In the News
National Corn Growers Association
Jun 29, 2023
Congress can ensure more consumer choice in fuels and vehicles by taking greater advantage of low-cost, low-emissions biofuels like ethanol, a leader of the National Corn Growers Association told members of Congress on June 22.
“As producers of the sustainable, primary feedstock for low carbon ethanol, corn farmers stand behind agriculture’s contribution to low-cost, cleaner, domestic energy,” NCGA CEO Neil Caskey said during testimony before the Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “Their production improvements will help achieve biofuels with net-zero emissions and higher ethanol blends cost less.”
In his testimony, Caskey discussed several bills that that would leverage the benefits of biofuels to ensure a level playing field in transportation, including:
- The Fuels Parity Act, which ensures EPA uses the most accurate lifecycle emissions assessment for biofuels: the Department of Energy Argonne National Lab’s GREET model. The legislation recognizes progress made under the Renewable Fuel Standard, allowing all fuels, including corn ethanol, that meet the 50 percent lower GHG standard for an advanced biofuel to qualify as an advanced biofuel.
- The Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would permanently remove outdated and unnecessary barriers to full market access to 15 percent ethanol-blended fuel, a lower-cost and lower emissions choice.
- Next Generation Fuels Act, which considers fuels and vehicles as a system, would improve our nation’s liquid fuel supply and transition new combustion vehicles to use advanced engines that take advantage of better fuels, such as higher blends of ethanol. This transition to updated fuels and vehicles would cut fuel costs, reduce GHG and other transportation emissions and increase fuel efficiency.
Caskey said NCGA supports policies to further reduce emissions from vehicles but is opposed to EPA’s proposed approach for emission standards.
“EPA’s proposed rule envisions only one solution to meet new standards, electric vehicles, without accounting for their full lifecycle emissions,” he said. “Rather than endorse a single technology, we are urging EPA to focus on outcomes and open pathways for all low-carbon fuels and technologies, as well as advance a needed rulemaking to improve fuels.”
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USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
Jun 23, 2023
The United States transitioned from a net importer of ethanol in 2009 to the world’s largest supplier, exporting a record 1.7 billion gallons in 2018. While the use of ethanol as a fuel for blending with gasoline accounted for three-fourths of the export expansion, ethanol for other nonfuel industrial applications has seen slower but steady growth. With expanding uses for industrial ethanol, global demand will grow, including use as disinfectants, solvents, carriers in foods and cosmetics, commercial deicers, pharmaceuticals, and organic chemical manufacturing. The recent increased export demand for U.S. industrial ethanol is mainly tied to two factors: 1) demand for disinfectants and, more importantly, 2) growing industrial use from the manufacturing sectors of the Republic of Korea (South Korea), India, Mexico, Nigeria, and Europe.
Continued global demand for disinfectants, the emergence of biomanufacturing, and rising demand for “lower carbon” consumer products are expected to expand opportunities for industrial ethanol. Ethanol’s continually improving carbon intensity (CI) score, consumer demand for environmentally responsible products, and countries’ interest in decreasing their greenhouse gas emissions will continue to create market opportunities for U.S. ethanol exports. Lower CI scoring now means that U.S. ethanol is eligible to compete for 100 percent of Japan’s ethyl tertiary-butyl ether demand. Additionally, new investments in U.S. plants manufacturing sustainable aviation fuel derived from ethanol are underway, creating another potential source of future demand. These developments will support fuel-ethanol exports, which have retreated since 2018 due to setbacks with Brazil, China, and the pandemic.
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Jun 22, 2023
U.S. ethanol production was up more than 3 percent the week ending June 16, reaching the highest level since December 2022, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on June 22. Ethanol stocks were also up 3 percent, with exports up 14 percent.
Fuel ethanol production averaged 1.052 million barrels per day the week ending June 16, up 34,000 barrels per day when compared to the 1.018 million barrels of production reported for the previous week. When compared to the same week of last year, production for the week ending June 16 was down 3,000 barrels per day.
Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol expanded to 22.804 million barrels, up 578,000 barrels when compared to the 22.226 million barrels of stocks reported for the previous week. When compared to the same week of last year, stocks for the week ending June 16 were down 672,000 barrels.
