| No. 251, November 17, 2022 |
|
|
Preview: Growth Energy at NAFB Trade Talk Today |
Today, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley and General Counsel Joe Kakesh are joining ag broadcasters and other members of the ag community and ethanol industry from across the country at the 2022 National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) Trade Talk. Throughout the day Bliley and Kakesh will provide updates on policy in Washington, D.C., including EPA's upcoming release of the Set, the status of year-round E15, and the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). If you're here for the event be sure to stop by Booth #14 to say hello!
|
ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION WEEKLY UPDATE |
|
|
Last week, domestic ethanol demand was 13.6 BGY, down 3.0% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was down 3.0% from last week, at 134.0 BGY. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 13.7 and 135.5 BGY.
Ethanol production was 15.5 BGY last week, down 3.8% versus the week before, and the same as the 4-week average in 2019. Midwest production was down 3.8% (-11.2 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was down 3.4% (-0.6 MG). Capacity utilization of plants online was 89.7% overall, 90.5% in the Midwest, and 78.6% on average, elsewhere, excluding 1,373 MGY of capacity shutdown at 28 ethanol plants for other than maintenance. On an installed capacity basis, utilization was 84.0% overall, 88.0% in the Midwest and 47.3% in the other regions.
Exports were an estimated 28.0 MG last week based on 120 MG forecast for November. The EIA reported no ethanol imports last week.
Overall inventory was up 5.1 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks decreased 37.5 MG, and regional changes were: East (-35 MG), Gulf (-7 MG) and West (-8 MG) Coasts and the Midwest (+13 MG). In-transit inventory increased 42.7 MG.
Based on the total inventory of 1,655 MG on November 11th and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 43.7 days of supply, up 0.1 days versus a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, there were 39.6 days of supply, down 0.2 days versus a week ago. |
|
|
Regional Member Meeting Scheduled for Today in Kansas City, Mo. |
Growth Energy Highlights Biofuel Infrastructure Provisions Ahead of U.S. Senate Ag Committee Hearing on Farm Bill |
Update on the Rail-Labor Dispute Growth Energy Encourages Use of GREET Model in Comments to DOE EPA Responds to Growth Energy's Comments on PM Standards for Aircraft Emissions |
We Want to Hear Your Carbon Capture Stories |
|
NAFB Trade Talk November 16-17 Kansas City, Mo.
Growth Energy Regional Member Meeting November 17 Kansas City, Mo. NAAE Convention November 29 - December 3 Las Vegas, NV |
|
|
Today: Regional Member Meeting in Kansas City, Mo. |
Today, the Growth Energy Team is in Kansas City to provide an update on the Inflation Reduction Act, the Set, state issues, and impacts of mid-term elections for the ethanol industry. Today's schedule includes:
Presentation and Discussions 3:00 - 5:00 pm Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center
2345 McGee St, Kansas City, MO 64108 Optional: BBQ Dinner at Boulevard Brewing
Catered by Joe's Kansas City BBQ 2534 Madison Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64108 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. CST |
For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Development Kelly Manning. |
|
|
Growth Energy Highlights Biofuel Infrastructure Provisions Ahead of U.S. Senate Ag Committee Hearing on Farm Bill |
Every five years, Congress passes legislation that sets national agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry policy. This bill, referred to as the “Farm Bill”, includes policies that impact the ethanol industry and the farmers who support ethanol production.
This week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture held a hearing titled, “Farm Bill 2023: Rural Development and Energy Programs”, where Senators highlighted the need to support rural communities through through this year’s Farm Bill. Growth Energy submitted a letter for the record of the hearing highlighting the importance of Section 2203 of the Inflation Reduction Act, the $500 million in funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide grants to expand biofuel pump infrastructure, upgrade existing tanks and pump, and increase usage of higher blends of ethanol.
“This funding will expand the availability of lower-carbon, lower-cost fuel options at the pump, which in turn will further climate progress, deliver savings at the pump, ensure greater long-term energy security, and welcome an economic boon to rural communities,” wrote CEO Emily Skor. Additionally, Senate champions shared their support of the biofuels industry throughout the hearing in opening remarks and in their questioning of USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small. |
For more information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher. |
|
|
Update on Rail-Labor Dispute |
Most recently the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB), a small union representing about 300 of the 100,000 workers in this bargaining round, voted down the tentative agreement. All eyes are now focused on the Engineers and Conductors (BLET and SMART-TD), which, when combined, represent about half of the 100,000 workers subject to the agreement) as they complete their vote on November 21. To date, seven unions have ratified, three have voted it down/not ratified (including IBB), and the two as mentioned have yet to vote. We will continue to keep you updated accordingly.
|
Growth Energy Encourages Use of GREET Model in Comments to DOE |
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed guidance on the Clean Hydrogen Production Standard (CHPS) from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In the guidance, DOE specifies the use of the Argonne GREET model to assess the lifecycle emissions of clean hydrogen and alignment with section 45V (Clean Hydrogen Production Credit) of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Growth Energy took this proposed guidance as an opportunity to send a brief comment to reinforce the use of the Argonne GREET model in DOE’s work with Treasury on IRA provisions.
|
EPA Responds to Growth Energy's Comments on PM Standards for Aircraft Emissions |
Earlier this year, Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley testified and Growth submitted comments in response to EPA’s proposal to set particulate matter (PM) standards from aircraft. Bliley's testimony and comment focused on the importance of fuel quality and, in particular, the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to reduce PM emissions. EPA has now finalized their PM standard. While EPA did not include fuel changes, they did address Growth's comment (along with others who supported similar issues) in their response.
“While some or all of these potential measures could potentially address aircraft engine PM emissions, they would require substantial new data gathering, and technical, legal, and economic analysis. Even assuming the EPA had legal authority to implement the policy suggestions requested by the commenters to address PM emissions from aircraft engines, the EPA has not gathered data, conducted analyses of such data, or otherwise developed a record that could support the EPA finalizing a rule with standards reflecting these requested policies and regulatory approaches. Nor has the public been provided an opportunity to evaluate and comment upon these programs. Furthermore, such a record would include new analyses and assessment. Thus, the EPA does not, at this time, have a sufficient record of information to evaluate whether to propose future standards reflecting these measures. The EPA continues to believe that the appropriate approach at this time is to adopt PM standards that match the ICAO standards, an action that we believe is well justified by the information provided in this final rule.”
|
For more information, please contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley. |
|
|
We Want to Hear Your Carbon Capture Stories |
Our industry leads the way on innovation and currently plays a crucial role in capturing carbon. Industries across the nation, including food and beverage companies, have been facing a carbon dioxide shortage—according to the Wall Street Journal, supplies of carbon dioxide have been tight since early 2020 when ethanol demand was at a historic low.
Bioprocessing facilities have a big role to play in bridging this carbon gap and we want to follow-up on this story to showcase how integral our industry is to this market. If your facility is capturing CO2 for dry ice or beverage carbonation, we want to share your story and make sure it and the benefits of carbon capture are highlighted in national media. Please email Director of Communications and Media Relations Jake Barron to learn more.
|
For more information, please Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs Elizabeth Funderburk. |
|
|
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.
|
You're receiving this newsletter because you've subscribed to Growth Energy's The Weekly Rundown. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. |
|
|
Copyright © 2022 Growth Energy. |
|
|
|