EDITOR'S NOTE:
RFS Decision On The Horizon?
For the last seven months, the biofuel industry has been left in limbo with regards to the Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2014. The fact that it has taken this long has had a negative effect on ethanol producers as well as investments into advanced biofuels. Uncertainty has done the industry no good. The EPA had originally planned to announce its final rule on the RVO for 2014 in June. But something happened in May that may have postponed the decision. A Reuters report, citing unnamed sources from the biofuels industry, said that the EPA had revised the RVO for 2014 from its original proposal of 13.01 billion gallons. Read more here
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COLUMN:
A Blueprint For Expanding Minnesota's Bioeconomy
The details might be complicated, but the overarching blueprint is straightforward: continue to grow the biofuels industry AND build out the biobased feedstock industry.
On the continuum of an industry's development, the biofuel industry in Minnesota is very young. Relative to other Minnesota industries, such as agriculture and mining, the biofuels industry is just getting started. Nevertheless, the latest economic analysis of the Minnesota-based biofuels industry finds it supports 48,506 jobs with wages close to $3 billion and has a total annual economic impact of approximately $11.7 billion. And today's Minnesota-based biofuels industry still has room to grow. Read more here
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IN THE NEWS
The following were the top biofuels-related stories in July:
Side-By-Side Operation Of Luverne Plant On Track
July 29 - Gevo Inc has provided an update to the progress of its side-by-side operations of its plant in Luverne, MN. In June, Gevo commenced co-production of isobutanol and ethanol at its Luverne plant. Read more here.
Senators Push To Maintain RFS
AgWeek, July 28 - A group of senators led by Sen. Al Franken recently met White House counsel, John Podesta, who informed them that the EPA's final rule on the RFS requirements for 2014 will not be as low as the agency's original proposal in November 2013. Read more here.
NASCAR Reaches 6 Million Miles On Sunoco Green E15
Yahoo! Sports, July 25 - NASCAR has completed 6 million miles of competitive racing on E15. Read more here.
Klobuchar, Grassley Want Probe Of Ethanol Sales Restrictions
Star Tribune, July 22 - Senators Amy Klobuchar and Chuck Grassley have written to the U.S. Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate anti-competitive behavior by certain oil companies. Read more here.
New Analysis : Ethanol Is Lowest Cost Motor Fuel, Octane Source On The Planet
RFA, July 22 - Ethanol produced in the United States has been the most economically competitive motor fuel in the world over the past four years and has played an important role in reducing consumer fuel costs, according to a new analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association. Read more here.
Big Oil Robs Consumers Of Choice
The Hill, July 16 - Senators Amy Klobuchar and Chuck Grassley write about the ways in which oil companies have barred consumers from having choices at the pump. Read more here.
E15 Retailers Get Creative
Ethanol Producer Magazine, July 16 - Ethanol Producer Magazine's Holly Jessen takes a look at what some retailers have done to offer E15. Read more here
What's 1.67 Trillion Divided By 53?
Ethanol Producer Magazine, July 15 - There is 1.67 trillion barrels of oil left on the planet which is estimated to last 53 years, writes Ron Lamberty. Read more here
RFA Scores Retailers For E85, E15 Offerings ; Big Oil Gets An 'F'
Ethanol Producer Magazine, July 8, 2014 - The five Big Oil brands got an "F" in the Renewable Fuels Association's score card for their poor performance in offering E15 or E85. Read more here.
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
 U.S. Energy Services
This month, we spotlight U.S. Energy Services, a leading energy management services provider for ethanol producers in the country. Read our interview with Casey Whelan, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at U.S. Energy here. |
BLOGGING FOR BIOFUELS
The following were the top blog posts in July:
Chicago Pushes For E15 Availability
July 29 - A big debate has erupted in Chicago over the city's proposal to require many gas stations to offer E15 in the city. Read more here
Franken Suggests EPA's Cuts To RVO Will Be Lower
July 25 - Sen. Al Franken says the EPA's final rule on the RFS for ethanol consumption in 2014 will be higher than it originally proposed. Read more here
RFA Report Details Big Oil's Tactics In Preventing E85, E15 Sales
July 10 - The Renewable Fuels Association's latest report provides a glimpse into the various methods in how oil companies have prevented retailers from selling E85 and E15. Read more here
Gas Prices Up But Could Be Higher
July 3 - The recent spike in gas prices were caused by the turmoil in Iraq and Ukraine respectively but could have been higher if it weren't for ethanol. Read more here
One More Reason Fracking Is Bad
July 1 - As if there aren't enough problems associated with fracking (ie: minor earthquakes, radioactive waste), the Wall Street Journal reports that Bakken Shale drillers have been burning excessive natural gas that are a byproduct of hydraulic fracturing. Read more here
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MBA ANNOUNCEMENTS
Boulay Joins Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association As A Vendor Member
 The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MBA) is pleased to announce that Boulay has become our association's latest vendor member. Founded in 1934, the Eden Prairie-based firm has over 150 staff which includes 30 partners and 90 certified public accountants. For over 15 years, Boulay has served 50 private and public renewable energy clients representing approximately 2 billion gallons of potential capacity nationwide. Read more here
New Biofuel Station Locator Map
Our revamped website now includes a new biofuel station locator map. Just share your location, filter your results according to distance and fuel type and the map shows you the stations nearest to you. Click here and give it a spin!
More Facts About Ethanol
 The newly revamped Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association website now contains more facts about ethanol and countering the various myths out there. Ever wondered how ethanol contributes to the economy? Or how it has reduced our dependency on foreign oil? Find out the answers here and many more.
Biofuels As Renewable Energy DVD For Students
MBA recently teamed up with the Minnesota Agriculture In The Classroom to produce a series of educational videos for high school students on biofuels. In total, we produced six videos which explained the process of producing ethanol from corn and crop residue, biodiesel from soybean, biomass energy from plant matter, finding new biofuel sources and the impact of renewable energy on engine performance.
View all the videos here.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
27th Ethanol Conference : Aug 4 - 6, 2014, Minneapolis, MN
ACE's annual conference is unique in the world of renewable fuels because it is specifically
tailored to the interests and needs of the people of ethanol - the folks who are really in the trenches. It's a gathering of ACE's commitment to connect ethanol producers with the farmers, researchers, retailers, and support businesses to continue what all of them started started a long time ago. It's also an excellent place to learn and share ideas, And, it's got all the fun of a family reunion.
National Advanced Biofuels Conference : Oct 13-15, Minneapolis, MN
We are proud to announce that we are one of the supporting organizations for the National Advanced Biofuels Conference and Expo.
Produced by BBI International, this national event will feature the world of advanced biofuels and biobased chemicals - technology scale-up, project finance, policy, national markets and more - with a core focus on the industrial, petroleum and agribusiness alliances defining the national advanced biofuels industry.
With a vertically integrated program and audience, the National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo is tailored for industry professionals engaged in producing, developing and deploying advanced biofuels, biobased platform chemicals, polymers and other renewable molecules that have the potential to meet or exceed the performance of petroleum-derived products.
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