In the News
Dec 28, 2023
U.S. fuel ethanol production was up 3 percent the week ending Dec. 22, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Dec. 28. Stocks of fuel ethanol were also up 3 percent, while exports were down 33 percent.
Fuel ethanol production averaged 1.107 million barrels per day the week ending Dec. 22, up 36,000 barrels per day when compared to the 1.071 million barrels per day of production reported for the previous week, and the highest level of production reported since October 2021. When compared to the same week of last year, production for the week ending Dec. 22 was up 144,000 barrels per day.
Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol for the reached 23.517 million barrels the week ending Dec. 22, up 611,000 barrels when compared to the 22.906 million barrels of stocks reported for the previous week. When compared to the same week of last year, stocks for the week ending Dec. 22 were up 1.119 million barrels.
Fuel ethanol exports averaged 132,000 barrels per day the week ending Dec. 22, down 64,000 barrels per day when compared to the 196,000 barrels per day of exports reported for the previous week. Data on weekly ethanol exports is not available for the corresponding week of 2022 as the EIA began reporting weekly data on fuel ethanol exports in June 2023. No fuel ethanol imports were reported for the week ending Dec. 22.
Read the original story here.
Dec 21, 2023
CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange on Dec. 14 released a report focused on forces that will shape the U.S. rural economy next year. The report predicts that both ethanol producers and soybean crushers will benefit from rising demand for biofuels in 2024.
“The biofuel sector at large carries the momentum of historically large profit margins into the new year,” CoBank wrote in the report. With renewable identification number (RIN) prices declining, selling renewable diesel outside of the California market is expected to be less profitable. Ethanol margins are expected to remain comparatively healthy in 2024 due to a combination of affordable natural gas prices and corn prices that are under pressure from a record harvest and weak export demand.
A slowing global economy and surplus of energy on the work market is currently depressing fuel and ethanol prices. The risk of conflict spreading in the Middle East and disrupting supply lines among oil-exporting countries could result in a global energy shock and surge in fuel and ethanol prices, according to the report.
The report also notes that the booming renewable diesel industry combined with the shorter U.S. soybean crop harvest of 2023 will drive an expansion of soybean acreage in the U.S. next year, reducing available acreage for other crops. Soybean planted acreage is currently expected to be up 4 percent when compared to 2023, at 87 million acres. Corn acreage is expected to fall 4 percent to 91 million acres.
A full copy of the report is available on the CoBank website.
Read the original story here.
Dec 19, 2023
The U.S. EPA on Dec. 18 delivered its final rule to allow year-round E15 sales in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin to the White House Office of Management and Budget. OMB reviews marks a final step before a rulemaking is promulgated.
Several Midwestern governors in April 2022 filed petitions with the EPA requesting that the agency remove the 1-psi Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver for summer gasoline-ethanol blended fuels, which would effectively allow E15 to be sold year-round within their states.
The EPA is required by statute to respond to such petitions within 90 days but, to date, has failed to take final action. The agency released a proposed rule to implement the requested change in February 2023. A comment period on the proposed rule was open through April 20. The agency has now submitted the final rule for OMB review. Information released by OMB indicates the target issue date for the final rule is “to be determined,” but the agency has stated as part of an ongoing lawsuit that it currently plans to promulgate the final rule next spring.
That ongoing lawsuit was filed by the attorneys general of Iowa and Nebraska on Aug. 7 over the agency’s failure to respond to the Midwest E15 petitions. Documents filed as part of that ongoing lawsuit indicate that the EPA currently plans to issue a final rule by March 28, 2024.
The Renewable Fuels Association is urging the OMB to quickly finalize the rulemaking. “We are relieved to see that this rule has finally moved forward to the White House for review,” said Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the RFA. “OMB review marks the final step in this long and arduous regulatory process. We are urging OMB to move quickly to finalize the Governors’ request so that the marketplace will have adequate lead time to continue preparing for implementation in 2024. Swift completion of this rule will ensure drivers in these eight Midwest states enjoy cleaner air and have uninterrupted, year-round access to lower-cost, lower-carbon E15 in 2024 and every year after that.
“While we strongly support the action being taken by these eight Midwestern states, the optimal solution for the marketplace is a permanent legislative fix that applies nationwide,” Cooper continued. “As a first order of business in the new year, we urge Congress to expeditiously adopt the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act to provide the market certainty and stability that the entire nation is looking for.”
