Fuel Beyond: ELC 2023 in Review |
Last week, Growth Energy welcomed over 500 attendees to its 14th Annual Executive Leadership Conference (ELC) at the scenic Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California. To all who joined us in California, thank you for making the event such a resounding success! For those who did not attend, get a glimpse of what you missed with these playlists of behind-the-scenes videos and walk-up songs from ELC 2023: |
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Last week, domestic ethanol demand was 14.0 BGY, up 4.3% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was up 4.3% from last week, at 137.4 BGY. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 13.7 and 135.0 BGY.
Ethanol production was 15.3 BGY last week, down 1.7% versus the week before, and 2.3% less than the 4-week average in 2019. Midwest production was down 1.2% (-3.5 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was down 10.4% (-1.5 MG). Capacity utilization of plants online was 88.1% overall, 90.1% in the Midwest, and 59.1% on average, elsewhere, excluding 1,355 MGY of capacity shutdown at 27 ethanol plants for other than maintenance. On an installed capacity basis, utilization was 82.8% overall, 88.0% in the Midwest and 35.7% in the other regions.
Exports were an estimated 29.4 MG last week based on 130 MG of exports forecast for March. The EIA reported no ethanol imports last week.
Overall inventory was down 8.4 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks decreased 8.7 MG, and regional changes were: East (-15 MG), Gulf (-12 MG) and West (+0.3 MG) Coasts and the Midwest (+19 MG). In-transit inventory increased 0.2 MG.
Based on the total inventory of 1,949 MG on March 17th and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 51.8 days of supply, down 0.1 days versus a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, there were 46.7 days of supply, down 0.2 days versus a week ago. | |
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Kelly Nieuwenhuis Wins America's Fuel Award at 14th Annual Executive Leadership Conference Meet the 2023 TOBI Award Winners |
Act Now: Demand an E15 Emergency Waiver for This Summer Growth Energy Thanks Governors for Pressing EPA on E15 Emergency Waiver
Growth Energy: Next Generation Fuels Act Would Unleash Environmental, Economic Benefits of Ethanol Save the Date: Spring Fly-Ins |
Growth Energy Urges EPA to Maintain Consumer Access to Lower-Cost, Lower-Carbon E15
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2022 Was a Banner Year for Growth Energy. See Why with Our 2022 Sizzle Reel Update on the Green American Road Trip |
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Get Bioethanol NASCAR Primary Sponsor Race March 26, 2023 Circuit of the Americas
Austin, Texas Growth Energy Spring Fly Ins May 16-18, 2023
June 6-8, 2023 |
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Kelly Nieuwenhuis Wins America's Fuel Award at 14th Annual Executive Leadership Conference |
At ELC last week, Growth Energy awarded member Kelly Nieuwenhuis with its highest honor, America’s Fuel Award, which recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty as a champion for the renewable fuels industry. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor congratulated Nieuwenhuis, an Iowa farmer and longtime ethanol advocate and thanked him for his years of service to the biofuels industry.
“With deep roots in agriculture, a staunch belief in the power and potential of biofuels, and an eye toward what’s possible, Kelly Nieuwenhuis embodies the best of what our industry has to offer,” Skor remarked. |
Meet the 2023 TOBI Award Winners |
Each year, the TOBI awards recognize Growth Energy members for their innovation, fortitude, perseverance, and leadership in the biofuels industry. From communication professionals and political advocates to technical experts and corporate leaders, the TOBI awards acknowledge the achievements of members who go the extra mile to drive progress within their organizations and the industry. Growth Energy proudly announced the winners of the 2023 TOBI awards at the 2023 Executive Leadership Conference.
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For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Development Kelly Manning. |
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Act Now: Demand an E15 Emergency Waiver for This Summer |
Growth Energy and the biofuels industry need your help!
Amidst inflation and soaring gas prices, higher blends of biofuels like E15 have saved American drivers up to nearly $1 per gallon at the pump – all while reducing emissions and supporting economic growth across rural America. In fact, the popularity of higher bioethanol blends is rising faster than ever, and American drivers have now logged 40 billion miles on the road using E15.
Unfortunately, these cost savings could vanish from many markets on June 1, 2023, due to outdated federal restrictions on summer sales of higher ethanol blends.
Last year, the Biden administration waived E15 restrictions on an emergency basis for the summer to deliver relief at the pump, and this year should be no different. As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to drive price volatility at the pump, the administration should act swiftly to ensure uninterrupted access to lower-cost, lower-carbon E15. Join us in calling on lawmakers to press the Biden administration for action on an emergency RVP waiver ahead of the start of summer driving season. |
Growth Energy Thanks Governors for Pressing EPA on E15 Emergency Waiver |
Growth Energy applauded a bipartisan group of governors for continuing to lead on E15 by urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue an emergency waiver that would allow fuel retailers to sell E15 this coming summer.
