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Minneapolis, June 1– Eleven students from Worthington High School visited Heron Lake Bioenergy on May 30 to learn about ethanol production.
Minneapolis, July 27 – Hth companies has become the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association’s latest vendor member.
“We are pleased to welcome hth companies to our growing roster of members. All of our members are committed to growing and strengthening Minnesota’s ethanol industry,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
Headquartered in Union, Missouri, hth companies provides a wide-array of services to commercial and industrial customers throughout the Midwest. It has branches in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee.
Among its services for the ethanol industry include mechanical insulation, scaffold erection, hydro blasting, vacuum trucks (for small maintenance problems to complete plant turnaround services), mechanical work such as pipe fitting, welding and pump repairs and confined space rescue.
The company also specializes in complete turnaround services for the ethanol industry in energy center maintenance, distillation and process maintenance and grain maintenance.
In 2016, hth companies was named Contractor of the Year by Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc, which is a national construction industry trade association that represents over 21,000 members.
“We chose to join the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association as an added resource for us in fulfilling the needs of both our current customers and future customers,” said Mike Freese, president of hth companies.
With over 30 years of experience in the industry, hth companies has won multiple safety awards and has held an award-winning EMR below .60 for three consecutive years. Hth personnel are safety trained in meeting and, in many cases, exceeding Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.
“Hth has proven to be successful at providing services to the ethanol industry because we recognize employee development as vital to success and regard our clients as principal by listening and delivering economical solutions that meet their needs. Hth is small enough to listen but big enough to deliver,” Freese said.
Minneapolis, Aug 8 – Thirty-one children from Farm Camp Minnesota visited Guardian Energy in Janesville yesterday to get a closer look at homegrown renewable energy production.
Farm Camp Minnesota is an annual program that hosts one-day events in three different areas of the state. Sponsored by farmers and agribusinesses, the events are aimed at providing a fun and interactive learning experience for children entering grades three to six.
“We were pleased to welcome the Farm Camp Minnesota participants to learn more about ethanol production and its importance to the agriculture industry in Minnesota,” said Jeanne McCaherty, CEO of Guardian Energy.
The children, many of whom were accompanied by their parents, toured the Guardian Energy facility for 45 minutes where they learned about incoming grain handling, grain storage, liquefaction, fermentation, distillation, distiller grain drying, corn oil separation and production storage and product shipment.
“This is the first year Farm Camp Minnesota has included an ethanol tour in their program. It’s important to educate students on where clean renewable energy comes from and how it’s used,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
The visit to Guardian Energy, organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association, was part of the Farm Camp Minnesota event in Waseca on Aug 7. The other two Farm Camp Minnesota events will be in St Cloud (Aug 15) and Northfield (Aug 16).
“Farm Camp Minnesota was happy to work together with the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association to be able to provide our campers and their chaperones with an added opportunity to learn how corn is used to fuel our cars and trucks,” said Kathy Guse, director of Farm Camp Minnesota.
She said the visit to Guardian Energy also educated the children on ethanol’s co-products like dried distiller’s grains.
“It gave them an understanding that the corn that is used for making fuel was at the same time making other products for livestock food and when further refined it also was making products for human consumption,” Guse said.
Minneapolis, Aug 10 – Environmental engineering firm, Pinnacle Engineering Inc, has joined the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association as a vendor member.
“We are pleased to welcome our newest member, Pinnacle Engineering, which has worked closely with the ethanol industry since the 1990s,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
Pinnacle provides a suite of environmental and engineering services to ethanol plants nationwide. These include air, water and waste permitting with Title V/ NSR / PSD, air dispersion modeling, compliance services (SWPPP, SPCC, FRP, TRI, RFS2) and engineering (civil, PSM /RMP, third party engineering reviews and audits, emissions controls).
“Pinnacle’s mission is to provide comprehensive solutions to complex environmental engineering problems. We’ve taken this service approach to the ethanol industry and supporting the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association’s efforts to represent and promote the renewable fuels industry in Minnesota is an integral part of our service,” said Steve Schleicher, Vice President of Industrial Services at Pinnacle.
Based in Minneapolis, Pinnacle also has offices in Rochester (MN), Omaha (NE), Bismark (ND) and Billings (MT).
The company’s environmental services to the ethanol industry expanded in 2016 when the Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security classified Pinnacle as an Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO).
The classification was a result of Pinnacle’s extensive experience in successful emergency response efforts, intensive employee training and development and response equipment procurement.
The OSRO classification allows the company to further assist its clients during emergencies and remediation / restoration services.