Fuel ethanol exports averaged 87,000 barrels per day the week ending June 16, up 11,000 barrels per day when compared to the 76,000 barrels per day of exports reported for the previous week. Data on weekly ethanol exports is not available for the corresponding week of 2022 as the EIA began reporting weekly data on fuel ethanol exports earlier this month. According to EIA data, no fuel ethanol imports were reported for the week ending June 16.
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Jun 19, 2023
A group of 16 senators on June 16 sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urging the agency to adopt the U.S. Department of Energy’s GREET model as the secondary methodology for calculating tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). According to the senators, adopting GREET will dramatically enhance the effectiveness of SAF incentives to accelerate the aviation industry’s decarbonization.
“Failure to provide businesses with the certainty and reliability of a science-based, United States government-developed model to determine eligibility for IRA tax credits could have dire consequences,” the senators wrote. “Prohibiting the aviation industry from decarbonizing with the most readily available SAF options will not only prevent American farmers from contributing to a clean energy economy, but it will drastically delay adoption of promising low emission energy sources and force the aviation industry to miss an opportunity to eliminate millions of tons of carbon emissions in the coming years.”
Within the letter, the senators explain that the GREET model would enable SAF stakeholders to adapt to new developments and technical advances, making it “the only model that can lead to every participant in the SAF lifecycle having options to appropriately participate in carbon reducing processes."
The letter outlines several specific reasons why Treasury should allow SAF producers to use GREET in determining the fuel’s lifecycle GHG emissions. As required by the Inflation Reduction Act, GREET is a “similar methodology” to the most recent CORSIA model, which has been adopted by the International Civic Aviation Organization. GREET also satisfies the criteria for lifecycle analysis under the Renewable Fuel Standard regulations.
In addition, the senators stress that GREET is used to calculate the lifecycle analysis related to other IRA tax credits, including those for hydrogen and clean fuels. “Notably, these provisions requiring the use of GREET for other transportation fuels and hydrogen reference the same definition of ‘lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions’ under the Clean Air Act as does IRC Section 40B,” the senators wrote. “Moreover, because some facilities will produce both aviation and non-aviation fuels at the same facility, to require them to utilize different models for aviation and nonaviation fuels will unnecessarily complicate the ability of these taxpayers to calculate credit values for these fuels.”
The senators also explain that using GREET for lifecycle analysis creates a system to reward farmers for climate-smart agricultural practices and introduces a market-driven approach to sustainability. Finally, they note that GREET is the most up to date, accurate model for U.S. domestic practices. “ICAO largely relies on data published between 2007-2012 and utilizes an averaging approach,” the senators wrote. “In fact, ICAO uses old GREET data but relies on out of date, static science and methodologies that unjustifiably penalize U.S. agriculture. In the last decade, the carbon intensity of biofuels has fallen by 20 percent or more, making the case that for a scientific model to be accurate it must be continuously updated with relevant data and methodologies. GREET has been updated at least five times in the last 9 years and relies on the best available science to assess direct emissions. GREET includes actual field testing and validation techniques and includes climate-smart agricultural practices and scientific innovations.”
The senators caution Treasury that failure to implement GREET will prohibit the majority of the current SAF market from benefiting from the IRA’s SAF tax credit while preventing industry from making further investments in SAF production and hindering carbon reduction.
The letter is signed by Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; Richard Durbin, D-Ill.; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; Joni Ernst, R-Iowa,; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Patty Murray, D-Wash.; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; Tina Smith, D-Minn.; Roger Marshall, R-Kan.; Gary Peters, D-Mich.; John Thune, R-S.D.; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc.; Michael Rounds, R-S.D.; and Pete Ricketts, R-Neb.
Duckworth earlier this month introduced the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023, a bipartisan bill that aims to identify the standards required to meet the definition of SAF at the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill would, in part, require the federal government to adopt the most up-to-date lifecycle emissions models, including GREET or successor life-cycle analysis models to GREET. Fischer, Ernst, Klobuchar and Grassley have signed on to cosponsor the bill.
Growth Energy has spoken out in support of the senators’ letter to Treasury.
“It would be climate malpractice to anchor our SAF ambitions to outdated models that disregard U.S. innovations in biofuel production and climate-smart agriculture,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “With current technologies, farm-based feedstocks are the only sources of clean, renewable energy available in large enough volumes to deliver on our decarbonization goals. Fortunately, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) have developed the gold standard for lifecycle modeling, informed by the latest hard data on everything from indirect land use change to fertilizer inputs. Only with the best available science guiding incentives can we unlock the innovations and investments needed to meet this administration’s SAF Grand Challenge. We applaud Senator Duckworth and our other Senate champions for working to ensure U.S. SAF production isn’t grounded before it can ever take off.”
