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Minneapolis, Oct 12 - The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels) and KS95 FM teamed up today to reward drivers who switched to Unleaded Plus (E15) during a two-hour promotion at the Winner station on Portland Avenue in Richfield.

From 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, MN Biofuels and KS95 FM rewarded 25 drivers who chose to fuel up with E15. Among the prizes given were $20 in cash, tickets to the Minnesota Zoo, gift cards to Chili's and Applebee's and KS95 merchandise. 

During the promotion, KS95 personality, Carissa Sherman, spoke and educated drivers on the benefits of using E15. 

"Today's promotion was the ninth time we've teamed up with KS95 this year to promote E15 to drivers in the Twin Cities metro. As the availability of E15 increases, it's important for us to educate drivers on how using E15 reduces greenhouse gas emissions, supports Minnesota's economy, makes America more energy independent and saves them at the pump," said Tim Rudnicki, executive director at MN Biofuels.

According to data from the Minnesota Department of Commerce, nearly 40 million gallons of E15 have been sold in Minnesota this year as at the end of August, more than double the volume sold for the whole of 2017 (19.05 million gallons). 

Earlier this week, the Trump Administration said it would be directing the EPA to begin a rulemaking process to provide E15 with a reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver for the summer months, thus allowing it to be sold throughout the year. At present, E15 cannot be sold from June 1 to Sept 15.

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LAMBERTON, Oct 17 – Seventeen students from Red Rock Central High School toured Highwater Ethanol today to learn about their local ethanol facility’s business practices and economic footprint.

The students, who were 12th graders from the school’s Ag Business class, were briefed on the various processes of ethanol production at Highwater Ethanol, which produces 59.5 million gallons of ethanol a year, as well as the plant’s financial procedures.

"The ethanol industry is a vital economic driver within Minnesota and tours like these highlight the ethanol production process and its role in expanding our energy independence while contributing to the rural economy and improving our environment,” said Brian Kletscher, CEO of Highwater Ethanol.

During the tour, the students visited the plant’s administrative office, water treatment process, incoming grain grading and handling, ethanol loadout, ethanol process facility, energy center, dried distiller grain production and storage.

The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels). In 2017, MN Biofuels brought a different group of students from Red Rock Central to Highwater Ethanol. 

“We are pleased that Red Rock Central High School is utilizing these tours as a part of their curriculum. It’s important for students to learn about clean, Minnesota-produced renewable energy and how it reduces harmful emissions, produces competitive career opportunities and supports their local economy,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.

Highwater Ethanol began operations in Lamberton in August 2009 and currently has 42 fulltime employees.

Kletscher said ethanol plants employ a wide variety of professionals.  In the business operations side, he said professionals with skills in business administration, finance, accounting, human resources and agriculture economics are required.

Red Rock Central’s agriculture instructor, Hunter Klontz, accompanied her students during today’s tour.

“I believe that having students explore and receive more insight on agricultural businesses will help them see the importance of what this certain industry is striving for. Gaining knowledge about the industry that is all around them is crucial to understand and see in person,” she said.

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Picture Caption: KS95's Crisco with a driver who made the switch to E15 at Bona Brothers Minnoco

Minneapolis, Oct 19 - The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels) and KS95 FM rewarded drivers who fueled up with Unleaded Plus (E15) during an hour-long promotion at Bona Brothers Minnoco in Fridley today.

From 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, MN Biofuels and KS95 rewarded 20 drivers who made the switch to E15. Among the prizes given were $20 in cash, gift cards to Applebee's and Chili's, tickets to the Minnesota Zoo and KS95 merchandise. 

KS95 personality, Crisco, was at the station during the promotion educating drivers on the benefts of using E15. 

"For the last several weeks we have gone out to various stations in the Twin Cities metro with KS95 and have found that more and more drivers are eager to switch a fuel that emits fewer greenhouse gases, costs less than regular unleaded and is made right here in Minnesota," said Tim Rudnicki, MN Biofuels executive director. 

Today's promotion was the 10th time both MN Biofuels and KS95 have teamed up this year to educate and promote E15 to drivers in the Twin Cities. 

Earlier this month, the Minnesota Department of Commerce announced that nearly 40 million gallons of E15 have been sold in Minnesota as at the end of August this year, more than double the volume sold for the whole of 2017 (19.05 million gallons).  

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Minneapolis, Oct 26 - Fourteen students from Minnesota State University, Mankato toured Guardian Energy yesterday to get a closer look at clean renewable energy production.

