2018 has been a busy and interesting year for the ethanol industry and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). In this edition of The Ethanol Report podcast, RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper reviews the top stories of the year in ethanol, including the new leadership at RFA, President Trump’s interest in the industry and E15, small refinery waivers, record exports …
Ten Years of Ethanol Market Growth
Growth Energy is celebrating ten years of advocating for ethanol since it was created in 2008. This edition of the Driving Ethanol podcast is the final installment of our series on the 10 year anniversary of Growth Energy and how the market for U.S. ethanol has grown in the past decade. When Growth Energy was first formed in 2008, U.S. …
Ethanol Interests Testify on Proposed Fuels Act
Ethanol stakeholder groups testified Tuesday at a House Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee hearing to review a discussion draft of the 21st Century Transportation Fuels Act, which would effectively repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Among those who testified: Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper- Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor – Texas farmer and National Corn Growers Association …
EPA Finalizes RFS Renewable Fuel Volumes
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the finalized rule for required renewable fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2019, and biomass-based diesel for 2020. The key elements of the final rule include maintaining the “conventional” renewable fuel volumes, primarily met by corn ethanol, at the current 15-billion gallon level set by Congress for 2019; increasing …
Driving Ethanol Performance Value
Growth Energy is celebrating ten years of advocating for ethanol since it was created in 2008. This edition of the Driving Ethanol podcast is the second in a series of three focusing on a decade of accomplishments for the organization. This episode reflects on how Growth Energy has proven ethanol’s performance value through the high profile American Ethanol partnership with …
Ethanol Report from 2018 NAFB Convention
The new president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) met with farm broadcasters from around the country recently at the annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk. While Geoff Cooper has been with RFA since 2008, it was the first time he had the opportunity to talk with the ag media as CEO. Among the topics he …
Driving Ethanol Series on 10 Years of Growth Energy
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 …