A full copy of the letter is available on the Growth Energy website.
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Jun 12, 2023
Whitefox Technologies is pleased to announce that Redfield Energy LLC,has decided to implement a Whitefox ICE® Plus membrane dehydration system at its ethanol plant located in Redfield, SD.This project is Whitefox’s first ICE Plus project in the U.S. It represents a major milestone towards delivering Net Zero benefits, whilst also debottlenecking the plant’s ability to deliver additional ethanol capacity. The project is estimated to be operational in Q3 2024.
The Whitefox ICE Plus system is designed to work with Redfield’s existing dehydration technology and will provide an additional12%capacity taking the plantto70 MMGPY from Day 1, sized toget the Plant to90 MMGPY over time. The solution is,coupled with the ability to integrate and conserve a significant amount of energy, up to 5,000 BTU per gallon of ethanol produced. The solution also reduces the demand for cooling water and provides the operational benefits associated with a Whitefox ICE solution in terms of reducing recycle streams and dehydrating ethanol in a continuous 24/7 process. The Whitefox ICE Plus solution uses the same membrane technology associated with Whitefox ICE, which is currently being deployed in 11 US Ethanol plants. It’s a solution which not only helps ethanol reach its Net Zero goals, but also makes plants more profitable and sustainable.
Eric Baukol, CEO of Redfield Energystates “It’s an exciting time to be in the industry. If you had 10 CEOs in a room, they might map out that many different versions of the future for their biorefineries as far as which markets and products they intend to compete in. All of these versions of the future start with efficiencies and a drive toward making our Net Zero pledge a reality, and we feel we’re making a great step forward in that regard with this Whitefox project.”
Virginia Andrade, Whitefox Engineering Managercommented “Whitefox ICE Plus was developed as we listened to ethanol producers who were looking for enhanced energy savings as they considered the journey towards NetZero. The solution is ideal where the plant’s existing molecular sieves still have lifetime.ICE Plus is able to de-load the molecular sieves and provide additional lifetime to this technology, but also act as a steppingstone to finally replace molecular sieves and transition towards a sole membrane solution, Whitefox ICE XL when the time is right”.
Our process engineers worked closely with the Redfield Energy’s team throughout the initial project phase and together designed a tailored solution that not only fits to the distinctive features of the plant, but allows Redfield Energy to fulfil their business objectives. It has been a real pleasure to work with Eric Baukol, Ryan Siebrecht, Josh Underberg, Angela Turck and Casey Stoner and the team at the Redfield plant.”
ABOUT REDFIELD ENERGY LLC.
At Redfield, our mission is tooperatea profitableand innovative ethanol facility, be the preferred market for locally grown corn, andprovidea quality feed product. In April 2007, Redfield Energy became operational as a dry mill plant. It has the space to process approximately 22 million bushels of corn into ethanol per year. Approximately 230,000 tons of modified wet and drydistillersgrain is produced and sold to the local and west coast markets.
About Whitefox Technologies Limited
Whitefox is a world-leading membrane technology company?headquartered in London, UK with a strong presence in North America through our Membrane & Engineering Centre of Excellence based in Calgary, Alberta, our U.S. Field Services Team in Omaha. Whitefox has over 20 years of experience in delivering cost effective solutions to dehydrate ethanol and other organics components using our?Whitefox ICE®?systems.?Whitefox membrane technology has been successful in dehydrating over?700 million gallons?of ethanol using the currently installed base of 150 MMgy. This installed base is expected to nearly double in 2023.
For more information about Whitefox and our installed U.S. project references, please visit our website:www.whitefox.com
Website: whitefox.com
Twitter: @WhitefoxTech
LinkedIn: Click Here
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Jun 12, 2023
By Renewable Fuels Association
A survey of U.S. ethanol producers shows the industry to be on track toward its net-zero-carbon goal, a new white paper and presentation indicate, with facilities producing ethanol that is up to 55 percent less carbon intensive than gasoline, on average. The findings will be spotlighted in a presentation by the Renewable Fuels Association this afternoon at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo in Omaha by RFA Vice President for Strategy and Innovation Tad Hepner.
