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Consumer & Fuel Retailer Choice Act deserves OK

St. Cloud Times

July 19, 2017

By Rep. Tama Theis

Minnesotans are known for finding bipartisanship solutions when it comes to agriculture. Ag is an issue that joins all political parties for the benefit of all Minnesotans.

It’s why I am glad to see some of our Minnesota delegation supporting a bipartisan solution in Congress that could help bring certainty and stability to a key part of our energy infrastructure — cleaner, greener American-made biofuels like ethanol.

Unfortunately, due to an antiquated regulation, retailers are not allowed to sell environmentally-friendly E15 during the summer months. There is bipartisan support to fix this outdated policy and allow E15 to be sold year-round, just like all other kinds of fuel. Allowing consumers more choices at the pump is better for our state and better for our state’s economy.

Ethanol is already present in 97 percent of all U.S. gasoline, typically sold as 10 percent ethanol blend. But drivers in Minnesota are among those with immediate access to higher biofuel blends, specifically the 15 percent ethanol blend (E15) sold at Minnoco stations around the state.

These higher biofuel blends reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower the price at the pump.

Congress should pass the Consumer & Fuel Retailer Choice Act and pave the way for increased use of cleaner-burning, American-made fuel for all Minnesotans.

The author represents District 14A in the Minnesota House.

Read the original article: Consumer & Fuel Retailer Choice Act deserves OK

Al-Corn Expansion a Bit Ahead of Schedule

July 17, 2017

By Holly Galbus

CLAREMONT, Minn. — The expansion and modernization project at Al-Corn Clean Fuel here is expected to be finished a few months earlier than planned.

The project, which began in December, was originally expected to be completed in July 2018. Randall Doyal, CEO of Al-Corn, said it is looks like the project will be finished by the end of April or early May.

"We're a little ahead of schedule, which is great," Doyle said. "There's a lot of progress being made."

Al-Corn, founded in 1994, is a farmer-owned ethanol production cooperative just south of U.S. 14 in southeastern Minnesota. It grinds 17.5 million bushels of corn and produces 50 million gallons of ethanol annually. When the expansion and modernization is completed, production will expand to 120 million gallons of ethanol.

Crews have been at work all across the grounds, doing underground and concrete work. In May, construction of two 112-foot silos was completed. The silos will store distillers dried grains with solubles, a final product in the ethanol production process.

Two new ethanol storage tanks also are being constructed. Al-Corn's current ethanol storage capacity is 1 million gallons. The new tanks, expected to be finished in a month, will each store 2 million gallons.

Nearing completion are four 75-feet tall fermenters; each have a capacity of 1 million gallons. The fermenters stand next to the three older ones, which each have a 500,000 gallon capacity.

Nearby, work on distillation and vaporization vessels is expected to be completed by the end of July.

The concrete bases for two corn bins, each 105 feet in diameter, are in place. Eventually they will store 1.5 million bushels of corn.

Also in the early stage of construction is the CHP, or Combined Heat Power. The unit will generate 40 percent of Al-Corn's electric power. Doyal said the CHP is being built in Texas, and he plans to travel there in August to observe testing on the unit before it is shipped to Claremont. The CHP is expected to be completed by October.

West of the original facility grounds, crews are working on grading the area to expand rail capacity. Once that is done, gravel and ballast will be spread in preparation for the three loops of rail. The facility has a 10-car spur. Upon expansion, the facility will handle 100 cars at a time.

"This will allow us to get to markets we haven't reached yet," Doyal said.

When completed, the Al-Corn Clean Fuel facility will cover 200 acres.

Until then, it's business as usual for the plant. Doyal said the plant has continued to operate at full capacity throughout construction. Farmers with trucks full of corn continue to stream into the entrance, and line up in preparation for weighing and processing.

Read the original article: Al-Corn Expansion a Bit Ahead of Schedule

Tiny Particles Increase in Air with Ethanol-to-Gasoline Switch

July 17, 2017

The concentration of ultrafine particles less than 50 nanometers in diameter rose by one-third in the air of São Paulo, Brazil, when higher ethanol prices induced drivers to switch from ethanol to gasoline, according to a new study by a Northwestern University chemist, a National University of Singapore economist and two University of São Paulo physicists.

