In the News
Jul 18, 2022
By Geoff Cooper
It’s been said that “the cure for high prices is … high prices.” In other words, when prices for a product rise to an unbearable level, consumers reduce consumption or stop buying the product altogether. In turn, supplies of the product increase and prices eventually fall.
But in the case of gas prices—which set a new record of $5 per gallon in June—there is a better cure available that won’t force Americans to cancel their daily commutes or abandon summer road trips. At gas stations across the country, the cure for high prices isn’t more high prices—it’s ethanol. Refiners and blenders can lower gas prices for consumers simply by adding more ethanol, which has been $1–$1.50 per gallon cheaper than gasoline for much of the summer.
However, refiners don’t make ethanol and they don’t like the idea of blending more, even though market forces suggest they should. Fortunately, the Biden administration has taken action this summer to compel refiners to increase the availability and use of ethanol—the antidote to record high pump prices.
Back in June, the Environmental Protection Agency took regulatory action to bring order and certainty to the Renewable Fuel Standard, giving our industry a solid foundation to grow production, boost energy security and expand the use of low-carbon renewable fuels. Specifically, EPA set the 2022 blending requirement for conventional renewable fuel at 15.25 billion gallons—the highest ever—and put an end to the abuse of the refinery exemption program.
The Renewable Fuel Standard reduces the price of gasoline in two ways. First, the RFS drives greater usage of ethanol, which is less expensive than petroleum-based gasoline (recently selling at a discount of roughly $1.50 per gallon at the wholesale level). Additionally, RFS compliance credits, known as renewable identification numbers, or RINs, are attached to each gallon of ethanol sold domestically. These are provided free of charge and help offset the blender’s cost of gasoline.
Second, the use of ethanol extends the overall fuel supply and reduces the consumption of petroleum-based gasoline, thereby lowering the demand for crude oil and refined products. In a 2019 study, Dr. Philip Verleger determined that by expanding fuel supplies, the RFS reduced the price of crude oil by $6 per barrel on average from 2015 to 2018. In turn, gasoline prices were reduced by an average of 22 cents per gallon, the equivalent of $250 annually for a typical household.
The EPA and the Biden administration are restoring integrity and stability to the RFS program after several years of mismanagement and abuse by the previous administration. The combination of a strong RVO for 2022, restoration of illegally waived volume from 2016, and a new direction for the small refinery exemption program puts the RFS program on solid footing for the future. We thank Administrator Regan and President Biden for honoring their commitments to implement the RFS in a way that is fair, transparent and focused on growth—giving us a great steppingstone for moving forward in the future.
In addition, President Biden, Regan and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack worked to ensure lower-cost E15 is available all summer for consumers. Meanwhile, a group of Midwest state governors are also working to make year-round E15 permanent in their states. Summertime E15 will help lower the cost for consumers as they travel this summer and all year long.
Clearly, the cure for high prices at the pump isn’t more high prices. The cure is opening the market to higher volumes of ethanol and spurring competition. RFA will continue to lead and advocate for a larger role for ethanol in the United States fuel supply. We could not be more hopeful for the opportunities in the future as we continue moving forward, and the action we’re seeing from the White House this summer gives us cause for more optimism.
Read the original story here.
Jul 14, 2022
The U.S. ethanol industry delivered a very strong second quarter, according to the latest quarterly report issued by CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange on July 14. Ethanol profits and production remain robust despite record gas prices, according to the report.
The ethanol industry experienced few visible signs of demand destruction during the second quarter despite a spike in retail gasoline prices, rising inflation, aggressive Federal Reserve interest rate actions, a significant showdown in the U.S. economy and deteriorating consumer sentiment, according to CoBank.
The report indicates that ethanol production during the second quarter was down slightly when comparted to the first quarter, averaging 15.5 billion gallons on an annualized basis. According to CoBank, second quarter operating margins were at 33 cents per gallon, well above the five-year average of 22 cents per gallon. CoBank said the relatively high margins were driven by a 16 percent increase in fuel ethanol prices, which exceed input costs of corn and natural gas.