The American Coalition for Ethanol is also calling on OMB to move quickly with its review of the rule. "We are gratified EPA has at long last sent the final rule to allow Midwest states to offer E15 on a year-round basis,” said Brian Jennings, CEO of ACE. “Despite the upcoming Christmas holiday, we urge OMB to quickly perform its closing review so the final rule can be issued early in 2024. All market participants, including but not limited to retailers, wholesalers, terminal operators and refineries, should expect and plan for this rule to take effect in the eight states for the 2024 summer driving season and plan accordingly."
Growth Energy expressed gratitude that the rulemaking is moving forward. “This is a welcome step forward for farmers and drivers across the Midwest,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “We’re grateful to the governors of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin for pressing for uninterrupted access to low-cost, low-carbon E15, and we’ll continue to call on EPA and the White House to grant year-round E15 nationwide. Biofuels like E15 are a critical part of reaching our climate goals, and we urge President Biden to swiftly approve the expanded sale of E15.”
Additional information is available on the OMB website.
Read the original story here.
Dec 6, 2023
U.S. ethanol exports decreased 3% to a still-healthy 117.1 million gallons (mg). Canada was our largest destination for the 31st consecutive month with exports of 64.6 mg (94% denatured) accounting for 55% of total sales on a 7% increase from September. This is the largest single-country purchase since Brazil’s offtake in March 2019. The U.S. exported 13.7 mg to India (following four months of near-zero volumes) and 12.6 mg to the United Kingdom (down 8% from September). Virtually all remaining ethanol exports were distributed among seven markets, with the largest volumes landing in the Philippines (6.5 mg, +176%), South Korea (6.0 mg, +17%), Peru (5.7 mg, +89%), and Mexico (5.1 mg, -9%). Brazil again was notably absent from the U.S. ethanol export market. Year-to-date exports, totaling 1.16 billion gallons, are steady with last year at this time.
There were no U.S. imports on record in October, according to the monthly data. Only 17.4 mg of foreign ethanol has been imported thus far in 2023, of which essentially all was sourced from Brazil.
Exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, tightened by 13% to a 6-month low of 896,708 metric tons (mt). Mexico was our largest destination for the sixteenth consecutive month with exports of 193,524 mt—a 4% decrease from September. DDGS exports to Vietnam were robust at 121,271 mt despite a 13% decline. Shipments strengthened to Canada, up 47% to a 16-month high of 92,924 mt. Other larger markets included South Korea (76,456 mt, -31%), Indonesia (66,351 mt, +7%), Turkey (38,325, +22%), Japan (35,451 mt, +1%), and China (30,530 mt, -8%). There was a notable lift in exports to Central American countries (a 5-year high) as well as record volumes to Cambodia. Year-to-date U.S. DDGS exports total 8.99 million mt, which lags 4% behind last year at this time.
Read the original story here.
Nov 30, 2023
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) recently participated in a panel at the Latin American Energy Organization's (OLADE's) annual Energy Week. Pictured from left to right, the panel included Juan Diaz, USGC Latin America regional ethanol consultant; Julio Minelli of the Brazilian Association of Biofuels Producers; Flavio Castellari of the Brazilian Ethanol Cluster; Patrick Adam of the Chamber of Corn Ethanol in Argentina; Agustin Torroba of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture; and Yamila Hana of the National Alcohol and Portland Fuels Administration.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) was invited by the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) to participate in a panel, “Opportunities for Liquid Biofuels in Latin America and its Role in the Decarbonization of the Transportation Sector,” during the VIII Energy Week event held in Montevideo, Uruguay.
OLADE offers technical assistance and helps ensure cooperation and coordination in promotion and use of Latin America’s energy resources.
“The Council’s participation, along with IICA and the Pan American Coalition for Biofuels, represents an opportunity to provide updated information on the role of biofuels in decarbonizing the transportation sector and illustrating the capability that the Americas, as a region, has to expand the use of biofuels and become a successful case to emulate in the world,” said Juan Diaz, USGC Latin America (LTA) regional ethanol consultant.
The panel featured USGC’s LTA Regional Ethanol Consultant Juan Diaz; Yamila Hana of the National Alcohol and Portland Fuels Administration (ANCAP); Patrick Adam of the Chamber of Corn Ethanol in Argentina (Biomaíz); Julio Minelli of the Brazilian Association of Biofuels Producers (Aprobio); Flavio Castellari of the Brazilian Ethanol Cluster (APLA); and Agustin Torroba of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), who discussed biofuel’s contribution to the decarbonization of the transportation sector. The discussion also highlighted the potential the LTA region has to expand the production and the promotion of biofuels.
