BLOC Environmental Joins MN Biofuels
Minneapolis, November 5 – Environmental and technical services provider, BLOC Environmental, has joined the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels) as a vendor member.
“We are pleased to welcome BLOC Environmental as our newest member. BLOC Environmental serves the ethanol industry by providing transparent and cost-effective technical services and third-party audits,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of MN Biofuels.
Founded in 2013, BLOC Environmental offers an extensive portfolio of environmental, health, security, and safety consulting services. The company has offices located in San Antonio, Houston, Philadelphia, Omaha and Longview.
“Bloc joined the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association so that we could continue to learn from and network with other professionals in the ethanol industry. We’ve already begun to strengthen the relationships with some of the good folks we’ve met through MN Biofuels,” said Bridgett Morales, executive vice president at BLOC Environmental.
According to Morales, BLOC calls their approach “blue collar consulting” as they focus not only on technical services, but also on third party audits, project management, training and other Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) and Process Safety Management (PSM) programs.
“We quickly identified that ethanol as an industry seemed to be under-serviced compared to larger industrial facilities and we committed to create solutions that would provide not only cost savings to our ethanol clients, but also establish strong partnerships with them,” Morales said.
The company’s other services to the ethanol industry include New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) Kb Tank Seal Inspections, Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) Camera Surveys, auditing and training along with inventory tagging and Leak Detection And Repair (LDAR services).
Morales said BLOC Environmental’s client services managers are committed to safety and compliance and have established solid working relationships with their clients in the ethanol industry.
Learn more about BLOC Environmental here.
Picture Caption: (from left to right) Bridgett Morales (Executive Vice President and Co-Founder) and Colin Sheffield (President and Co-Founder) at the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Indianapolis in June of 2019.
Minnesota State Mankato Agroecology Class Tours Guardian Energy
Minneapolis, November 1 – Thirteen students from Minnesota State University, Mankato toured Guardian Energy in Janesville yesterday afternoon to learn about locally produced biofuel production.
“Tours such as these educate students on the various roles ethanol plays in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting the economy and improving our nation’s energy security,” said Jeanne McCaherty, CEO of Guardian Energy.
During the tour, the students, who were from the university’s Agroecology class, learned about several components of ethanol production including incoming grain grading, grain handling, fermentation, grain storage, dried distillers grain production and storage, ethanol storage and shipment.
The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels) and sponsored by Novozymes, a global microbe and enzyme provider, and supporter of Minnesota’s ethanol industry. Guardian Energy is the largest ethanol plant in Minnesota and produces 150 million gallons of ethanol a year. Both Guardian Energy and Novozymes are members of MN Biofuels.
Yesterday’s tour was the second time students from Minnesota State Mankato have toured Guardian Energy this fall. On Oct 3, students from the university’s Biological Engineering Analysis class visited Guardian Energy.
“We appreciate having the opportunity to engage with higher education students on the finer details of ethanol production. Many of these college students may consider possible career opportunities in the ethanol industry following yesterday’s tour,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the MN Biofuels.
Minnesota State Mankato biology professor, Christopher Ruhland, who accompanied his students during yesterday’s tour, said biofuels are a part of his course syllabus.
“Scaling up from a benchtop to a fully operational plant is always an impressive sight to see. Learning about a process is one thing, but actually seeing it in action is always an eye-opener,” said Ruhland.
Governors Say EPA’s Proposed Rule Fails to Honor President Trump’s Biofuel Agreement
October 30, 2019
News Release
Last month, President Trump directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to restore the biofuels lost when EPA granted excessive small refinery waivers. In the past three years, the EPA has issued 85 small refinery exemptions, representing a loss of over 4.3 billion gallons of biofuels.
The President ordered EPA to follow the Renewable Fuel Standard that requires 15 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol blended into the nation’s fuel supply, beginning in 2020. The President also directed EPA and USDA to take steps to address barriers to the use of E15 and to expand ethanol’s infrastructure.
Biofuel and agriculture representatives praised the President’s agreement but pointed out that EPA must follow through with a proposed rule that accurately implements the agreement. President Trump also praised the agreement, saying, “We’ve come to an agreement and it’s going to be … getting close to 16 billion [gallons].”
Today, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem in comments to EPA Administrator Wheeler said the proposed rule “… demonstrates that EPA is oblivious to the harm it has caused” and is ignoring the agreement President Trump reached with the nation’s biofuels community
“EPA chose to approve these waivers at a time when farmers and biofuel producers were already hurt by adverse weather conditions, flagging export market opportunities, and chronically low commodity prices. Approving these waivers when the agriculture economy was struggling represented a callous disregard for the economic interest our nation’s farmers.” The governors pointed out that at least 30 plants remain closed and that the rule will not allow those facilities to open and “put people back to work.”