U.S. ethanol exports reached a four-year high in April, at 185 million gallons, with sales diversified among several key trading partners. Overall, ethanol exports for the first four months of the year were up 67 percent, according to CoBank. U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS) were also up during the fourth month period, but at a lower rate of 8 percent. The report also notes that consumer gasoline demand remains stable despite prices that have reached $4.88 per gallon, up from $3.10 per gallon a year ago.
A full copy the CoBank Knowledge Exchange’s latest quarterly report can be downloaded from the company’s website.
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Jul 13, 2022
The U.S. Energy Information Administration increased its forecasts for 2022 and 2023 fuel ethanol production in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released July 13. The forecast for 2023 fuel ethanol consumption was also increased.
The EIA currently predicts fuel ethanol production will average 1.02 million barrels per day in 2022, up from the June STEO forecast of 1 million barrels per day. The agency also increased its forecast for 2023 fuel ethanol production to 1 million barrels per day, up from 990,000 barrels per day forecasted last month. Production averaged 980,000 barrels per day in 2021.
Fuel ethanol production averaged 1.02 million barrels per day in the first quarter of this year, falling to 1.01 million barrels per day in the second quarter. Production during the third quarter is expected to remain at 1.01 million barrels per day before returning to 1.02 million barrels per day in the fourth quarter. Moving into 2023, ethanol production is expected to average 990,000 barrels per day in the first quarter, 1 million barrels per day in the second quarter, 990,000 barrels per day in the third quarter, and 1.02 million barrels per day in the fourth quarter.
Fuel ethanol blending is currently expected to average 910,000 per day in 2022, a forecast maintained from the June STEO, and 920,000 barrels per day in 2023, up from 910,000 barrels per day predicted last month. Fuel ethanol blending was at 910,000 barrels per day in 2021.
According to the EIA, fuel ethanol consumption for the first half of 2022 was up when compared to the same period of last year. The agency said the increase is primarily attributed to more gasoline consumption. Similar levels of gasoline and ethanol consumption are expected for the second half of this year. The EIA currently predicts that fuel ethanol consumption will remain around 2022 levels next year and that the ethanol share of U.S. gasoline consumption will be near 10.3 percent. However, if favorable blend economics for fuel ethanol, driven by lower relative fuel prices, and high RIN prices persist, the fuel ethanol share of gasoline consumption could potentially increase.
The EIA also said consumption of biofuels has risen in the U.S. this year. That growth is expected to continue, according to the agency. Increased demand for transportation fuels, higher 2022 Renewable Fuel Standard blending obligations, and new renewable diesel production capacity coming online all contribute to that expected growth.
The EIA noted that prices for renewable identification numbers (RINs) have increased in 2022, reaching near record-high prices, which has facilitated growing biofuel consumption. When compared to the first half of 2021, ethanol consumption for the first half of 2022 was up 32,000 barrels per day, or 3 percent. During the same period, renewable diesel consumption grew by 32,000 barrels per day, or 46 percent, while the consumption of other biofuels increased by 6,000 barrels per day, or 133 percent. Biodiesel consumption was unchanged, according to the EIA.
The EIA currently predicts that renewable diesel consumption will average 116,000 barrels per day in 2022, up 41,000 barrels per day or 53 percent when compared to last year. Renewable diesel consumption is expected to average 164,000 barrels per day in 2023. The EIA cautioned that that forecast assumes that some of the capacity scheduled to come online in 2022 and 2023 will have delays or be affected by high agricultural feedstock costs.
Because 1 gallon of renewable diesel produces more RIN credits under the RFS than biodiesel and faces no infrastructure or blending constraints, the EIA said it expects new renewable diesel plants to be brought online to secure scarce oil feedstocks, such as soybean oil, outpacing biodiesel refineries and limiting biodiesel production. The agency forecasts biodiesel consumption to increase slightly from 2021 levels this year, but to decrease in 2023 as renewable diesel increasingly satisfies RFS requirements. Biodiesel production for 2022 is expected to fall 8 percent when compared to last year, averaging less than 100,000 barrels per day, the lowest annual average since 2015.