The Council shared a timeline of the ethanol industry and how the United States was able to create an industry that is the largest ethanol producer in the world but also one of the most committed industries to reach net zero by 2050. The audience was impressed by the ambitious goals of the U.S. ethanol industry, including the 2030 milestone of ethanol creating a 70 percent carbon reduction compared to gasoline.
“While there has been a lot of attention paid to electro-mobility in the energy transition discussion, the organizations participating in this session elevated the use of biofuels as an alternate solution in determining a pathway to replace fossil fuels with other cleaner sources,” Diaz said.
Read the original story here.
Nov 30, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC –U.S. Representatives Angie Craig and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at expanding flex fuel vehicle production in the United States.
The Flex Fuel Fairness Act would incentivize automakers to manufacture flex fuel vehicles – which would provide consumers with more options and support Minnesota’s family farmers and producers.
“Renewable fuels are a solution we can implement to combat climate change right now, and we know that flex fuel vehicles help Minnesotans save money at the pump, support family farmers and producers and help protect the environment. That’s why I introduced this bipartisan bill with my colleague Rep. Miller-Meeks to expand flex-fuel vehicle production – and I’ll keep working to get our bill passed,”said Rep. Craig.
“As we look toward a cleaner energy future with options to lower carbon emissions, it’s imperative to amplify solutions like flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) and ensure that they are included as a low-carbon option,”said Rep. Miller-Meeks.“FFVs provide more options for consumers and the U.S. supply chain and unlock increased use of lower-carbon liquid fuel blends containing higher levels of ethanol, like E30 and E85. I am proud to lead the ‘Flex Fuel Fairness Act of 2023,’ and level the playing field for FFVs as a practical alternative to Electric Vehicles.”
“The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association applauds Representative Craig for her leadership in introducing the Flex Fuel Fairness Act in the House. To reduce transportation emissions quickly and meaningfully, we need to utilize clean energy vehicle technologies that accelerate the use of higher blends of low-carbon, renewable fuels that are produced here in Minnesota. This bipartisan bill will help unlock the carbon reduction potential of renewable fuels and flex fuel vehicles. We sincerely appreciate Rep. Craig’s work on it,”said Brian Werner, Executive Director of the Minnesota Biofuels Association.
“We thank Reps. Craig, Miller-Meeks, and all the co-sponsors for introducing the Flex Fuel Fairness Act. This bill acknowledges the important emissions benefits of flex fuel vehicles and promotes the continued production of these popular automobiles,”said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper.“This legislation would give automakers more ways to comply with increasingly stringent vehicle emissions standards while providing more clean vehicle options for consumers. By leveling the playing field for all clean vehicle technologies, this bill allows low-carbon liquid fuels like ethanol to work alongside clean electricity, electric vehicles, and other technologies to reduce emissions from transportation.”
Rep. Craig has long advocated for the expansion of biofuel production in Minnesota and across the country. Earlier this year, she was given the National Corn Growers Association’s President’s Award for her work to support ethanol and biofuel producers in Congress.
Full text of the Flex Fuel Fairness Act can be found here.
Read the original press release here.
Nov 29, 2023
The Renewable Fuels Association today thanked Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Angie Craig (D-MN) and all co-sponsors for introducing the Flex Fuel Fairness Act in the House of Representatives to promote the production of more low-carbon flex fuel vehicles in the United States.
“We thank Reps. Miller-Meeks and Craig for introducing the Flex Fuel Fairness Act, which acknowledges the important emissions benefits of flex fuel vehicles and promotes the continued production of these popular automobiles,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “This legislation would provide more clean vehicle options for consumers and give automakers more ways to comply with increasingly stringent vehicle emissions standards. By leveling the playing field for all clean vehicle technologies, this bill allows low-carbon liquid fuels like ethanol to work alongside clean electricity, electric vehicles, and other technologies to reduce emissions from transportation.”
The bill would help to level the playing field for FFVs by properly recognizing the emissions benefits associated with using E85 flex fuels (which contain 51-83 percent ethanol). A Senate version was filed this past summer by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE).