In July 2021, RFA’s producer members unanimously committed to ensuring that, by 2023, ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70 percent, on average, when compared directly to gasoline, and reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 or sooner. A report released at the 2022 National Ethanol Conference identified a workable pathway to that goal. Earlier this year, RFA surveyed its member producers and received responses from nearly all RFA member biorefinery facilities, representing a wide variety of sizes, plants with annual production capacities ranging from 35 to 150 million gallons. These responses came from biorefineries operating in 12 different states, both inside and outside the Corn Belt.
“We’re very happy to see the progress being made by RFA’s ethanol producer members toward the net-zero goal,” Hepner said. “Nearly 8 out of 10 facilities are on track to achieve net zero by 2050 or sooner, but there are some barriers that remain to be overcome, such as access to capital, policy and regulatory uncertainty, permitting challenges, and a lack of clear return on investment. As the nation’s leading trade association for renewable fuels, we have our work cut out for us, and we look forward to the challenge and the opportunity for success.”
Among other findings to be presented:
•All the survey facilities reported adopting at least one tracked carbon-reduction technology in recent years, and most have adopted more than one of these technologies and practices.
•These plants have seen a 12 percent reduction in average carbon intensity since 2015/16.
•Nearly two-thirds of the plants have an approved Efficient Producer Pathway under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
•While just over a third of the plants currently capture biogenic C02, more than three-quarters intend to adopt carbon capture and geological sequestration technology.
•A majority of the plants have approved pathways to participate in California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, and many also have approved pathways for similar programs in British Columbia, Oregon and Canada overall.
•Most biorefineries have received a premium value for renewable fuels sold into these low-carbon markets.
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Jun 7, 2023
By Renewable Fuels Association
A newly released, peer-reviewed study from the University of California, Riverside, shows that the E15 ethanol blend provides notable emissions reductions compared to California’s regular reformulated gasoline. The Renewable Fuels Association hailed the report as proof of the value of E15 for The Golden State, which has yet to allow the E15 blend to be used.
“This new study shows what we’ve been arguing all along—that E15 offers emissions benefits that would help meet environmental goals in California, where the state’s 27 million drivers log more than 340 billion miles a year on the road,” RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said. “We continue to call on California’s regulators to move quickly to permit E15 to be sold in the state, a blend that also offers cost savings in a place where gasoline prices are higher than anywhere else in the country.” California is one of only two states that has not yet approved E15; Montana is the other.
According to the study, emissions of total hydrocarbons, non-methane hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide all showed either marginally or statistically significant reductions for E15 compared to regular California gasoline. In addition, particulate matter (PM) and solid particle number emissions dropped substantially with E15, and E15 showed lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions savings when compared to E10. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions when using E15 showed marginal reductions in many cases, but the changes in NOx were not statistically significant.
The research will appear in the October 2023 journal Fuel, and was supported by RFA, the California Air Resources Board and other organizations. Researchers noted that this is the largest U.S. study to date that focuses on the effects of ethanol fuels on tailpipe emissions from current technology vehicles.
Related LCFS Workshop Comments Submitted
Approval of E15 by the state also could help facilitate greater near-term carbon emissions reductions under California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, according to comments and analysis filed Tuesday by RFA in response to a workshop held late last month by California’s Air Resources Board.
In the comments, RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman suggested CARB “stepdown” its compliance curve with more stringent greenhouse gas reduction targets. RFA is working with a broad coalition of low-carbon fuel providers on a report to demonstrate the clean fuels industry’s capabilities to deliver more significant carbon intensity reductions.
“If E15 had been used in California in 2022 rather than E10, that alone would have allowed the LCFS compliance target to be nearly 2 percent lower. Migration of the market to E15 over the course of this decade would enable a 2.5 percent reduction of the current 2030 target against the 2010 baseline.”
Analysis accompanying the comment letter showed that using E15 instead of E10 in 2022 would have further reduced GHG emissions by 2.5 million metric tons and cut petroleum consumption by 500 million gallons. Because CARB has not yet approved E15, those additional GHG reductions are being left on the table.
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Jun 6, 2023
The USDA on May 31 released its latest quarterly outlook for U.S. agricultural trade, reporting that the agency’s forecast for fiscal year (FY) 2023 ethanol exports remains unchanged at $3.6 billion. That forecast is down 11 percent when compared to last year’s record value of $4.05 billion, but is still the second highest on record, according to the agency.