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Jul 12, 2022
The USDA maintained its forecast for 2022-’23 corn use in ethanol in its latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, released July 12. The 2022-’23 corn outlook is for increased supplies and higher ending stocks.
The USDA beginning stocks are raised 25 million bushels, to 1.51 billion bushels, based on reduced feed and residual use for 2021-’22 as indicated in the agency’s June 30 Grain Stocks report. Corn production for 2022-’23 is forecast 45 million bushels higher, at 14.505 billion bushels, based on greater planted and harvested area from the June 30 Acreage report. Projected yield is unchanged at 177 bushels per acre.
The USDA maintained its June forecast that 5.375 billion bushels of corn will go to ethanol production in 2022-’23, flat with 2022-’21. Approximately 5.033 billion bushels of corn went to ethanol production in 2020-’21. The USDA also maintained its June forecasts for feed and residual use, along with food, seed and industrial use.
With no use changes, ending stocks are up 70 million bushels, to 1.47 billion bushels. The season-average farm price received by producers is lowered 10 cents to $6.65 per bushel.
The USDA’s forecast for foreign corn production is down, with reductions for Russia, the European Union and Kenya, partially offset by an increase for Paraguay. Russia corn production is lowered reflecting a cut in area. EU corn production is reduced with a forecast decline for Italy. For 2021-’22, corn production is raised for Paraguay with increases to both area and yield.
Major global trade changes for 2022-’23 include larger corn exports for Paraguay with a reduction for Russia. Corn imports are raised for Zimbabwe. Foreign corn ending stocks are up marginally relative to last month. Global corn stocks, at 313 million tons, are up 2.5 million tons relative to last month.
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Jul 11, 2022
The ethanol industry is hopeful of a final win soon on a permanent fix for restricted summertime E15 sales. The House has already acted as part of a package of livestock competition bills to permanently allow summertime E15 sales that received a Biden waiver just for this summer.
Now, Renewable Fuels Association chief Geoff Cooper says it’s up to the Senate to act.
“We are expecting that the Senate is going to give those provisions a very hard look if they decide to try to do something before the August recess,” he said.
The Senate Ag Committee last month advanced two cattle market reform bills, including Senator Chuck Grassley’s Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act.
“So, it could fold very well into any package he and his colleagues might be considering. That includes some of the meatpacking provisions and other things that he’s been focused on,” Cooper said.
As for E15’s chances after seven Midwest Republicans broke ranks and backed the House bill.
“We would expect the same thing to happen in the Senate. In fact, there’s probably more bipartisan interest in the Senate around the provisions that were in that bill that slipped through the House,” he said.
And ahead of the November elections, both parties will be looking for anything they can point to as possibly reducing near-record gas prices.
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Jul 7, 2022
The U.S. exported 147.06 million gallons of ethanol and 966,108 metric tons of distillers grains in May, according to data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on July 7. Exports of ethanol were up when compared to May 2021, while distillers grains exports were down.
The 147.06 million gallons of ethanol exported in May was down when compared to the 185.19 million gallons exported in April, which was the highest reported monthly export level in four years. May exports, however, were more than double the 70.39 million gallons reported for the same month of last year.
The U.S. exported ethanol to more than 40 countries in May. Canada was the top destination at 41.8 million gallons, followed by South Korea at 19.33 million gallons and the Netherlands at 15.41 million gallons.
The value of U.S. ethanol exports reached $410.39 million in May, down from $496.02 million the previous month, but up from $159.32 million in May 2021.
The U.S. exported a total of 725.91 million gallons of ethanol during the first five months of 2022 at a value of $1.93 billion, compared to 582.36 million gallons exported during the same period of last year at a value of $1.06 billion.
The 966,108 metric tons of distillers grains exported in May was up when compared to the 813,749 metric tons exported in April, but down from 1.04 million metric tons exported in May 2021.
The U.S. exported distillers grains to approximately three dozen countries in May. Mexico was the top destination for U.S. distillers grains exports at 229,231 metric tons, followed by South Korea at 123,077 metric tons and Vietnam at 111,080 metric tons.
