Renewable Fuels Association

May 11, 2016

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, biofuel critics Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Jim Costa (D-Calif.) introduced legislation that would cap ethanol blends in the U.S. transportation pool to no more than 9.7 percent by volume. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen had the following statement:

“Passage of this bill would represent a complete capitulation to the oil industry that steadfastly refuses to provide consumers higher octane, lower cost alternative fuels at the pump. They whine about a so-called blend wall even as they continue to build it themselves by denying consumer access to E15 and E85. The RFS was made necessary by oil company intransigence. It was intended to break the stranglehold oil companies have on the motor fuel market by forcing access. This bill would gut the RFS and send America’s energy and climate change policy back decades. Americans want choices at the pump, they want to see lower carbon fuels, they want to spend less on motor fuel, and they want to stimulate investments in new technologies and new fuels to drive our economy in a low carbon world. This bill would sacrifice all of that at the altar of Big Oil, and that is why it will never pass.”

Read the original release: RFA Statement Opposing Bill Capping Ethanol Blends

The Auto Channel

May 10, 2016

By Fuels America

Certified mechanics, engine performance experts, and professional fishermen are briefing lawmakers on Capitol Hill today about the importance of ethanol in protecting the environment, preserving America’s energy security, and providing a high-octane boost to marine engines. The briefing, hosted by Fuels America, provides an important opportunity for experts to dispel myths about ethanol and discuss key benefits of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

“We work on a wide variety of racing engines for watercraft, and they run at their absolute best on a high-octane ethanol blend,” says Keith Holmes, President and Owner of CK Motorsports in Nunica, Michigan and a Certified Mercury Marine Racing Technician. “Ethanol burns cleaner and cooler. Since the introduction of E10, we find that many engine parts have a 25 to 50 percent longer lifespan. The National Boat Racing Association exclusively uses E10 for all their races.”

“One hundred percent of the winners on our tournament trail use an ethanol blend in their tanks,” adds Brian Sowers, Co-Host of Crappie Masters TV, covering the Crappie Masters All American Tournament Trail based in Clinton, Missouri. “I want to take my grandkids fishing someday. That means having clean water and clean air. Mixing ethanol into our fuel is the best way to reduce the pollutants that fossil fuels leave behind, so our lakes and rivers stay clean and marine life can flourish.”

“It doesn’t matter whether a boat has a two-stroke or four-stroke engine, an in-board or out-board motor, or a built-in or portable fuel tank,” says Marc Rauch, Executive Vice President and Co-Publisher at The Auto Channel, based in Louisville, Kentucky. “Decades of experience with modern engines shows that E10 is the best fuel for marine applications. As an oxygen booster, ethanol replaces toxins like MTBE, which are notorious for contaminating water supplies. And it reduces CO2 emissions by 34 to 100 percent or more compared to gasoline.”

Rauch recently returned from Taiwan, where he was part of the American presentation team sent to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. ethanol industry.

“We serve communities on the Minnesota River and Prior Lake, and our customers expect to have choices at the pump," says Joel Hennen, President and Owner Hennen’s Auto Service in Shakopee, Minnesota. “Companies like Kawasaki, Mercury Marine, OMC, Pleasurecraft, Tigershark, Tracker, Honda, and Yamaha all approve the use of E10 in their engines. The labels are clear, and whether customers have a flex fuel vehicle or a race boat, we make it easy to pick the most affordable option with the lowest emissions.”

Today’s briefing is being held as the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) works to complete its review of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed blending requirements for ethanol and advanced biofuels in 2017.

Read the original release: Boating and Engine Experts Call on Lawmakers to Boost Biofuel Blends

CNBC

May 9, 2016

By Anmar Frangoul

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced as much as $90 million in funding for projects relating to the design, construction and operation of "integrated bio-refinery facilities."

In a statement at the end of last week, the DOE described the production of biofuels from "sustainable, non-food, domestic biomass resources" as an important part of the administration's aims to cut both carbon emissions and the U.S.'s reliance on foreign oil.

Read the original story: US Looks to Go Big on Biofuels as It Diversifies Away From Foreign Oil

Ag Professional

May 9, 2016

By Economic Research Service

U.S. production of ethanol hit a record 14.8 billion gallons in 2015, and when combined with the carry-over stocks from the previous year and 2015 imports, the total ethanol supply reached an all-time high of 15.7 billion gallons, according to data released by the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service.

Nearly all ethanol blended into the U.S. gasoline supply is produced domestically, and, over the past five years, about 94 percent of domestic production was used in the United States.

Ethanol imports peaked in 2006 at 731 million gallons (equal to 12 percent of the U.S. supply), but each year since 2010 exports have exceeded imports, making the United States a net exporter of ethanol.

The domestic market for ethanol is at full capacity due to the technical and regulatory constraints that limit most of the U.S. gasoline supply to a 10 percent maximum ethanol blend, so the export market is now the primary opportunity for growth.

Ethanol exports peaked in 2011 at nearly 1.2 billion gallons, but have remained below 850 million gallons for the past four years.

This chart is based on the ERS U.S. Bioenergy Statistics data product.

Read the original story: Nearly All U.S. Ethanol is Produced and Sold in Domestic Markets

Biofuels International

May 3, 2016

Over the past 8 months our Ethanol Plant Tour Grant program has met resounding success. This program has seen over 260 students tour the inside of their local ethanol plant to learn more about this vital Minnesota-grown industry and the important future it holds for rural America.

