OPINION: Working to spread E15 nationwide
By Cassie Mullen, director of market development, Renewable Fuels Association
October 02, 2019
It was once said that disruption creates opportunity; that is exactly what is happening with E15 in the marketplace, according to Cassie Mullen, director of market development, Renewable Fuels Association.
Mike O'Brien, Growth Energy vice president of market development, is at the National Association of Convenience Stores Show in Atlanta, Georgia, helping to educate over 50,000 fuel retailer stakeholders on the many benefits of E15.
The American Coalition for Ethanol has updated the flexfuelforward.com website to include more marketer “testimonials� and more in-depth information to answer questions retailers frequently ask about E15 and flex fuel.
The STB published a notice Sept. 25 announcing it intends to renew the charter of the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee. RETAC was established in 2008 and provides advice to the STB regarding the rail transportation of energy resources.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced Oct. 1 it is awarding $73 million to 35 bioenergy research and development projects that aims to reduce the price of drop-in biofuels, lower the cost of biopower and enable the production of biomass products.
The USDA's Commodity Credit Corp. announced Sept. 27 that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2019, which coincides with fiscal year 2020.
A group of South Korean feed grains buyers attended Export Exchange in 2018, thanks to a sponsorship from the U.S. Grains Council, which led to the group purchasing 127,000 metric tons of U.S. DDGS.
Land use for sugarcane farming could increase by 5 million hectares by 2030 thanks to future demand for ethanol, according to a study led by the University of Queensland in Australia.
The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for August, reporting that nearly 1.65 billion RINs were generated during the month, including 37.37 million cellulosic RINs.
A delegation from North Dakota that included North Dakota Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring and representatives of Midwestern Ag Energy Group recently traveled to Brazil in hopes of building relationships that will lead to ethanol exports.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have demonstrated a method to insert genes into a variety of microorganisms that previously would not accept foreign DNA, with the goal of creating custom microbes to break down plants for bioenergy.
More than 70 Iowa fuel retail stations are participating in the 4th annual Pink at the Pump campaign this October. Participating organizations will donate 3 cents for each gallon of Unleaded 88 sold during the month to breast cancer research.
The USDA recently released its Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production report with data from July, reporting that corn consumed for fuel ethanol was down when compared to both June 2019 and July 2018.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority announced Sept. 24 the state's clean energy economy employed nearly 159,000 workers last year. Employment in renewable fuels, which includes biofuels and wood pellets, was up 2.5 percent.
MnDOT released a report Sept. 18 that aims to get the state on track to meet future goals for reducing GHG emissions in accordance with state laws. It includes a variety of recommendations to guide state policy, including those focused on biofuels.
A new trade agreement was reached Sept. 25 between the U.S. and Japan, our nation's third largest agricultural export market. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the agreement includes a staged tariff elimination for ethanol.
Ag leaders from Iowa and Ohio say there is no question SREs issued by U.S. EPA are hurting ethanol producers and farmers. Four farmers from the two states took part in a media call Sept. 26 to address the impact SREs are having on their industries.
Produced by BBI International in partnership with HB Sound & Light, the North Dakota Energy Conference will cover the vast energy resources available in the state. The event will take place in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Nov. 13-14.
The USDA published a final rule Sept. 23 that allows agency administrators additional flexibility to obligate federal funds associated with certain infrastructure projects, including those associated with several of its rural development programs.
Data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Sept. 25 shows U.S. ethanol production for the week ending Sept. 20 slipped to an average of 943,000 barrels per day, the lowest level since April 2016.
The Renewable Fuels Association sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler Sept. 25 criticizing statements he made during a Sept. 19 congressional hearing where he claimed SREs are not impacting the ethanol industry.
Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding Sept. 18 committing to purchase 5 million metric tons of U.S. corn and 500,000 tons of U.S. distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), extending their stable buying commitment for another two years.
Growth Energy has released a report examining the potential impact of U.S. biofuels in America's clean energy future. It presents data on ag innovation, provides a review of recent studies, and illuminates gaps in EPA's understanding of biofuels.
A bipartisan group of 25 members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administration Andrew Wheeler on Sept. 20 urging the agency to account for SREs when setting annual RFS blending obligations.
U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler fielded questions on SREs and the potential of E30 during a Sept. 19 hearing on U.S. EPA science and technology held by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
Clariant and ORLEN Południe signed a license agreement Sept. 20 for sunliquid cellulosic ethanol technology. Under the agreement, ORLEN Południe plans to install the sunliquid technology at a site in Poland integrated with a petroleum refinery.
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is seeking public input on the U.S. bioeconomy in an effort to inform notable gaps and vulnerabilities and to identify areas in which the bioeconomy could benefit from government attention.
FROM THE OCTOBER ISSUE: It's a challenging time to bring an ethanol plant online, but June marked the beginning of operations at Ringneck Energy & Feed in South Dakota.
FROM THE OCTOBER ISSUE: Editor Lisa Gibson previews the magazine, including feature articles about South Dakota's new ethanol plant, a look at E15's market trajectory, tips about lab maintenance and more.
FROM THE OCTOBER ISSUE: Projections for E15 have been inconsistent since the May 31 Reid vapor pressure waiver. Ethanol Producer Magazine explores some of the factors that will influence the blend's trajectory in the coming years.
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