The legislation is designed to create more equitable incentives and market signals for producing a broader portfolio of clean vehicles. Under current EPA emissions regulations, battery electric vehicles (EVs) benefit from an assumption that there are zero carbon emissions associated with operating the vehicle. EPA announced plans to make the “zero emissions” assumption permanent for EVs in its recent proposed rule for 2027-2032 emissions standards. In essence, EPA’s regulations assume a battery EV will always operate on zero-carbon electricity over its entire lifetime.
To create an equitable incentive for the continued production of FFVs, today’s legislation creates a similar assumption that FFVs always operate on E85—a fuel that reduces lifecycle GHG emissions by 31 percent compared to gasoline. Thus, for the purposes of demonstrating compliance with vehicle emissions standards, the legislation allows automakers to use an emissions value for an FFV that is 31 percent lower than the emissions value for the corresponding non-FFV model.
“If EPA regulations are going to credit EVs for their maximum theoretical carbon emissions benefit, then it stands to reason that the agency should also credit FFVs for their maximum possible carbon emissions benefit,” Cooper said. “This bill would ensure that EPA is being fair and equitable in the way it uses emissions values as policy incentives to stimulate the production of lower-carbon vehicles.”
Even as demand for low-carbon E85 has soared in recent years, the number of new FFV models has decreased significantly in recent years, Cooper said, as previous regulatory incentives for FFV production have been phased out by EPA. For the model year 2023, the only FFVs available to consumers are select Ford F-150 and Transit models. As recently as the model year 2015, more than 80 different FFV models from nine manufacturers were available to consumers. Click here to see a chart of models available as flex fuel.
More than 5,700 gas stations currently offer E85 in the United States, and the fuel typically sells for 20-25 percent less than regular gasoline. Click here for locations and a price tracker.
Read the original story here.
Nov 24, 2023
Ingenza and Phibro Ethanol – a division of Phibro Animal Health Corporation – have joined forces to engineer a novel yeast strain that will increase yield in the commercial production of bioethanol under both challenging and conventional environmental conditions, further driving the switch to clean biofuels. This latest innovation – arising from a productive and long-standing partnership between the two companies – will help to make this valuable natural resource more widely available for processing into sustainable fuels across a range of industries.
In the US, bioethanol is produced by fermenting typically corn-based biomass with yeast. However, large volumes of enzymes, including glucoamylase (GA) must be added to render the glucose in this feedstock available to the yeast. In addition, the elevated temperatures generated in the production vessels can stress the yeast, resulting in reduced fermentation performance and, subsequently, lower ethanol yield.
The successful partnership between Ingenza and Phibro sought to solve this issue, and led to the introduction of KinetX yeast solutions – a highly thermotolerant yeast strain that secretes GA throughout growth and fermentation stages – into the market. The novel strain was obtained using Ingenza’s proprietary strain construction and adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) platforms. It offers superior robustness and reliability at higher temperatures while greatly reducing GA addition in comparison to traditional yeasts, bringing significant financial benefits to bioethanol producers. Additional next generation yeast lines in the KinetX portfolio will shortly debut on the international market alongside other programmes incorporating other novel technologies to deliver even higher bioethanol yields.
Dr Leonardo Magneschi, Head of Molecular Biology at Ingenza, said: “Increasing the efficiency of bioethanol production is crucial to boost the commercial viability of biofuels as green alternatives to the fossil fuels we currently rely on. We are strongly committed to Phibro’s goals, and we are confident our ongoing collaboration will play a leading role in reducing the carbon footprint of the transportation sector, helping to achieve global sustainability targets.”
Dr Stephanie Gleason, Director of Technology at Phibro, said: “Ingenza’ s expertise in custom-built strain development, ALE, high throughput screening and technology transfer has been key to the successful implementation and scale-up of our industry-leading products. We look forward to working with Ingenza in the future to implement additional innovations that will further support the worldwide transition to environmentally friendly, bio-based fuels.
Read the original story here.
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FEBRUARY
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02-01-2021
Nov 21, 2023
Whitefox Technologies is pleased to announce tha t BGW sp. z o. has installed Whitefox ICE®-XL technology at its 108 MLPY plant in R?bczyn, and is producing both fuel grade ethanol and high grade ethanol through Whitefox engineering solutions. BGW is the first European Fuel Ethanol customer to install this technology, a big step for Whitefox as it continues to expand its global presence, with BGW having scaled up from their Whitefox ICE® installation in 2021.
