In the News
Nov 8, 2022
Whitefox, the leading bioethanol membrane engineering innovator, is pleased to announce that Western Plains Energy LLC (Western Plains) will be the first US ethanol producer to install Whitefox ICE®-XL system at its 50 million gallons per year ethanol plant in Kansas.
Derek Peine, CEO at Western Plains Energy said: “Since beginning operations in 2004, Western Plains has always been on the forefront of innovation and an early adaptor of technologies that deliver step-changes in energy efficiency and operational yield. In our discussion with Whitefox we found that its ICE-XL integrated membrane solution would serve as a cornerstone in fully decarbonizing our production process. Our quest to achieve net-zero emissions is something that we are passionate about, and we are excited to partner with Whitefox to help us achieve our goal.”
Tony Short, Head of Global Sales at Whitefox said: “Whitefox ICE-XL is an evolution of the Whitefox ICE® which we have installations in 9 US ethanol plants. ICE-XL fully replaces existing molecular sieves and delivers exceptional operational benefits such as up to 50% capacity increase across distillation and dehydration and 50% steam reduction when fully integrated. Our team of process engineers worked closely with Derek and his team to design a solution that would bring exceptional energy recovery and carbon reductions to enable carbon neutral fuel production.”
Gillian Harrison, CEO at Whitefox said "I first met Derek in 2016 and it was inspiring to hear how focussed he was on reducing the carbon footprint of ethanol production. We began discussing how we could expand the Whitefox ICE solution to a full replacement of molecular sieves, given their propensity to crack, so it's exciting to now be working with Western Plains to install our first ICE-XL and support them on their journey to Net Zero ethanol."
Engineering phase 1 is already in progress and the project has an estimated start-up and commissioning date towards the end of 2023.
About Western Plains
Western Plains Energy, LLC. is renewable energy production company in Oakley, Kansas. The company converts regionally grown grain into sustainable, low-carbon products in the form of denatured ethanol and wet distillers grains. Western Plains Energy is committed to meeting the growing demand for domestically produced, sustainable renewable energy.
About Whitefox Technologies Limited
Whitefox specializes in technology development and innovation based on its proprietary membrane solutions. Whitefox’s Integrated Cartridge Efficiency (ICE) uses membrane-based cartridge technology which enables clients to produce ethanol and other chemicals to the highest market standards in the most energy and water efficient way. With a small carbon footprint, Whitefox provides solutions for all types of alcohols, biofuels, and renewable chemicals in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South America.
Read the original press release here.
Oct 12, 20222
More than 1.3 million metric tons (80 million bushels of corn equivalent), equating to about $700 million dollars, were recently transacted and negotiated at the 2022 Southeast Asia U.S. Agricultural Co-operators Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, in late September.
Jointly organized by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), the event welcomed its largest turnout since its inception in 2004. Having been limited to virtual events for over two years, industry representatives from across the region were excited to take part in the event, reconnecting and establishing relationships for U.S. agricultural products.
Of the commodities sold, 90,000 metric tons, or 4 million bushels, were U.S. corn and 207,000 metric tons (about 33 million bushels in corn equivalent) were U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The remaining sales consisted of U.S. soybeans, soybean meal and wheat.
“The fact that the whole industry shows up to this event says a lot about the resiliency of our industry. When our growers, traders, and our end-users all come together, there’s not a market headwind that we can’t face and flourish,” said Caleb Wurth, USGC regional director, Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Council programs continue post conference to ensure end users are prepared to maximize the utilization of our products once sold; servicing customers’ commercial and technical needs.
Read the original story here.
Oct 26, 2022
U.S. fuel ethanol production expanded by nearly 2 percent the week ending Oct. 21, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Oct. 26. Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol were also up 2 percent.
Fuel ethanol production averaged 1.033 million barrels per day the week ending Oct. 21, up 17,000 barrels per day when compared to the 1.016 million barrels per day of production reported for the previous week. When compared to the same week of last year, production for the week ending Oct. 21 was down 73,000 barrels per day.
Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol reached 22.291 million barrels the week ending Oct. 21, up 447,000 barrels when compared to the 21.844 million barrels of stocks reported for the previous week. When compared to the same week of last year, stocks for the week ending Oct. 21 were up 2.366 million barrels.
Read the original story here.
Oct 19, 2022
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today led a bipartisan group of their colleagues in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish renewable volume obligations that are additive for all fuel types in the upcoming “set” rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The senators also highlighted additional actions EPA should take in order to maximize the use and benefit of biofuels, including updating lifecycle analysis for biofuel emissions and approving additional fuel registrations and pathways under the RFS.
“Through this rulemaking, EPA has a historic opportunity to not only reinforce its efforts to restore integrity to the RFS, but chart a new course for biofuels that will help meet America’s diverse energy demands while further decarbonizing numerous sectors of our economy,” the senators wrote. “In order to guard against sidelining decades of investment and the diverse workforce that supports biofuels, we request that EPA set the conventional target above 15 billion gallons, set advanced biofuel volumes that account for increased production capacity of fuels like sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, and ensure that renewable identification numbers (RINs) for emerging technologies and e-RINs are additive to existing volumes.”
“With the forthcoming ‘set’ rule, EPA has a golden opportunity to stimulate further growth in low-carbon fuel use and build on the successes of the Renewable Fuel Standard,” said Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. “We appreciate the efforts of Senator Thune, Senator Durbin, and other stalwart renewable fuel supporters to ensure EPA issues a ‘set’ rule that furthers the environmental and economic objectives of the original RFS program.”
“A stronger RFS means more savings at the pump for working families, lower carbon emissions, and greater U.S. energy security,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “We’re grateful to Senators Durbin, Thune, and other clean energy champions working to deliver the regulatory certainty we need to fast-track growth in the U.S. bioeconomy and shield motorists from volatile global oil prices. This is a vital opportunity to drive transformative progress in low-carbon transportation, and we look forward to working with EPA Administrator Regan, the White House, and leaders on Capitol Hill to tap the full potential of the RFS as a climate and energy solution.”
“As we near EPA’s announcement on the proposed Set rule, ACE applauds Senators Thune and Durbin for their leadership on a timely, bipartisan letter urging the Agency to utilize this historic opportunity to increase biofuel blending targets and take other important steps to leverage the role low carbon biofuels can and should play to address our nation’s energy demands and meet the Administration’s decarbonization goals,” said Brian Jennings, CEO of American Coalition for Ethanol. “New incentives enacted by Congress will boost investments in clean fuel technologies that support action by EPA to expand the use of clean fuels like ethanol through future RFS targets.”
“We thank Senators Thune, Durbin, and others for highlighting the bipartisan support for continued growth in the Renewable Fuel Standard volumes,” said Kurt Kovarik, vice president of Federal Affairs for Clean Fuels Alliance America. “We appreciate the Senators’ request that EPA build on the foundation of advanced biofuels and provide additional space for emerging volumes of renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and other potential new biomass-based fuels.”
“We applaud Senator Thune and Senator Durbin for leading a bipartisan coalition working to maximize the clean energy benefits of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS),” said Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Advanced Biofuels Business Council (ABBC). “We keep hearing about the importance of strong policy to ensure that new technologies are developed, clean energy targets are hit, and U.S. global competitiveness is enhanced as we seek to reduce emissions and grow the economy. There is no better example than the RFS. We appreciate the recognition that an ambitious, multiyear RFS rule could be a game-changer for advanced biofuels, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), climate smart feedstock production, and transportation sector decarbonization.”
“Corn growers appreciate the Senators’ leadership and advocacy for renewable fuels with EPA,” said Tom Hagg, president of the National Corn Growers Association. “We also urge EPA to maximize the environmental and economic benefits of the RFS in the pending rulemaking, building on the success of biofuels to do more to cut emissions and lower fuel prices.”
This letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.).
Full letter here.
Read the original press release here.
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.
Oct 6, 2022
The U.S. exported 76.99 million gallons of ethanol and 981,020 metric tons of distillers grains in August, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on Oct. 5. Exports of both products were down when compared to both the previous month and August 2021.