In the report, the USDA said historically high export unit value for ethanol is supported by persistently elevated corn and gasoline prices. Export volumes are forecasted one-quarter below the 2018 record of 1.6 billion gallons.
According to the USDA, U.S. ethanol exports to South Korea, the European Union, India, Mexico, Nigeria and nearly all key markets are expected to falter due to inflation and cost-of-living squeeze, which lowers demand for ethanol used in nonfuel applications. The agency also notes that competitive pricing from Brazil in previous months undercut U.S. sales to several markets and sales to Brazil remain minimal.
The report indicates that Canada remains the current bright spot for U.S. ethanol exports, primarily due to higher fuel blending in Ontario. Sales volumes to Canada for the first six months of the fiscal year were up 35 percent, pushing its share of U.S. ethanol exports to 40 percent.
The value of ethanol exports for October-March FY 2022 was just over $2 billion, compared to approximately $1.67 billion during the same six-month period of FY 2023.
A full copy of the quarterly report is available on the USDA website.
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Jun 1, 2023
The U.S. Grains Council's (USGC's) bioethanol team traveled to the European Union (EU) last week to meet with government and industry officials and host a panel at the International Transport Forum's 2023 Summit. Pictured from left to right are Isabelle Ausdal, USGC manager of global ethanol policy and economics; Josh Shields, senior vice president of government affairs and communications at POET; Mackenzie Boubin, USGC director of global ethanol export development; Michael Berube, deputy assistant secretary for sustainable transportation for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); Carlos Monje, undersecretary for transportation policy for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT); Lane Howard, associate director of market development for Missouri Corn; Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, vice president of government and public affairs at Navigator CO2; Dr. BJ Johnson, CEO and co-founder of ClearFlame Engine Technologies; and Matt Lambert, a producer representing the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council.
Last week, the Council’s bioethanol team hosted a mission to Brussels, Belgium, and then traveled from there to Leipzig, Germany, for the International Transport Forum’s (ITF) 2023 Summit, where the Council was a sponsor. Fueled by price competitiveness and increasing renewable energy targets, the European Union (EU) was the third-largest market for U.S. bioethanol in 2021/22, at nearly 140 million gallons, valued at over $350 million.
In Brussels, the delegation met with several government and industry officials, including the Belgian Minister of Economy and the Slovakian Energy Attaché to the EU, and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Europe, an advocacy and communications body supported by technology providers, project developers, members of industry and environmental NGOs, who share a commitment to achieve significant reductions in CO2 emissions.
“While engagement with member states remains crucial to our efforts for EU bioethanol consumption, many of the opportunities or barriers to further policy demand remain within the European Commission. Time spent discussing, educating and exploring viable pathways for increased bioethanol use provides a well-rounded approach to our regional EU efforts,” said Mackenzie Boubin, USGC director of global ethanol export development.
Once in Leipzig, the group hosted a special side panel, Bioethanol: Fueling Forward to Net-Zero, at ITF, welcoming global attendees who heard from U.S. industry representatives on the benefits of using ethanol in their own countries. Panel participants included Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, vice president of government and public affairs at Navigator CO2; Dr. BJ Johnson, CEO and co-founder of ClearFlame Engine Technologies; Matt Lambert, a producer representing the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council; and Josh Shields, senior vice president of government affairs and communications at POET.
“The high-level ITF Summit gathers government transport ministries and transportation stakeholders around the world to collaborate on decarbonization strategies. The Council knows that biofuels must be included in these discussions as a viable right-here, right-now GHG mitigation tool for the decarbonization of road transportation alongside electrification and energy efficiency and its important role in the net-zero economy,” Boubin said.
“In the new age of sustainability and global decarbonization, bioethanol is a pivotal tool in the international transport agenda and key policymakers should strive to secure the right incentives to increase the uptake of bioethanol for the decarbonization of transport.”
Outside the panel, the group had opportunities to network with those in the global transportation sector and listen in to a ministerial session on boosting sustainable economies through greening transport.
The Council looks forward to further programming in the EU as the longer-term goal is to utilize E10 across all member states and permit full access for bioethanol in its policy revisions based on its science-based carbon reduction benefits.