“Pinnacle’s 25-year history has largely paralleled the ethanol industry’s tremendous evolution and growth. Many of our staff members have been there for permitting and compliance support every successful step of the way,” said Todd Potas, director of industrial services.
Apart from the ethanol industry, Pinnacle also serves the environmental needs of railroad, industrial, commercial, utility and manufacturing clients.
Picture Caption (from left to right) : Kimihiko Eura, Deputy Director at Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tim Rudnicki, Executive Director at the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association, Randall Doyal, CEO of Al-Corn Clean Fuel and Ben Stover, Plant Manager at Guardian Energy
Minneapolis, Aug 22 – The Deputy Director for Food Security at Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kimihiko Eura, toured Guardian Energy in Janesville yesterday to learn about renewable fuel production in Minnesota.
During the two-hour tour, Eura learned about incoming grain handling, grain storage, liquefaction, fermentation, distillation, dried distillers grains (DDGs), corn oil, ethanol shipment and exports at Guardian Energy.
The tour was part of Eura’s five-day working visit to Minnesota to learn about the state’s agriculture industry.
“We are interested in learning how ethanol is produced and its impact on the demand and supply of corn. We are also looking at the possibility of importing DDGs to Japan,” Eura said.
Eura’s five-day visit is hosted by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. Prior to visiting Guardian Energy, Eura visited the USDA’s office in St Paul and a farm in Randolph.
For the remainder of his trip, he will visit more farms, a grain terminal, the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, the University of Minnesota’s wheat breeding program and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway’s offices in Minneapolis.
Eura said his visit to Guardian Energy was his first time at an ethanol plant, adding Japan did not have its own ethanol industry.
Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MBA) executive director, Tim Rudnicki and MBA board member and Al-Corn Clean Fuel CEO, Randall Doyal, accompanied Eura during the tour to brief him about Minnesota’s ethanol industry. Guardian Energy’s plant manager, Ben Stover, led the tour.
“Eura was interested in learning about Minnesota’s Petroleum Displacement Law, which calls for higher usage of biofuels as well as how ethanol producers in our state are continuously lowering their carbon footprint,” Rudnicki said.
Guardian Energy is a MBA member.
Other participants for the tour included Minnesota Corn Growers Association’s marketing and biofuels director, Mitch Coulter, American Lung Association in Minnesota director, Jon Hunter, Minnesota Department of Agriculture supervisor, Bob Patton and IC Net Ltd business development specialist, Shizuka Kunimoto.
Picture Caption (from left to right): Stover, Rudnicki, Kunimoto and Eura at the Guardian Energy ethanol plant.
Lamberton, Sept 19 – Eleven students from Red Rock Central High School traveled across town on Sept 15 to visit Highwater Ethanol to learn about renewable energy production.
The students, from grades 9 to 12, toured Highwater Ethanol’s administrative office, water treatment process, incoming grain grading and handling, ethanol loadout, ethanol process facility, energy center, dried distiller grain production and storage.
“We were pleased to welcome our hometown students today. The ethanol industry plays a vital role in boosting the economy in Lamberton and other parts of Minnesota. Through tours like this, students are given a better idea of potential careers in the ethanol industry,” said Brian Kletscher, CEO of Highwater Ethanol.
The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association. Highwater Ethanol is a member of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
“It’s important for students to learn about a clean renewable fuel that is being produced right in their town. Minnesota-produced ethanol reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, boosts the local economy, makes America more energy independent and lowers prices at the pump,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
Jessica Juncewski, agriculture science teacher at Red Rock Central High School, said it was important for her students to learn about ethanol production.
“The ethanol industry is an important part of agriculture. It provides an alternative source of fuels for our vehicles while promoting a renewable resource and kids need to understand how important that is.
“By having this opportunity, I hope my students will learn the value of agriculture and understand why biofuels are an important aspect of American agriculture,” she said.
Minneapolis, Sept 21 – The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MBA) and KS95 FM teamed up on Sept 20 to reward drivers who fueled up with E15 (Unleaded Plus) at Bona Bros Minnoco in Fridley.
From 12:30 pm–1:30 pm, MBA and KS95 rewarded 12 drivers who switched to E15 from regular unleaded.
Among the prizes given were $20 in cash, $25 gift certificates to Chili’s and KS95 merchandise. In addition, E15 was priced 15 cents per gallon less than regular unleaded during the promotion.
KS95 personality, Rudy Pavich, was with MBA staff at Bona Bros Minnoco educating consumers on the various benefits of using E15.
“As gas prices rose the last few weeks, more consumers have been switching to E15. At most stations in Minnesota, E15 is on average 10 cents cheaper than regular unleaded.