The 76.99 million gallons of ethanol exported in August was down when compared to both the 107.22 million gallons exported the previous month and the 80.67 million gallons exported during August 2021.
The U.S. exported ethanol to more than 40 countries in August. Canada was the top destination for U.S. ethanol exports at 52.88 million gallons, followed by South Korea at 6.62 million gallons and Mexico at 5.06 million gallons.
The value of U.S. ethanol exports was at $229.43 million in August, down from $306.53 million in July, but up from $187.04 million in August of last year.
Total U.S. ethanol exports for the first eight months of 2022 reached 1.01 billion gallons at a value of $2.79 billion, compared to 794.92 million gallons exported during the same period of last year at a value of $1.6 billion.
The 981,020 metric tons of distillers grains exported in August was down when compared to both the 1.06 million metric tons exported in July and the 1.24 million metric tons exported in August of last year.
The U.S. exported distillers grains to more than 30 countries in August. Mexico was the top destination for U.S. distillers grains exports at 194,795 tons, followed by Vietnam at 133,303 metric tons and South Korea at 91,838 metric tons.
The value of U.S. distillers grains exports reached $317.05 million in August, down from both $354.6 million in July and $320.2 million in August 2021.
Total distillers grains exports for the first eight months of this year reached 7.72 million metric tons at a value of $2.35 billion, compared to 7.7 million metric tons exported during the same period of last year at a value of $2 billion.
Additional data is available on the USDA FAS website.
Read the original story here.
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.
Sep 29, 2022
This has been a record-setting year for E15 sales in Minnesota.
Minnesota Biofuels Association director Brian Werner says E15 sold during May reached an all-time monthly high of 8.56 million gallons.
“Anything that gets more E15 out there and to consumers and more readily accessible, we’re going to be supportive of.”
He tells Brownfield those efforts include pushing for an E15 standard in Minnesota and year-round E15.
“As I mentioned, Minnesota set an all-time record in the state for sales last May, so consumer demand is there. But we just need a permanent solution after the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the 2019 EPA rule that allowed for permanent year-round sales of E15.”
Several Midwestern governors, including Minnesota’s Tim Walz, petitioned EPA earlier this year to allow sales of E15 year-round. Werner says he’s hopeful the request will be finalized soon so the biofuels industry can prepare for the 2023 summer driving season.
Read the original story here.
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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.
Sep 26, 2022
Reuters on Sept. 23 retracted an article originally published on Sept. 8 that made highly misleading claims about the greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts of U.S. ethanol plants. Reuters said it withdrew the article “because of its flawed interpretation of data on ethanol-plant pollution and fuel-production capacity,” which “led to inaccurate estimates of carbon emissions for individual ethanol plants named in the story.”
The Sept. 8 article, in part, cited the widely discredited study by Tyler Lark and others that was published in February 2022. Lark’s research has been specifically criticized by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, Perdue University, and the University of Illinois for using questionable assumptions, double counting emissions, and using outdated and inaccurate projections. The Sept. 8 article also mischaracterized the “grandfathering provisions” implemented by the U.S. EPA when the Renewable Fuel Standard was expanded under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and misrepresented the greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts of several ethanol plants, including those owned by ADM, Green Triangle Energy, Central Indiana Ethanol, Green Plains Inc., and Marquis Energy.
The Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy are among the organizations to originally speak out against the inaccurate Reuters report.
“The original story relied on an incorrect assumption that an ethanol facility’s actual production always matches its nameplate capacity,” said Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the RFA. “In reality, this is rarely the case, and a facility’s actual output often exceeds nameplate capacity. The story also overlooked the fact that many ethanol facilities make more than fuel ethanol. Many facilities make alcohol for beverages, sanitizers, disinfectants, and other products that have no role in the RFS program. Together, these errors led to faulty calculations of GHG emissions attributable to fuel ethanol production. We greatly appreciate Reuters’ willingness to engage in further discussion and take another look at the facts and data. The organization deserves credit for its efforts to get this story right.