In our release thanking the governors for their efforts, we noted that retailers and ethanol producers agree: we need an emergency waiver to keep E15 on the market this summer. At ELC, for instance, some retailers voiced their agreement that EPA must address the 2023 waiver for them to ensure continued access to E15 for their customers.
“We need regulators to provide an emergency waiver this summer to continue to offer our guests the low-cost E15 that they’ve been able to buy for years,” said Sarah Blodgett, fuel category manager at Casey’s General Stores, at the conference. “Retailers and American drivers need certainty.”
Read our full statement here. |
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Growth Energy: Next Generation Fuels Act Would Unleash Environmental, Economic Benefits of Ethanol |
Yesterday, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) reintroduced the Next Generation Fuels Act, a bill that would allow for the sale of fuels with greater octane levels, thereby increasing the amount of ethanol that can be used in the fuel supply, and, in turn, lowering prices at the pump for consumers. The bipartisan legislation is cosponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
"American-made ethanol already makes a positive impact every day, but we’ve still only scratched the surface of the benefits this renewable fuel can deliver to the environment and to drivers across the country," said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor upon the bill's introduction. "The Next Generation Fuels Act recognizes that ethanol is the only fuel available today that can be immediately deployed to decrease our nation’s carbon emissions, decrease our reliance on foreign oil, and decrease fuel costs for American families all at once." Read our full statement here and learn more about the legislation here.
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Save the Date: Spring Fly-Ins |
We look forward to hosting biofuels advocates in Washington, D.C. this spring for Congressional fly-in meetings! Participants will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with Members of Congress and congressional staff on our industry's most pressing issues. Registration will launch shortly with a detailed agenda and hotel information, but be sure to hold the following dates: May 16 - 18: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and North Dakota June 6 - 8: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin |
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For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher. |
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Growth Energy Urges EPA to Maintain Consumer Access to Lower-Cost, Lower-Carbon E15 |
In comments delivered during a public hearing this week, Growth Energy urged EPA to finalize its recent proposal to implement the request of eight midwestern Governors to “opt-out” of the one-psi Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver, as well as to issue an emergency RVP waiver by this summer that would allow fuel retailers to continue selling E15 — a lower-cost, lower-carbon fuel blend made with 15% biofuels.
“It is vital that EPA finalize this proposal to be effective next summer, and, in the meantime, issue an emergency RVP waiver for 2023, so that E15 will remain available year-round as it has since the summer of 2019,” said Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley in his remarks at the hearing. “The benefits are clear: if adopted nationally, E15 would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 17 million tons, the equivalent of taking nearly 4 million cars off the road and would save consumers more than $20B in fuel costs while creating nearly 190,000 new jobs.”
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For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. |
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2022 Was a Banner Year for Growth Energy. See Why with Our 2022 Sizzle Reel |
2022 was a banner year for the biofuels industry. Take a look back at our biggest accomplishments in this 2022 sizzle reel, covering President Biden's announcement of an emergency waiver to sell E15, the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act and everything in between. At every step of the way, Growth Energy and its membership led the conversation, underscoring the economic and climate benefits of biofuels at the White House, the Environmental Protection Agency, and with our champions on Capitol Hill. You can learn even more about our 2022 successes in Growth Energy's Annual Report, available here.
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Update on the Green American Road Trip |
Last week at ELC, we gave attendees an update on how Get Biofuel is evolving. Since the start of the pilot program almost two years ago, we've expanded into more markets and brought in retail partners. Now, we have the opportunity to continue that direct engagement with consumers and build on the in-roads we’ve made in key markets with the Green American Road Trip, an expanded Get Biofuel initiative that’s already reaching new consumers and yielding big results.
Millennials – and particularly millennial moms – are hitting the road like never before, taking road trips and heading to the great outdoors. Last summer alone, 80% of American adults planned to take a road trip. And with experts predicting that flight prices will remain high in 2023, it’s expected that the road trip trend will continue.
Which is how we arrived at the idea of the Green American Road Trip, which gives consumers a greener, cleaner way to hit the road with Get Biofuel. It lets us showcase our Fuel Finder and Trip Planner. It engages our retail partners. And it reaches consumers where they are – in the mindset of taking a road trip and connecting with nature. In the coming months, Shawn Johnson East and the East family will take their own spring and summer Green American Road Trips with UNL88 retail stops, documenting their journey and sharing vlogs and social posts out to their many loyal followers.
In fact, we’ve just launched spring road trip season with itineraries for our consumers to choose from. It includes fully planned routes, with must-see sights, recommended stays and family-friendly activities, as well as Get Biofuel retail stops on the way.
We couldn't be more excited for the buzz this will build with consumers. We are truly grateful for our retail partners, who are critical to the success of this initiative. Cleaner road trips await at greenamericanroadtrip.com. |
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The Weekly Rundown is the weekly newsletter for Growth Energy's members. It is published weekly by the communications staff at Growth Energy. For more information, email team@growthenergy.org or visit our website GrowthEnergy.org.
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