Environmental protection agencies across the world currently do not measure or regulate particles of this size, which studies have shown to be harmful to human health.

The research team also found when São Paulo drivers—some two million of them—switched back to ethanol because prices had gone down, the concentration of ultrafine particles also went down. This lockstep movement illustrates a very tight correlation between fuel choice and nanoparticles in the air.

"We studied São Paulo, but there are many North American cities, including Chicago, with similar air chemistry, especially spring through fall," said Franz M. Geiger, professor of chemistry in Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

"The push we are seeing in large cities away from gasoline and toward vehicles powered by ethanol, electricity or a mix of the two will result in a reduction of these ultrafine particles. This likely comes with a health benefit—these particles, below one micron, have the potential to get deeply into your lungs," he said.

Geiger and Alberto Salvo, an associate professor of economics at the National University of Singapore, led the unusual study—their second with São Paulo big data. The fact that São Paulo consumers can and do switch between fuels for reasons unrelated to air quality provided the researchers with a real-world laboratory for studying the effects of human behavior at the fuel pump on urban air pollution.

The study will be published July 17 by the journal Nature Communications. The prospect of increased biofuel use and mounting evidence on ultrafines' health effects make the results policy relevant, the authors write.

"With this knowledge, we hope more money and human resources will be invested in trying to understand and possibly monitor these ultrafine particles," said Salvo, who formerly was with Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. "The big unknown is what type of particles are the most harmful to health."

The interdisciplinary team conducted a regression analysis of traffic, consumer behavior, aerosol particle size and meteorological data from January 2011 through May 2011. The data studied was from before, during and after the time of a major fuel switch due to a large fluctuation in ethanol prices.

The researchers also found the choice of fuel had no effect on the concentration of larger particles. These particles include fine particulate matter 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) down to particles 100 nanometers in diameter. The U.S. and many other countries regulate PM2.5, but particles smaller than PM2.5 are not regulated.

Geiger and Salvo were fortunate to have access to aerosol particle size distribution data from an unrelated research project overseen by Paulo Artaxo and Joel Brito at the University of São Paulo. Artaxo and Brito's experiments captured data from before, during and after the major fuel switch. They are co-authors of the Nature Communications paper, along with Geiger and Salvo.

The Nature Communications study builds on an earlier study in which Geiger and Salvo found that an increase in ethanol use resulted in a significant increase in ozone concentrations in São Paulo. Officials, Geiger said, will need to weigh the increase in ozone against the decrease in nanoparticles when ethanol is used.

Next, for the third chapter of the story, the research team would like to determine what happened in terms of health outcomes in São Paulo as cars switched out of gasoline to ethanol and back to gasoline.

The paper is titled "Reduced ultrafine particle levels in São Paulo's atmosphere during shifts from gasoline to ethanol use."

Explore further: Study shows lower ozone pollution in Sao Paulo when drivers switched from ethanol to gasoline

Read the original story: Tiny Particles Increase in Air with Ethanol-to-Gasoline Switch

Al-Corn Ethanol Production Closes in On 3-gallon Per Bushel Goal

July 12, 2017

By Sandra Cowherd

MINNESOTA, July 12, 2017 - In its latest newsletter, Minnesota-based Al-Corn Clean Fuel announced its undenatured yield averaged 2.911 gallons of ethanol per bushel in the second quarter. The co-op said this moved production closer to the “magic number” of 3 gallons of fuel ethanol per bushel. The increased yield was achieved through enhanced focus on current operations and improvements from a major expansion, which added new fermenters and addressed flooding issues.

Read the original story: Al-Corn Ethanol Production Closes in On 3-gallon Per Bushel Goal

EPA schedules hearing on RFS proposal for Aug. 1

Ethanol Producer Magazine

July 12, 2017

By Erin Voegele

The U.S. EPA has announced plans to hold a public hearing Aug. 1 in Washington, D.C., for its recently released rule to set 2018 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard, along with the 2019 RVO for biomass-based diesel.

The agency released a prepublication version of the proposed rule on July 5. The proposal calls for approximately 19.24 billion gallons of renewable fuels to be blended into the national fuel supply next year. This includes 238 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel, 2.1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel and 4.24 billion gallons of advanced biofuel. For 2019, the new proposal calls for the biomass-based diesel RVO to be maintained at 2.1 billion gallons.