Bartosz Walkowiak, President of BGW said “By adopting a Whitefox ICE-XL system we can accept feed at high moisture content to achieve fuel grade ethanol and the flexibility to produce pharmaceutical grade in a single pass. This is a major breakthrough in our drive for continuous improvement delivering significant operational process benefits and reducing OPEX costs associated with reduced maintenance costs.”
Tony Short, Head of Global Sales at Whitefox Technologies states “BGW’s vision and entrepreneurial drive was clear for all of us at Whitefox from the early days of our association. We are delighted that together we have been able to design a solution that provides the necessary product flexibility to adapt to market conditions whilst at the same time engineering an efficient solution by reducing energy and operational costs. We congratulate BGW, and we look forward to working with them as they continue to explore market opportunities.”
Whitefox ICE-XL is a proprietary integrated solution which fully replaces the existing molecular sieves. It continues to establish continuous dehydration and reduces the energy consumption per gallon of ethanol produced. Through reconfiguration of existing distillations, the Whitefox ICE-XL solution reduces energy consumption by up to 50% – up to 7 carbon intensity (CI) points. This not only reduces natural gas consumption by up to 8,000 BTU/gallon, but significantly reduces operational and maintenance costs.
This is an exciting step for both companies, collaborating in working towards harnessing and optimising solutions within ethanol production through shared goals of minimising production waste, lowering CI scores and optimising plant capacity.
ABOUT BGW SP. Z O.O
BGW Sp. z o.o. (formerly BGW Wielobran?owe Przedsi?biorstwo Handlowe Sp. z o.o.) was established in 1990 as a civil law partnership, on October 6, 1997 it was transformed into a limited liability company, with an initial capital of PLN 13,500,000. Initially, the company based its activity on the trade of liquid fuels and motor oils. Over the years, through continuous investments, it has expanded its activity to other industries and currently the basic direction of the company’s activities is the production of ethanol at the Production Plant in R?bczyn.
The company purchased the Distillery in R?bczyn in 2002, and as a result of the continuous modernization process, have a plant with industrial production capacity. In addition, the Company has firmly established itself on the market of components for the production of feed due to the fact that the production of ethanol produces dried corn decoction DDGS and corn oil.
Presently, the company consists of Ethanol and Feed Production Plant in R?bczyn, Research and Development Centre in Pozna?, Oborniki Plant, Liquid Fuels Wholesaler, 2 Lotos Petrol Stations, Warehouse Base of Excise Products in Oborniki and Automotive Center,District Vehicle Inspection Station. https://bgw.pl
ABOUT WHITEFOX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Whitefox specializes in technology development and process integration based on its proprietary membrane solutions. Whitefox ICE® (Integrated Cartridge Efficiency) is a bolt-on solution developed for the ethanol industry. With a small footprint, it is designed to de-bottleneck distillation and dehydration, which boosts output, improves CI scores by reducing energy and water consumption and reduces operation & maintenance costs by simplifying operations. Whitefox provides solutions for all types of alcohols, biofuels, and renewable chemicals in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South America. www.whitefox.com
Website: whitefox.com
Twitter: @WhitefoxTech
LinkedIn: Click Here
Read the original press release here.
Nov 9, 2023
The USDA raised its forecast for 2023-’24 corn use in ethanol production by 25 million bushels in its latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, released Nov. 9. The agency also reduced its forecasted corn price.
The USDA said the current 2023-’24 corn outlook is for larger production, domestic use, exports and ending stocks. Corn production is forecast at 15.2 billion bushels, up 170 million from the October WASDE on a 1.9-bushel increase in yield to 174.9 bushels per acre.
With larger supplies, feed and residual use is raised 50 million bushels to 5.7 billion.
The USDA currently expects 5.325 billion bushels of corn to go to ethanol production for 2023-’24, up from last month’s forecast of 5.3 billion bushels. The agency’s estimate for 2022-’23 corn use in ethanol was revised down slightly, from 5.177 billion bushels in the October WASDE to 5.176 billion bushels in this month’s report. Approximately 5.32 billion bushels of corn went to ethanol production in 2021-’22.
The USDA increased its forecast for 2023-’24 corn exports by 50 million bushels to 2.2 billion. The season-average corn price received by producers is lowered 10 cents to $4.85 per bushel.
Foreign corn production is forecast higher as increases for Ukraine, Russia, Burma and Paraguay are partly offset by declines for Mexico, Egypt and Indonesia. Corn production for Ukraine and Russia is raised based on harvest results to date. Mexico production is lowered reflecting a reported decline in summer corn area.
