress would have been possible without the RFS.”

Regarding the RFS and global agriculture: “From 2000 to 2011, a timeframe which includes when the idea for the RFS was developed by ACE, when it was enacted by Congress, and implemented by EPA, world corn production rose 12 billion bushels as 43 nations, mostly in Africa and the former Soviet Republic, doubled their production of corn. Repealing the RFS would simply discourage farmers around the world from planting corn, which runs contrary to what the meat and livestock groups supporting repeal want.”

Regarding the RFS and food prices: “Despite the hysteria created by oil companies who oppose the RFS because it enables renewable fuel to compete for market share with petroleum, and food manufacturers who oppose the RFS because they feel entitled to cheap corn forever, the facts indicate virtually no correlation between the RFS or prices farmers receive for corn and retail food prices. When we pay $1 for groceries, about 14 cents goes to the farmer. About 35 cents of that dollar pays for the energy to make, transport, process, and preserve the food we buy. When oil prices rise, so do food prices. If policymakers genuinely want to reduce food prices, they should support the RFS because it replaces petroleum with renewable fuel.”

“Special interests who profited handsomely in the past from corn prices that averaged $2 per bushel and who are today heavily lobbying the Congress to repeal the RFS, profited on the backs of American taxpayers who were paying for multi-billion dollar commodity support programs under previous farm bills,” added Jennings. “With global oil demand on the rise and global oil prices at a new equilibrium, it is highly unlikely those special interests who feel entitled to cheap corn forever will get their wish.”

ACE, biofuels, RFS

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