In a notice posted to its website, the EPA said the hearing aims to provide interested parties the opportunity to present data, views, or arguments concerning the proposal. The agency may ask clarifying questions during the hearing, but will not respond to presentations at that time. Written statements and supporting information submitted during the public comment period will be considered with the same weight as information presented at the hearing.

Those wishing to testify at the hearing should notify the EPA by July 25. Additional information is available the EPA website.

The EPA is expected to open a 45-day public comment period on the proposed rule following its publication in the Federal Register. A prepublication version of the rule can be downloaded from the EPA website.

Read the original story: EPA schedules hearing on RFS proposal for Aug. 1

Opinion: Increased Access to E15 Will Help to Drive U.S. Energy Independence

July 10, 2017

By Ron Wulfkuhle

July 10th is U.S. Energy Independence Day, a time to celebrate Earth-friendly American ethanol. Last year alone, the ethanol industry created and supported 340,000 jobs and contributed roughly $42 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – a number exceeding the total GDP of many countries. And, the production of more than 15 billion gallons of ethanol meant that the U.S. needed to import approximately 540 million fewer barrels of crude oil to meet the country’s demand for gasoline.¹

One key to the future success of the U.S. ethanol industry, however, will be increased access to higher ethanol blends, such as E15. To date, American drivers have surpassed 1 billion miles on E15 and E15 is currently sold at more than 800 retail outlets across 29 states, with expansion expected to double.² Greater access to E15 though, including during the high-volume, gasoline consumption summer months, is essential.

Looking ahead, retail partnerships will be key to continuing to expand the availability for higher ethanol blends. Earlier this year, Syngenta announced a $340,000 donation to the Prime the Pump Fund. Prime the Pump is helping high-volume, progressive-minded and industry-leading fuel retailers, who will demonstrate the performance, cost savings and profit opportunity of marketing higher ethanol blends, such as E15.

According to Growth Energy, the vehicles that E15 is approved for account for more than 87 percent of all those on the road today. And, nearly 20 million vehicles are approved for any blend of ethanol up to 85 percent ethanol. Clearly, we have the vehicles capable of using blends higher than E10, but consumers need greater access to stations capable of providing it. Efforts like Prime the Pump will help make that access a reality. The widespread availability of flex-fuel vehicles – as well as those eligible to use E15 – demonstrates that there is a market ready for a less expensive, higher octane, more environmentally friendly alternative fuel.

Consumers across the USA clearly benefit from the reduced cost of ethanol and lower emissions. However, rural America, specifically small towns and communities, benefit greatly as well. Syngenta’s Enogen^® corn enzyme technology is one example of a technology advancement that allows ethanol plants to pay premiums to corn growers. These premiums are substantial with likely payouts of $34 million from ethanol plants to corn growers in rural communities this year alone. These dollars are then circulated in these communities, helping to generate tax dollars for schools and roads and keeping rural America vitalized.

New technologies are also helping to make ethanol even more sustainable. For example, approximately 10 percent of the corn kernel dry weight is fiber, and converting corn kernel fiber feedstock to cellulosic ethanol has been possible for some time. However, recent advances in technologies can enable commercial deployment today. In fact, the approximately 12 million tons of corn kernel fiber feedstock already available at U.S. dry grind ethanol plants each year could produce a potential 1.5 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol – with no additional corn.³

In 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency added corn kernel fiber to the list of qualifying cellulosic biofuel feedstocks as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). That same year, using Cellerate™ process technology, Quad County Corn Processors (QCCP) was the first commercial cellulosic facility – using corn kernel fiber as feedstock – and achieved EPA certification to generate D3 RINs. Through November 2016, QCCP’s output represented approximately 85 percent of D3 RIN ethanol produced.⁴ To date, QCCP has produced more than 6 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol.

Since the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, ethanol has become an important success story. Ethanol is helping America reduce its dependence on foreign oil, lowering prices at the pump, improving the environment with lower emissions, and growing the economy with jobs that can’t be outsourced. Syngenta is proud to partner with corn growers and the ethanol industry to help provide consumers with the choice to purchase a superior, higher octane fuel and pay less.

