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Fittingly, in the wake of our rebrand, Growth Energy demonstrated its leadership in the bioeconomy this week by participating in a number of high-profile public events and panel discussions. 

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor moderates a panel at the Tech for Climate Action’s U.S. Clean Energy Transition Conference in D.C. this week. Argonne National Laboratory Director Paul Kearns is on the right.

On November 14, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor joined lawmakers and industry leaders, including Argonne National Laboratory Director Paul Kearns, at Tech for Climate Action’s U.S. Clean Energy Transition Conference, where she discussed the role biofuels play in our nation’s climate strategy, particularly when it comes to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). 

“We’re working very hard to make sure that biofuels play the important role that they should play in our national quest to get to a net-zero economy in 2050,” said Skor. “Last year, the U.S. produced 16 million gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Many of you are hopefully familiar – the Biden administration has the SAF Grand Challenge, which commits the U.S. to producing three billion gallons by 2030. So yes, you did the arithmetic correctly. We have to go from 16 million to three billion in seven short years, so that of course requires some pretty exponential growth.”

Then on Wednesday, November 15, Skor discussed carbon reductions and other new markets for SAF at POLITICO’s energy forum titled “The Sustainable Future: Driving Toward Clean Fuel,” where she was joined by other clean energy advocates from Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) and the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE). The panel, sponsored by Consumer Reports, also featured Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) and Department of Energy Deputy Assistant Secretary for Sustainable Transportation & Fuels Michael Berube.  

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor (third from left) at POLITICO's "The Sustainable Future: Driving toward Clean Fuel" event this week in D.C.

Elsewhere, Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley was the featured speaker yesterday at a regional stakeholder meeting of the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) in New Orleans. Today he's in San Antonio speaking at the 2023 Life-Cycle Analysis for Transportation Symposium hosted by the Southwest Research Institute. The National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) is also hosting its annual Trade Talk event today in Kansas City; Skor and Growth Energy General Counsel Joe Kakesh are on-site and already talking to trade reporters about the biggest issues facing our industry and how Growth Energy is working to expand America's bioeconomy.

For more information, please contact Vice President of Communications Elizabeth Funderburk.

WEEKLY EIA DATA

Last week, domestic ethanol demand was 14.0 BGY, down 5.7% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was down 5.7% from last week, at 137.2 BGY. The large week-on week (WoW) decrease was the consequence of demand the week before being up 9.1%, WoW. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 14.0 and 138.0 BGY.

Ethanol production was 16.1 BGY last week, up 0.5% versus the week before, and 3.6% more than the 4-week average in 2019. Midwest production was up 0.1% (+0.3 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was up 7.1% (+1.2 MG). Capacity utilization of plants online was 91.1% overall, 91.8% in the Midwest, and 81.5% on average, elsewhere, excluding 1,225 MGY of capacity shutdown at 26 ethanol plants for other than maintenance. On an installed capacity basis, utilization was 85.2% overall, 89.2% in the Midwest and 48.8% in the other regions.

Exports were an estimated 28.0 MG last week based on 120 MG/mo. of exports forecast for November. The EIA reported no ethanol imports last week.

Overall inventory was up 8.0 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks decreased 1.5 MG, and regional changes were: East (+9 MG), Gulf (+5 MG) and West (-9 MG) Coasts and the Midwest (-7 MG). In-transit inventory increased 9.5 MG.

Based on the total inventory of 1,741 MG on November 10th and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 45.1 days of supply, up 0.1 days versus a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, there were 41.0 days of supply, up  0.2 days versus a week ago.

For more information, please contact Jake Comer.

WORKING FOR YOU

UPCOMING EVENTS

NAFB Trade Talk

Kansas City, MO

November 15-17, 2023

IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

The House and Senate approved a two-tiered continuing resolution (CR) this week that will continue to fund the government until early next year. The CR funds some departments, namely those dealing with agriculture, transportation, housing and urban development, military construction, energy, water and Veterans Affairs, through Jan. 19. The remaining departments--commerce, justice, science, defense, financial services, homeland security, the interior, the environment, labor, education, health and human services, the legislative branch, state and foreign operations--will be funded through Feb. 2.

Both chambers of Congress approved a "clean" CR, meaning it did not include any funding cuts or other provisions that might've otherwise jeopardized its approval. We will continue to keep you posted on the continuing negotiations and efforts to enact longer-term spending bills in the new year.

Included in the CR Congress passed this week was an extension of the nation's Farm Bill. The extension continues to fund existing programs at current levels through September 30, 2024. House Agriculture Chair Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), ranking Democrat David Scott (D-Ga.), Senate Agriculture Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and ranking Republican John Boozman (R-Ark.) all issued a joint statement announcing the extension and indicating their commitment to finding an even longer-term solution in the new year.

“As negotiations on funding the government progress, we were able to come together to avoid a lapse in funding for critical agricultural programs and provide certainty to producers,” they said in a statement. “This extension is in no way a substitute for passing a five-year farm bill and we remain committed to working together to get it done next year.”

We had a fantastic Growth Energy Biofuels Summit this year, and while we were on the Hill we found that a number of lawmakers had questions about co-products--What are they? How do they fit into the biofuel production process? Why are they important?

Whether it's animal feed, food-grade CO2, bioplastics, or anything else, we want to hear about what unique and value-added co-products (beyond biofuels) that you're involved in manufacturing. Every story you share helps us educate lawmakers about all of the innovative things that are happening in the plant and on the farm, and further demonstrates our industry's pivotal role in cultivating the bioeconomy. 

To share your story, contact Holly Cullen.

For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher.

IN OUR ASSOCIATION

Growth Energy Member Summit Carbon Solutions announced the conclusion of the Iowa Utilities Board public hearings on its CO2 pipeline plan, a significant event in the progress of the project. The series of hearings, which extended over 25 days in eight weeks, represented a critical step forward in realizing the project that will capture CO2 emissions from more than 30 ethanol plants across five states. Read more here.

Last week, National FFA hosted a CEO Roundtable during the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor joined more than 30 individuals to bring the best minds together to solve challenges and create new opportunities for agriculture, and for the people who love it and depend on it. Ted McKinney, CEO of National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) moderated a conversation around getting candid and creative for new opportunities that will help FFA and all of agriculture. National FFA will continue to engage with this group as future priorities are determined. 

Highlights from the convention included record-breaking attendance of 72,954 attendees in Indianapolis, Ind.; six new National FFA Officers inducted into office, and the recognition of an all-time high FFA membership of 945,988 members in 9,163 FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

For more information, please contact Vice President of Development Kelly Manning.

IN MEMBERSHIP

Just a quick reminder for our members who have Growth Energy's logo displayed on their organization's website or any other collateral — please make sure you update that with our new logo! Log in to the new member portal on the redesigned Growth Energy website to access a toolkit featuring this material (you may need to reset your password). Once you're logged in, scroll down and look for the blue Member Resources section.

For more information, please contact Senior Creative Director Houston Ruck.

Growth Energy is the leading voice of America’s biofuel industry, delivering a new generation of plant-based energy and climate solutions.

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The 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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