The value of U.S. distillers grains exports reached $311.85 million in May, up from both $243.12 million in April and $286.58 in May of last year.
Total U.S. distillers grains exports for the first five months of the year reached 4.66 million metric tons at a value of $1.36 billion, compared to 4.49 million metric tons exported during the same period of 2021 at a value of $1.18 billion.
Additional data is available on the USDA FAS website.
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Jul 6, 2022
U.S. operable production capacity for ethanol and renewable diesel expanded in April, while biodiesel capacity fell slightly, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on July 5. Feedstock consumption was up when compared to April 2021.
Total capacity for ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel and other fuels, defined to include renewable heating oil, renewable jet fuel, renewable naphtha, renewable gasoline, and other biofuels and biointermediates, reached 21.479 billion gallons in April, up from both 21.022 billion gallons the previous month and 20.777 billion gallons in April 2021.
Ethanol capacity was at 17.34 billion gallons in April, up 17 MMgy when compared to the 17.323 billion gallons of capacity reported for March. Ethanol capacity, however, was down 56 MMgy when compared to the 17.396 billion gallons of capacity in place during the same month of last year.
Biodiesel capacity fell to 2.217 billion gallons in April, down 14 MMgy when compared to the 2.231 billion gallons of capacity reported for March. When compared to the 2.41 billion gallons of capacity in place in April 2021, biodiesel capacity was down 193 MMgy.
Capacity for renewable diesel and associated fuels expanded to 1.922 billion gallons in April, up 454 MMgy when compared to the 1.468 billion gallons of capacity in place the previous month. Renewable diesel capacity was up 951 MMgy when compared to the 971 MMgy of capacity in place in April 2021.
U.S. biofuel producers consumed an estimated 25.273 billion pounds of feedstock in April, down from 27.193 billion pounds the previous month, but up when compared to 24.243 billion pounds of feedstock consumed in April 2021.
Biofuel producers consumed 23.294 billion pounds of corn in April, down from 25.383 billion pounds the previous month, but up from 22.821 billion pounds in April 2021. Producers also consumed 164 million pounds of grain sorghum, up from 97 million pounds in March. The EIA withheld the volume of grain sorghum that went to biofuel production in April 2021 to avoid disclosure of individual company data.
According to the EIA, 839 million pounds of soybean oil was used to produce biofuels in April, down from 908 million pounds in March, but up when compared to the 700 million pounds consumed in April of last year. Approximately 211 million pounds of corn oil went to biofuel production in April, down slightly when compared to the 212 million pounds consumed in the previous month and flat when compared to the 211 million pounds consumed in April 2021. Biofuel producers also consumed 101 million pounds of canola oil in April. The volume of canola oil that went to biofuel production in March 2022 and April 2021 was withheld by the EIA to avoid disclosure of individual company data.
Biofuel producers also consumed 402 million pounds of yellow grease, 130 million pounds of beef tallow, 57 million pounds of white grease and 13 million pounds of poultry fat in April, compared to 338 million pounds, 127 million pounds 47 million pounds and 15 million pounds, respectively, in March. Biofuel producers consumed 248 million pounds of yellow grease, 93 million pounds of beef tallow, 64 million pounds of white grease, and 36 pounds of poultry fat in April 2021. Biofuel producers also consumed 3 million pounds of other waste fats, oils and greases in April 2021. The EIA withheld data on the consumption of other fats, oils and greases in April 2022 and March 2022 to avoid disclosing individual company data.
According to the EIA, biofuel producers also consumed 62 million pounds of feedstock classified as “other” recycled feeds and wastes in April, down from both 66 million pounds in March 63 million pounds in April 2021.
Additional data is available on the EIA website.
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Jun 27, 2022
Turkey is the largest buyer of U.S. distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in the Middle East region. However, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the U.S. Grains Council was unable to engage Turkish buyers via in-person programs for nearly two years.