Read the original story: Opinion: Increased Access to E15 Will Help to Drive U.S. Energy Independence

Peterson on the EPA’s RFS Proposal

Congressman Collin Peterson

July 6, 2017

Press Release

Congressman Collin C. Peterson (D-Minn.) released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed its proposed renewable volume obligations (RVO) for 2018 and 2019 as required by the Renewable Fuel Standard.

“I am pleased that EPA correctly recognized corn ethanol as a robust industry capable of producing 15 billion gallons as required by statute,” Peterson said. “I will continue to work with EPA on market access issues like the Reid Vapor Pressure fix which is needed to improve consumer choices at the pump."

By law, EPA is required to release its final RVO numbers for 2018 and 2019 by November 30, 2017. Read the original release: Peterson on the EPA’s RFS Proposal

Klobuchar on EPA Release of Proposed Renewable Fuel Standard Requirements

Senator Amy Klobuchar

July 5, 2017

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement following the release of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed 2018 and 2019 Renewable Fuel Standard volume requirements.

“Renewable fuels are a homegrown economic generator for Minnesota and for our country. It is good that the Administration has maintained ethanol volume requirements for 2018 and 2019. At the same time, reducing the blend targets of advanced biofuels could short-change the growth of clean energy innovation that creates jobs and strengthens rural communities. It is critical that the final rule is stronger for advanced biofuels and I will work with the Administration to push for improvements that support biofuel production in Minnesota and around the United States."

For years, Klobuchar has led a bipartisan push for the EPA to release a stronger RFS to support American jobs and decrease dependence on foreign oil. Last November, the former Administration released a stronger final rule for 2017, which will require a record amount of biofuel to be mixed into our transportation fuel supply next year. Minnesota’s twenty ethanol plants and three biodiesel plants generate roughly $5 billion in combined economic output and have made our state the fourth-largest ethanol producing state in the country. In April, Klobuchar and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) led a bipartisan group of 23 senators in urging the Administration to reject changes to the RFS that would upend stability and predictability for small businesses and rural communities.

Read the original release: Klobuchar on EPA Release of Proposed Renewable Fuel Standard Requirements

More...

Sen. Franken’s Statement on the Proposed 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard Targets

Senator Al Franken

July 5, 2017

Press Release

Sen. Al Franken issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) targets for 2018.

The new proposal would allow the biofuel industry to blend 4.24 billion gallons of advanced biofuels-like biodiesel-and 15 billion gallons of ethanol into our nation's fuel supply during 2018.

"The Renewable Fuel Standard creates good jobs, promotes homegrown energy, and decreases our nation's reliance on foreign oil," said Sen. Franken. "While I'm pleased that the administration plans to maintain the 15 billion gallon target for conventional ethanol, the targets for biodiesel and other advanced biofuels fall short of what the industry is capable of producing. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has said the final rule will be out by the end of November, and I'll be doing everything I can to push the administration to strengthen the RFS for producers in Minnesota and across our nation."

The RFS was created as a way to expand our country's energy portfolio by requiring that gasoline is blended with renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel.

Read the original release: Sen. Franken’s Statement on the Proposed 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard Targets

Proposed Volume Standards for 2018, and the Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2019

2017 Announcements for the Renewable Fuel Standard

Proposed Volume Standards for 2018, and the Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2019

Rule Summary:

On July 5, 2017 EPA issued proposed volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard program for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel for calendar year 2018. EPA also proposed biomass-based diesel volume standards for calendar year 2019. The proposed volume requirements are listed in the table below.

2017 RVOs RFS

Additional Resources:

Proposed rule (PDF)(89 pp, 849 K, pre-publication, signed July 5, 2017, About PDF)

Brazilian Ethanol Concerns Said to Drive Delay in EPA's Quotas

June 30, 2017

By Jennifer A Dlouhy and Mario Parker

Concerns that refiners will import ethanol from Brazil and biodiesel from Argentina to fulfill renewable fuel requirements prompted U.S. environmental chief Scott Pruitt to reconsider quotas for those fuels, according to people familiar with the program.

The issue has delayed the Environmental Protection Agency’s publication of proposed mandates for 2018, as Pruitt seeks revisions, according to four people tracking the deliberations. That may include lowering the targets so refiners can rely mostly on U.S.-made biodiesel and corn ethanol, they said.