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Jun 1, 2023
U.S. fuel ethanol production was up 2 percent the week ending May 26, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on June 1. Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol were up 1 percent. The agency also released weekly ethanol export data for the first time.
Fuel ethanol production averaged 1.004 million barrels per day the week ending May 26, up 21,000 barrels per day when compared to the 983,000 barrels per day of production reported for the previous week. When compared to the same week of last year, production for the week ending May 26 was down 67,000 barrels per day.
Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol expanded to 22.332 million barrels, up 291,000 barrels when compared to the 22.041 million barrels of stocks reported for the previous week. When compared to the same week of last year, stocks for the week ending May 26 were down 629,000 barrels.
According to the EIA, the U.S. exported approximately 54,000 barrels (2.27 million gallons) per day of ethanol the week ending May 26. No ethanol imports were reported for the week.
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May 31, 2023
Whitefox Technologies is pleased to announce that The Andersons, Inc. has successfully installed the Whitefox ICE® membrane dehydration system at its ethanol plant located in Denison, Iowa. This is Whitefox’s eleventh installation in the U.S., and its fourth installation in Iowa.
Bill Krueger, Chief Operating Officer and President of The Andersons Trade and Processing, states “We have been evaluating Whitefox technology for some time, and saw that the system aligned with our goals for upgrading the Denison plant which include lower steam use and energy cost per gallon. It also helps to drive our objective of reducing carbon intensity across our production facilities. I am excited that this project is now completed as it addresses several of our strategic priorities.”
The Whitefox ICE® system treats existing recycling streams to both free up and debottleneck distillation-dehydration capacity, enabling The Andersons and other producers to lower natural gas usage, cut carbon emissions, improve plant cooling, and increase potential production capacity depending on the system design. Whitefox ICE® is integrated into existing corn ethanol production plants with minimal disruption and a small footprint.
Malcolm Rock, Whitefox COO, commented that “the goal of this installation is to decrease carbon emissions by reducing steam consumption per gallon of ethanol produced. Our process engineers have designed a tailored solution which fits the distinctive features of the Denison plant integrating heat where possible. Together with The Andersons, I am pleased to see the final stages of the project coming together. It has been a real pleasure to work with Bill Krueger, and the team at the Denison plant.”
ABOUT THE ANDERSONS INC.
The Andersons, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANDE) is a diversified company rooted in agriculture, conducting business in the commodity merchandising, renewables, and nutrient and industrial sectors. Investment in ethanol is a natural extension of The Andersons core business competencies in grain operations, corn originations, and commodity merchandising. In addition to being a significant investor in The Andersons Marathon Holdings LLC, they also manage the operations of their ethanol plants located in Albion, Michigan; Logansport, Indiana; Greenville, Ohio; and Denison, Iowa. Guided by its Statement of Principles, The Andersons is committed to providing extraordinary service to its customers, helping its employees improve, supporting its communities, and increasing the value of the company. For more information, please visit www.andersonsinc.com.
ABOUT WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Whitefox specializes in technology development and process integration based on its proprietary membrane solutions. Whitefox ICE® (Integrated Cartridge Efficiency) is a bolt-on solution developed for the ethanol industry. With a small footprint, it is designed to de-bottleneck distillation and dehydration, which boosts output, improves CI scores by reducing energy and water consumption and reduces operation & maintenance costs by simplifying operations Whitefox provides solutions for all types of alcohols, biofuels, and renewable chemicals in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South America. www.whitefox.com
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May 30, 2023
The USDA recently released its Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production Report for May, reporting that corn use for fuel ethanol production in March was up when compared to the previous month, but down from March 2022.
Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 490 million bushels in March, up 11 percent from the previous month, but down 4 percent from March 2022. Usage included 91.7 percent for alcohol and 8.3 percent for other purposes.
Corn use for fuel alcohol in March was at 438 million bushels, up 10 percent from February, but down 3 percent when compared to same month of the previous year. Corn consumed for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was at 91.5 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively.
The USDA withheld the volume of sorghum consumed for fuel alcohol production in March to avoid disclosure of individual company data.
