No. 137 July 30, 2020 TOP STORY Pushing for clarity on biofuels assistance in next COVID-19 relief package This week, the Senate released language for the next round of COVID-19 relief, which included biofuels producers as eligible entities under the recently released agriculture assistance program. While this was the first time biofuels had been mentioned in any Senate relief language, it lacked clarity in directing biofuels to actually receive that funding.
“This is a good first step towards healing the damage wrought by COVID-19, but falls short of providing the necessary clarity that would have been provided in Senators Ernst, Grassley and Klobuchar’s proposed language," Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said in a statement. “The next critical step in a final agreement between House and Senate is to provide additional certainty around the nature of biofuel industry relief to ensure our producers have access to this much needed assistance. Our fight is far from over, especially with the number of retroactive refinery exemption applications continuing to rise and COVID-19 depressing trade to our key ethanol markets abroad. It’s encouraging to know that we have House and Senate leaders in our corner who understand that protecting America’s biofuel workforce now is vital to rebuilding our nation’s agricultural supply chain and markets for American farmers.”
Our office is working alongside our Senate champions - particularly Senators Ernst, Grassley, and Klobuchar - on pushing for greater clarity for biofuels in this proposed language and will keep you updated as the situation evolves. For more details, contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher.
WORKING FOR YOU IN COMMUNICATIONS Conversations with Biofuels Champions, featuring Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.)
Skor pens column in Biofuels International: "Replacing toxic additives in our fuel"
Make your voice heard on SREs IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Growth Energy rallies behind Ernst’s demand for action on E15 labeling
Growth Energy champions biofuels as part of USDA’s Innovation Agenda IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS TODAY: Bliley participates in EESI's Sustainable Transportation panel discussion IN GLOBAL MARKETS Today: Willis joins AgTalks Virtual Townhall IN OUR ASSOCIATION Growth Energy Board Member Rick Schwarck elected to serve as USGC's Director of Agribusiness/Ethanol and Co-Products
Kansans Fueling Kansas: Western Plains Energy, LLC ON THE TRACK Austin Dillon and the No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet Team battle hard at Kansas Speedway UPCOMING EVENTS
EESI Clean Energy Expo's Sustainable Transportation Panel Discussion July 30, 2020 1:30 PM CT/2:30 PM ET
AgTalks Virtual Townhall July 30, 2020 11:00 AM CT/12:00 PM ET
Virtual Fuel Ethanol Workshop 2020 Sept. 15-17, 2020
Growth Energy Biofuels Summit September 14-17, 2020
IN COMMUNICATIONS Conversations with Biofuels Champions, featuring Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.)
This week in our "Conversations with Biofuels Champions" summer video series, our CEO Emily Skor visited with one of our top champions in the House of Representatives: U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos of Illinois. Born in Springfield, Illinois, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos comes from a long line of farmers and teachers. Following in her father's footsteps, Bustos started her career in the news business before being elected to Congress in 2013 to represent Illinois' 17th Congressional District.
In the 116th Congress, Bustos was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee. Bustos also continues to serve on the House Agriculture Committee, where she played a vital role in crafting the Farm Bill. We're grateful for Congresswoman Bustos' continued support during her time in Congress and her work to provide greater certainty for biofuels today and in the future. Watch the conversation between Congresswoman Bustos and Emily Skor here or by clicking on the image below. In case you missed it, last week, Skor spoke with Congressman Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) about the critical role ethanol markets play in Kansas' rural economy. Watch it here.
Next week, we'll hear from Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Ill.). Be sure to tune in!
Skor pens column in Biofuels International: "Replacing toxic additives in our fuel"
This week, Emily Skor authored a column in the July/August issue of Biofuels International, where she discussed the need to replace toxic additives in our fuel with a cleaner-burning, renewable octane enhancer like ethanol. This topic couldn't be more timely, as we've seen a dramatic drop in pollution around the world due to stay-at-home orders and reduced driving.
"As policymakers and public health experts dig deeper into the human costs of air pollution, including heightened risk from COVID-19 among vulnerable communities, a rapidly growing body of research is raising awareness of the threat posed by toxic fuel additives, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX)," Skor wrote. "Fortunately, people have a better option in ethanol, the single most affordable and abundant alternative to petroleum-based fuel additives that threaten air quality in communities across the globe."
Make your voice heard on SREs
As COVID-19 continues to devastate our biofuel producers and rural communities, NOW more than ever we need to STAND UP for the Renewable Fuel Standard and DEMAND that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deliver certainty to US farmers.
Help spread the word to put American farmers first
Be sure to encourage others to act by sharing this message on your social media channels. Click here or on the button below to download Growth Energy's member-only social media toolkit, which includes graphics and sample posts. For more details, contact Vice President of Communications Elizabeth Funderburk. IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Growth Energy rallies behind Ernst’s demand for action on E15 labeling Earlier this week, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor applauded Senator Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) push to secure action on the administration’s prior commitment to streamline labeling and remove infrastructure barriers to the sale of E15, a fuel blend containing 15 percent ethanol. In a new letter to the to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the senator called on the agency to “act now to initiate a rulemaking process and follow through on this agreement to provide certainty to our Iowa farmers.”
“There’s no excuse for regulators to drag their feet on E15, especially at time when new markets for biofuels could provide an economic lifeline for communities hammered by COVID-19 and years of EPA demand destruction,” said Skor. “The president made a commitment to Senator Ernst and her colleagues, and we applaud her for holding the EPA accountable on that promise. Biofuel workers and American farmers expect action, as do motorists, who stand to benefit most from expanded access to the clean, affordable biofuel blends like E15, which continues to rise in popularity at more than 2,100 sites across the nation.”
