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May 2013 Newsletter
Executive Director's Report :
Tired of the Gasoline Price Yo-Yo?  


Historical price charts tell some ugly stories about the average retail price of gasoline.  According to GasBuddy.com, the price for a gallon of regular gasoline snapped from approximately $3.48 per gallon to $3.70 in early June 2012.  As we follow the data forward to January 2013, we find a steep drop to $2.94 until we are snapped back up to a whooping $4.29 per gallon.  Now, during the last few days of May, the gasoline price yo-yo is dropping back to about $3.89 per gallon.

This yo-yo effect in the price of gasoline, hitting the top and dropping down and doing it all over again, is easy to spot when the data is plotted on a chart.  Information conduits for the petroleum industry, however, would like for us consumers to be content with the stories about "supply tightness" due to the switch from winter to summer gasoline or refiners diverting supplies to "take advantage of higher prices" in the Great Lakes states.  Is this the first time refiners have experienced a change of season?   Am I supposed to take comfort in knowing refiners are simply chasing the dollar in another part of the country?  Perhaps the more interesting story is what the data, rather than talking-heads, tells us. CONTINUE READING  

Recent  News Available Through the MBA Homepage 
1. Ethanol a target of Big Oil
2. EPA Proposes RFS Amendments
3. Farm Bill Gets House Hearing After Senate Panel Approval
4. Senate bill targets RFS incentives for Brazilian ethanol
5. Farm Bill Gets House Hearing After Senate Panel Approval
6. MBA Grant Program: John Marshall students get hands-on lesson in alternative energy
7. EU maneuvers seen as threat to American ethanol
8. Sens. Harkin and Franken Introduce Energy Section of 2013 Farm Bill
More  Recent  News  
MBA Ethanol Plant Tour Grant Program - Student Tours  

The month of May has been busy with ethanol plant tours for high school students throughout Minnesota. Seven schools were awarded funding to sponsor tours to local ethanol plants. To see photos from the tours please visit our Facebook page or check out the photo page on our website. The tour from John Marshall high school in Rochester, MN was highlighted on KTTC television in Rochester, MN - see video. 

Blender Pump Funding Enhanced & Extended   
The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Energy for America (REAP) Program has announced that funds available for REAP during FY 2013 have increased from $20 million to $60 million. To facilitate the use of the additional funds the application window for requesting grants, including feasibility study grants, and combination loan and grant was extended from April 30, 2013 to May 31, 2013.

Blender pumps, those fuel dispensers that can blend and offer E15, mid-level blends and E85, remain among the list of renewable energy projects which are eligible for REAP Funding. Eligible applicants include rural small businesses and agricultural producers. Grant requests can be made for up to 25% of total eligible project costs.
  • Grant/guaranteed loan combination requests can be made for up to 75% of total eligible project costs, typically 25% grant, 50% loan guarantee request.
  • Guaranteed loan only requests can be made for up to 75% of total eligible project costs.
  • Feasibility study requests can be made for up to 25% of total feasibility study costs up to a maximum of a $50,000 request. An independent third party must perform the feasibility study.

The BYO Ethanol Campaign offers FREE grant writing services for those who qualify and are installing blender pumps for offering mid-level ethanol blends including E85. For more information on the UDSA REAP grant and the FREE grant writing services go to www.byoethanol.com/incentives.

The Blend Your Own (BYO) Ethanol Campaign is a joint effort of the American Coalition for Ethanol (www.ethanol.org ) and the Renewable Fuels Association (www.ethanolrfa.org ). We have come together to bring you complete and timely information on ethanol blending, mid-level ethanol blends, E85, E15, blender pumps and infrastructure incentives

Minnesota Producer Spotlight  
In April, MBA highlighted Al-Corn Clean Fuel as the Producer Spotlight with comments from CEO, Randall Doyal. Please find the spotlight here (Producer Spotlights) if you missed it! Stay tuned later this month for our next Producer Spotlight!
WANTED: Potential E15 Retailers
MBA is seeking potential E15 fuel retailers in Minnesota. If you or someone you know are a current fuel retailer and are interested in increasing your profitability with E-15 sales, please contact [email protected]. Please read the E-15 page on our website or view the E-15 Retailer Handbook for more information. In addition MBA is planning to hold an informational meeting on E15 in early 2013 - stay tuned!
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