Support for Year Round E15

Cindy Zimmerman

Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) was one of only seven Republicans to vote for the Lower Food and Fuel Cost Act passed by the House in June and one of the reasons was it includes year round access to E15.

Johnson says approving year round E15 would result in having an extra eight billion gallons of liquid fuel every year in the market. “Adding that much more supply to the market place, would have a bigger impact on the price of fuel than anything else that we can do,” he said, adding that he hopes the Senate passes the bill.

E15 comments - Rep. Dusty Johnson R-SD 1:35

Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) was also one of the seven who helped Democrats pass the bill because E15 was included.

“In Iowa, every other corn row goes to ethanol so we want to continue to see this built out, we want to see E15 year round,” says Feenstra.

E15 comments - Rep. Randy Feenstra R-IA :49

Republican Tracey Mann of Kansas did not vote for the Lower Food and Fuel Cost Act but says he does support year round E15.

“The bill that came forward had some poison pills in it (but) it did pass,” Mann said. “Hopefully, the year round E15 passes in the Senate and gets signed into law here before the end of the year.”

E15 comments - Rep. Tracey Mann R-KS :17

The lawmakers made their comments during last week’s Annual All Ag, All Day DC Capitol Ag Tour.

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

CARB Accepts Industry Evaluation of E15 Blends

Cindy Zimmerman

California moved a step closer to allowing E15 with the acceptance by the the California Air Resources Board (CARB) of the Renewable Fuels Association’s (RFA) and Growth Energy’s joint multimedia evaluation of E15 blends Tier 1 report, the first step in a three-tiered evaluation process of the fuel blend.

“RFA is pleased to see that CARB has accepted and posted the comprehensive Tier I report on E15’s environmental and public health impacts,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “This is an important milestone in the process to approve the use of E15 in California, meaning the state’s consumers are one step closer to finally accessing lower-cost, lower-carbon liquid fuels. Similar to the recent University of California emissions testing results, the Tier I report demonstrates that E15 reduces emissions and is better for the environment than today’s regular gasoline.”

Read the full report posted on the CARB website.

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

Nebraska Ethanol Industry Continues to Expand

Cindy Zimmerman

The Nebraska ethanol industry produced over 2.25 billion gallons in 2019, resulting in a value of production for ethanol and co-products of greater than $4.04 billion, according to a new University of Nebraska–Lincoln study estimating the industry’s impact in 2018 and 2019. The overall economic impact of the Nebraska ethanol industry is over $4.5 billion.

“Nebraska’s ethanol industry remains an important market in Nebraska, trailing only corn and cattle,” said Kate Brooks, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and a co-author of the study. “While the industry experienced weakened ethanol prices in 2018 and 2019, it has shown resilience through continued expansion in total capacity and diversification of co-products.”

According to the study, Nebraska continues to rank as the second-largest ethanol-producing state in the nation. The overall value of ethanol and ethanol co-products averages 64% of corn production, 33% of cattle production and 131% of soybean production, making ethanol the third-largest agricultural industry in the state.

Read the full report, which was produced by the Department of Agricultural Economics at Nebraska, in partnership with the Nebraska Ethanol Board.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

ACE Conference Offers Retailer Workshop

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) annual conference is offering a free workshop for retailers interested in selling higher ethanol blends.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will soon offer another $100 million in biofuel infrastructure grants under its Higher Blends and Infrastructure Incentives Program (HBIIP), so ACE is inviting retailers to learn how to get their share of available funds for new E15 and E85 fueling equipment, and hear how other marketers have increased customer counts and profits selling higher ethanol blends.

The E15 and Flex Fuel Retailer Workshop will feature the manager of the USDA HBIIP grant program, two of the nation’s most successful E15 and E85 marketers, and others ready to help retailers obtain grants covering 50 percent or more of the cost of new dispensers and other equipment.

“Retailers and anyone who works with them will learn how fuel marketers view higher ethanol blend opportunities in the current fuels marketplace, what it really costs to add those blends, how partnering with USDA can cut those costs in half, and how ACE helps retailers navigate the process,” said Ron Lamberty, ACE Chief Marketing Officer, who coordinated the event.