The Progressive Farmer

May 2, 2016

By Cheryl Anderson

Researcher Blake Simmons believes his new non-toxic ethanol technology could reduce ethanol production to just one step, as well as using the process to convert distillers dried grains into biofuels, according to an article by Illinois Farmer Today.

Simmons has been working for nine years, to develop "high-gravity" one-pot production, funded by the U.S. BioEnergy Institute in California.

The method, refined in the past 18 months, uses one process that pre-treats, hydrolizes and ferments biomass without any separation of byproducts. The new technology involves less time and water and can also utilize other materials such as crop residue or grasses.

Simmons said that the new process uses powerful solvents, ionic liquids, which dissolve biomass into sugars for the production of biofuels. These ionic liquids increase biomass digestibility, exceeding current production distillation levels for ethanol production.

The new technology is envisioned as a component to be added to current ethanol production facilities while continuing traditional ethanol production methods, Simmons said. He expects the process to be available on a commercial scale within five to six years.

Simmons said his research on the project includes using the new process to convert DDG to biofuel, thereby using all the carbon found in plant material and increasing efficiency.

Read the original story: New Ethanol Production Technology Could Use DDG for Biofuels

Ethanol Producer Magazine

April 28, 2016

By U.S. Water

U.S. Water, the leading national provider of integrated solutions for water treatment, will give three technical presentations during the upcoming Fuel Ethanol Workshop, June 20 – 23, 2016 at the Wisconsin Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

During the FEW program, U.S. Water’s Jared Galligan, applications engineer, will provide an industry update on water re-use and reduction. Michael Mowbray, U.S. Water’s director of product management, will discuss phosphorus discharge restrictions and their impact on plant cooling systems, and Mitch Manstedt, U.S. Water’s strategic business leader - ethanol, will present on plant reliability, focusing on updating outdated controls and equipment in aging facilities.

At U.S. Water’s booth #223, the company will feature its integrated solutions and “Together We Can” approach to solving the challenging water, energy and process needs of ethanol facilities. In addition, the copmany will share case study results obtained through use of the Ethanol Final Filter. This bolt-on, mechanical/chemical system, brings unique value to the ethanol industry due to its ability to improve final fuel quality through the removal of both existent and potential sulfate. In addition to sulfate removal, the EFF addresses issues of color, turbidity, acidity, pH, chloride and iron.

“The ethanol industry is one of U.S. Water’s key markets,” said Al Bly, U.S. Water’s founder and CEO. “Our company was created in 1997, and had its early successes by improving the efficiency of ethanol plants. Our continued commitment to the ethanol industry, coupled with our integrated solutions model combines the best equipment, engineering services, and sustainable chemistry. This allows us to resolve the ‘root cause’ of the ethanol plant’s problem and improve its overall efficiency.”

Read the orignal story: US Water to present at Fuel Ethanol Workshop

Morning Consult

April 28, 2016

By Leif Magnusson

We have heard a lot about the importance of manufacturers during this election season, and as the head of a manufacturing business in Nebraska, I couldn’t agree more. But what many candidates – and voters – do not understand is how essential the strength of our agriculture sector is for manufacturing jobs as well.

For manufacturers of farm equipment like my company, CLAAS of America, our business’s fortunes rise and fall with the prosperity of American farmers. Our company manufactures combine and forage harvesters (among other products) in Omaha, Nebraska, where we support hundreds of good-paying manufacturing jobs. As chairman of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), I hear similar things from other colleagues throughout the industry about the conditions facing manufacturers and their customers.

That is why equipment manufacturers have a strong voice on agricultural issues, which includes our support for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). It is a mistake to think of the debate over the RFS as a provincial issue affecting only farmers and ethanol producers. In reality, protecting the RFS is of utmost importance to a number of manufacturers who depend on a strong and thriving agricultural economy.

The Renewable Fuel Standard is good policy. It reduces our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, helps cut net greenhouse gas emissions and generates tens of billions of dollars for our economy each year.

But ethanol production is not just a farmers’ issue; it supported almost 28,000 manufacturing jobs and generated over $2.75 billion for manufacturers in the United States just last year. Elected leaders who want to support manufacturing in America can do just that by protecting the RFS and ensuring that the government honors its statutory commitments to the RFS.

This June presents a great opportunity for the Obama administration to support manufacturers and agricultural producers when it issues the RVO requirements for 2017. The administration should heed the recent call by a bipartisan group of senators and restore those requirements to the levels intended by Congress.

Of course, the RFS is not the only way to promote a strong agricultural sector; policymakers need to make a lot of various smart decisions to ensure that America is supporting its farmers. But the RFS is still an important tool to both strengthen American farming and promote the next generation of biofuels.

That is why equipment manufacturers support a strong Renewable Fuel Standard: Because promoting ethanol is not just critical to the continued growth of our agricultural sector, it is also an important way our elected leaders can help manufacturers thrive.

Leif Magnusson is President of CLAAS Global Sales America Inc. and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

Read the original story: RFS Central to America’s Manufacturing Strength

RINs or Renewable Identification Numbers are the unique 38 digit serial number assigned to every gallon of renewable transportation fuel. Ranging from biogas, to ethanol, to biodiesel, they cover a wide varying range of feedstocks and production schemes. Normally 1 gallon of a biofuel equals 1 RIN. The 1:1 ratio can vary slightly depending on the RIN category but for our 101 purposes let’s make it easy! Good so far?