EPA had previously sent the White House proposed quotas that would require the use of 15 billion gallons of renewable fuel, but the new concerns are causing the agency to rethink that approach, according to the people, who asked for anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

The EPA debate comes as President Donald Trump pushes an America-first approach to trade. The administration is considering slapping tariffs on foreign-made products such as steel and aluminum in a bid to help domestic producers and support national security. After a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in Thursday, Trump said that nation must stop exporting “dumped steel” into the U.S. market.

As part of his American energy focus, Trump told an Iowa audience this month: "By the way, we’re saving your ethanol industries." He also just spent this week touting "American energy dominance," and the ability of U.S. exports to supply the world’s energy needs.

These trade issues have already seeped into the biofuel markets. U.S. biodiesel producers filed a trade complaint against imports from Argentina and Indonesia, asking the government to impose tariffs to counter what they say are unfair subsidies and dumping.

Unlike those trade investigations, the EPA has a limited ability to discourage the use of imported biofuels under the congressionally mandated program. That program aimed to spur production of American-made fuel, but its quotas apply to all renewable fuels -- no matter their origin.

If the EPA does take measures to restrict imports, the net result would be a spike in the price of credits tracking compliance with renewable fuel mandates and that would "drive up consumer cost significantly," said Mike McAdams, president of the Advanced Biofuels Association.

"If you want to stick it to the consumer, Mr. Administrator, just roll back the number for imported fuels with your misguided America-first policy," McAdams, whose members include Brazilian-based producers, said in an interview. "You need imports to satisfy targets."

The delays could also make it harder for the EPA to hit a Nov. 30 deadline in federal law to finalize biofuel quotas for the following year. The Obama administration missed that deadline repeatedly, until last year when they came out on time. Pruitt has promised to keep the program’s timing on track and "honor the intent" of Congress in creating the mandates.

Representatives from the EPA did not respond to requests for comment.

Under the Renewable Fuel Standard, first created by Congress in 2005, refiners can use imports to help satisfy multiple mandates in the program and make up for domestic shortfalls. For example, while refiners use U.S. corn-based ethanol to fulfill the bulk of a 2017 requirement to blend in 15 billion gallons of conventional renewable fuels, they are turning to some foreign supplies to help them hit the target.

The U.S. imported 36 million gallons of ethanol from Brazil last year, down from more than 400 million gallons in 2012, according to the Energy Information Administration. U.S. distillers produced a record 15.3 billion gallons of ethanol in 2016, it said.

The EPA is tasked with dictating specific annual quotas, but the agency has limited authority to waive the statutory goals and set lower targets. And the breadth of the EPA’s leeway is in doubt, as a federal court weighs a biofuel industry lawsuit challenging the agency’s waivers issued under former President Barack Obama.

In addition to the overall biofuel target, the agency sets standards for biodiesel, typically derived from soybean oil; advanced biofuel, which has lower carbon emissions; and cellulosic ethanol, which comes from sources such as crop waste or algae.

Sugarcane-derived ethanol made in Brazil qualifies as an "advanced biofuel," which means it can satisfy quotas for two different types of fuel in the program -- both for advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel. Corn-based ethanol doesn’t qualify as advanced.

Imported biodiesel is particularly useful because it can help satisfy quotas for three different required fuels -- advanced, total and biodiesel. Under the program, refiners receive 1.5 compliance credits for each gallon of biodiesel they blend into petroleum.

Read the original story: Brazilian Ethanol Concerns Said to Drive Delay in EPA's Quotas

American Oversight Sues EPA to Release Communications with Carl Icahn

American Oversight

June 27, 2017

Press Release

American Oversight today filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to force the release of communications with investor and White House advisor Carl Icahn, along with calendars and phone logs for Administrator Scott Pruitt and other top agency officials.

“President Trump tapping Carl Icahn to give advice on energy regulations is the definition of conflict of interest,” said American Oversight Executive Director Austin Evers. “We need to know what kind of influence Mr. Icahn has at the EPA to see if he has been shaping energy policy to benefit himself at the expense of American families. It seems Mr. Icahn, like so many other Trump administration officials, may be using his position for his own personal financial benefit.”