Major global trade changes include larger corn exports for the U.S., Russia, Turky, Ukraine and Paraguay. Corn imports are raised for Canada, Egypt, Mexico, the EU and Saudia Arabia but lowered for Iran and Bangladesh. Global corn ending stocks, at 315 million tons, are up 2.6 million.
Read the original story here.
Nov 7, 2023
The U.S. exported 120.49 million gallons of ethanol and 1.03 million metric tons of distillers grains in September, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on Nov. 7. Exports of both products were up.
The 120.49 million gallons of ethanol exports reported for September was up nearly 18 percent when compared to the 102.26 million gallons exported the previous month and up more than 34 percent when compared to the 89.75 million gallons of exports reported for September 2022.
The U.S. exported ethanol to more than 40 countries in September. Canada was the top destination for U.S. ethanol exports at 60.42 million gallons, followed by the U.K. at 13.65 million gallons and Colombia at 8.26 million gallons.
The value of U.S. ethanol exports reached $317.81 million in September, up from both $278.41 million in August and $255.07 million in September of last year.
Total ethanol exports for the first nine months of 2023 reached 1.04 billion gallons at a value of $2.83 billion, compared to 1.07 billion gallons exported during the same period of 2022 at a value of nearly $3 billion.
The 1.03 million metric tons of distillers grains exported in September was up nearly 9 percent when compared to the 947,326 metric tons exported in August and up nearly 14 percent when compared to the 905,030 metric tons exported in September of last year.
The U.S. exported distillers grain to more than three dozen countries in September. Mexico was the top destination for U.S. distillers grains exports at 201,607 metric tons, followed by Vietnam at 139,553 metric tons and South Korea at 110,316 metric tons.
The value of U.S. distillers grains exports reached $287.01 million in September, up from both $271.65 million in August and $278.19 million in September 2022.
Total distillers grains exports for the first three quarters of this year reached 8.09 million metric tons at a value of $2.54 billion, compared to 8.57 million metric tons exported during the same period of last year at a value of $2.62 billion.
Read the original story here: USDA: Ethanol Exports Top 120 Million Gallons In September
Nov 7, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Max Miller (OH-07) today introduced the bipartisan Farm to Fly Act to create new, robust markets for American agricultural products and to strengthen domestic energy resources. Miller was joined by Representatives Mike Flood (NE-01), Angie Craig (MN-02), Brad Finstad (MN-01), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), and Randy Feenstra (IA-04) as original cosponsors.
The bill, which has strong support from the Ohio and national agriculture industries, as well as the aviation industry, would foster the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) within existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, allow for greater collaboration, and ensure USDA’s SAF definitions reflect eligibility for American agricultural crops.
“The Farm to Fly Act is important for three main reasons: it will provide access to new markets for our nation’s farmers, it will drive rural economic development, and it will strengthen our domestic energy resources,” said Congressman Miller. “I’m grateful for the close collaboration between my colleagues, Ohio and American agricultural producers, and the aviation industry, and I look forward to beating the drum until we see this one through for our farmers and rural communities.”
Strong Support for Farm to Fly Legislation on Capitol Hill:
“Expanding opportunities for biofuels will not only help family farmers across the country but will also help connect more American businesses with homegrown clean energy,” said Congressman Flood. “Making the eligibility criteria for Sustainable Aviation Fuels at the U.S. Department of Agriculture clearer is a great step forward on this journey. Thank you to Congressman Miller for your leadership on the Farm to Fly Act, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move this commonsense legislation quickly.”
“Expanding Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production is a win-win for Minnesota’s agriculture communities, economy, and environment,” said Congresswoman Craig. “That’s why I’m introducing the bipartisan Farm to Fly Act with my colleagues Reps. Max Miller, Brad Finstad and Mike Flood to ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture is working to support the expansion of the SAF market in Minnesota.”
“Sustainable Aviation Fuel continues to be a promising market for our ag producers and brings greater opportunity for U.S. farmers to partner with the aviation sector,” said Congressman Finstad. “I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation, which develops new markets for Minnesota farmers, opens the door to future opportunities for rural economic development, and strengthens American energy independence with fuel grown right here at home.”
“By utilizing sustainable aviation fuel, we can cut harmful emissions, support family farmers and reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m proud to join Congressman Max Miller in introducing the bipartisan Farm to Fly Act that will allow homegrown biofuels to power our aviation sector while supporting growth in rural economies. With this bill we can empower the USDA to drive a sustainable future for our aviation industry.”
