Ethanol Producer Magazine

December 14, 2017

By Tim Albrecht

Environment and Climate Change Canada released the preliminary Clean Fuel Standard regulatory framework Dec. 13, according to a press release from non-profit Renewable Industries Canada.

The goal of the proposed framework is to achieve 30 million metric tons (33.1 million tons) in GHG emissions annually by 2030, which contributes to the country’s effort to achieve an overall GHG mitigation target of 30 percent reduction below 2005 levels.

The clean fuel standard will establish lifecycle carbon intensity requirements separately for liquid, gaseous and solid fuels that are used in transportation, industry and buildings. This performance-based approach will incent innovation, development and use of a broad range of low carbon fuels, energy sources and technologies.

“Our association supports the government of Canada’s objectives and is encouraged that, in the short term, the CGS’s intensity based targets will be backstopped by existing biofuel mandates. This combination of policy levers will help ensure that heightened demand for biofuels is met by increased domestic supply,” said RICanada Chairman Jim Grey.

Scott Lewis, vice chair of RICanada, and executive vice president of biofuel producer BIOX Corp., said, “The domestic biofuel industry has grown to the point where it is now generating gross economic benefits in excess of $3.5 billion to the Canadian economy each year. This announcement will also bring to Canada a credit trading market for biofuels that is essential in our ability to continue to bring low carbon fuels to consumers at competitive prices, while allowing for some flexibility in compliance.”

The framework builds on existing policy that mandates the blending of 5 percent ethanol and 2 percent biodiesel into Canada’s transportation fuels. The 2010 mandates have reduced GHG emissions by more than 4 million tons per year, which is the equivalent of removing 1 million cars from Canada’s roads each year.

Greenfield Global, a producer of corn-based bulk industrial alcohol, packaged alcohol and fuel ethanol, President and CEO Howard Field welcomed the next stage of the process, saying, “By harnessing the benefits of biofuels within a clean fuel standard, Canada can make even stronger inroads in tackling climate change. We look forward to continued work with the Government on this ambitious policy.”              

A copy of the Clean Fuel Standard regulatory framework is available here.   

Read the original article: Canada Releases Clean Fuel Standard Framework

Ethanol Producer Magazine

December 19, 2017

By Tim Albrecht

Japan is likely to finalize a determination in January 2018 that will allow the use of U.S. ethanol in the production of bio-ethyl tert-butyl ether. The determination comes after several committee meetings to assess how ethanol would meet Japan’s greenhouse gas emission’s requirement of 50 percent greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction.

The final decision will be followed by a period of public comment, after which implementation of the new regulation can occur as early as April of next year.

Japan’s Ministry of Trade, Economy and Industry began the assessment of the country’s biofuels policy from 2018 to 2022. METI formed an expert committee to discuss the future of biofuel introduction in Japan in March 2016. In 2017, the committee focused on GHG emission values of Brazilian and U.S. corn ethanol and gasoline.

In November, the committee discussed what methods can be put in place to ensure the sustainability of ethanol. For U.S. ethanol, the committee proposed the use of International Sustainability and Certification certificates and renewable identification numbers (RINs) to ensure traceability. The committee noted that the RIN can be used to trace ethanol back to ethanol plants.

Read the original article: Japan to Accept US Corn Ethanol

Renewable Fuels Association

December 19, 2017

By Emily Druckman

WASHINGTON – Ten years ago today, Dec. 19, President George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act, greatly expanding the scope and impact of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In the decade since passage, significant progress has been made towards greater energy security, cleaner air and boosting local economies, according to a new analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association, “The RFS2: Then and Now.”

The RFS requires oil companies to blend increasing volumes of renewable fuels with gasoline and diesel, culminating with 36 billion gallons in 2022.

“A decade after the RFS2 was adopted, tremendous progress has been made toward achieving the objectives of this landmark policy,” according to the analysis, which compares key data points from 2007 to 2017.

Among the highlights:

-The number of operational U.S. ethanol plants has nearly doubled from 110 in 2007 to 211 in 2017, a 92% increase, while U.S. ethanol production has grown 143% from 6.5 billion gallons in 2007 to 15.8 billion gallons in 2017;

-U.S. ethanol industry jobs grew 42% from 238,541 in 2007 to 339,176, with the value of industry output increasing 74% from $17.8 billion in 2007 to $31 billion in 2017;

-The production of advanced and cellulosic biofuel increased 469% from 490 million gallons in 2007 to 2.79 billion gallons in 2017;

-U.S. corn production grew 12% from 13 billion bushels in 2007 to 14.6 billion bushels in 2017, while corn acres planted fell 3% from 93.5 million acres in 2007 to 90.4 million acres in 2007 and average corn yields increased 16% from 150 bushels per acre in 2007 to 175.4 bushels per acre in 2017;

-The number of retail stations offering flex fuels like E85 increased 238% from 1,208 in 2007 to 4,077 in 2017, while the number of flex fuel vehicles on the road grew from 6.7 million in 2007 to 24.5 million in 2017, a 266% increase; and

-The greenhouse gas emissions avoided from using ethanol has increased 291% from 12.7 million tons CO2e in 2007 to 49.6 million tons CO2e in 2017.

Meanwhile, the doomsday outcomes threatened by RFS opponents have simply not materialized.

-U.S. cropland area fell 6% from 402 million acres in 2007 to 376 million acres in 2017, while U.S. grassland area has increased 5% from 1,296 thousand square miles to 1,359 thousand square miles.

-The deforestation rate in the Amazon fell 43% from 4,498 square miles in 2007 to 2,558 square miles in 2017;

-The greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soil management, urea fertilization, and liming fell 7% from 278.7 million metric tons CO2e in 2007 to 260.1 million metric tons CO2e in 2017;

-Overall food inflation was 4% in 2007, but 1% in 2017;

-Prices for red meat, poultry, fish, cereals and bakery items, and dairy were unchanged in 2017 from the previous year, as compared to a 3.8% increase in 2007; and

-World grain supply for coarse grains, wheat, and rice increased 31% to 3.23 billion metric tons in 2017, as compared to 2.46 billion metric tons in 2007.

“By any measure, RFS2 has been a huge success, bringing about greater consumer choice while helping to make the air cleaner, stimulate economic activity and enhance energy security,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “As this analysis shows, consumers have greatly benefitted from this vital program. These benefits have rippled throughout our economy and we look forward to even greater success of the RFS for years to come.”

The full analysis is available here.

Read the original press release: RFA Analysis Finds ‘Tremendous Progress’ Made Toward Meeting Energy, Environmental, Economic Goals of RFS2

We know ethanol emits fewer carbon emissions like particulate matter (PM) than gasoline. In fact, when it comes to particulate matter, a MIT study concluded PM emissions from gasoline (E0) is three times higher than E10.

KTIC Radio

December 15, 2017

By NAFB

Fremont Tribune

December 13, 2017

By Senator Deb Fischer