The governors urged Administrator Wheeler to use a three-year rolling average of actual exempted gallons as the basis to estimate 2020 exempted volumes. “This approach would ensure the 15 billion gallon requirement is actually enforced and truly results in actual blending of at least 15 billion gallons of conventional renewable fuel,” the governors said.
Read the original news release: Governors Say EPA’s Proposed Rule Fails to Honor President Trump’s Biofuel Agreement
MN Biofuels Testimony on EPA's Supplemental Proposal
The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels) joined many other members of the ethanol industry in Ypsilanti, Michigan today to testify at the EPA's public hearing over its proposed supplemental notice for SRE reallocations. Below is MN Biofuels executive director, Tim Rudnicki's, full prepared testimony:
Members of Congress Urge Wheeler to Change SRE Proposal
October 28, 2019
By Erin Voegele
Nearly two dozen members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on Oct. 23 urging him to reconsider the agency’s recently small refinery exemption (SRE) proposal and uphold the White House’s commitment to farmers.
The letter references the supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking issued by the EPA on Oct. 15 seeking comments on the agency’s plan for accounting for future SRE waived volumes in annual Renewable Fuel Standard rulemakings.
The representatives stressed the rulemaking does not fulfill the agreement reached by the White House, EPA and USDA as conveyed to stakeholders by way of the EPA’s announcement on Oct. 4.
The letter notes that 85 SREs have been approve since the start of 2016, resulting in a net loss of more than 4 billion gallons of renewable fuels. That loss has been devastating to the lawmakers’ local economies.
“Given the vast number of [SREs] that have been granted since 2017, we are disappointed in the proposed rule as it would not change the proposed volumes for 2020 to wholly account for a realistic average of SREs that have been granted and may be granted in the future,” the members of Congress wrote.
“This announcement does more harm than good for our producers and lends to even greater uncertainty in this challenging farm economy,” they continued. “As published, the proposed rule, despite outlining several potential approaches to reallocate a fraction of the lost gallons, states that the EPA may consider adjusting methodology for projecting the exempt volumes of gasoline and diesel. This is problematic, and not only because the various calculations are based on prior years and do not account for most recent damages, but because it leaves room for the possibility of an even more detrimental calculation.”
The lawmakers urge Wheeler “to publish a rule that lends confidence in the process, requiring the EPA to use the average number of [SREs] granted in the previous three calendar years when formulating the renewable volumes obligation for an upcoming year, as conveyed to stakeholders.” They also argue that the final rule must bring assurance to farmers and producers not just for the 2020 renewable volume obligations (RVOs), but permanently, given the damages caused by the SREs.
“We cannot support a proposal that does not set our farmers and producers on a path toward certainty by ensuring that a fix applies to all future years,” they continued. “As you move forward, on behalf of the EPA, USDA and the White House, we strongly urge you to reconsider the proposal and uphold the commitment that was made to our farmers.”
The letter is signed by Reps. Rodney Davis, R-Ill.; Roger Marshall, R-Kan.; Mike Bost, R-Ill.; Sam Graves, R-Mo.; Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb.; James Comer, R-Ky.; Don Bacon, R-Neb.; Dusty Johnson, R-S.D.; Tom Emmer, R-Minn.; Ann Wagner, R-Mo.; Darin LaHood, R-Ill.; Steve Watkins, R-Kan.; Steve King, R-Iowa; Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.; Mark Pocan, D-Wisc.; Paul Mitchell, R-Mich.; James R. Baird, R-Ind.; Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo.; Jim Hagedorn, R-Minn.; Ron Kind, D-Wisc.; Ron Estes, R-Kan.; Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo.; and Adrian Smith, R-Neb.
A full copy of the letter can be downloaded from Davis’s website.
Read the original article: Members of Congress Urge Wheeler to Change SRE Proposal
Klobuchar Addresses Renewable Fuel Standard Hardship Waivers
October 22, 2019
By Ryan Sjoberg
Presidential Candidate and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar has spent months calling for an end to the harm caused by the abuse of the Renewable Fuel Standard ‘hardship’ waivers.
These ‘hardship’ waivers were originally meant to help a small refinery if they were struggling to stay in business.
In a typical year, five or six waivers were granted.
In just a short time, the Trump administration has issued over 80, including waivers to big oil companies such as Exxon and Chevron, which Klobuchar says gives big oil companies a major advantage.
“It’s really been a gut punch to the Midwest. I believe we should be investing in the farmers and the workers in the Midwest instead of the oil cartels of the Middle East and instead of these big oil companies. They seem to have a different view,” Klobuchar said.
According to Klobuchar, approaches to help this cause moving forward would include stop giving the waivers, make the process more transparent, try to get back fuel lost and fix the standard.
