In the News

U.S. Grains Council

Mar 3, 2022

As part of ongoing market development efforts in Chile, Guatemala and Mexico, and to increase ethanol use in Colombia, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) hosted a delegation comprised of key government and industry representatives last week. The group attended the National Ethanol Conference in New Orleans before visiting the Denver area on a trade mission.

The time the delegation spent in the United States was meant to facilitate technical conversations to allow the team to learn about the economic benefits and best practices for blending ethanol. Additionally, this interaction allowed the group to familiarize themselves with the U.S. ethanol industry and make connections with counterparts in the U.S. as they seek to establish blend policies in their own countries.

The Council hosted a private educational session for the delegation while in New Orleans, providing an overview of the U.S. ethanol industry and a look at the operations of ethanol blending. The session offered an opportunity for participants to interact with Volkswagen (VW) Latin America and discuss VW’s vision for how ethanol can help achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner. In addition, the group learned how low carbon ethanol plays a role in the transport sector decarbonization process.

In Denver, the group heard from Bob McCormick, a senior research fellow at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, on the lab’s recent Global Ethanol-Blended-Fuel Vehicle Compatibility Study,  that demonstrates vehicle compatibility with higher-level ethanol blends. The participants were able to visit a local ethanol plant, as well as a fuel terminal, giving participants a first-hand experience of the U.S. ethanol industry and demonstrating the industry’s reliability as a trade partner.

“This mission was instrumental in showcasing the U.S. ethanol industry – how it has evolved, and what has contributed to its success. For producer delegates, it was critical for building trust and an understanding that will facilitate partnerships to complement local production in their various countries,” said Carlos Suarez, USGC regional ethanol consultant for Latin America.

As the Council looks to further develop these markets for U.S. ethanol, trade education is just one of the ways the organization helps fulfill its mission of developing markets, enabling trade and improving lives.

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Renewable Fuels Association

Mar 4, 2022

To provide relief at the pump in response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector, six farm and biofuel organizations wrote to President Biden urging his administration to use existing authority to allow for the year-round sale of gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol (E15).

In  a letter to the White House,  the Renewable Fuels Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union and National Sorghum Producers explained that an immediate move to restore year-round sales of E15 can ease the impact of oil market disruptions and surging gas prices caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“As American families continue to confront skyrocketing gas prices, we write today to urge the Administration to take a simple action that can provide immediate relief at the pump while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector,” wrote the organizations. “Specifically, we request that the Administration use its authority to authorize the year-round sale of gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) in response to surging oil prices and expected fuel supply disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“As Russia’s harmful actions in Ukraine continue and further sanctions are potentially imposed against Russia, oil prices will likely continue to rise, creating still higher consumer costs and threatening U.S. energy and economic security. Expanding the volume of American-made ethanol in the U.S. fuel supply can help alleviate these issues, as ethanol is currently priced 70-80 cents per gallon lower than gasoline. And, by displacing imported petroleum, increased ethanol use will enhance U.S. energy security and independence, while reducing emissions and supporting America’s farmers and rural economies.”

The full letter is available  here.

Read the original press release here

Renewable Fuels Association

Mar 1, 2022

Data released Monday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration show that ethanol comprised a record share of America’s gasoline in 2021, averaging 10.34 percent of every gallon sold. The final EIA data for 2021 also confirmed a significant rebound in both ethanol production and consumption after COVID-related shutdowns ravaged the fuel market in 2020. The Renewable Fuels Association said the EIA data also underscore ethanol’s ability to diversify the domestic fuel supply and keep pump prices in check.

EIA’s data show that the U.S. ethanol industry produced 15.02 billion gallons (bg) in 2021, an 8 percent increase over 2020 and the largest annual volume growth since 2010. Domestic ethanol consumption grew even faster, jumping 1.26 bg over 2020 levels—a 10 percent increase. Meanwhile, U.S. ethanol exports dipped slightly from 2020 levels, but still registered as the fifth highest on record.

RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said the data underscore the resilience of the U.S. ethanol industry and highlight the fact that the so-called “E10 blend wall” continues to crumble.

“Ethanol’s share of our nation’s gasoline continues to rise, as consumers are increasingly drawn to lower-cost, lower-carbon options like E15 and E85,” Cooper said. “Based on the EIA data, we estimate that 600-700 million gallons of ethanol were consumed in blends other than E10, proving that the oil industry’s so-called ‘blend wall’ is nothing but a figment of their imagination. As war in eastern Europe destabilizes global petroleum markets and crude oil prices continue to rise, our nation’s leaders should be taking steps to increase the use of cleaner-burning, homegrown ethanol. We have enough unused production capacity in the ethanol industry to entirely replace U.S. crude oil imports from Russia.”

Cooper touched on many of these themes in his State of the Industry address at last week’s National Ethanol Conference.