“Besides saving at the pump, consumers at yesterday’s event were keen on using a fuel that has a higher octane, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is made in Minnesota,” said Tim Rudnicki, MBA executive director.
There are currently over 150 stations in Minnesota that offer E15 with over 50 in the Twin Cities metro area.
E15 sales in the first seven months of 2017 was 5.95 million gallons, exceeding the volume sold for the whole of 2016 (5.68 million gallons).
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Minneapolis, Oct 2 – Twelve students from Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (RTR) High School visited the ADM Corn Processing ethanol plant on Sept 29 to learn about renewable energy production.
The students, comprising of 10th to 12th graders, toured the various production process areas at ADM Corn Processing, which included ethanol production, the facility’s fructose plant, mill and feedhouse and maintenance shop.
“We were excited to welcome the RTR students on site because it provides us the opportunity for these young, bright minds to gain a better understanding of the vital needs we serve in our community. From the harvest to the home, our organization provides the world with products to feed and serve the growing world population,” said Kayla Uphus, Human Resource Manager at ADM Corn Processing.
The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association. ADM Corn Processing is a member of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
“We regularly bring students to ethanol plants that are close to their hometowns. These plants are an important driver of the economy in these parts of Minnesota,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
Indeed, during the tour, Uphus emphasized on the jobs offered at ADM Corn Processing.
“In southwestern Minnesota, our facility provides 250 careers and additional support in the surrounding communities. We want students to know that there are indeed opportunities for fulfilling careers here at home in southwestern Minnesota and those opportunities are for individuals at every skill level,” she said.
Jen Boersma, agriculture instructor at RTR High School, accompanied her students during the tour.
“This learning opportunity gave students first-hand experience with the process that utilizes a common grain to make a fuel, livestock feeds and even products for human consumption in a local and sustainable manner in a way that benefits producers as a whole,” she said.
Minneapolis, Oct 11 – The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MBA) and KS95 FM teamed up today to reward drivers who chose E15 (Unleaded Plus) at the Holiday station on Centerville Road in White Bear Lake.
From 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, MBA and KS95 rewarded 45 drivers who switched to E15 from regular unleaded.
KS95’s Rudy Pavich was at the station with MBA staff to educate drivers on the benefits of using E15, which is cheaper than regular unleaded but has a higher octane value and lower carbon emissions.
Among the rewards given included $20 in cash, $25 gift vouchers to Chili’s and KS95 merchandise.
“This is the fifth time we’ve partnered with KS95 this year to encourage drivers to use a clean fuel that is made in Minnesota and makes America more energy independent,” said Tim Rudnicki, MBA executive director.
The Holiday station in White Bear Lake is one of over 50 stations in the Twin Cities metro area that offers E15. Throughout Minnesota, there are over 170 stations that offer E15.
Last week, the Minnesota Department of Commerce announced E15 sales in Minnesota in 2017 as at the end of August totaled 6.45 million gallons, breaching the 6-million-gallon-mark for the first time.
Lamberton, Oct 16 – Sixteen students from Wabasso High School toured Highwater Ethanol today to learn more about home-grown renewable energy production.
During the tour, the students learned about the various processes in ethanol production at Highwater Ethanol, which produces 59.5 million gallons a year.
“We regularly host high school students at our plant to get a first-hand look at how clean Minnesota-grown renewable energy is produced in our facility. It’s important for students to learn about the ethanol production process and its role in creating jobs in rural Minnesota while also reducing state greenhouse gas emissions,” said Brian Kletscher, CEO of Highwater Ethanol.
The students, from grades 10 to 12, toured the plant’s administrative office, water treatment process, incoming grain grading and handling, ethanol loadout, ethanol process facility, energy center, dried distiller grain production and storage.
The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association, a non-profit trade organization that represents the ethanol industry in Minnesota. Highwater Ethanol is a member of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
“This is the 11th tour we’ve organized in 2017. It’s important for students to learn about ethanol which reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions while making America more energy independent,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
Highwater Ethanol began operations in Lamberton in August 2009. It currently has 41 fulltime employees.
Wabasso High School agriculture teacher, Lisa Roker, accompanied her students during today’s tour and said it was beneficial for her students to learn about career opportunities in the ethanol industry.
“By attending the plant tour, the students learned more about the importance of biofuels and ethanol. I believe they left the tour with a new perspective and a better understanding for an industry that operates in close proximity to the towns they live in,” she said.
Minneapolis, Nov 3 – In a landmark development for Minnesota’s ethanol industry, there are now 202 stations in the state that offer E15.
