TOP STORY

New from U.S .Department of Energy: Corn Ethanol Reduces Carbon Footprint, Greenhouse Gases

A study conducted by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory reveals that the use of corn ethanol is reducing the carbon footprint and diminishing greenhouse gases.

The study, recently published in Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, analyzes corn ethanol production in the United States from 2005 to 2019, when production more than quadrupled. Scientists assessed corn ethanol’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity (sometimes known as carbon intensity, or CI) during that period and found a 23% reduction in CI.

“With the increased total volume and the reduced CI values of corn ethanol between 2005 and 2019, corn ethanol has resulted in a total GHG reduction of more than 500 million tons between 2005 and 2019,” noted Argonne senior scientist Michael Wang, who leads the Systems Assessment Center in the laboratory’s Energy Systems division and is one of the study’s principal investigators. “For the United States, biofuels like corn ethanol can play a critical role in reducing our carbon footprint.”

IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Growth Energy Applauds Senate Push for Transparency on Refinery Exemptions

On Tuesday, CEO Emily Skor thanked U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), who reintroduced the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Integrity Act. A companion to House legislation introduced in February, the bipartisan proposal would bring greater transparency to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) small refinery exemption (SRE) process and ensure refiners apply for exemptions in a timely manner.

“This legislation provides long-overdue transparency for requests to avoid blending more low carbon renewable fuels that are key to America’s low-carbon future,” said Skor. “We applaud Senators Fischer and Duckworth for working to protect the integrity of the RFS so that farmers and biofuel producers, as well as the entire fuel supply chain, across the nation can count on stable demand and continue providing cleaner and more affordable fuel choices at the pump.

“By arming the public with greater information on biofuel exemptions, we can keep oil refineries accountable to following the law and ensure uninterrupted progress toward achieving cleaner air and a healthier climate.”

Carbon Capture Bill Introduced in U.S. House

The Coordinated Action to Capture Harmful (CATCH) Emissions Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan list of members committed to carbon management policy led by Representatives Tim Ryan (D-OH), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Marc Veasey (D-TX), David McKinley (R-WV), Susan Wild (D-PA) and Kelly Armstrong (R-ND).

The CATCH Act would create an $85 per metric ton credit level for industrial and power generation facilities seeking to securely store captured CO₂ in saline geologic formations and

$60 per metric ton for storage in oil and gas fields and for the beneficial utilization of captured carbon to manufacture low and zero-carbon fuels, chemicals, building products, advanced materials and other products of economic value. 

“Carbon capture is a universally supported piece of the climate debate and an important tool to reach net-zero carbon emissions that includes the agriculture and ethanol industries in the process,” said CEO Emily Skor. “The legislation incentivizes industrial facilities to capture and store carbon, and I applaud Reps. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio) for promoting forward-thinking technologies that contribute to reducing our nation’s carbon footprint while supporting rural economies.”

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

IN OUR ASSOCIATION

ADM Completes Carbon Capture and Storage Project

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and the University of Illinois have successfully completed a multiyear project designed to test a commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) system at the company's ethanol plant in Decatur, Illinois. 

The project, one of two carbon capture and storage projects next to ADM's facility in Decatur, was designed to confirm the ability of the Mount Simon Sandstone, a geologic formation that covers most of Illinois, southwestern Indiana and western Kentucky, to accept and store 1 million metric tons of CO₂ over a three-year period.

"ADM is committed to leveraging innovation and technology to advance sustainability across every aspect of our business. Deploying carbon capture and storage technology in our processing operations is one of the many ways we are reducing our environmental footprint," said Alison Taylor, the company's chief sustainability officer, said in a statement.

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

IN MARKET DEVELOPMENT

Growth Energy and CSP Host Retailer Webinar

Development Mike O'Brien shared expertise and best practices on navigating the E15 landscape, setting up the right fuel infrastructure, and marketing E15. Other speakers discussed the regulatory landscape and fuel supply and demand. Additionally, prospective retailers heard from representatives from early E15 fuel adopters Family Express. Family Express shared their experience with E15 and how they maximized their competitive advantage with high-octane fuel options like Unleaded 88 and E85.

Today, E15 is sold at more than 2,400 retail sites in 30 states. 

For more information, please contact Vice President of Market Development Mike O'Brien.

IN COMMUNICATIONS

Skor: Choose Biofuels to Help Improve the Environment

In an interview with Brownfield Ag News, CEO Emily Skor discussed the new Get Biofuel consumer campaign and how this initiative is aimed at encouraging consumers to choose higher biofuel blends like E15 at the pump.

“We’re connecting the dots for the consumer, encouraging her to choose higher blends like engine-smart, earth-kind Unleaded 88 at the pump,” said Skor. “The key takeaway for the consumer really is that with biofuels in your gas tank, you fuel beyond and become part of the climate solution.”

IN GLOBAL

Global Update: Mexico and Brazil

Mexico's government is heading toward a June 1 timeline to decide whether to allow E10 in their fuel market or revert to a 5.8% blend. For months, Growth Energy has been working with the Mexican government to share ethanol's environmental and economic benefits. In March, Growth Energy sent a letter urging U.S. government officials to work with the Mexican government to encourage E10 nationwide as soon as possible.

In Brazil, fuel retailer union Fecombustiveis is asking the Brazilian government to reduce the amount of ethanol required in its fuel supply from 27% to 18%, citing adverse weather conditions. To help address these concerns with an alternative solution, Growth Energy sent a letter urging the government to instead lower its current tariff rate of 20%. With lower tariffs, U.S. ethanol can support Brazil's fuel market by filling supply gaps and associated price spikes when they occur.

For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Market Development Mike Lorenz.

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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