“Airlines have committed to transitioning their fleets to Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and now we must act to give American Agriculture the tools it needs to rise to the occasion,” said Congresswoman Crockett. “Despite a growing market for SAF, the US is not currently producing enough SAF to meet the increasing demand. To address this, the Farm to Fly Act stands up a new initiative at USDA to ensure the agency is working to advance SAF across all its mission areas. I am proud to join Reps. Miller, Flood, Craig, Finstad, Budzinski, Hinson and Feenstra to build out Sustainable Aviation Fuel production capacity to meet rising demand for decades to come.”
“Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is the future of air travel. By converting agricultural biomass into airplane fuel, we can support Iowa farmers, reduce emissions by up to 94% compared to standard jet fuels, and use American energy – instead of foreign oil – to power our planes and safely transport passengers,” said Congressman Feenstra. “I’m excited to help introduce the Farm to Fly Act with my Midwestern colleagues to include SAF in USDA bio-energy programs, enhance public-private partnerships to advance SAF adoption and research, and utilize the GREET model to accurately measure the impact of SAF on emissions reductions. Representing the top biofuels-producing district in Congress, I know that Iowa has the unlimited potential to grow and produce our world’s future fuels, and this legislation will help us achieve this important goal.”
Read more here.
Oct 26, 2023
Novozymes on Oct. 26 reported that third quarter sales for its bioenergy segment were up 21 percent when compared to the same quarter of last year. Bioenergy sales for the first nine months of 2023 were up 25 percent when compared to the same period of 2022.
The company attributed the bioenergy segment’s strong performance to the continued penetration of its broad and innovative solution toolbox, allowing for higher yields, throughput, and byproduct value-capture for producers in a favorable market environment.
In particular, Novozymes said the North American market has experienced strong developments supported by a favorable market environment and roughly a 1 percent increase in U.S. ethanol production during the first three quarters of the year. U.S. ethanol production for the third quarter alone was up approximately 6 percent when compared to the same period of 2022.
Novozymes said performance was also strong outside of North America, driven by innovation as well as capacity expansion of corn-based ethanol production in Latin America. Growth was also supported by solutions for biodiesel production and sales of enzymes used in second-generation. Overall, growth was positively impacted by pricing, the company added.
Bioenergy accounted for 24 percent of Novozymes total sales during the first nine months of 2023. The company’s household care; food, beverages and human health; grain and tech processing; and agriculture, animal health and nutrition segments, accounted for 29 percent, 22 percent, 13 percent and 12 percent of sales, respectively.
For the full year, Novozymes currently predicts bioenergy sales will be up approximately 20 percent when compared to last year. That sales growth is expected to be supported by pricing, market penetration enabled by innovation, capacity expansion of corn-based ethanol production in Latin America, and market penetration with enzymatic solutions for biodiesel production. Growth is also expected to be supported to a degree by growing sales of solutions for second-generation ethanol production.
Overall, Novozymes reported an 8 percent increase in sales for the third quarter of 2023, with sales for the first nine months of the year up 5 percent when compared to the same periods of 2022.
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Oct 24, 2023
Archer Daniel Midland Co. Chairman and CEO Juan Luciano on Oct. 24 reported the company’s Carbohydrates Solutions business segment achieved record third quarter results. Robust ethanol demand and strong margins contributed to that strong performance.
ADM’s Carbohydrate Solutions segment delivered $460 million in operating profit during the third quarter, up from $309 million during the same period of last year. The Starches and Sweeteners subsegment, including ethanol production from the company’s wet mills, reported $395 million in operating profit, up from $327 million. The Vantage Corn Processors subsegment, which includes the company’s dry mill facilities, reported $65 million in operating profit, up from a $18 million loss reported for the same period of 2022. The company attributed the subsegment’s significantly improved performance to robust demand and margins for ethanol.
Vikram Luthar, chief financial officer of ADM, said the company remains constructive on ethanol margins, driven by solid domestic demand and healthy U.S. exports, which are supported by lower competing exports from Brazil due to higher sugar prices. Results for the fourth quarter are expected to be similar to the same period of last year, but with upside potential if the current margin structure holds, Luthar said.
During the third quarter earnings call, Luciano also fielded questions on ADM’s plans for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and concerns over permitting issues. The company has been operating a carbon CCS project at its facility in Decatur, Illinois for more than a decade. Two injection wells have already been developed. Luciano said the ADM plans to create five more injection wells over the next few years. Part of the planned project will involve bringing biogenic CO2 generated by the company’s ethanol plants through pipelines. He said permitting is underway for two of those pipelines, along with work related to right of way, acquisitions and related agreements.
