Ethanol industry generated $35B in GDP, supports 300,0000 jobs
By Renewable Fuels Association
February 16, 2021
Even after experiencing a drop in demand due to the COVID pandemic, the U.S. ethanol industry still had a significantly positive impact on the U.S. economy in 2020, according to the annual ethanol industry economic impact study released by RFA.
Mixed with steam, run through a reformer and fermented, landfill gas proves an economic and environmentally beneficial feedstock for ethanol production. And each LFG project is a source of green energy that can last for more than two decades.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released its Annual Energy Outlook 2021 (AEO2021) on Feb. 3, predicting that the consumption of biofuels as a share of the domestic fuel mix will gradually increase through 2050.
Legislation recently introduced in Iowa that aims to establish a state biofuels standard would create more than 3,500 new jobs and generate nearly $550 million in household income by 2026, according to a study released by the IRFA on Feb. 15.
National Hydro-Excavation Services specializes in locating and exposing utilities in advance of construction projects and emergency repair. The Omaha-based company can also handle line-jetting, tank cleaning, spill remediation and more.
New rollouts in clean-in-place processes are easing burdens on ethanol plants, but proper care to analyze the downstream impacts of these practices are crucial. Producers should be particularly mindful of protecting the integrity of their coproducts.
Commonwealth Agri-Energy has announced it can now produce high purity alcohol that meets and exceeds USP grade at its plant in Hopkinville, Kentucky. The company plans to produce best in class grain neutral spirits (GNS) in the future.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration lowered its forecast for 2022 fuel ethanol production in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released Feb. 9. The forecast for 2021 ethanol production, however, was maintained.
Todd Becker, president and CEO of Green Plains Inc., discussed the acquisition of Fluid Quip Technologies LLC and various improvements the company is making to its corn ethanol plants during a fourth quarter earnings call on Feb. 10.
U.S. ethanol production was up slightly the week ending Feb. 5, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Feb. 10. Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol fell by more than 2 percent.
The pandemic affected many aspects of ethanol production, including shutdown schedules. Now, 2020's staggered timelines for seasonal cleaning, inspection and repair might stay in place as producers consider the benefits of doing things differently.
UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, has released new data that shows the country's corn ethanol production continues to grow. Ethanol exports and sales of ethanol for use in sanitizing and industrial applications are also up.
The RFA on Feb. 8 released two reports summarizing 2020 U.S. ethanol and distillers grains export and import data. These annual reports include the latest information on the important role U.S. ethanol and distillers grains play on the world stage.
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy on Feb. 4 published an emergency order requiring the 25 MMgy AltEn LLC ethanol plant located in Mead, Nebraska, to cease operations until wastewater violations are corrected.
U.S. ethanol production was up slightly the week ending Jan. 29, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Feb. 3. Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol were up 3 percent.
IRFA: Biofuels continue to have positive impact on Iowa's economy
By Iowa Renewable Fuels Association
February 02, 2021
A new study released Feb. 2 finds biofuels continue to have a significant positive impact on Iowa's economy, but recent market challenges reduced the job and household income impacts of ethanol and biodiesel production in the state.
Clariant has signed a license agreement with Harbin Hulan Sino-Dan Jianye Bio-Energy, a Chinese green energy company, for its sunliquid cellulosic ethanol technology. The facility will be built near Harbin City in Northeast China.
The USDA recently released its Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production report for January, reporting that corn use for fuel ethanol was at 432 million bushels in November, down from both the previous month and November 2019.
Valero Energy Corp. released financial results on Jan. 28, reporting reduced operating income and production levels for its ethanol segment. The company's renewable diesel segment, however, is growing.
U.S. ethanol production fell by more than 1 percent the week ending Jan. 22, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Jan. 27. Stocks of fuel ethanol were down slightly.
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor on Jan. 26 delivered the keynote address at IRFA's Annual Iowa Renewable Fuel Virtual Summit. In her speech, Skor reviewed the successes and challenges faced by the ethanol industry over the last year.
During his state of the industry address at the 2021 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw characterizes the Iowa biofuels industry as “battered, but battling for a better future."
ADM discussed the status of its ethanol operations during a Q4 earnings call held Jan. 26. While ethanol margins are low, the company expects the supply-demand balance to improve through increased exports to China and industry reconfiguration.
Aemetis Inc. announced that its “Carbon Zero� biofuels production process has received $16.8 million of solar energy and other energy efficiency grants to fund upgrades of the Keyes, California, plant to support the production of zero carbon biofuel.
U.S. ethanol production was up less than 1 percent the week ending Jan. 15 while weekly ending stocks were down slightly, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Jan. 22.
BBI International has announced that the 2021 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, the ethanol industry's largest conference, will be held July 13-15 in Minneapolis. The event was originally scheduled to be held in mid-June.
Compared to 2019, Iowa ethanol production fell 500 million gallons, or 12 percent, in 2020 as a result of dramatic demand destruction resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, trade disputes around the globe, and illegal exemptions granted from the RFS.
Nearly 18.26 billion RINs were generated under the RFS in 2020, down from 19.81 billion generated in 2019, according to data published by the U.S. EPA. Total RIN generation for December was at 1.69 billion, down from 1.79 billion in December 2019.
European ethanol producer CropEnergies has released financial results for third quarter of its 2020-'21 financial year, reporting improved operating margins for the first nine months of the fiscal year. Sales volumes, however, were down.
The ethanol sector continued to recover during the fourth quarter of 2020 with production levels up 3.5 percent when compared to the third quarter, according to a new quarterly report released by CoBank's Knowledge Exchange on Jan. 14.
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