During the tour, the students learned several components of ethanol production including incoming grain grading, grain handling, fermentation, grain storage, dried distiller grain production and storage, ethanol storage and shipment.

Yesterday’s tour was the second time students from Minnesota State Mankato have toured Guardian Energy this month. On Oct 11, students from the university’s Biological Engineering Analysis class visited Guardian Energy. The students who participated in yesterday’s tour are from the university’s Agroecology class.

“We were pleased to welcome another Minnesota State Mankato class to our plant to learn about locally produced biofuels. Tours like this are an opportunity for students to engage with our employees on the facility’s efficiency and production processes and to highlight ethanol’s many benefits,” said Jeanne McCaherty, CEO of Guardian Energy.

The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels). Guardian Energy is a member of MN Biofuels.

“These tours provide students a better understanding of how a homegrown ingredient is converted into a clean fuel that has been reducing and continues to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, saves consumers money at the pump and makes America more energy independent,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director at MN Biofuels.

Minnesota State Mankato biology professor, Christopher T. Ruhland, who accompanied his students for the tour, said his students had previously learned about starch extraction and ethanol conversion.

“My students were able to observe how starch is converted to ethanol in a step-by-step process. From the minute that the corn kernels leave the truck to seeing the finished product loaded into rail cars, the entire cycle is covered in this tour,” Ruhland said.

In fact, Ruhland anticipates some of his students will pursue careers in biofuels at an advanced level.

“It is one thing to talk about biofuel production in the classroom and the lab, but seeing how benchtop science is scaled-up to industrial production is obviously very important and the students are always very excited to see how things they learn about in a classroom setting are actually performed in a local agribusiness,” he added.

BensonhighschoolCVECBenson, Nov 1- Twenty students from Benson High School toured the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) plant today to get a better understanding of how clean homegrown renewable energy is produced.

During the tour, the students learned about the different stages in ethanol production including incoming grain grading, grain handling, fermentation, grain storage, dried distiller grain production and storage, ethanol storage and shipment.

“We were delighted to host Benson High School at our facility and provide them with a first-hand look at the benefits ethanol brings to our community, consumers, local producers and environment. We appreciate the students taking time out of their schedule to learn more about biofuels and the advantages they provide as a source of fuel,” said Chad Friese, CEO of CVEC. 

The students, all eighth graders, were from Benson High School’s Ag Exploration Class.

The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels). CVEC, which has an annual production of 50 million gallons of ethanol, is a member of MN Biofuels.

CVEC commenced operations in 1996 and currently has 50 employees. It has hosted many tours over the years for high school students, 4-H’ers, and local agriculture and science programs.

“We organize these tours to show students how a homegrown renewable ingredient is converted into a clean fuel that continues to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions,” said Tim Rudnicki, MN Biofuels’ executive director.

Nancy Loen, an agricultural science teacher at Benson High School, accompanied her students during today’s tour.

"This tour was so important for my students to further learn about the various aspects of agriculture and how it affects them both directly and indirectly, as well as a great exposure to career opportunities," Loen said.

MilacaHSCMRLittle Falls, Nov 7 – Thirty students from Milaca High School toured the Central Minnesota Renewables (CMR) plant today to gain a better understanding of clean Minnesota-produced renewable chemicals. 

The students, who are from Milaca’s FFA chapter, were briefed on the various processes of bio-based chemical production such as acetone and n-butanol.

“It’s important for students to understand how bio-based ingredients produced right here in Little Falls reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Our renewable chemicals are boosting the economy in rural Minnesota and tours like these highlight the necessary skills to pursue a career in bio-based chemical production,” said Jonathan Olmscheid, VP of Finance at CMR.

The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels), a non-profit trade organization that represents the ethanol and renewable chemical industries in Minnesota. CMR is a member of MN Biofuels.

CMR was previously an ethanol plant that was repurposed to produce renewable chemicals from corn in 2016. Renewable chemicals have 45 percent greater carbon efficiency during production in comparison to petroleum-based chemicals.

CMR’s renewable chemicals are used as raw materials in many consumer products such as Kingsford GreenFlame charcoal lighter fluid, Beauty Secrets acetone nail polish remover, paints, adhesives and coatings.

"During the tour, the students learned about the different stages of acetone and butanol production at our facility and how they compared to traditional ethanol production including incoming grain handling and storage, breakdown of corn into starch which is utilized in fermentation, the protein and fiber sold as a livestock feed, distillation of solvents, and the products that these solvents are used to produce," Olmscheid said.