Read the original press release here.

Ethanol Producer Magazine

Feb 24, 2022

U.S. fuel ethanol production expanded by nearly 2 percent the week ending Feb. 18, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Feb. 24. Stocks of fuel ethanol were up slightly.

Ethanol production averaged 1.024 million barrels per day the week ending Feb. 18, up 15,000 barrels per day when compared to the 1.009 million barrels per day of production reported for the previous week. When compared to the same week of last year, production for the week ending Feb. 18 was up 366,000 barrels per day.

Ending stocks of fuel ethanol expanded to 25.507 million barrels the week ending Feb. 18, up 24,000 barrels when compared to the 25.483 million barrels of stocks reported for the previous week. When compared to the same week of last year, stocks for the week ending Feb. 18 were up 2.722 million barrels.

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Reuters

Feb 23, 2022

The U.S. secretary of agriculture on Wednesday touted the importance lower-carbon biofuels will have in meeting the Biden administration's targets for reducing carbon emissions.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke of the administration's support for biofuels -- including lower-carbon aviation fuel, which can be made from plant oils and animal fat.

His speech, at the National Ethanol Conference in New Orleans, took place as the industry eagerly awaits final rulemakings from the Biden administration around the nation's biofuel blending law, the Renewable Fuel Standard.

The administration has taken a number of steps to support renewable fuels, Vilsack said in a video message at the conference.

One of those is a program that authorizes Vilsack to make payments to U.S. biofuel producers to offset unexpected market losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to $700 million in payments to eligible biofuel producers is available, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website.

Read the original story here.

Renewable Fuesl Association

Feb 21, 2022

Following a pledge by members of the Renewable Fuels Association to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, on average, by 2050 or sooner,  a new report  released today shows that new and emerging technologies and practices could help the industry achieve this vision well before mid-century.

“Last summer, RFA’s member companies adopted  a bold vision  to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint for ethanol by 2050 or sooner. This new study shows that, with the right policy and investment signals in place, we can reach that objective sooner than 2050 and could even be producing carbon-negative ethanol by mid-century,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “The ethanol industry is already halfway down the road to net-zero emissions, as today’s corn ethanol cuts GHG emissions by about 50 percent compared to gasoline. This study provides the roadmap for completing the second half our journey to carbon neutrality.”

The new report, Pathways to Net-Zero Ethanol: Scenarios for Ethanol Producers to Achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050, was prepared by lifecycle analysis expert Isaac Emery, Ph.D., of Informed Sustainability Consulting LLC.

“By surveying over two dozen potential emissions reduction actions throughout the corn ethanol supply chain and prioritizing them by technical feasibility, scale of emissions reduction, and cost, this study presents a series of pathways to net-zero CI [carbon intensity] corn ethanol by 2050,” Emery writes. “Updated lifecycle emissions forecasts of corn ethanol from 2020 through 2050 show that the industry can achieve net-negative CI ethanol by adopting near-term technologies and expanding best practices in corn farming.”

The report identified several actions that would constitute a “core pathway” to net-zero emissions:

  • Renewable energy use by corn and ethanol producers;
  • Expanded adoption of corn kernel fiber fermentation at dry mills;
  • ‘Better-than-business-as-usual’ industry-wide efficiency improvements and ethanol yields;
  • Carbon capture and sequestration by ethanol facilities; and
  • Expansion of conservation tillage and other low-carbon practices by corn growers.

Altogether, the study identifies five distinct pathways to net-zero corn ethanol by 2050, based on a set of 28 emissions reduction actions that were considered. The roadmap will be featured and discussed by Emery and others at this week’s  National Ethanol Conference, taking place Feb. 21-23 in New Orleans.

The new study can be accessed here.

Read the original story here.

Senator Joni Ernst

Feb 16, 2022

WASHINGTON—With the Biden administration continuing to go back on its word with a biofuel agenda amounting to  ‘promises made, promises broken,’  U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a relentless and longtime defender of biofuel, this morning stuck up for Iowa farmers and laid out the facts as to why the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is critical to America’s national security and for consumer access to affordable, homegrown, clean-burning biofuel today and in the future.

At today’s Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing, Ernst began her portion by asking the witnesses about the high cost of fuel and whether the RFS is the cause, to which one witness, Emily Skor of Growth Energy, clarified that it is not the cause. Ernst agreed the RFS is not the cause of high fuel costs, saying “I reject that.” Ernst set the record straight when it comes to liquid fuel and how important it continues to be for American families and businesses and why biofuel needs to be a part of the conversation, stating: “As much as the Biden administration dreams of an all-electric world, the reality is liquid fuels are here to stay.”

She also pointed out the fact that the RFS was created in part “to help reduce America’s dependence on foreign nations.” She emphasized: “I firmly believe energy security is national security. And while President Biden claims to support America’s clean energy economy, he is turning his back on the RFS in favor of electric vehicles, which will only make us more dependent on China.”