In the past two weeks, several stations in the Twin Cities metro area and in Rochester and Mankato have begun offering E15, bringing the total number of stations with E15 to 202.
“The EPA approved the use of E15 in all cars 2001 and newer in 2012 and in 2013, there were only four stations in Minnesota offering E15. In the past 10 months, 141 stations throughout the state have begun offering E15,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
In 2014, there were 17 stations offering E15 in Minnesota. In 2015, that total rose to 27 and nearly tripled to 61 stations in 2016.
Rudnicki said among the factors that led to an exponential growth in the number of stations offering E15 this year included federal and state grants, continued outreach to stations from organizations like the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association as well as increasing demand from consumers.
“Major fuel-retailer brands began carrying E15 at their respective stations this year where in the past most of the stations offering E15 were independently-owned. This played a major role in expanding access to E15 throughout the state,” he said.
Among the fuel retail brands currently offering E15 at select stations in Minnesota include Kwik Trip, Minnoco, Holiday, SuperAmerica, Little Dukes, Winner, Hy-Vee, Cenex, Bobby & Steve’s, Kum & Go, Petro Serve, Clark and Tesoro.
Rudnicki said the bulk of the stations offering E15 in Minnesota are located within the Twin Cities metro area with 73 stations.
“E15 is also available in other major cities in Minnesota such as Rochester, Duluth, St Cloud and Mankato,” he said.
According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, E15 sales in the state this year (as at the end of August) has totaled 6.45 million gallons, breaching the 6-million-gallon mark for the first time. In 2016, the E15 volume in Minnesota was 5.68 million gallons.
E15 – also branded as Unleaded Plus at many retail stations in Minnesota – has an octane rating of 88, emits fewer greenhouse gas emissions and is produced in the state.
According to an analysis by the University of Illinois at Chicago, if all fuel consumed in Minnesota was E15, 1.07 million metric tons of CO2 would be reduced annually. This would be the equivalent of removing 225,894 cars annually from Minnesota’s roads.
To find a station that offers E15 in Minnesota, click here or download the Minnesota Biofuel Locator app from the iTunes app store or Google Play store.
BENSON, Nov 6 – Thirty-five students from Morris Area High School toured the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) plant today to get a better understanding of homegrown renewable fuel production.
The students, from grades nine to 12, toured the various stages and processes of ethanol production at CVEC, which produces 50 million gallons of ethanol a year.
“We regularly host school tours at CVEC. It’s important for students to understand the deep role science plays in ethanol production,” said Chad Friese, CEO of CVEC.
The students that participated in today’s tour were from two separate classes - Introductory Chemistry and Rec Vehicles – at Morris Area High School. During the tour, they learned about including incoming grain grading, grain handling, fermentation, grain storage, dried distiller grain production and storage, ethanol storage and shipment.
The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association, a non-profit trade organization that represents the ethanol industry in Minnesota. CVEC is a member of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
“Tours like these showcase how a homegrown renewable ingredient is converted into a clean fuel that continues to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
“The ethanol industry also plays a very important role in driving the economy in rural Minnesota and today’s tour gave the students a better idea of career opportunities in the ethanol industry,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
CVEC is an ethanol production cooperative that commenced operations in 1996 and currently has 50 employees. CVEC has hosted many tours of its facilities over the years for high school students, 4-H’ers, and local agriculture and science programs.
Morris Area High School teachers, Nick Milbrandt and Dylan Viss, accompanied their students during today’s tour. Milbrandt and Viss teach agriculture and science respectively at Morris High School.
“Allowing my students to go on this tour enabled them to see and experience real-life, practical applications of the science and chemical processes highlighted in our class,” Viss said.
Milbrandt, meanwhile, said the tour allowed for a better understanding of the many benefits of using biofuels, which are also discussed in his course curriculum.
“By participating in this tour my students got the opportunity to see how ethanol is made and the real life process of how it can go from corn to fuel,” Milbrandt said.
Nov 15, Minneapolis – A delegation of livestock producers from Ecuador visited the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) plant in Benson yesterday to get a better understanding of dried distiller’s grains (DDGs) production.
During their visit, the livestock producers learned how DDGs are produced alongside ethanol and the many benefits of using it.
“We were honored to welcome the delegation from Ecuador. DDGs are an important co-product in ethanol production and we produce about 120,000 tons of DDGs a year,” said Chad Friese, CEO of CVEC and board member of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
The delegation comprised of small to mid-size poultry, swine and dairy producers from five provinces in Ecuador.
They are on a three-day visit organized by the U.S Grains Council and Minnesota Corn Growers Association to learn about DDGs and the possibility of using it for their respective operations.