Read the original article: Klobuchar Addresses Renewable Fuel Standard Hardship Waivers
Richfield Drivers Win With E15
Minneapolis, October 28 –The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels) and KS95 FM rewarded over twenty drivers who made the switch to Unleaded Plus (E15) at the Winner station in Richfield on Oct 25.
During the hour-long promotion from 12 pm to 1 pm, consumers who fueled up with E15 won prizes that included $20 in cash, tickets to the Crayola Experience, gifts cards to Applebee’s, Herbies on the Park and Seven Steakhouse, along with KS95 merchandise.
KS95 personality, Rudy Pavich, and MN Biofuels staff were at the station during the promotion educating drivers on the benefits of using E15.
“Last Friday’s event was our 15th joint-promotion with KS95 this year. Through these events, we have had the opportunity to educate drivers on how using E15 reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, boosts the economy in Minnesota and makes America more energy independent,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director at MN Biofuels.
Nearly 7 million gallons of E15 was sold in August, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. In total, the volume of E15 sold in 2019 as of end-August was 50.57 million gallons.
The total volume of E15 sold in Minnesota in 2018 was 59.4 million gallons. There are currently 362 stations in Minnesota that offer E15. Click here to find a station offering E15.
Highwater Ethanol Hosts Red Rock Central Public School
Minneapolis, October 25 – Eleven students from Red Rock Central Public School traveled across town yesterday to visit Highwater Ethanol and learn about renewable energy production.
“This is the third straight year students from Red Rock Central Public School have toured our plant. Ethanol production plays a vital role in boosting the economy in Lamberton and other parts of rural Minnesota,” said Brian Kletscher, CEO of Highwater Ethanol.
The students, from the school’s Exploring Agriculture class, were briefed on the various processes of ethanol production at Highwater Ethanol, which produces 59.5 million gallons of ethanol a year.
During the visit, the students, all eighth-graders, 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 and sponsored by Novozymes, a global microbe and enzyme provider, and supporter of Minnesota’s ethanol industry. Highwater Ethanol and Novozymes are members of MN Biofuels.
“It is important for students to visit their local ethanol plant and understand the role ethanol plays in reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and making America more energy independent,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director at MN Biofuels.
Highwater Ethanol began operations in Lamberton in August 2009. It currently has 41 fulltime employees.
Megan Chicos, Agricultural Teacher at Red Rock Central Public School, accompanied her students during today’s tour.
“This tour was beneficial to see how ethanol is produced after learning about it in class. It was also beneficial to learn about careers within ethanol production, especially since we have Highwater Ethanol in our town,” she said.
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MN Commissioners Tour Guardian Energy
Jeanne McCaherty, CEO of Guardian Energy, discussing ethanol production with Margaret Hart from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture during yesterday's tour.
Minneapolis, Oct 24 – Seven Minnesota state agency commissioners toured Guardian Energy yesterday to learn about the plant’s state-of-the-art production capabilities and the role the ethanol industry plays in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously boosting the state’s economy.
“We were pleased to welcome the commissioners and key personnel from their respective agencies to our plant yesterday. Guardian Energy was established in 2009 and has since become one of the largest ethanol plants in the state. During that time, we have also made great strides in improving efficiency and reducing the amount of energy and water needed to produce a gallon of ethanol,” said Jeanne McCaherty, CEO of Guardian Energy.
The commissioners who participated in the tour were Steve Grove (Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development), Sarah Strommen (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources), Steve Kelley (Minnesota Department of Commerce), Margaret Anderson – Kelliher (Minnesota Department of Transportation), Cynthia Bauerly (Minnesota Department of Revenue), Laura Bishop (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) and Nancy Leppink (Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry).
Personnel from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources also attended the tour.
The tour was organized by the Department of Employment and Economic Development as part of its Minnesota Business First Stop initiative.
During the tour, the commissioners were also briefed on how Minnesota’s ethanol industry impacts the state’s economy.
In 2018, the industry produced 1.27 billion gallons of ethanol which in turn contributed $2.3 billion to the state’s gross domestic product, generating $6.9 billion in gross sales for Minnesota businesses and supported 20,137 jobs.
Guardian Energy, in particular, uses 50 million bushels of corn annually to produce 150 million gallons of ethanol, 300,000 tons of dried distiller’s grains and 44 million pounds of corn oil a year.
The corn used by Guardian Energy is sourced within 75 miles of the plant from over 2,000 farmers.
“As the state looks at ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, yesterday’s tour demonstrated how ethanol can play a critical role in achieving that goal while boosting the rural economy in Minnesota,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
Commissioners and other agency personnel at Guardian Energy's DDGS storage facility.