Ernst then laid out the facts that show biofuel is a cleaner solution for today and the future, stating: “Science is on our side here too.” She went on: “The latest research shows corn ethanol is 46% less carbon intensive than petroleum-based gasoline and biodiesel is 74% less carbon intensive than petroleum-based diesel. […] So, let’s follow the science and use biofuel as part of clean energy policy.”

Below are Ernst’s full remarks as prepared for delivery:

“As we look to 2023 and beyond, America’s farmers and biofuel sector are best positioned to work with the administration to put the Renewable Fuel Standard back on track and be part of the solution to secure a clean energy future.

“As much as the Biden administration dreams of an all-electric world, the reality is liquid fuels are here to stay. With 98 percent of cars and trucks today, and nearly 80 percent of new vehicle sales projected in 2050 running on gasoline or flex fuel, biofuel is the key pathway to decarbonizing the transportation sector – and the RFS is the policy engine that makes this possible.

“Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which mandated the RFS, in part, to help reduce America’s dependence on foreign nations.

“I firmly believe energy security is national security.

“And while President Biden claims to support America’s clean energy economy, he is turning his back on the RFS in favor of electric vehicles, which will only make us more dependent on China.

“Science is on our side here too.

“Biofuel has enabled the U.S. to cut emissions from the transportation sector for over a decade. Between 2008 and 2020, the RFS saved nearly 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions and it’s only getting cleaner.

“The latest research shows corn ethanol is 46% less carbon intensive than petroleum-based gasoline and biodiesel is 74% less carbon intensive than petroleum-based diesel.

“Biofuel can further reduce greenhouse gas emissions with carbon capture and sequestration technologies and on farm conservation practices, which many Iowa farmers are already doing.

“So, let’s follow the science and use biofuel as part of clean energy policy.

“But it’s not only a clean energy source, biofuel is great for our economy and pocketbooks. 

“Iowa corn and soybean farmers had record high crop yields in 2021. The biofuel industry accounts for over $5 billion of GDP, generates $2.6 billion of income for households, and supports nearly 46,000 jobs in Iowa.

“Ethanol is also the cheapest form of fuel for consumers right now—by about 50 cents—and certainly with record-high inflation it only makes sense to make this fuel source more readily available. That’s why I continue to urge the administration allow summertime sales of E15 as soon as possible. It will not only support our consumers, it’ll also support the nearly 300 retail stations in Iowa who want to provide a cleaner choice at the pump.

“Folks, the RFS is the law, and refiners have had over 15 years to come into compliance. Blend renewable fuels or buy RINs – it’s your choice. Any claim that RIN prices are increasing gas prices, is a bunch of hogwash.

“Refiners claim they need exemptions because RINs cost them money, but the last 3 administrations have said RIN prices do not cause harm to refiners. Small refinery exemptions go against congressional intent, and the Supreme Court reinforced this.

“A strong RFS supports rural America and increases consumer access to affordable, homegrown, clean-burning biofuel today, tomorrow, and for years to come.”

Read the original press release here

Renewable Fuels Association

Feb 14, 2022

By Geoff Cooper
RFA President and CEO

A new report published today in theProceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences, funded in part by the National Wildlife Federation, purports to examine the “environmental outcomes” of the Renewable Fuel Standard. In keeping with their previous “research” on biofuels and the RFS, the authors of this new paper precariously string together a series of worst-case assumptions, cherry-picked data, and disparate results from previously debunked studies to create a completely fictional and erroneous account of the environmental impacts of the Renewable Fuel Standard.

The claims in this report simply don’t align with reality and the facts on the ground, and the paper reads more like a fantasy novel than a genuine piece of academic literature. It should not be taken seriously.

In fact, when related research from some of the same authors was released several years ago, representatives from RFA and corn grower organizations met with this study’s lead author, Tyler Lark, at the University of Wisconsin, in an attempt to begin a constructive conversation about today’s ethanol industry and the real impacts of biofuels policy.

At that time, we shared data and information with Lark and his colleagues and asked how we could collaborate on research. We asked how we could work together to ensure their error-ridden satellite analysis of land-use changes was grounded in reality. We never heard back from them.

RFA is always open to having an honest, fact-based discussion about the impacts of ethanol and the RFS on the environment and economy. We have a great story to tell, and the data to back it up. Ethanol already reduced GHG emissions by roughly half compared to gasoline, and we are on a trajectory to achieve a net-zero emissions carbon footprint for ethanol by 2050 or sooner. Unfortunately, the authors appear more interested in slandering farmers and getting salacious headlines than examining the facts.

Click here for a more detailed rebuttal from RFA that offers key facts about ethanol’s environmental impacts that were purposely omitted from the paper.

Read the original story here