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Minnesota's ethanol consumption ratio in 2022 was 12.71 percent - the highest in the country - according to the latest information by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels) executive director, Brian Werner, testified yesterday at the Minnesota Senate's Transportation Committee on amendments to the Clean Transportation Standard (CTS) act.
The strong E15 sales momentum in 2023 continued in 2024 with 10.72 million gallons sold in January, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
E15 sales in Minnesota in February totaled 9.97 million gallons, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Sales of Unleaded 88 (also known as E15) in the first quarter of this year in Minnesota reached 32.11 million gallons.
Unleaded 88 sales in Minnesota totaled 11.17 million gallons in April, according to the latest data from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association’s executive director, Brian Werner, participated in a panel discussing the potential for Minnesota to become a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) hub at the 2024 Biodiesel Summit which was being held concurrently with the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Minneapolis today.
Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association's executive director, Brian Werner, participated in a webinar on Clean Fuel Tax Credits today.
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During the 2024 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo (FEW) that was held in Minneapolis from June 10 to 12, University of Minnesota graduate student, Annabella Lau, attended the trade show to learn more about the ethanol industry and the important role ethanol-to-jet fuel will play for the future of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Sales of Unleaded 88 in Minnesota for the month of May reached 11.64 million gallons, up from the 11.17 million gallons recorded in April.
Earlier today, Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels) executive director, Brian Werner, participated in a panel discussing the outlook for the agriculture industry at the Minnesota Farmfest in Morgan.
On Aug 16, US Department of Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, said the USDA has awarded $90.3 million in grant funding for 89 projects in 26 states to expand access to Unleaded 88 andother higher blends of ethanol.
Unleaded 88 sales in Minnesota in May and June reached new records with 12.61 million gallons and 12.16 million gallons respectively, according to revised data from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Unleaded 88 sales in Minnesota in July grew to 12.51 million gallons from 12.17 million gallons in June, according to the latest data from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
2024
Hitting The Road For - And With - Biofuels
Meeting Clean Transportation Targets Requires The Use Of Biofuels
2023
Context Missing On This Vital Fuel
Agriculture Can And Should Power The Flight Of Tomorrow
The False Narrative On Clean Vehicles
Wrapping Up Minnesota's 2023 Legislative Session
2022
Proud Minnesota Biofuel Leadership
2021
Climate-Smart Agriculture Progress Report Could Be Step In Right Direction
Infrastructure Bill Can Bring Us Closer To E15 Standard
2020
The Future Of Ethanol In Minnesota
A Plug-In Flex Fuel Hybrid For The Nation
Where Is The Aid For The Ethanol Industry?
Rebuilding Minnesota's Ethanol Industry
A Clean Fuels Program For Minnesota
2019
Biofuels in the 2019 Minnesota Legislative Session
2018
A New Beginning For Minnesota's Ethanol Industry?
Lead, Follow or Get Out Of The Way?
Time For EPA To Clean Up The Mess It Made Of The RFS
Minnesota Lawmakers Hold Key To Boost GDP By $189 Million
2017
A Solid Foundation And The Year Ahead
Self-Imposed Industry Barriers
Biofuels Infrastructure Bill A Boost For Minnesota
Minnesota Legislature Holds The Key
Biofuels and Renewable Chemicals In the 2017 Legislative Session
2016
Vigilance, Advocacy And Change
What The Recent Election Means For Ethanol
Laws Need To Be Matched By Action
Does Minnesota Have What It Takes To Seize Biofuel Opportunties?
MN's Choice : Squander Or Actualize Opportunities To Reduce GHG Emissions
Ongoing Communications With Policymakers
A Behind The Scenes Look At The 2016 Minnesota Legislative Sessions
Do Environmental Groups Really Want Solutions?
Help Candidates Understand Biofuels
2015
What's Ahead For Biofuels In 2016
Now That the Dust Has Settled: What Did the EPA Miss?
R Stands For Renewables, Even Biofuels
Could Aggregating Market Segments Help EPA Push Through The Fictitious Blendwall?
To The Agencies : Tear Down Those Blinders !