Overall, ADM reported 1.421 billion in segment operating profit for the third quarter, down from $1.559 billion during the same period of last year. Adjusted operating profit was $1.492 billion, down from $1.579 billion. Earnings per share for the third quarter were at $1.52, down from $1.83 during the same quarter of 2022, with adjusted earnings per share at $1.63, down from $1.86.
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Oct 18, 2023
Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., on Oct. 17 reintroduced the Adopt Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Act, which aims to require the U.S. EPA to update its greenhouse gas (GHG) modeling for all renewable fuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Previous versions of the bill have been introduced several times, including in the U.S. Senate in 2020 and 2021 and the U.S. House of Representatives in 2021.
The Adopt GREET Act would specifically require the EPA to apply Argonne National Laboratory’s GREET model to any fuel for which the agency has approved a pathway and deemed qualified for the RFS. The bill would also require the EPA to update its modeling every five years or report to congress to affirm its modeling is current or otherwise explain why no updates were made.
“It’s past time for the EPA to update its greenhouse gas modeling for all biofuels, which would more accurately reflect the emissions reductions achieved by ethanol, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel,” Thune said. “This would not only underscore how homegrown biofuels can be a cleaner part of our energy security and environmental policy, driving value for South Dakota farmers, but also make biofuel exports more attractive to countries seeking to lower their transportation emissions.”
“It is critical that the EPA’s greenhouse gas modeling for biofuels be updated to fully reflect the newest science and technology,” Klobuchar said. “This legislation will allow us to fully recognize how ethanol, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel can contribute to our emissions reduction goals while expanding and promoting the use of clean energy and rural jobs across the country.”
The Renewable Fuels Association is thanking Thune and Klobuchar for reintroducing the bill. “This legislation would help ensure that renewable fuel regulations are based on sound science and current data, not speculative theories and obsolete information,” said Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the RFA. “Around the world, the Argonne National Laboratory GREET model is recognized as the gold standard for analyzing the lifecycle greenhouse gases impacts of renewable fuels like ethanol, and the model is regularly updated to reflect efficiency improvements and technological advancements in the fuel production process. We thank Senators Thune and Klobuchar for bringing scientific integrity and accuracy to the federal government’s regulatory actions on renewable fuels.”
Growth Energy is also welcoming the reintroduction of the Adopt GREET Act. “Biofuels are playing a crucial role in helping our nation meet our energy and climate goals,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “As a country, we can’t afford for renewable, affordable biofuels to be held back by outdated and inaccurate modeling. Years of rigorous, peer-reviewed research have shown that corn ethanol already cuts greenhouse gas emissions nearly in half compared to gasoline. Unfortunately, EPA’s outdated model fails to fully capture the enormous decarbonization potential of ethanol. Growth Energy and its members applaud Senators Thune and Klobuchar for sponsoring this commonsense legislation. It’s past time for the EPA to implement sound science and fully recognize biofuels’ outsized role in creating our clean energy future.”
The American Coalition for Ethanol is speaking out in support of the bill. “We appreciate Senator Thune’s and Klobuchar’s legislation, which helps lay the foundation for ethanol to decarbonize the transportation sector by requiring EPA to apply the latest GREET model to more accurately account for corn ethanol’s carbon intensity when establishing regulations which could impact ethanol use in the future,” said Brian Jennings, CEO of ACE.
“The U.S. Department of Energy GREET model, which is widely recognized as the gold standard tool to audit the energy and environmental effects of transportation fuels such as ethanol and gasoline, indicates that corn ethanol reduces greenhouse gases by 50 percent compared to gasoline,” he added.
“ACE is focused on helping farmers and ethanol producers maximize their low carbon investments, and while no model can fully replicate real-world activities, GREET is equipped with the best available science on lifecycle GHG emissions of transportation fuels and technologies because the assumptions and estimates used in GREET are under constant peer review and updates to the model occur annually,” Jennings continued.
In addition to the RFA, Growth Energy and ACE, the Adopt GREET Act is also supported by POET, Gevo, the National Corn Growers Association and the National Oilseed Processors Association.
Bill cosponsors include Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.; Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Roger Marshall, R-Kan.; Pete Ricketts, R-Neb.; and Mike Rounds, R-S.D.
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