US Grains Council

Sep 29, 2022

As part of market development efforts in Ecuador being conducted by the U.S. Grains Council’s Latin America office, the organization recently invited a group of key public and private sector partners from the country to engage with U.S. corn and ethanol producers, industry experts and policymakers to become familiar with the industry and identify best practices and opportunities for collaboration.

Ethanol blending in Ecuador is currently implemented in 50 percent of the country, using local ethanol exclusively at a three to eight percent level depending on the type of gasoline. If Ecuador were to move to a 10 percent blend level nationwide, it would create an opportunity for U.S. exports of approximately 80 million gallons per year to supplement local production, ideally in partnership with the local industry.

“The possibility for U.S. ethanol exports to Ecuador seems promising, but there is much work to be done,” said Marri Tejada, USGC regional director for Latin America, who escorted the group. “This trip was an important step in identifying the opportunities and bottlenecks that impede the market, but we want to make sure we get it right. We need the domestic industry and government support to be sure the correct laws and mechanisms are established to accomplish the goals of fiscal savings, rural economy growth, business development, environmental considerations and a pathway for free and open trade.”

While in the states, the delegation heard from industry representatives, including the Council, National Corn Growers Association and Growth Energy. It also met with USDA leaders in Washington, D.C., among others, before traveling to Minnesota to see the ethanol value chain in action at farms, ethanol plants and ethanol retail stations.

During the visit, Gustavo Heinert, executive director of the Association of Biofuels of Ecuador (APALE), expressed his gratitude for the organized visit and requested to know more about the process followed in the U.S. to implement an ethanol mixing blend mandate by law, which he is willing to promote in Ecuador.

“It was a great experience to be in Washington, D.C., and Minnesota,” Heinert said. “In Ecuador, we need to follow the path created by the United States by having a law requiring a 10 percent ethanol blend that does not depend on a presidential decree that can be changed by the government in power. The Ecuadorian delegation was very happy and will follow up with the pending tasks to increase the use of biofuels nationwide at a 10 percent blend or more, for which we hope to have the Council’s support in accomplishing this goal.”

For more than two years, the Council has been engaging with strategic stakeholders in the Ecuadorian government and ethanol industry, providing technical expertise and supporting analyses to demonstrate the benefits of increased ethanol blending in the country.

Developing a successful collaboration between the U.S. ethanol industry, the Ecuadorian government and local industry, would open a previously untapped market and constitute a replicable model where each can complement and support the other.

Read the original story here. 

Ethanol Producer Magazine

Oct 4, 2022

To meet the increased demand from biopharma customers, Greenfield Global is tripling its production capacity for ethanol blends with water-for-injection (WFI) at its Brookfield, Connecticut plant from a 2,000 gallon tank to a total capacity just shy of 6,000 gallons.  

Greenfield’s increased capacity provides greater confidence in supply chain security and increases production lead times for the laboratories, medical device manufacturers, and both large and small molecule pharmaceutical companies served around the globe.  Under the Pharmco brand, Greenfield offers access to a larger volume of these ready to use solutions, helping customers improve their own manufacturing efficiencies as they can rely on Greenfield to quickly meet the demand to make the product they need to their exact specifications.

In addition to blending Greenfield’s USP and World Grade ethanol with WFI, the company also has the capability to blend additional custom solutions used in chromatography resin cleaning, storage, and regeneration in any package size or format required by customers – pails, drums, totes, and single-use containers.

“In medicine and life sciences, innovation happens fast, and the stakes are high. Our chemists and engineers are continually adapting and adding capabilities without compromising quality,” said Frank Richards, executive vice president and managing director, specialty chemicals and ingredients at Greenfield Global. “By tripling our capacity to produce ethanol blends with water for injection, we are greatly enhancing our supply-chain transparency, service reliability, and responsiveness to the very specific and technical customer demands in this market, something that is unique to Greenfield.”

