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Last week, Growth Energy welcomed its members from across the U.S. to Washington, D.C. for the 15th-annual Growth Energy Biofuels Summit (GEBS)—our industry’s premier advocacy event.

While in D.C., the attendees met with their elected senators and representatives to tell the industry’s story, and advocate for pro-biofuels policy priorities like lowering fuel prices and carbon emissions by securing permanent year-round E15 nationwide, finalizing timely and accurate guidance for the 45Z tax credit, setting Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) that align with current market conditions, and investing in infrastructure to ensure that biofuels can continue to play a role in addressing the nation’s climate challenges, among other issues.

Check out our GEBS highlight video below:

We were honored to welcome esteemed guest speakers such as House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, and Ernest Moniz, 13th U.S. Secretary of Energy and CEO and founder of the Energy Futures Initiative Foundation (EFIF).

After a day of panels, attendees broke off into teams for meetings with more than 160 Congressional offices on Capitol Hill to discuss key priorities and present 2024 Fueling Growth Awards to 50 Members of Congress. 

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

LATEST EIA DATA

Last week, domestic ethanol demand was 13.8 BGY, up 3.5% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was up 3.5% from last week, at 134.5 BGY. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 13.9 and 136.0 BGY (+1.1% YoY).

Ethanol production was 16.1 BGY last week, down 2.9% versus the week before, and 2.9% more than the 4-week average in 2019. Midwest production was down 3.2% (-9.7 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was up 3.3% (+0.6 MG) mainly in the Gulf Coast. Capacity utilization of plants online was 89.6% overall, 90.1% in the Midwest, and 81.6% on average, elsewhere, excluding 1,027 MGY of capacity shutdown at 22 ethanol plants for other than maintenance (details on pg. 31). On an installed capacity basis, utilization was 84.7% overall, 88.5% in the Midwest and 50.9% in the other regions.

Exports were an estimated 30.3 MG last week based on 130 MG of exports forecast for September.  The EIA reported no ethanol imports last week.

Overall inventory was up 9.6 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks increased 3.0 MG, and regional changes were: East (+14 MG), Gulf (unchanged) and West (+4) Coasts and the Midwest (-15 MG). In-transit inventory increased 6.6 MG.

Based on the total inventory of 1,614 MG on Sep 13th and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 41.7 days of supply, up 0.8 days versus a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, there were 37.4 days of supply, up 0.7 days versus a week ago

For more information, please contact Jake Comer.

WORKING FOR YOU

UPCOMING EVENTS

IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS

In testimony delivered to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) at a D.C. hearing on Tuesday. September 17, Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley highlighted a number of issues currently plaguing the nation’s rail service and demonstrated how they're negatively impacting the bioethanol industry. 

“With drivers facing high fuel prices and ethanol consistently trading significantly less than unfinished gasoline, at perhaps no other time has the need for timely and efficient ethanol rail service been more important,” Bliley said, citing increased rail rates, unfair dispute resolution practices, and unpredictable scheduling issues as major concerns for the American bioethanol industry, which ships nearly 70% of what it produces via rail.

Find a copy of Bliley’s remarks here. Read the full statement here.

In a press call last week Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small remarked on Brazil's tariff imbalance with the U.S. bioethanol industry, specifically in reference to the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

“One of my priorities coming in is ensuring that Brazil gets the message that we want to work together on sustainable aviation fuel but we have to be at a level playing field,” she said, noting that while the U.S. imposes a two-percent tariff on imported Brazilian bioethanol, Brazil imposes an 18-percent tariff on American bioethanol. 

Tackling Brazil's unfair treatment of American biofuels is one of Growth Energy's key trade policy priorities. Learn more about Growth Energy's advocacy in the global marketplace here.

For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley.

IN LEGAL

Growth Energy filed an amicus brief this week in a case in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles, otherwise known as the “tailpipe emissions rule.” In the amicus brief, Growth Energy noted that EPA’s rule was a missed opportunity to recognize the positive impact biofuels can have on reducing tailpipe emissions. 

“As Congress recognized when it enacted the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) almost twenty years ago, biofuels offer numerous climate and other benefits. When compared with petroleum, corn ethanol emits only about half as much greenhouse gases (GHGs), and cellulosic ethanol, made from the waste components of crops, emits even less,” Growth Energy said in the amicus brief. “Ethanol and other biofuels also emit less particulate matter and other pollutants harmful to human health. And all these benefits are readily available right now, all while enhancing energy security and supporting U.S. jobs.” 

Get the full story here. Read Growth Energy’s full amicus brief here. 

For more information, please contact General Counsel Joe Kakesh.

IN MARKET DEVELOPMENT

Growth Energy's logo shown on one of the screens of Weidner Field during the PriceAdvantage User Conference in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Last week, Andrew Falco, Growth Energy's Market Development & Analytics Manager, presented at the PriceAdvantage User Conference in Colorado Springs, Colo. to share how retailers can gain a competitive advantage with bioethanol. PriceAdvantage is a fuel pricing software that addresses the challenges faced by the retail-fuel industry in determining and implementing the right retail-fuel price. Hosted annually, this year's conference included 30 participants from 10 different retailers across the United States. 

For more information, please contact Vice President of Market Development Jake Comer.

IN MEMBERSHIP

As a reminder, the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) will host public informational meetings across the state regarding the expansion of the carbon pipeline to be built by Growth Energy Member Summit Carbon Solutions. The meetings are an important opportunity for residents to learn more about the project, the benefits of carbon capture, and the steps Summit is taking to ensure safety and environmental protection. 

Here are the final upcoming meetings. To view the full slate of meeting dates, click here.

Date: September 19, 2024 at 12 p.m.

Location: Prairie Winds Event Center, 908 Eighth St. S.E., Orange City, IA 51041

Docket: HLP-2024-0007

Date: September 19, 2024 at 6 p.m.

Location: Cobblestone Inn, 2011 Indorf Ave., Holstein, IA 51025

Docket: HLP-2024-0005

Date: September 20, 2024 at 12 p.m.

Location: Cobblestone Ballroom, 98 Lakeshore Drive, Lakeside, IA 50588 
Docket: HLP-2024-0012

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

IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

We must continue to make our argument for year-round E15 to the EPA, on Capitol Hill, and in state legislatures around the country. We've found that a picture really is worth a thousand words. Next time you fill up with E15, take a picture (like the one above) and share it with us! We'll put your photos to good use telling the story of how E15 saves drivers money. Email them to hcullen@growthenergy.org.   

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

ON THE TRACK

Check out some photos from last weekend's Go Bowling at The Glen NASCAR race, which featured Get Bioethanol No. 3 Chevy driver Austin Dillon.

See more race recap photos here!

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

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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