In October 2021, in-person programming resumed when the Council invited a delegation of Turkish buyers to the United States to attend the Distillers’ Grains Technology Conference (DGTC). During the group’s travels, team members were able to learn about U.S. DDGS production, meet with a variety of suppliers and explore export channels. As a result of the program, the team members purchased more than $14 million of U.S. DDGS. The program was accomplished by using Agriculture Trade Promotion (ATP) funds provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The team, hosted by the Council and the Illinois Corn Growers Association, visited a U.S. corn farm, river elevators, and Marquis Energy, the largest single-site ethanol plant in the world. Additionally, the team met with agribusiness companies, including StoneX in Chicago, and toured a container port facility in Savannah, Georgia, where they were hosted by two DDGS exporters.
Turkey is a traditional importer of bulk DDGS but has recently bought increasing quantities of DDGS in containers, making the visit timely for evolving marketing opportunities in the Middle East region.
Following the port visit, the team attended the DGTC in Louisville, Kentucky, where they heard about emerging technologies in the corn co-product space, which will likely generate future demand for these products. During the conference, the Council organized individual meetings with U.S. agribusinesses, including CHS, Gavilon, The Andersons, Inc., and Louis Dreyfus Company. The meetings provided a private venue for attendees to conclude negotiations to purchase U.S. DDGS.
Following the trip, the team purchased 40,000 metric tons of U.S. corn co-products valued at more than $14 million. The Council invested $50,000 of ATP funds to execute this program. The resulting $14 million worth of business conducted yielded a return on investment of over $280 per $1 of ATP funds invested.
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Jun 30, 2022
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) welcome Canada’s finalized Clean Fuel Regulations, an initiative to reduce the lifecycle carbon intensity of fuel and energy used in Canada and achieve more than 20 million tons of annual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The Canadian Clean Fuel Regulations will rely heavily on the use of low-carbon biofuels like ethanol. For example, the program has modeled compliance to include an average of 15 percent ethanol (E15) in gasoline by 2030.
“We applaud Canada for finalizing its Clean Fuel Regulations and leading the globe in putting a plan in place to slash greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector through higher blends of biofuels,” the organizations said. “The Clean Fuel Regulations set Canada on a path toward better air quality, energy security, and carbon mitigation, all supported by rural communities, by setting the achievable goals of reducing more than 20 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions through a move to 15 percent ethanol in all gasoline by 2030. The Clean Fuel Regulations stand as testimony to the powerful impact biofuels can and will have for Canada’s transportation future.”
Background
In March 2021, the Council, Growth Energy and RFA submitted comments to Environment and Climate Change Canada regarding its proposed regulation.
Learn more about the Clean Fuel Regulations.
Read the original press release here.
Jun 28, 2022
A new study released today by the Department of Energy (DOE) found that the U.S. ethanol industry once again leads the nation in the share of its workforce that is comprised by military veterans, with one in every six employees previously serving in the armed forces. The DOE report also showed that the concentration of union workers in the ethanol industry is higher than the national average.
“Veterans make up 16% of the corn ethanol workforce, a higher concentration of veterans than any other energy technology and higher concentration than the 6% national average,” according to the report, which was prepared by DOE’s Office of Policy, Office of Energy Jobs. Across all energy sectors, veterans account for 9% of the workforce.
Meanwhile, ethanol industry workers represented by a union or labor agreement make up 7% of the industry workforce, higher than the national workforce average of 6%. The ethanol industry’s union worker density is identical to that of the petroleum fuels sector, according to the report.
“Today’s report from DOE confirms once again that the U.S. ethanol industry proudly leads the way in hiring military veterans,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper, himself an Army veteran. “The ethanol industry’s values and priorities align extremely well with those of our women and men in uniform, so it’s no surprise that one out of every six ethanol industry workers is a veteran. Military veterans know that they can continue to protect their fellow Americans and serve their country by producing a homegrown, cleaner, greener, and more affordable renewable fuel.”
Cooper also noted that the DOE report underscores that progress is being made toward the industry goals of greater diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Females account for 30% of the ethanol industry workforce, well above the 25% average across all energy sectors.
- Workers with disabilities make up 4% of the ethanol industry workforce, double the average across all energy sectors.