The pharmaceutical industry depends on suppliers to provide the best available high-purity solvents & solutions, specialty chemicals, and biobased ingredients to help people live better and longer. For over 10 years, Greenfield Global has provided a customized level of quality and service that small suppliers can’t replicate, and large suppliers can’t react to as we control the process from end-to-end: from order receipt, to manufacturing to delivery.

Read the original story here. 

Renewable Fuels Association

Sep 28, 2022

The Renewable Fuels Association elected officers and its board of directors today at its annual membership meeting in Milwaukee, Wisc. Erik Huschitt, CEO of Badger State Ethanol, was elected Chairman of the organization, replacing Jeanne McCaherty of Guardian Energy Management.

“I am humbled and honored to become chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association, which continues to lead our ethanol industry with an amazing leader, a fabulous staff, and members who are tremendous Americans representing their plants, businesses and communities,” Huschitt said.

Huschitt, of Monroe, Wisc., has been with Badger State since January 2002 and currently serves as president of the Wisconsin BioFuels Association. He also has spent years on the board of the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association, which plays a vital role in Wisconsin’s feed and grain industries.

RFA’s board also elected Jeff Oestmann, CEO of Granite Falls Energy, as Vice Chairman. Before becoming CEO of Granite Falls in May 2021, he served as head of biofuels operations at Syngenta and was previously CEO of East Kansas Agri-Energy.

“Erik Huschitt and Jeff Oestmann have proven themselves time and again as thoughtful and strategic leaders deeply committed to the role ethanol can play not just in the communities they serve, but also across our nation and around the world,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “This is a critical and exciting time for the ethanol industry. We know Erik and Jeff will provide outstanding leadership and guidance to the association and the entire industry as we face the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in 2023. Over more than four decades, our successes and defining victories as an organization have resulted from the drive and vision of our officers and board of directors. We know that tradition will continue with the leaders elected here today.”

Retaining their current positions in board leadership for 2023 are Rick Schwarck, President of Absolute Energy, as Board Secretary, and Mike Jerke, CEO of Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, as Treasurer.

Read the original story here. 

The Detroit News

Sep 22, 2022

No matter where you live or how long your commute, gas prices are a concern. The price spikes and fluctuations caused by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine are just the latest evidence that, as a nation, we are far too dependent on foreign oil.

Fortunately, President Joe Biden and our members of Congress have taken decisive steps to lower gas prices and limit our dependence on foreign oil. They have done that by supporting biofuels  — fuel grown by America’s farmers.

Not only does this lower gas prices and cut our dependence on Russian energy, supporting American biofuels provides a much-needed boost to our rural communities — putting dollars in the pockets of our farmers and supporting schools, rural hospitals and main street businesses.

Biofuels, specifically those containing ethanol, are becoming increasingly available in the U.S. You can now buy E10, or fuel containing 10% ethanol, at most gas stations. Hower, higher ethanol blends such as E15 and E85 remain less available and more restricted despite the positive impact they have been show to have on gas prices, greenhouse gas emissionsk and productivity.

Biden led the effort to boost biofuels by lifting antiquated restrictions on the sale of E15 for the summer. This emergency move increased the use of renewable biofuels and immediately helped lower gas prices across America. 

We have more good news for renewable fuels. The  Inflation Reduction Act  makes investments in our nation’s biofuels production. This law will further lower gas prices and reduce the federal debt by more than $300 billion.

There has never been a bigger boost for American biofuels than this new law. The Inflation Reduction Act will further lower gas prices by placing 10,000 new E15 pumps at gas stations all across America. This law also provides incentives to companies to produce more biofuels – ethanol and diesel for use in our cars and trucks and even in airplanes. 

Year-round E15 sales and new incentives are going to super-charge U.S. agriculture with immense benefits flowing to small towns and cities throughout the Midwest. 

But the benefits are not limited to farmers who grow corn or soybeans and the communities in which they live. Every American wins – lower gas prices, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and less dependence on foreign oil. These are common sense plans that will make a real difference in the lives of working Americans. 

Bob Thompson is the president of the Michigan Farmers Union.

Read the original story here.