At dry mills, condensed distillers solubles production was at 81,415 tons, up from 77,506 tons in February, but down from 103,439 tons in March 2022. Corn oil production reached 177,081 tons, up from both 160,215 tons the previous month and 174,657 tons in March of last year. Distillers dried grains production expanded to 387,438 tons, up from both 338,869 tons in February and 372,813 tons in March 2022. Distillers dried grains with solubles production was at 1.7 million tons, up from 1.56 million tons the previous month, but down from 1.88 million tons in March of the previous year. Distillers wet grains production was at 1.3 million tons, up from 1.16 million tons in February, but down from 1.38 million tons in March of last year. Modified distillers wet grains production was at 505,767 tons, up from 466,269 tons the previous month, but down from 562,599 tons in March 2022.
At wet mills, corn germ meal production was at 48,872 tons, up from 44,421 tons in February, but down from 61,909 tons in March of the previous year. Corn gluten feed production reached 2932,483 tons, up from both 247,817 tons the previous month and 25,258 tons in March 2022. Corn gluten meal production reached 117,550 tons, up from both 108,496 tons in February and 109,130 tons in March 2022. Wet corn gluten feed production was at 187,120 tons, up from 185,051 tons the previous month, but down from 226,860 tons during the same month of last year.
At wet and dry mills, carbon dioxide captured was at 214,548 tons, up from 195,862 tons in February, but down from 249,346 tons in March 2022.
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May 24, 2023
By Growth Energy
With drivers expected to hit the roads in near pre-pandemic numbers this Memorial Day weekend, Growth Energy—the nation’s largest biofuels trade association—urged travelers to fill up with Unleaded 88 (UNL88), a fuel blend with 15 percent ethanol, to save money at the pump and reduce their emissions over the holiday.
Memorial Day weekend travel is expected to increase by around 7 percent over last year with nearly 90 percent of that travel taking place on the roads, according to AAA, signaling a strong start to summer travel season.
With travel on the rise, consumers looking to save money on fuel should look at UNL88, also known as E15. In total, UNL88 has the potential to save drivers more than a combined $12 million just this weekend. That means more money in consumers’ pockets that they can spend on cookout supplies, fireworks, or maybe just a longer vacation.
Last summer, when the national average for a gallon of gas was more than $4, drivers were able to save 16-cents per gallon on average by using UNL88. UNL88 can also be used in 96 percent of vehicles on the road today and contributes to cleaner air, reducing smog-forming pollutants and lowering emissions of particulate matter up to 50 percent compared to gasoline.
“UNL88 makes it easy for drivers to save money at the pump and reduce their carbon emissions all in one step,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “As the summer travel season officially begins, we hope all consumers take advantage of the cost savings and environmental benefits of filling up their cars and trucks with fuel that’s at least 15 percent ethanol.”
“Not many products exist in the fuel market today that allow drivers to both save money and lower their carbon emissions at the same time,” said Jennifer Forbess, Fuel Supply and Trading Manager at Midwest fuel retailer Kwik Trip Inc. “That’s what makes UNL88 such a popular, high-value fuel, and we hope our customers take advantage of this more affordable, lower-carbon product as they hit the road this holiday weekend.”
Travelers can plan their road-trip and locate gas stations selling E15 and other ethanol blends using Get Biofuel Fuel Finder. To date, Americans have driven approximately 75 billion miles on UNL 88. Since 2018 the number of miles has increased by an astounding 543 percent, according to Growth Energy calculations.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently took an important step to allow continued sales of UNL88 (E15) throughout this summer and has proposed allowing year-round sales in eight Midwestern states beginning next year. Growth Energy and its member companies have urged the EPA to allow year-round sales of UNL88 to provide continued cost savings, increased energy independence, support for rural jobs, and immediate emissions reductions from automotive travel.
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May 17, 2023
Using Market Access Program (MAP) and Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) funds, the U.S. Grains Council Mexico office has been conducting some grassroots market development work for U.S. DDGS to small-scale ruminant producers in Southeast Mexico. The Council started working in this region in 2015, showing to cattle producers how they could supplement their grass-fed cattle with U.S. DDGS and achieve faster growth rates and earlier-to-market cattle.
Some examples of the Council’s outreach efforts over the past seven years include:
- Feeding trials with small cattle producers demonstrating the improved animal performance and profitability using DDGS.
- Seminars with cattle associations to promote the trials and provide support to small farmers who do not get regular extension support.
- Partnering with local associations in Chiapas, which completed the construction of its warehouse to store and commercialize grains and DDGS for cattle ranchers from 14 local associations.