Growth Energy champions biofuels as part of USDA’s Innovation Agenda On Friday, July 24, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in response to a request for input on the department’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda (AIA), a new initiative to promote conservation and boost productivity in American agriculture. In her comments, Skor applauded the agency’s focus on expanding the use of low-carbon ethanol and other biofuel blends to reduce carbon emissions and protect air quality.
“Incorporating biofuels into our nation’s fuel supply has been one of our most successful energy policies to date, benefitting both the environment and the consumer,” wrote Skor. “With many states and localities increasingly exploring public policy options to lower carbon emissions, biofuels have become an affordable and accessible solution for many.”
Skor also urged the agency to press ahead with policies to expand consumer choice at the pump: “Programs such as the Renewable Fuel Standard, as well as the continued expansion of access to higher biofuel blends like E15, E30, and E85, can build on biofuels’ environmental progress and expand the market for American agriculture,” noted Skor. “USDA’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) is a prime example how the agency can support the productivity of our farmers, while decreasing GHG emissions and encouraging the further adoption of sustainable farming practices across our agriculture sector.”
To read Growth Energy’s full comments on the USDA’s AIA, click here. For more details, contact Vice President of Government Affairs John Fuher.
IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS TODAY: Bliley participates in EESI's Sustainable Transportation panel discussion Today at 1:30 PM CT/2:30 PM ET, Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley will participate in the EESI Clean Energy Expo's Sustainable Transportation panel discussion. The panel will open with remarks from biofuels champion, Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) and provide Bliley with an opportunity to share biofuels' important role in decarbonizing our transportation fleet alongside representatives from Ecostrat, the American Public Transportation Association, and the Electric Drive Transportation Association.
Be sure to tune in today at 1:30 PM CT/2:30 PM ET for this discussion by clicking here or on the button below. For more details, contact Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley.
IN GLOBAL MARKETS TODAY: Willis joins AgTalks Virtual Townhall Today at 11:00 AM CT/12:00 PM ET, Senior Vice President of Global Markets Craig Willis is participating in the first of AgTalks Virtual Townhall series, along with Iowa and national ag commodity leaders, to discuss the future of Iowa agriculture, with a focus on trade and supply chains.
The conversation comes at a time when Iowa’s competitiveness in agriculture is being impacted by the trade war, COVID-19 and the increase in non-US trade agreements with overseas customers that Iowa has traditionally served. Panelists will share challenges, new opportunities and take questions from conversation participants. In addition to Willis, participants in the townhall include:
This panel is another valuable opportunity to showcase Growth Energy's leadership and expertise in expanding global markets for biofuels. Be sure to register to watch by clicking here or on the button below. For more details, contact Senior Vice President of Global Markets Craig Willis.
IN OUR ASSOCIATION Growth Energy Board Member Rick Schwarck elected to serve as USGC's Director of Agribusiness/Ethanol and Co-Products Congratulations to Growth Energy Board Member and President, Chairman, and CEO of Absolute Energy Rick Schwarck on his election to serve as U.S. Grains Council's Director of Agribusiness/Ethanol and Co-Products!
The election took place during USGC's Virtual Summer Meeting this week, and Schwarck was selected as one of 14 members to serve on USGC's Board of Directors.
Please join us in congratulating Rick on this new role!
Kansans Fueling Kansas: Western Plains Energy, LLC Our friends at Kansas Corn have teamed up with their local news to promote their great state's ethanol industry and the supply chain it supports in a video series called "Kansans Fueling Kansas". As Kansas Corn puts it, "From Kansas corn farmers, truck drivers, fuel station attendants and others, there are many people involved in the production of Kansas-made ethanol. When you buy Kansas-made E15 or other biofuels at the pump, you're saving money and supporting Kansas families and communities."
This week, they aired an interview with Growth Energy member Western Plains Energy, LLC (WPE) in Oakley, Kansas, highlighting how WPE saw the opportunity to utilize local corn for ethanol and ethanol co-products for the livestock industry, and help out the surrounding communities near the plant. Be sure to watch the whole series to see many familiar faces - including Nathaniel Doddridge from Casey's!- and learn more about how ethanol drives Kansas. For more details, contact Vice President of Development Kelly Manning.
ON THE TRACK Austin Dillon and the No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet Team battle hard at Kansas Speedway
Coming off a big win in Texas, Austin Dillon and the No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet battled hard at the Kansas Motor Speedway last Thursday night. The AE team had a strong start, but due to a wreck and other complications, finished the race at 27th place.
"We headed into Kansas Speedway with goals of backing up RCR's 1-2 finish from Sunday's race at Texas Motor Speedway, and I really think we could have done it if it weren't for the wreck we were involved in," Dillon said after the race. "Our handling was off to begin with, but we stayed in it and kept making the American Ethanol Chevrolet better and better. We finally got it dialed in and were battling for 12th on a restart in Stage 3 when chaos broke out in front of us. We had nowhere to go and ended up with a lot of damage. We were missing a lot of parts, but we did the best we could to nurse our Chevy to the finish. It's just a shame because we were just as good, if not better, than the cars who finished up front. We could have had a top 10, easily, if it weren't for that wreck. That's how it goes sometimes. I am proud of everyone on this team for making the right adjustments all night and going back out there to get a few more points."
The win in Texas has already earned Dillon a spot in the playoffs, but he races again in the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway this Sunday, August 2 at 3:00 PM ET . For more details, contact Director of Sales and Marketing Ryan Welsh.
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