Minnesota Legislature Takes Next Step For E15
E15 Dispensing Bill Winds Its Way Through Legislature
Lack Of Transparency By State Agencies Threatens Progress On GHG Reduction
A Pathway Forward For Biofuels And Consumers
2014
The Warning Signs Are There : Fossil Fuels Will Continue To Cost More
A Century In The Making, And Now It Hinges On Your Vote
The Three 'F Words' Repeated Again And Again
A Blueprint For Expanding Minnesota's Bioeconomy
Momentum Continues To Grow For E15 & E85
The Fine Print And Critical Thinking Do Matter
Biofuels Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
RFS Debate: Let's Move Forward, Not Backwards
2013
Don't Let Them Take Us Backwards
It's About Your Quality Of Life And The Next Generation
Pull Off Those Big Oil Blinders
What Does The Latest Court Ruling Mean For E15 And Consumers?
Tired Of The Gasoline Price Yo - Yo?
We Recognize The Problem And Have A Solution : E15
By Tim Rudnicki, Esq.
Welcome to the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Buzz. In the last issue of the Buzz I noted many consumer and environmental benefits are associated with Today’s 21st Century Biofuels. Since the last issue of the Buzz went out, a number of you have asked me about a biofuel called E15 and the environmental benefits of biofuels. Here is a nutshell version of some answers to those questions.
In June 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved adding 85% gasoline to 15% ethanol for use as a motor fuel in 2001 and newer light duty vehicles. This mixture of ethanol and gasoline is called E15 (more accurately, it should be nicknamed “Eco-15"). E15 went through about six (6) million miles of testing before it was approved for use in about 70% of the gasoline powered vehicles on the roadways today. No other fuel has received this amount of testing! The bottom line: “The Stuff Works!” (More Info On E15 Here)
If your light duty vehicle was built within the last 12 years, you can use E15. For consumers using E15, it’s like getting a premium fuel for the price of regular gasoline. Over the holidays I had the good fortune to travel to locations where E15 is available. Although the price for a gallon of gasoline is variable, E15 was 10 cents less per gallon compared to regular gasoline. E15 is a motor fuel similar to regular gasoline (most regular fuel has 90% gasoline added to 10% ethanol) except E15 performs like premium fuel for less money. Regular gasoline is 87 octane while E15 is 90 octane.
At the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association we like to say: “Today’s 21st Century Biofuels Are Not Your Daddy’s Ethanol” for several reasons. First, Minnesota biofuel producers have significantly reduced the amount of water used to produce a gallon of biofuel. Many producers recirculate all the water they use to produce biofuels and some use less than two gallons of water to make a gallon of biofuel. Compare this to crude oil processing techniques that use 40 gallons of water to make one gallon of gasoline. (Source:Minnesota Technical Assistance Program)
Todays’ biofuels, compared to a few years ago, are improved for another reason: it takes less energy to make it and the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions are far lower for biofuels. Researchers measured the amount of energy it takes to pump oil, refine it to make gasoline and then deliver the gasoline to your favorite gas station. Researchers also measured the amount of energy used to grow, harvest and process renewable energy ingredients into biofuels and to deliver those biofuels, like E15, to your favorite fuel dispenser. Remember, whether we are talking about biofuels or gasoline, it takes energy to make energy. The big difference is this: to make the same amount of energy from biofuels uses 60% less energy inputs compared to the amount of energy used to make gasoline. (Source: Argonne National Laboratory) You might wonder, how can that happen? How can we get more energy out of biofuels than what is used to make biofuels? The short answer: (1) biofuels are made from renewable ingredients that capture solar energy and store the energy in the plant material and (2) biofuel producers simply unlock the energy stored in renewable ingredients like field corn kernels and other plant materials.
Lastly, the GHG environmental issue. Based on a December 2012 published study by Argonne National Laboratory, biofuels, like ethanol, reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Compared to petroleum gasoline, biofuels can reduce GHG emissions from 57% (field corn used as renewable ingredient) to 115% (miscanthus used as renewable ingredient). (Source: Argonne National Laboratory)
No need to wait! If you don’t have a flex fuel vehicle and are looking for a way to immediately reduce GHG emissions (“green” your 2001 or newer light duty vehicle), look for E15 and use E15. If you can’t find E15 at your favorite retailer, ask for E15. As soon as you start using E15, you will further reduce GHG emissions right here, right now.
Take a look at the balance of Minnesota Bio-Fuels Buzz for a sampling of some important issues in the world of biofuels. As always, if you have questions or comments about what you read in the Buzz, send me a note (Contact Page) or call me (612.924.6495).