- The portion of the ethanol industry workforce made up of Hispanic or Latino workers has grown from 9% in 2018 to 12% in 2022, while the share comprised of Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander workers has doubled from 1% to 2%.
The shares of workers identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native (1%), Asian (6%), Black or African American (5%), and two or more races (5%) have held steady since 2018.
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Jun 17, 2022
Production and use of renewable ethanol from ePURE members reduced greenhouse-gas emissions by an average of 76.9 percent compared to fossil fuels in 2021, according to newly certified data. It was the tenth consecutive year in which EU renewable ethanol increased its GHG-reduction score.
The record-breaking figure comes at a crucial moment for EU energy and climate legislation as policymakers determine what role sustainable biofuels such as renewable ethanol can play in the drive to carbon-neutrality.
“The new data once again confirm what we have known for years: that renewable ethanol is the most cost-effective GHG-abatement solution the EU has,” said David Carpintero, director general of ePURE, the European renewable ethanol association.
“With Europeans continuing to buy and drive cars that run on liquid fuel, there is more than ever a need for a sustainable, renewable, socially inclusive solution. Phasing out sustainable biofuels such as renewable ethanol – as some policymakers want to do – doesn’t just go against common sense, it also opens the door for more reliance on fossil fuel. Nobody wants that.”
The record-high GHG-saving performance of ePURE members’ ethanol was also accompanied by significant production of animal feed (4.48 million metric tons) and of captured CO2 (1.05 million metric tons) – more ways in which ethanol production contributes to EU food security and offsets fossil fuel use. For the first time, ePURE members produced more animal feed co-products than renewable ethanol – more food than fuel. The 2021 findings were compiled from ePURE members and certified by auditing firm Copartner.
The new statistics also back up the findings of research from studio Gear Up comparing the full-life-cycle emissions of renewable fuel blends with hybrid and battery electric vehicles showing that renewable ethanol is EU’s most cost-effective solution for reducing car emissions.
ePURE’s membership includes 21 producing companies with around 50 refineries across the EU and UK, accounting for about 85 percent of EU renewable ethanol production.
Read the original story here.
Jun 13, 2022
Since August 2017, the U.S. ethanol industry has been in intense discussion with the Brazilian government about the country’s ethanol tariff rate quota (TRQ). On Dec. 14, 2020, the trade relationship became bitter when Brazil applied a 20 percent duty on all U.S. ethanol imports as a measure to protect the domestic industry after a difficult year of limited demand due to COVID-19 mobility restrictions.
Following the tariff imposition, the U.S. Grains Council undertook several strategies to reverse the decision, including approaching possible in-country partners that could share trade interests. The Council found a strategic ally in the Brazilian Association of Fuel Importers (ABICOM), which represents 85 percent of the fuel supply market.
After various meetings, ABICOM agreed to work with the Council to develop a formal request to the Brazilian Foreign Trade Chamber (CAMEX) to drop the 20 percent duty on U.S. ethanol imports as the best solution to alleviate supply shortages and the resultant price inflation in the north and northeast regions of Brazil.
ABICOM believed that by zeroing the duty, the country would guarantee a reduction of R$ 0.18 per liter ($0.15/gallon) in the gasoline prices at the pump. Once presented with the plea to the CAMEX, the Council helped the association reach the ministries involved in the decision to present its arguments, supported by its close relationship with key contacts in the Brazilian government. As a consequence, the Ministry of Economy performed its own analysis of the information provided, confirming the reductions in price ($0.16/gallon) and driving the Brazilian government to eliminate the duty on all ethanol imports until Dec. 31, 2022, as a measure to reduce inflation in the country.
Brazil is one of the largest ethanol export destinations for the U.S. ethanol industry, with 76 million gallons of ethanol purchased in 2021, valued at $153 million. With the elimination of the duty, it is expected that import levels will grow by 20 percent in 2022 over 2021 import levels.
In the past five years, the Council has invested $43,146 of USDA Market Access Program (MAP) funds and $116,431 of Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) program funds to support increased U.S. ethanol exports of $125.2 million, creating a return on investment (ROI) of $958 for every $1 invested.