On December 21st, President-elect Trump announced his intent to appoint Carl Icahn to serve as a “special advisor” to the president on regulatory reform. Subsequent reports have indicated that Mr. Icahn may have used his role in the administration to advocate for regulatory changes that would benefit him financially. In particular, reports indicate that Mr. Icahn has used his influence at the EPA to seek changes to ethanol regulations that would have saved CVR Energy, one of his holdings, over $200 million in 2016.

Scott Pruitt has repeatedly shown himself to be malleable to industry influence both in his former role as the Oklahoma Attorney General and now as EPA Administrator. As attorney general Mr. Pruitt maintained close ties with the oil and gas industry as well as other sectors that he was responsible for scrutinizing. American Oversight seeks to learn the extent to which Mr. Pruitt has continued his pattern of maintaining unduly close relationships with those he was charged with regulating.

On April 5, 2017, American Oversight filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the EPA seeking communications between senior agency officials, including Administrator Pruitt, and Carl Icahn, as well as representatives of CVR Energy. Separately, American Oversight also requested calendars and phone logs for Mr. Pruitt and his top aides and officials at the EPA. After failing to receive an adequate response from the EPA, American Oversight filed suit today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to force the administration to release the records.

Mr. Evers continued, “In just 6 months in office, it seems President Trump and Scott Pruitt are letting the foxes take charge of the henhouse and abdicating regulatory authority to companies that stand to profit by undermining regulations.”

Click HERE to read the complaint that was filed today.

Read the original release: American Oversight Sues EPA to Release Communications with Carl Icahn

More Energy, More Choice

Morning Consult

June 27, 2017

By Robert Walther

The arrival of summer in Washington is typically marked by growing legions of tourists zipping along on Segways and a seemingly constant need to take shelter from sudden rainstorms better suited to the tropics. In the fuel business, because of one antiquated rule, the transition to summer is much more abrupt — and much less welcome. If not resolved, it could mean one thing evading the rest of the country is a cleaner, less expensive fuel option.

Every June 1, gas station owners must re-engineer their product offerings to accommodate a decades-old Environmental Protection Agency regulation that limits sales of E15, a fuel blend containing 15 percent homegrown, low-emission ethanol. The prohibition lasts until Sept. 15, and represents one of the greatest barriers to growth in America’s renewable energy industry. It also costs retailers millions of dollars to navigate the switch, and it forces E15 customers to buy less-appealing fuels for 5 to 10 cents more per gallon. Those costs can add up quickly during the summer driving season when prices are already above the norm.

In practice, the rule — a limit on Reid vapor pressure — was designed to hold down the evaporation of toxic petroleum-based chemicals during the warm summer months. But, because RVP limits were set years before higher ethanol blends were part of the calculation, the obsolete rule now forces retailers to offer less earth-friendly options at the pump for more than three months each year.

Fixing this technical glitch would be fairly simple, and even EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has expressed his hope for a solution, but only an act of Congress can keep E15 beyond the reach of oil industry lawyers looking hold back any competition at the gas pump.

To overcome the opposition, Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) brought together a broad, bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to introduce the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, S. 517.

During a recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Brooke Colman with the Advanced Biofuels Business Council testified that new markets for homegrown fuel are vital to attracting investment dollars and “critical to first-movers in commercial cellulosic ethanol production.” His point was reinforced in a letter from POET and dozens of other leaders in second-generation biofuels who noted that, “during the summer months alone E15 can reduce GHGs equivalent to taking 2.1 million vehicles off the road.”

A top executive from the nation’s largest E15 retailer, Sheetz, also explained to committee members that the fix would simply allow “greater consumer access for a fuel that is lower cost, higher performing, and better for the environment.”

And Janet Yanowitz at Ecoengineering Inc. summed up the science for committee members, reporting that “the available emissions test data indicates that replacing E10 with an E15 of the same vapor pressure will cause a slight decrease in emissions of ozone forming organic compounds and carbon monoxide, and no change in NOx.” Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reported this year that homegrown ethanol reduces carbon emissions by 43 percent compared to gasoline, a number that continues to grow as petroleum production relies on increasingly destructive extraction methods. And if those carbon savings aren’t enough, the cellulosic ethanol produced at plants like POET’s Project Liberty can slash emissions by 85 to 95 percent or more. To be clear, cellulosic biofuels are the future of our industry and our company, but we need market headroom to scale up advanced energy sources.