“Countering this particular article was important to us because the reporter initially got so much wrong, and we knew the main conclusion or talking point—as far-fetched it was—would be used as just another a stick with which to beat the industry,” Cooper continued. “We always strive to be available and willing to discuss often-complex ethanol policy, regulatory, and technical issues with members of the news media.”
“Early on Growth Energy learned of this story taking shape and immediately reached out to dispute her argument and outline the well-established flaws of the data assumptions being made,” said Growth Energy in a statement. “More importantly, we worked with our member companies represented in the Reuters piece to effectively and efficiently correct the record, which resulted a complete retraction of the story.”
Read the original story here.
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.
Sep 19, 2022
A diverse group of clean fuel stakeholders, including several biofuel producers, on Sept. 19 launched the DriveClean initiative, which is urging lawmakers to create a market-based technology-neutral national Clean Fuel Standard during the 118thCongress that convenes in January.
Supporters of the initiative include Alliance For Clean Energy New York; Advanced Engine Systems Institute; Alto Ingredients; American Coalition for Ethanol; Alder Fuels; Alliance of Automotive Innovation; bp pulse; Calgren Renewable Fuels; Calstart; ChargePoint; Christianson CPAs & Consultants; ClearFlame Engine Technologies; CleanFuture; CleanFuelsNY Coalition; Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas; Electrify America; e-Mission Control; Great Plains Institute; Green Energy Technology; Lion Electric; Low-Carbon Fuels Coalition; Fulcrum Bioenergy; MECA; New York League of Conservation Voters; Paired Power; POET; Propel; Rivian; Renewable Fuels Association and World Energy.
“When you see support for a CFS coming from diverse players like environmental groups, electric vehicle supply chain companies and renewable fuel advocates, it’s notable,” said Chris Miller, a former senior policy adviser in the Senate on energy and environmental matters who is now providing strategic counsel to the group.
As part of its advocacy efforts, the CleanDrive initiative has unveiled a website, DriveClean.us. The group has also published a statement of principles aimed at lawmakers. Among these principles is a call to create a national CFS that complements existing state programs. The group is also urging lawmakers to ensure a future national CFS is technology and fuel neutral by using a life-cycle emissions performance-based approach that will promote innovation and investment across all potential clean fuel types, including electricity, hydrogen, biofuels and others. In addition, CleanDrive encourages lawmakers to focus on growing the low-carbon fuels market, provide long-term market signals, and ensure the use of the best possible science in terms of lifecycle analysis, verification and reporting.
“There are few tools that have proven more effective than Clean Fuel Standards for driving rapid decarbonization, as has been seen in states like California,” said BJ Johnson, co-founder and CEO at ClearFlame Engine Technologies. They are performance-based, technology-agnostic, and fuel-neutral, the perfect combination for unlocking the private sector to invest, innovate and drive down carbon emissions.”
“The biofuels industry applauds the efforts of the DriveClean initiative, which build on the many successes of the federal Renewable Fuels Standard while leveling the playing field for additional home-grown fuels and technology,” said Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the RFA. “Biofuels will continue to thrive under a technology-neutral Clean Fuel Standard, delivering real emissions reductions, cleaner air and water, job creation and boosting national security. Our members are ready to help push Clean Fuel Standard legislation across the finish line and put the U.S. on an achievable path to meeting near- and long-term decarbonization goals.”
Read the original story here.
Sep 16, 2022
With two months remaining in marketing year 2021-'22, the U.S. has exported nearly 1.3 billion gallons of ethanol, up over 20% year-over-year as COVID-19 restrictions continue to lift, and drivers return to the road. Total exports are up in nearly every top-10 market, apart from India and Peru, according to the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service database. The U.S. Grains Council continuously conducts programs, hosts missions and facilitates conversations with stakeholders in these markets, leading to significant gains in Canada, the EU, U.K. and Japan, and continuing to move U.S. ethanol exports forward.