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Jun 16, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, a critical step toward addressing the rising costs of food, fuel and other household items in the United States. The Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act is a package of bipartisan bills that will lower prices for families at the grocery aisle and the gas pump by giving America’s farmers the support and resources they need to thrive. The bill passed just two weeks after Representative Craig led her Democratic colleagues in urging the Speaker and Majority Leader to prioritize legislation that would address surging costs, which Rep. Craig and her colleagues identified as the most urgent challenge impacting their constituents.
The Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act includes two of Representative Craig’s bills – the Year-Round Fuel Choice Act and the Strengthening the Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Act, which are both critical pieces of her ongoing effort to lower prices for Minnesotans.
“Every day, Americans are calling on their elected leaders to take decisive action to combat surging prices at the checkout line and at the pump. And today, we responded to that call by passing a major bipartisan bill to ensure the accessibility of affordable, homegrown American biofuels and to shore up the American food supply chain,” said Representative Craig. “Our bill will help to get food on the shelves faster, support economic growth in rural America and reduce our dependence on foreign oil – and I couldn’t have been prouder to champion this bipartisan effort in Congress.”
Earlier today, Craig spoke on the House floor in support of her legislation, urging her colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support efforts to lower costs for working families. Craig’s remarks are available here.
The Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act will help address supply chain risks, lower the cost of food and gas prices, strengthen the food supply chain and ensure robust competition in the meat and poultry sector. Contained in the package are two of Representative Craig’s bipartisan bills to support working families. Craig’s Year-Round Fuel Choice Act would permanently allow the year-round sale of E15, a biofuel alternative that lowers the average cost of fuel and can cost as much as forty cents per gallon less than regular gasoline. And the Strengthening the Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Act would create a task force dedicated to shoring up the agriculture and food supply chains in order to prevent bottlenecks and lower food costs.
Read the original press release here.
Jun 15, 2022
U.S. fuel ethanol production expanded by 2 percent the week ending June 10, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on June 15. Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol were down nearly 2 percent.
Fuel ethanol production averaged 1.06 million barrels per day the week ending June 10, up 21,000 barrels per day when compared to the 1.039 million barrels of stocks reported for the previous week. When compared to the same week of last year, ethanol production for the week ending June 10 was up 35,000 barrels per day.
Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol fell to 23.197 million barrels the week ending June 10, down 439,000 barrels when compared the 23.636 million barrels of stocks reported for the previous week. When compared to the same week of last year, stocks for the week ending June 10 were up 2.595 million barrels.
Read the original story here.
Jun 7, 2022
DALLAS – Navigator CO2 Ventures LLC (“Navigator”) announced today that they have signed a Letter of Intent to provide carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) services to POET, the world’s largest producer of biofuel and a global leader in sustainable bioproducts, on Navigator’s Heartland Greenway system.
The agreement outlines Navigator’s integrated CCUS services for approximately five (5) million metric tons of POET’s biogenic CO2 annually and establishes a collaborative path for the development of a central carbon offset marketplace and carbon use logistics platform. The system will phase in 18 of POET’s bioprocessing facilities across Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota, and is on schedule for operational in-service in 2025.
“We recognize that now is the time to take bold action to preserve our planet for future generations,” said Jeff Broin, POET Founder and CEO. “POET has been a leader in low-carbon biofuels and CO2 capture for commercial use for decades, and this project is another significant step in utilizing bioprocessing to accelerate our path to net-zero. We choose our partners carefully, and we believe Navigator has the expertise to deliver long-term value to rural America by further positioning agricultural commodities as a viable source of low-carbon liquid fuels to power our future.”
Both parties will leverage their respective expertise – relying on the unique breadth and scale of Navigator’s infrastructure development, construction, and operations and POET’s market-leading position in CO2 distribution, marketing, and logistics management. The joint efforts will create the largest combined distribution network for high-quality, biogenic CO2.