The only real opposition comes from a few oil company executives who think that holding consumer choice hostage is a good way to force pro-biofuel lawmakers to negotiate with refinery owners such as Carl Icahn. They are even dusting off an old oil-funded study by the Coordinating Research Council, which claimed that E15 damaged engines, but was immediately rejected by the Department of Energy, which pointed out that the report was “significantly flawed” and relied on “unreliable and incomplete data.” No surprise then that legitimate testing by the DOE of 86 vehicles operated up to 120,000 miles each found “no statistically significant loss of vehicle performance.” In fact, the EPA approves E15 for all passenger vehicles built since 2001. And because E15 offers higher-octane, a lower cost, and cleaner air, it’s quickly gaining popularity among consumers in 29 states and counting.

That progress could be accelerated, and all it will take is a simple, bipartisan fix to one outdated summer fuel regulation. It’s time to act. Cleaner, less costly fuel is a goal that everyone can agree on, and we urge the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to act quickly to fulfill the promise of America’s growing biofuel industry and open a market that will continue to drive investment in the next generation of low-carbon fuels.

Read the original story: More Energy, More Choice

Representatives Press Pruitt On Icahn’s role In Shaping the RFS

Ethanol Producer Magazine

June 23, 2017

By Erin Voegele

On June 21, democratic leaders in the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt asking him to detail policies and procedures the agency has put in place to prevent Carl Icahn from influencing the EPA’s position on the Renewable Fuel Standard for personal financial gain.

Icahn is the majority owner of CVR Energy, which is a petroleum refining company involved in the renewable identification number (RIN) market. In late December, he was also named as a special advisor to President Donald Trump on issues related to regulatory reform.

The letter details several statements made by Icahn criticizing the RFS and questions financial gains made by Icahn and his companies following reports of policy recommendations he has made regarding the RFS. According to the letter, CVR saw shares rise 10 percent the day after Icahn was named as a special advisor to the president.

“Recent reports about Mr. Icahn’s actions with respect to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program have raised significant ethical and legal concerns given his oil refinery business interests,” the members wrote. “The Committee has a longstanding interest in ensuring that the Administration operates transparently and in compliance with all applicable conflict of interest regulations and policies.”

The members continued, “These reports raise significant concerns regarding Mr. Icahn’s ability to advise President Trump impartially on regulatory matters that impact Mr. Icahn’s financial interests. This is especially troubling because, as an unpaid adviser, Mr. Icahn presumably has not undergone a review by the Office of Government Ethics and is not subject to conflicts of interest regulations applicable to government employees.”

The letter asks Pruitt to explain Icahn’s role in the discussion and development of agency actions regarding the RFS and asks the EPA to provide a copy of all communications or memos exchanged between Icahn and EPA personnel related to the RFS program. The letter also asks Pruitt to explain what disclosure is required by the EPA when it receives communication from unpaid advisors of the president; provide information pertaining to meetings and calls between EPA personnel and Icahn; explain EPA policies and procedures that govern disclosure of non-public, confidential or otherwise privileged information to individuals serving as unpaid advisors to the president; describe policies or procedures that ensure unpaid advisors do not have undue access to EPA officials; and discuss other actions the EPA has taken to safeguard against undue influence by the president’s unpaid advisors.

The letter is signed by Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J.; Energy Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Bobby L. Rush, D-Ill.; Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Diana DeGette , D-Colo.; Subcommittee on Environment Ranking Member Rep. Paul D. Tonko, D-N.Y.; and Democracy Reform Task Force Chair Rep. John Sarbanes, D-M.D.

The letter is the latest in a series of actions by federal lawmakers seeking answers to Icahn’s role in setting RFS policy. In May, a group of senators issued a letter to the heads of the U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. EPA calling for an investigation of Icahn for potential insider trading, market manipulation and other securities and commodities law violations related to the market for RINs. In June, a separate group of senators sent a letter to Pruitt requesting any information the agency has on Icahn’s role in crafting policy and regulations at the EPA, particularly with regard to the RFS.