Canada has remained a top market for U.S. ethanol through the past decade. The country is currently blending an average of 7% ethanol nationwide, and so far this marketing year has imported nearly 372 million gallons, up over 80 million gallons from the previous marketing year. Most recently, the Canadian government released its Canadian Clean Fuel Standard, a regulation that anticipates reaching an average ethanol blend of 15% nationwide by 2030, in response to demands for lower-carbon fuels and bolstered by progressive provincial mandates. Momentum will continue into both the near- and long-term future as CFS implementation begins in January 2023.
Another bright spot is exports to the EU and the U.K., which are up more than 60% and 600% year over year, respectively. These two markets represent a shift within the European energy framework as ethanol continues to be a driving factor in decarbonizing the transportation sector. In September 2021, the U.K. began its transition from a 5% ethanol blend to a 10% ethanol blend to reduce annual carbon emissions by nearly 800,000 metric tons. Already averaging an 8% national ethanol blend rate, the U.K.’s move toward E10 could easily call for 100 million gallons of additional demand for U.S. ethanol.
Japan has been one of the most notable success stories for U.S. ethanol this marketing year. The country did not start importing U.S. ethanol until 2018, but since then, Japan has blended ethanol in the form of ETBE, equal to a 1.7 % ethanol blend nationwide. This blend rate lands Japan as a top-10 market for U.S. ethanol. Based on USGC data, exports to Japan have reached 11 million gallons per month, totaling nearly 90 million gallons in marketing year 2021- '22.
Other countries to watch are South Korea, India and Indonesia. South Korea has gradually increased imports of industrial grade U.S. ethanol, moving to the third largest market this marketing year. The country currently has no biofuel policy, but presents the opportunity to become a significant fuel grade market in the near future.
The USGC remains committed to maintaining a robust industrial market that services biobased chemicals and promotes ethanol as a feedstock solution for acetate and acrylate end uses.
Read the original story here.
National Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing
Sep 14, 2022
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is looking to enact a rule as quickly as possible that would allow the year-round sale of higher-ethanol gasoline, or E15, reports Reuters. EPA Administrator Michael Regan said during remarks at the Growth Energy Biofuels Summit that the agency hopes to finalize the rule before next summer.
The agency has been in talks with Midwestern governors after they asked the EPA earlier this year to allow year-round sales of the blend. Eight states have officially asked the EPA for the change, after a successful legal challenge by oil refiners led to a court overturning an earlier Trump-era E15 rule, reports Bloomberg Government.
The selling mandate of summer blends of gasoline during hotter months was enacted to reduce smog in warm weather, but research reportedly does not show that E15 blend produces more smog in relation to E10, which is sold at gas stations year-round.
In April, the White House announced plans to temporarily allow high-ethanol content gasoline to be sold during the summer in an effort to curb high gas prices. The EPA allowed E15 to be sold between June 1 and September 15.
NACS had asked the EPA to authorize the year-round sale of E15 prior to the announcement.
“This common-sense step would provide much-needed price relief at the pump while enhancing America’s energy security and improving gasoline’s emissions characteristics,” wrote NACS, along with NATSO and SIGMA, in a letter to the EPA. “Allowing the year-round sale of E15 in all parts of the country would help enhance supply and lower prices for all American fuel consumers.”
The Clean Air Act allows the governors to ask the EPA if E15 can be sold all year. The EPA is also working with the Department of Agriculture and Department of Energy on biofuel blending requirements beyond 2022, according to Regan.
In June, the EPA announced biofuel blending mandates for 2022 and the prior two years. The 2022 biofuel blending mandate for 2022 is 20.63 billion gallons, and the EPA retroactively set the volume mandates for 2021 at 18.84 billion gallons and for 2020 at 17.13 billion gallons.
The EPA also denied oil refiners waivers to be exempt from the requirements but said it would allow extra time for small refiners to meet their 2020 blending obligations.
In addition to finalizing the volume requirements, the EPA also finalized a regulatory framework to allow “biointermediates” to be included in the RFS program. Biointermediates are feedstocks that have been partially converted at one facility but are then processed into an RFS-qualified biofuel at a separate facility.
Under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the EPA can change the way the RFS is administered. Starting next year, the agency will have more authority to set multi-year mandates and make other changes.
