No. 297, October 12, 2023

TOP STORY

Yesterday, the House GOP Conference held a private, closed-door meeting to nominate the next Speaker of the House. After just one round of votes, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana edged out Jim Jordan of Ohio by a simple majority vote of 113 to 99. The full House, both Republicans and Democrats, are expected to vote on the House floor on Scalise as Speaker as early as today, but possibly next week.

What could a Speaker Scalise mean for biofuels? Rep. Scalise hails from Louisiana, an oil state. He believes in an “America first” energy strategy to put the United States on a path to energy dominance. While in the past Scalise has supported small refinery exemptions, our team looks forward to continuing our engagement with his office on enacting pro-biofuels policies.

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

WORKING FOR YOU

UPCOMING EVENTS

National FFA Convention

Indianapolis, IN

November 1-4, 2023

Learn More

Get Bioethanol NASCAR Cup Series

Phoenix, AZ

November 5, 2023

IN REGULATORY AFFAIRS

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will be holding another meeting for California’s Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (EJAC) on October 13th at 2 p.m. PST. Part of their agenda is to review and discuss the proposed changes to the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) that were originally brought up during the September 28th CARB meeting. Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley has previously submitted comments on the LCFS.

EJAC was formed in accordance with California’s AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act. The committee is meant to help advise CARB in its development of the state's climate scoping plan and assist with other items related to climate. They’ve been active over the last 1-3 months examining the state’s LCFS. 

The EJAC meeting is only being held virtually, and you can find more information about how to dial into the Zoom meeting here. Note that there is a public comment period on the agenda for those who would like to make verbal comments.

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

IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

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.

E15/UNL88 is available at retailers across the U.S. this summer thanks to a successful campaign by Growth Energy and the biofuels industry to secure an emergency waiver from the EPA. This was a welcome development but Growth Energy continues to make the case for year-round E15 to the EPA, on Capitol Hill, and in state legislatures around the country. If you see an example of significant cost savings at a fuel station near you, take a picture (like the ones above) and share it with us! We'll put your photos to good use telling the story of how E15 saves drivers money.

Please email your photos to Katie Webster.  

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

IN MARKET DEVELOPMENT

This year's U.S. Grains Council Global Ethanol Summit is coming up! Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor will be moderating a panel titled, Government Perspective: Global Ethanol Policies and Regional Success Stories. The panel will feature leaders from across the globe who have pursued successful bioethanol policies over the years.

The summit will take place in Reston, Va. from October 16-18, 2023. As a Growth Energy member, you are entitled to the USGC member rate at registration. To find out more information on this event and how to register, click here.

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

IN MEMBERSHIP

Growth Energy Member POET, along with South Dakota State University (SDSU) and South Dakota Mines, celebrated the grand opening of the POET Bioproducts Center this week.

Through the support of POET, the state of South Dakota, and other members of the Bio Leadership Coalition, the POET Bioproducts Center was constructed at the Research Park at SDSU. The first-of-its-kind innovative ecosystem between students, faculty, and industry partners will allow collaboration on the next generation of bioproducts. The facility and its operating body, Dakota BioWorx, represent a public-private partnership that will enhance research, economic development, and workforce preparation in South Dakota.

“At POET, we’re proud to have been at the forefront of ag and biotechnology innovation for 35 years,” said Jeff Broin, POET Founder and CEO, and Growth Energy board member. “We are committed to investing in the next generation of leaders who will pave the way to the ag-based bioeconomy of the future. We have only begun to scratch the surface of what agriculture can do, and this venture will play a vital role in the ability of today’s bright young minds to continue our legacy of ingenuity.”

Learn more here and see photos from the grand opening event here.

A new video from Growth Energy Member Navigator CO2 highlights the vital importance of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) to the American ethanol industry, as well as the innovative approach Navigator is taking to its Heartland Greenway project. Through interviews with David Zimmerman, CEO of Growth Energy Member Big River Resources, and others that have been a part of the project, the video outlines the reasons why it's critical for the ethanol industry to embrace CCUS today to secure a future for low-carbon biofuels tomorrow. Watch the video and learn more about the project here.

For more information or to submit stories for your own member spotlight, please contact Vice President of Development Kelly Manning.

IN OUR ASSOCIATION

Ethanol Producer magazine recently published a spotlight piece on the American Carbon Alliance (ACA) and its CEO Tom Buis (Growth Energy is an ACA member and Buis is a Growth Energy board member). From the article:

"For ethanol to continue to be a major demand driver for U.S. corn and, more broadly, American agriculture, it has to become a highly qualified low-carbon fuel or feedstock, Buis says. Any participation in a carbon capture market will help make that scenario a reality for ethanol and its downstream takers. At one time, ethanol reshaped the rural landscape by creating a greater demand for corn, Buis explains as he details days gone past in Indiana when there was more supply than demand for corn and farmers were sometimes spending more to produce corn than they were getting in return. Part of the carbon capture story is linked to continuing the development of a rural scenario that benefits from the production of a commodity, but this time it's carbon, Buis says. And to take that stance one step further, carbon can be a commodity in a greater market."

Read the full piece here.

ELC 2024 will be held at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, situated along three miles of pristine private beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Mark your calendars for January 31-February 3, 2024. Registration opens soon, so watch your inbox for an invite in the coming weeks!

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

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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