Read the original story: Representatives Press Pruitt On Icahn’s role In Shaping the RFS

Nissan Brazil Ends Initial Tests of Ethanol Fuel Cell

June 16, 2017

By Fernando Calmon

Nissan was the auto industry's first company to develop a vehicle prototype powered by a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that works with bio-ethanol. By combining this and two other technologies (electric motor and a 24 kW/h battery) range is in excess of 600km (375 miles).

Brazil was chosen by the Japanese automaker for the global reveal of the technology and initial testing due to its huge, nationwide ethanol supply network and being the world's second largest ethanol producer.

Testing was done with two SOFC-equipped e-NV200 electric vans made in Spain and fitted with an ethanol fuel tank of just 30 litres (6.6 imperial gallons).

The first testing cycle in daily use was accomplished in the last few months by the Nissan Brazil research and development team. The technology fitted perfectly with day to day use and with Brazil's 5% water, hydrous ethanol fuel.

The Fuel Cell e-bio's research and development programme was announced by Nissan in Yokohama, Japan, in June 2016. It was first unveiled on the eve of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games opening in Rio de Janeiro City in August last year at an event for smart mobility organised by Nissan.

The motor is clean, highly efficient and it works 100% on straight ethanol or on a mix of ethanol with up to 50% water, which would make it easier to use in countries with no ethanol production dependent on imports. Its emission are classified as carbon-neutral well to wheel.

The Fuel Cell e-Bio provides the usual strong acceleration and silent drive of any electric vehicle, together with low maintenance costs, but with the range of a fossil fuel-powered vehicle.

Bio-ethanol comes mainly from sugar cane and corn available in North and South American countries.

Read the original article: Nissan Brazil Ends Initial Tests of Ethanol Fuel Cell

U.S. Ethanol Organizations Applaud Mexico’s Adoption Of E10

By U.S. Grains Council

June 19, 2017

The Mexican Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) announced recently a change that will increase the maximum amount of ethanol that can be blended in Mexican gas supplies from 5.8 percent to 10 percent, except in the cities of Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City.

The announcement modifies the Mexican Official Standard NOM 016-CRE-2016 regarding the quality specifications for fuels by increasing the maximum volume content of anhydrous ethanol as an oxygenate in regular and premium gasolines in Mexico.

This change comes as part of ongoing energy reforms in Mexico and follows input from stakeholders in the government, private sector, research scientists and social interest groups.

Mexico’s regulators moved in August 2016 to allow ethanol in local fuel supplies, except in its three largest metropolitan areas. In its decision, the CRE recognized the benefits of E10, which will help demonstrate that a 10 percent ethanol blend can positively contribute to air quality improvement and reduced cancer risk throughout the country. The Mexican Institute of Petroleum is also studying the merits of E10 blends.

The decision moves Mexico toward global standards in the use of renewable and sustainable energy resources like ethanol that offer environmental, economic, social and public health advantages over other additives and oxygenates for gasoline.

“We are pleased to see this decision, which is the culmination of significant work by Mexican authorities and industry as they continue to diversify and improve their fuel supplies,” said Tom Sleight, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) President and CEO. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with Mexican leaders as they seek to build their own biofuels industry and offer cleaner fuels for the Mexican people.”

“We’re strongly encouraged by this announcement, which clears the way for further adoption of ethanol into the Mexican fuel supply,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “By doing so, Mexican consumers will see how embracing ethanol will reduce harmful emissions, help contribute to a cleaner environment, and will create a stronger rural sector.”

“We are greatly encouraged by Mexico’s recent decision to allow the sale and use of 10 percent ethanol (E10) as part of its fuel market reform efforts,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “By permitting the use of E10 in its fuel market, Mexico will have blend levels consistent with fuel sold and used throughout the United States and Canada. Not only will Mexico be able to achieve greater octane and oxygenate benefits from using E10, it will help to drive trade and investment in its ethanol fuel sector. We hope the Mexican Institute of Petroleum will soon conclude its study, and are confident the study will affirm the air quality benefits of the use of E10 in the country’s most populous cities, thereby allowing it to be used in all regions of the country.”

Read the original story: U.S. Ethanol Organizations Applaud Mexico’s Adoption Of E10

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