Regan said that the agency understands the requirements are of great importance to the biofuels industry. He also said that the agriculture and the biofuels industry will play a key role in helping President Joe Biden meet climate goals, as the electric vehicle market will not be available immediately, Reuters reports.
NACS filed comments with the EPA on its annual RFS obligations. NACS reiterated that the biofuels obligations must be set so that they can reasonably be absorbed and consumed by the market and avoid hitting the “blend wall.”
Read the original story here.
Sep 8, 2022
The U.S. Grains Council's (USGC's) Europe, Middle East and Africa office recently hosted an aquaculture program in Morocco as it looks to increase distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) use in the market. The event covered topics including aquaculture feed demand and an integrated model for shrimp and tilapia, among others.
Staff from the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC) Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) office traveled to Morocco last week to enhance its aquaculture engagement in the region, as it sees the industry as a significant growth opportunity for U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS).
The majority of the 3.5 million metric tons (MMT) of U.S. feed grains exported to Morocco are used by the poultry and ruminant sectors. However, the growing demand for high-protein foods in Morocco, a trend similarly seen across North Africa more broadly, is creating new opportunities for the domestic aquaculture industry, which simultaneously is creating a new prospect for U.S. feed grain uses within Morocco.
To help in this effort, the Council invited Ronnie Tan, USGC regional aquaculture specialist based in Southeast Asia, to assist with the promotion of the aquaculture program in Morocco.
The office organized a large national aquaculture event on Aug. 31. The event covered many of the hot topics in the industry, such as aquaculture feed demand; outlook, trends and opportunities for DDGS; the integrated model for shrimp and tilapia; current threats to the industry; and solutions DDGS can provide.
“The event gathered a sizable number of participants, most of them from the feed industry, the public and private sector and several future investors in the aquaculture industry,” said Mohamed Salah Bouthour, USGC assistant regional director for Africa. “The audience was thirsty to hear from the USGC experts addressing proteins constraints – specifically regarding aquaculture – and providing insight on the global production outlook with more information on the use of U.S. corn co-products with a focus on nutrition and performance in tilapia and shrimp species.”
Morocco currently produces an estimated 1.4 MMT of seafood annually, making it the largest maritime fisheries producer in Africa and the 25th largest producer globally. While Morocco possesses a relatively strong fisheries industry, contributing to 2.3 percent of gross domestic product annually, overfishing limits the overall productivity and sustainability of the industry. Per capita consumption of fish in Morocco is estimated to range between 10 and 12 kilograms (22.04 and 26.45 pounds) annually, well under the global average of 20 kilograms (44.08 pounds) per person estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
“The aquaculture market in Morocco is relatively small compared to other countries in the region, especially Egypt, which is the largest tilapia-producing country in the Middle East and Africa area,” Bouthour said. “Morocco’s aquaculture feed production represents only 1,000 metric tons of the total balanced feed produced. The Council will continue to support the growth of the aquaculture animal husbandry industry in the country by empowering Moroccan investors and local feed millers with relevant knowledge and technical skills through educational programming funded by our USDA Section 108 Aquaculture grant.”
Section 108 funds will help the Council initiate a three-year aquaculture project in Morocco to support the development and expansion of the aquaculture sector in the country and support the industry in addressing the bottlenecks and constraints prohibiting enhanced production. Through these efforts, the Council believes the aquaculture industry in Morocco will grow and create opportunities for U.S. DDGS exports to Morocco.
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Sept 8, 2022
U.S. ethanol produced expanded by 2 percent the week ending Sept. 2, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Sept. 8. Stocks of fuel ethanol fell by nearly 2 percent.
U.S. fuel ethanol production averaged 989,000 barrels per day the week ending Sept. 2, up 19,000 barrels per day when compared to the 970,000 barrels per day of production reported for the previous week. When compared to the same week of last year, ethanol production for the week ending Sept. 2 was up 66,000 barrels per day.
Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol fell to 23.138 million the week ending Sept. 2, down 395,000 barrels when compared to the 23.533 million barrels of stocks reported for the previous week. When compared to the same week of last year, stocks for the week ending Sept. 2 were up 2.748 million barrels.
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