CMR uses 5.2 million bushels of Minnesota-grown corn a year to produce its renewable chemicals.

“Through these tours, students are given a chance to see and understand the process of converting a homegrown renewable ingredient into sustainable bio-based chemicals” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director at MN Biofuels.

Doug Olson, the Vocational Agriculture teacher at Milaca High School, accompanied his students for the tour.

"We are trying to expose our students to a wide variety of career options within the agriculture industry. Having the opportunity to tour a local bio-based chemical plant is awesome! Renewable energy will continue to be in the spotlight as we try to manage our natural resources for an estimated global population predicted to exceed nine billion by the year 2050,” Olson said.

CMR currently has 50 employees that work in fields such as accounting, logistics, grain procurement, shift operations, engineering and lab technicians.

springfieldhighwater                Brian Kletscher, CEO of Highwater Ethanol, explaining cooling tower and waste water treatment plant operations to Springfield High School students.

Lamberton, Nov 13 – Eighteen students from Springfield High School toured Highwater Ethanol today to learn more about homegrown renewable energy production.

During the tour, the students, from grades 10 to 12, learned about the various processes in ethanol production at Highwater Ethanol, which produces 59.5 million gallons a year.

“By getting a first-hand look at our operations, we hope to have an impact on these students as they plan on furthering their education and eventually head into their respective working careers. Ethanol produced here in Lamberton supports our local farm economy and promotes homegrown energy independence," said Brian Kletscher, CEO of Highwater Ethanol.

The students, who were from the school’s Ag Science and Horticulture classes, toured the plant’s administrative office, water treatment process, incoming grain grading and handling, ethanol loadout, ethanol process facility, energy center, dried distiller grain production and storage.

The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels), a non-profit trade organization that represents the ethanol industry in Minnesota. Highwater Ethanol is a member of MN Biofuels.

“These tours allow students the opportunity to engage with plant staff and learn about the many benefits that locally grown and made biofuels have, like reducing carbon emissions, contributing to consumer choice and lowering pump prices,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director at MN Biofuels.

Highwater Ethanol began operations in Lamberton in August 2009. It currently has 42 fulltime employees. 

Sarah Lee, an Agriculture Education teacher at Springfield High School, said her students had discussed renewable energy and its environmental benefits prior to today’s tour.

“We grow a lot of corn in our area and it is neat for them to see, in more detail, how it is used. Living in the area, many students understand the ‘farm-to-table’ for our food, but with many vehicles on the road today that are able to run on E85, or an ethanol blend, it will be good for them to understand the ‘farm-to-fuel-tank’ process,” she said.

Lee said today’s tour also highlighted to her students the various career opportunities in the ethanol industry.

“This is extremely relevant to our local agricultural economy and is important for kids to get a better understanding of ethanol, its uses and the local and global impact. Our students now have a better idea of area job opportunities for post high school by seeing the process of corn to ethanol conversion and the technology used to help make it happen,” she added.

BBECVECBenson, Nov 16 – Twenty students from Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (BBE) High School toured Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) in Benson this morning to learn about ethanol production.

“School tours allow students a first-hand look at the ethanol production process and its role of advancing our local economy in addition to promoting our energy independence and improving our air quality,” said Chad Friese, CEO of CVEC.

The students, from grades 11 to 12, were from BBE High School’s Dairy & Livestock Production, Ag Business Management and Small Gas Engines classes.

During the tour, they learned about the several different components of ethanol production such as incoming grain grading, grain handling, fermentation, grain storage, dried distiller grain production and storage, ethanol storage and shipment.

CVEC, which produces 50 million gallons of ethanol annually, is an ethanol production cooperative that commenced operations in 1996 and currently has 50 employees. The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels). CVEC is a member of MN Biofuels.

“Our annual grant program enables schools to tour their local ethanol plant and learn more about Minnesota-produced renewable fuels,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director at MN Biofuels.

BBE High School’s agriculture instructor, Gary Rodgers, said that his students had learned about oxygenated fuels and ethanol prior to today’s tour during their small engines training program.

“My students learned how the process works and saw that ethanol is providing good jobs, creating more demand for locally grown corn and reducing pollution in engines burning it. 

“They now have a better understanding of the importance of ethanol blended fuels and are more willing to try ethanol blended fuels and start using it on an ongoing basis,” he said.