“This agreement is a testament to two industries coming together and using their resources to pave innovative pathways toward carbon neutrality and a more sustainable future. The breadth, scale, and technical acumen of each party’s platform is unmatched,” said Matt Vining, Chief Executive Officer of Navigator. “POET is an industry pioneer that has built a company on the pillars of safety, integrity, innovation, and being a good neighbor in the communities they call home, all of which align entirely with the culture and track record of Navigator. We look forward to this partnership with POET as we continue to fulfill our mission to provide sustainable carbon solutions to our communities, consumers, and customers.”
With the addition of POET to the platform, Navigator’s Heartland Greenway system will provide CCUS services for more than 30 industrial processors across the agriculture and food production value chains, representing over ten (10) million tons of annual CO2 emissions, including the two (2) largest bioethanol producers in the United States, in addition to highly efficient single-site production
facilities. Navigator’s unique platform will now mobilize efforts to deliver up to 15 million tons annually of CCUS services through new pipeline laterals and parallel development of multiple storage sites.
About Navigator CO2 Ventures
Navigator CO2 Ventures is a company developed and managed by the Navigator Energy Services management team with over 180 years of collective industry experience. The company specializes in CCUS, and the management team has safely constructed and operated over 1,300 miles of new infrastructure since being founded in 2012. We are committed to building and operating our projects to meet and exceed safety requirements while minimizing the collective impact on the environment, landowners, and the public during construction and ongoing operations. For more information about Navigator CO2 and the Heartland Greenway, visit our websites at: navigatorco2.com and heartlandgreenway.com.
About POET
POET’s vision is to create a world in sync with nature. As the world’s largest producer of biofuel and a global leader in sustainable bioproducts, POET creates plant-based alternatives to fossil fuels that unleash the regenerative power of agriculture and cultivate opportunities for America’s farm families. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Sioux Falls, POET operates 33 bioprocessing facilities across eight states and employs more than 2,200 team members. With a suite of bioproducts that includes Dakota Gold and NexPro feed, Voila? corn oil, purified alcohol, renewable CO2 and JIVE asphalt rejuvenator, POET nurtures an unceasing commitment to innovation and advances powerful, practical solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Today, POET holds more than 80 patents worldwide and continues to break new ground in biotechnology, yielding ever-cleaner and more efficient renewable energy. In 2021, POET released its inaugural Sustainability Report pledging carbon neutrality by 2050.
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Jun 7, 2022
April U.S. ethanol exports rocketed to a four-year high of 185.2 million gallons (mg). Shipments were up 48% from March and represented the third-largest monthly export volume on record. Canada logged a 17% increase in imports (40.1 mg, its second-largest volume on record) and maintained its status as our top customer for the thirteenth consecutive month (capturing 22% of April exports). U.S. ethanol exports to Brazil leapt to 30.0 mg (up from zero), the largest volume in two years. South Korea saw weaker sales in April, importing 23.5 mg (-7%). Other substantial markets included Singapore (tripled to a record high of 19.0 mg), the Netherlands (13.8 mg, +79%), the United Kingdom (12.8 mg, up from essentially zero), India (11.9 mg, -13%), and Peru (9.0 mg, +99%). Notably, China again was absent from our export market. Total U.S. ethanol exports for the first four months of 2022 were 577.2 mg, up 15% from the same period in 2021.
The U.S. did not log any meaningful imports of foreign ethanol in April (South Africa shipped 10,411 gallons of denatured fuel ethanol). Total year-to-date imports stand at 10.7 mg.
U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, scaled back in April by 12% to 813,749 (mt), a 14-month low. While Mexico cut its imports of U.S. DDGS by a third to the lowest volume since Feb. 2021 (125,025 mt), it remained our top customer for the nineteenth consecutive month. Shipments also thinned to Vietnam (105,135 mt, -6%), South Korea (97,654 mt, -24%), and Canada (80,121 mt, -24%). Shipments to these four markets represented half of U.S. DDGS exports in April. Other larger customers included Indonesia (66,701 mt, -5%), Bangladesh (41,853 mt, +671% to a record high), Morocco (39,113 mt, a six-fold increase), Japan (35,907 mt, -46%), Colombia (doubled to 34,057 mt), and Spain (33,882 mt, up from zero). Year-to-date DDGS shipments totaled 3.7 million mt, up 8% from 2021.
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