Randy Gard, COO of Bosselman Enterprises, which owns the Nebraska-based Pump & Pantry convenience store chain, and Jeff Wilkerson, Government Policy and Regulatory Affairs Manager, with California-based Pearson Fuels, one of the nation’s largest E85 distributors, will share the companies’ experience with making the switch and the help they were able to leverage along the way through HBIIP funding. Lamberty will provide an overview of the equipment, infrastructure and costs associated with adding higher ethanol blends, highlighting ACE’s online “Flex Check” E15 compatibility tool.

Jeff Carpenter, Energy Coordinator with USDA Rural Development managing HBIIP, will walk through program details and application process for the latest round of HBIIP funding, which is expected to be announced soon. The workshop will also offer retailers the opportunity to connect with grant writers and others who can help navigate the application process.

The workshop will take place on Wednesday, August 10, from 3–5 p.m. at the Marriott Downtown-Capitol District in Omaha, Nebraska, to kick-off The ACE annual conference. Marketers can sign up by clicking here.

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, E15, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Retailers

RFA Says Inflation Reduction Bill Will Help Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says several provisions within the new Inflation Reduction Act will benefit the U.S. ethanol industry and the communities it serves.

“Specifically for ethanol producers, the legislation includes provisions that provide funding for clean fuel production, higher biofuel blend infrastructure, enhanced opportunities for ethanol to play a greater role in sustainable aviation fuel, and carbon capture, utilization and storage,” said Cooper.

Cooper noted that RFA members pledged last summer to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner, and that remains a priority for the organization.

“We’re committed to working with our Congressional champions on both sides of the aisle to ensure the final legislative package supports our members’ efforts to provide American families with lower-cost, lower-carbon fuels that are sourced in America’s heartland and bolster energy security,” Cooper said.

Climate Change, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Next Gen Fuels Act Introduced in Senate

Cindy Zimmerman

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined together Tuesday to introduce the bipartisan and bicameral Next Generation Fuels Act, which aims to leverage higher-octane fuels to improve engine efficiency and performance. Allowing the sale of fuels with greater octane levels would increase the amount of ethanol that can be utilized in the fuel supply, in turn lowering prices at the pump for consumers.

Similar legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) with broad bipartisan co-sponsorship. This legislation establishes a minimum research octane number (RON) standard of 98 for gasoline, which is higher than the typical octane rating of 91 RON today. It also requires sources of the added octane value to reduce carbon emissions by at least 40 percent compared to baseline gasoline.

“The Next Generation Fuels Act would gradually ramp up the use of homegrown ethanol at gas stations across the country, making Americans less reliant on foreign oil and less vulnerable to the anti-competitive tactics of OPEC. As we look to the future of liquid fuels, this legislation can play a critical role in restoring energy independence, saving consumers money, lowering carbon emissions and expanding the market for farmers and ethanol producers,” Grassley said.

Sen. Grassley talked about the bill during his Tuesday call with agricultural reporters.
Grassley - Next Gen Fuels Act (2:16)

Farm and biofuels organizations thanked the senators for introducing the bill.
“This summer’s geopolitical instability, record-high gas prices, and more frequent natural disasters all underscore the need for real and immediate energy solutions for American families. This bill provides those sensible solutions, and we look forward to working with clean fuel supporters in both chambers of Congress to turn this bold vision into a reality,” said Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper.

“We have worked closely with members of the House and Senate to secure bipartisan support for this legislation,” National Corn Growers Association president Chris Edgington said. “In recent months, consumers have been reminded that we need choices at the pump. The Next Generation Fuels Act would diversify our fuel supply and take greater advantage of low-cost, low-emission, and high-efficiency ethanol to give drivers affordable choices as we decarbonize and clean up transportation.”

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA, RFA

ZimmCast on Yield10 Bioscience

Cindy Zimmerman

Yield10 Bioscience is an agricultural bioscience company that is developing improved Camelina varieties for the production of proprietary seed products, and to discover highly valuable genetic traits for the agriculture and food industries. The company is working to establish a high-value seed products business based on developing superior varieties of Camelina for the production of feedstock oils, nutritional oils, and PHA bioplastics, and to license yield traits for commercialization in row crops, including corn, soybean, and canola.

