Growth Energy was created in November 2008 and so is celebrating ten years of advocating for ethanol this month. This edition of the Driving Ethanol podcast is the first in a series of three focusing on a decade of accomplishments for the organization. This podcast includes historical comments from the early years with industry leaders, including Greg Krissek, who was …
GROWMARK Energy Offering Pre-Blended E15
The Renewable Fuels Association is pleased that farmer-owned cooperative GROWMARK Energy has started offering pre-blended E15 at its company-owned terminals in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. RFA has been working with GROWMARK on a number of issues related to offering E15 at the terminals, including regulatory compliance, participation in the EPA’s required fuel survey, and adoption of RFA’s Misfueling Mitigation Plan …
Ethanol Report from Export Exchange 2018
There was a special focus on the ethanol co-product distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) at the fifth biennial Export Exchange held this past week in Minneapolis. The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) began organizing this event in 2010 with the help of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) to bring together international buyers and domestic sellers of U.S. feedgrains and ethanol …
RFA Comments on E15 Rulemaking Timeline
Ethanol interests are raising concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency delaying the start of the rulemaking process for year-round E15 until February 2019, which would make the timeline for getting it approved before next summer very tight. Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper says they would very much like to see a proposal out sooner than February, but …
RFA Panel Addresses E15 Attacks
Since President Trump announced the administration’s intention to seek authorization to sell E15 ethanol year-round, ethanol critics have been increasing attacks on the fuel, so the Renewable Fuels Association held a panel teleconference October 25 to address some of the false and misleading information, including E15 use in vehicles and marine engines, as well as its impact on air quality. …
Export Exchange 2018
Export Exchange is a biennial educational and trade forum for U.S. feed grains that hosts international buyers and end-users of coarse grains and co-products from 35 around countries to meet with U.S. suppliers and service providers across the value chain. The event is co-sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), and Growth Energy. Held in Minneapolis, Minnesota …
Manito Transit acquires Baucom Truck Service
Manito Transit is continuing its expansion effort with the acquisition of Baucom Truck Service, a trucking company based in Camp Point, Illinois. Baucom has 27 drivers (a combination of company drivers and owner/operators) that haul propane and anhydrous ammonia, adding to the current Manito Transit fleet of nearly 150 trucks serving customers in 13 states. The company distributes fuel oil, …
New RFA Chair Says Increasing E15 Grows Ethanol Market
Renewable Fuels Association Chairman Neil Koehler, CEO of Pacific Ethanol, says the Trump administration announcement instructing the Environmental Protection Agency to initiate a rulemaking process that would extend the summer Reid Vapor Pressure waiver to E15 is good news for the ethanol industry, farmers, retailers and consumers. Pacific Ethanol owns and operates nine production facilities, four in the Western states …
Ethanol Stakeholders Welcome E15 Announcement
President Trump’s announcement of plans to lift restrictions on E15, allowing the ethanol-blended fuel to be sold year-round nationwide, was met with applause by stakeholders in the industry, including trade groups, farmers, producers, and retailers. Following the announcement, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor hosted a telephone press conference with Iowa farmer Kelly Nieuwenhuis, Iowa ethanol producer Delayne Johnson with Quad …
Ethanol Report on the New RFA
The Renewable Fuels Association entered a new chapter at the annual October membership meeting in Kansas City, as Geoff Cooper officially became RFA’s new President and CEO and Bob Dinneen began his new role as Senior Strategic Advisor, according to the succession plan announced in July. In this edition of the Ethanol Report, we hear from both about their new …
2018 RFA Crappie Masters Championship
For the second year, the Renewable Fuels Association has been co-title sponsor of the Crappie Masters Tournament Trail, with the 2018 National Championship held August 26-29 in Clinton, Missouri on Truman Lake. 14-year old Ethan Shields of Grenada, MS won $1000 scholarship in youth tournament on September 27 with RFA sponsor team boat captains Kent Williams, Arkansas, and Terry Richards, …
Preview of Export Exchange 2018
Around 500 attendees from at least 38 countries are expected to be at Export Exchange 2018, coming up October 22-24 in Minneapolis. The event, which brings together international buyers and U.S. sellers of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), was started in 2019 by the U.S. Grains Council and the Renewable Fuels Association. In this edition of The Ethanol Report …
Ethanol Report on Helping Refiners and Hurting Ethanol
An updated analysis from the Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) shows the U.S. ethanol industry could lose 4.6 billion gallons of domestic demand and nearly $20 billion in sales revenue over the next six years if EPA continues its current practice of refinery exemptions. Meanwhile, President Trump and even the Secretary of Agriculture are still saying they need …
Ag Secretary Gives RFS Progress Update
Speaking with reporters this week in Washington, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue provided an update on what is being done to resolve issues surrounding the Renewable Fuels Standard. “We’re working feverishly to resolve the RFS issue,” said Perdue, who added that he has been working with EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler on a proposal to present to President Trump, who is …
Growth Energy Helping Expand E15 Availability
The availability and use of E15, or 15 percent ethanol blended fuel, has been growing steadily since it was approved by EPA in 2011 for use in model year 2001 and newer vehicles but challenges remain for retailers who want to sell it and consumers who want to use it. Even President Trump has voiced his support for E15 over …