- Arranging the inauguration of the grain warehouse in Arriaga. This warehouse helps to increase the consumption of DDGS on the Chiapas coast since they are going to sell DDGS in 40-kilo bags for smaller clients.
- Signing MOUs with partner companies who will act as intermediaries in the distribution of U.S. DDGS to smaller cattle producers in the region.
Total DDGS sales in this region reached 300,000 MT through the ports of Southeast Mexico, an increase of 100 percent from when the Council started the program in 2015 when sales were only 145,000 MT. The value of these exports has increased from $44 million annually to $89 million in 2022, an increase of $45 million annually due to the Council’s long-term promotion efforts.
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The U.S. Energy Information Administration maintained its forecasts for 2023 and 2024 fuel ethanol production in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released May 9. The forecast for 2024 fuel ethanol blending was raised.
The EIA currently predicts fuel ethanol production will average 1 million barrels per day this year, increasing to 1.01 million barrels per day next year. Both forecasts were maintained from the April STEO. Fuel ethanol production averaged 1 million barrels per day in 2022.
On a quarterly basis, the agency predicts fuel ethanol production will average 1 million barrels per day during the second quarter of this year, falling to 990,000 barrels per day during the third and fourth quarters. Moving into 2024, ethanol production is currently expected to average 1.01 million barrels per day in the first and second quarters, falling to 1 million barrels per day in the third quarter and increasing to 1.03 million barrels per day in the final quarter of the year.
The EIA maintained its forecast for 2023 fuel ethanol blending at 930,000 barrels per day. The 2024 ethanol blending forecast was increased to 940,000 barrels per day, up from 930,000 barrels per day as predicted last month. Fuel ethanol blending averaged 910,000 barrels per day in 2022.
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by Geoff Cooper
May 8, 2023
In April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a proposed regulation for what it calls “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles.” While that title sounds official and impressive, let’s call the proposed regulation what it really is: an electric vehicle mandate. Why? Because unless automakers dramatically increase their production of EVs in the years ahead, they’ll have no way of complying with EPA’s ambitious proposed standards. EPA itself expects that, under the regulations, “EVs could account for 67% of new light-duty vehicle sales” by 2032.
Indeed, John Bozzella, head of the national trade association representing automakers, called EPA’s proposal “aggressive by any measure” and labeled the agency’s EV goals as “very high.” Rather than plunging headlong into the EV abyss, Bozzella recommended that “EPA and the petroleum industry should act quickly to concurrently lower the carbon intensity of liquid fuels. This will produce higher and faster returns by reducing emissions from not only new gas vehicles (including plug-in hybrid EVs), but from the millions of light-duty gas vehicles currently on the road."
We wholeheartedly agree.
And that’s why policymakers should be considering technology-neutral approaches for reducing carbon emissions instead of pursuing vehicle mandates that put all of our eggs into one basket. A smarter approach to carbon policy would be to set the emissions reduction goal, then let the marketplace determine the lowest-cost and most efficient ways of meeting that standard.
That’s exactly what the Next Generation Fuels Act would do.
This bipartisan legislation was introduced in the Senate in late March by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and the following week in the House by Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) and 16 others.
If signed into law, this bill would require more efficient high-octane, lower-carbon fuels beginning in 2028. The bill doesn’t dictate how regulated parties must achieve the higher octane and lower carbon requirements; it doesn’t require the use of a specific fuel or vehicle. Rather, it simply sets the standard for high octane (95 RON ramping up to 98 RON) and low carbon (the source of the octane boost must reduce GHG emissions by 40% compared to today’s gasoline), opens the marketplace to a broad array of high-octane, low-carbon sources by removing arcane regulatory barriers, then lets the market work its magic.The reintroduction of the Next Generation Fuels Act in both the House and Senate gives liquid fuels the opportunity to increase fuel efficiency while reducing tailpipe emissions, something that the Biden Administration is acutely focused on at this time. This bill would also keep our industry moving forward in pursuing our members’ commitment to a net-zero-carbon future and would demonstrate that there are alternatives to an all-EV future in the form of lower-cost, lower-emitting renewable liquid fuels that are ready to deploy in increased amounts today. RFA strongly supports the Next Generation Fuels Act, and we thank the many visionary leaders in Congress who support this landmark legislation. We look forward to working with clean fuel supporters in both chambers of Congress—and both political parties—to turn this bold vision into a reality.
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