Yield10 recently announced an open enrollment program for contract production of winter Camelina in Montana and Idaho, as well as southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada.

In this edition of the ZimmCast podcast, Cindy Zimmerman talked with Yield10 President and CEO Oliver Peoples about the company’s goals and the opportunities for camelina production.
ZimmCast 696 - Yield10 Bioscience and Camelina (21:01)

Subscribe to the ZimmCast in:

Audio, biofuels, feedstocks

Tech Hub LIVE Keynoter Offers Ag Economic Insights

Cindy Zimmerman

Keynote speaker for the second annual Tech Hub LIVE last week was David Widmar, managing partner at Agricultural Economic Insights (AEI), who offered his insights on where we are in the farm economy production agriculture business cycle, some key demographic trends, and some key conversations to have with growers.

Widmar says one of the main favorable factors in the current farm economy is an increase in oilseeds demand. “We’ve seen it here in the U.S. but also around the world,” said Widmar. “It’s soybeans in South America, sunflowers in Eastern Europe, and it’s rapeseed in India.”

AEI.ag has produced two in-depth podcast series in the past two years, “Escaping 1980” about the causes, impacts, and lasting effects of the 1980s farm crisis, and “Corn Saves America” on agriculture’s role in environmental solutions, comparing the rise of corn ethanol with today’s carbon markets. The podcast just received a Star Prize award for audio from the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) at the organization’s 2022 World Congress in Denmark last month, so congratulations for that major accomplishment.

Listen to an interview with Widmar here.
2022 Tech Hub LIVE interview with David Widmar, AEI 6:03

Photos

2022 Tech Hub LIVE Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, biofuels, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, technology

Ethanol Days of Summer Free Fuel Contest Continues

Cindy Zimmerman

There’s still time to enter the Renewable Fuels Association’s Ethanol Days of Summer Contest, which offers free fuel to participants for reporting prices of E15 and E85. The contest continues through Labor Day, which means six more weeks of $250 in free fuel to giveaway.

“Even though the price of fuel has dropped in recent days, we’re still experiencing abnormally high prices at the pump, and higher ethanol blends like E15 and E15 are a great way for drivers to save money while supporting rural America,” said Robert White, RFA Vice President for Industry Relations. “This summer, several retailers—such as Sheetz and Pearson Fuels —have recently offered special savings on these ethanol blends, below the already-lower cost of the fuel, compared to regular unleaded. With nearly a billion impressions on our website just in June, we know people are seeking out options. We hope this program will help drivers discover a new fuel as they rediscover America on vacation road trips.”

There are two ways to enter the contest and win:
1. Submit prices for E15 or E85 at E85prices.com. Register or log in at E85prices.com or use the E85prices.com mobile app.
2. Submit pictures of higher blend prices on Twitter. Pictures can be of the fuel dispenser or price sign and should include, at a minimum, regular unleaded (E10) and E15 and/or E85. Include station name, city, and state. Tag @EthanolRFA and include the hashtags: #ethanol #E15 #E85 and #fuelprices (unless those words are already mentioned).

Contestants will be entered into a random weekly drawing for a pre-paid credit card to be used for fuel purchases. Don’t delay, enter today!

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

Researchers Provide Update on AltEn

Cindy Zimmerman

Daugherty Water for Food Institute (DWFI) researchers have been studying possible effects from the AltEn ethanol plant in Mead, Nebraska, which shut down last year after leaked contaminated wastewater was found.

Researchers recently presented to a group of Mead community members at a Mead Town Hall session. The team is particularly concerned with neurotoxins from the neonicotinoids produced by the plant, which is being sued by the state of Nebraska.

A survey on perceived health impacts has been sent to 1,000 people in the surrounding community, and so far about 400 responses have been received. Anyone who has lived or worked near the contamination from the AltEn plant or its solid or liquid waste is encouraged to fill out the survey. In addition to homes, the research team is also sampling the water, soil, air and small animals.

Environment, Ethanol, Ethanol News