Apart from DDGs production, the delegation were also given an extensive briefing on ethanol production at CVEC as well as the ethanol industry in Minnesota.
“The DDGs we produce are generally used in Minnesota or shipped out to the west coast to be fed there. A small portion is exported overseas,” said Friese.
In 2016, Minnesota’s ethanol industry produced 3.5 million tons of DDGs, which was sufficient to meet the annual feed requirements of over 2.5 million beef and dairy cattle or the entire inventory of cattle and calves in Minnesota.
Apart from learning how DDGs are produced, the delegation were also keen on understanding the safety and nutritional value of using DDGs.
“Ecuador has restrictions on corn imports as they produce corn locally but the prices are quite high. With such market restrictions and challenges, DDGs are a good option,” said Ana Maria Ballesteros, co-products specialist for South America at the U.S. Grains Council.
While DDGs exports to Ecuador are small in comparison to countries like Mexico and Colombia, the volume has been steadily growing, Ballesteros said.
“In the 2016/17 marketing year, DDGs exports grew to 12,000 tons from 5,000 tons in the previous marketing year. For the current marketing year, it is expected to increase to 25,000 tons,” she said.
Picture Caption: Friese (third from left) briefing the delegation from Ecuador on ethanol production at CVEC.
Minneapolis, Nov 17 – Thirty-nine students from Sibley East High School in Arlington toured Winthrop’s Heartland Corn Products on Nov 14 to gain a better appreciation and understanding on local renewable fuel production.
The high school students, from grades 9 to 12, learned about incoming grain grading, grain handling, fermentation, grain storage, combined heat and power operations, dried distiller grain production and storage, liquefaction and ethanol storage and shipment.
“It was wonderful to conclude our fall tour program with a large inquisitive group from Sibley East.
“We are always pleased to welcome local high school students to our plant and provide them with an in-depth look at how clean renewable energy is produced,” said Scott Blumhoefer, Vice-President at Heartland Corn Products.
The ethanol plant tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association, a non-profit trade organization that represents the ethanol industry in Minnesota.
“Yesterday’s visit was our 14th tour of 2017. These tours are part of our annual grant program that enables students to see how a homegrown ingredient is converted into a clean fuel that reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, saves consumers at the pump and makes us more energy independent,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
This is the second time Sibley East has visited Heartland Corn Products. In 2015, 26 students from the school toured the plant. The students that participated in this week’s tour were from two different classes – Drafting and CNC and Wheels and Walls.
Sibley East high school agricultural science teachers Stephanie Brandt and Tim Uhlenkamp accompanied their students on the tour.
“These ethanol facilities produce more than just ethanol; the co-products of DDGS and corn oil have far reaching effects in livestock operations and at biodiesel facilities respectively,” said Uhlenkamp.
Brandt, meanwhile, said the school's agriculture curriculum includes educating students on renewable energy sources currently being used.
“The ethanol industry plays a big role in the economy in rural Minnesota and today’s tour gave the students a better idea of career opportunities in the industry,” said Brandt.
Minneapolis, Nov 30 – In its final rule for the 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has increased its cellulosic biofuel target to 288 million gallons from its earlier proposed target of 238 million gallons.
This in turn increases the overall advanced biofuel target for 2018 renewable volume obligations (RVO) under the RFS to 4.29 billion gallons.
The EPA said in a statement today the RVO for corn ethanol is maintained at 15 billion gallons, which brings the total renewable fuel volume in 2018 to 19.29 billion gallons, up from the 19.24 billion gallons it proposed earlier in the year.
“Keeping the corn ethanol target at 15 billion gallons in 2018 will play an important role in increasing consumption of E15 and higher blends next year.
“The increase in cellulosic biofuel targets for 2018 is a positive sign but it is still below the level the agency targeted for 2017 – 311 million gallons. These targets are important in spurring investment in the cellulosic biofuel market,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association.
In October, a bipartisan group of senators, which included Minnesota’s Sen. Amy Klobuchar, sent a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt stating that the agency had arrived at lower targets for advanced biofuels by “utilizing a new methodology more reliant on historical data than projected volumes. The RFS must by law be administered in a forward-looking manner.”
Apart from cellulosic ethanol, the advanced biofuels category in the RFS includes biodiesel. In September, the EPA said it was considering reducing the 2018 and 2019 volumes for biodiesel. However, after pushback from the industry, lawmakers and even President Donald Trump, the agency has stuck to the biodiesel volumes it proposed earlier in the year in the final rule issued today.
Read the EPA's announcement on its final rule for the 2018 RFS here.