FOR OUR FLY-IN

US Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue addressed our annual Biofuels Summit this past Tuesday. Secretary Perdue discussed some very important topics for our industry including ongoing trade negotiations, the rural economy, and, perhaps most importantly, defending the RFS by reiterating President Trump's commitment to year-round sales of E15. In addition to speaking about the importance of biofuels to rural America, Perdue joked with the crowd and shared some parables about how farmers today could no longer afford to stand behind the farm fence and remain inactive. Rather, he emphasized the need for rural America to start telling its own story and stand up for it needs.

Though he wasn't able to offer a direct answer for when the President's promise for year-round sales of E15 would come to fruition, he was very confident that it was imminent. Growth Energy was extremely honored to have Secretary Perdue join us for our annual summit and share his thoughts with our members. His presence stands testament to the impact that our industry has had on this administration and the country. It was a reassuring affirmation that our hard work is paying off to hear the Secretary speak so confidently about the critical role biofuels have played in supporting the rural economy.

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

Vice President of Market Development, Mike O'Brien, & Casey's Nathaniel Doddridge introduced by CEO Emily Skor to discuss important advancements in marketing E15

Over the past few months, Growth Energy's market development team has been working diligently with our retail partners to expand E15 access across the nation. At our recent Biofuels Summit, our Vice President of Market Development, Mike O'Brien, spoke alongside Casey's Nathaniel Doddridge to explain how we have successfully led the industry in expanding market access to E15 and building stronger markets for our ethanol producers. This speech was just the latest in a number of initiatives and resources that our market development team has provided to our retail partners to ensure the best possible market performance.

In addition to building resources like a marketing booklet for retailers, O'Brien and his team have expanded consumer education, through a miniseries of articles, and hosted their annual retailer retreat to discuss best practices with the nation's most progressive retailers. This has resulted in an annual doubling of E15 retail locations over the past four years. And we are currently on track to continue drastically expanding that number. At our Biofuels Summit, O'Brien and Doddridge updated our members on the state of the biofuels retail market and how the market will continue to expand in the coming months and years. For those of you who were unable to attend the Summit, we invite you to continue reading more about our team's article miniseries featured in Convenience Store Magazine. More information on those articles can be found in the 'At the Pump' section below.

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

FOR OUR FLY-IN

Growth Energy Hosts 9th Annual Biofuels Summit, Here are Some of the Things we Accomplished

Randy Russell, Anthony Reed, Eric Branstad and Chris Bliley await the start of the panel "Pathway Forward: Trump Administration

Chris Bliley Leads Panel on Trump Admin & Biofuels

To get the ball rolling, Growth Energy Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley led a panel discussion to start the day on the Trump administration and biofuels. The panel outlined the importance of year-round sales of E15, through RVP relief, and how the administration might bring it to fruition.

Joe Kakesh, Kathy Bergren, Rob Walther and Judy Underwood answer topics on the quickfire panel "Pathway Forward: Congress & the Courts."

DuPont's Judy Underwood Sits with Joe Kakesh & Others on Congress & the Courts

The second panel of the day was led by Judy Underwood of DuPont, who was joined by Joe Kakesh, Kathy Bergren, and Rob Walther to discuss biofuels' pathway forward in the courts and in Congress. Ongoing industry legal and legislative efforts were outlined alongside their strategy and expected outcomes.

Our Hill Visit in Photos, the Members in Action

In addition to their time listening to panels, guest speakers, and taking part in workshops, our memberships was able to visit the Hill to speak with the nation's lawmakers  and present them with our Biofuels awards. Here are just some of the photos from day one of our visit to both the House and Senate to tell the story of biofuels.

For more details, contact Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley.

AT THE PUMP

Growth Energy Releases Fifth Article in Miniseries on Best Marketing Practices for E15

Growth Energy has been working closely with the leading retail publications to target executive level fuel marketers and buyers at convenience stores nationwide. As part of our on-going efforts to influence more retailers to offer E15, the market development team has created a six-part miniseries of articles as well as a fuel retail booklet that discusses the best marketing practices for selling. 

The fifth article in this series is titled, “At the Pump: Configuration + Marketing=Keys to E15 Sales.” The article highlights retail experiences and testimonies, rebranding and marketing practices at the pump. Some of Growth Energy's retail partners have been successfully selling E15 for more than five years with many satisfied customers," O'Brien says. "These retailers have reported millions of E15 transactions without a single consumer complaint."

Jerry Charmoli, owner of Coon Rapids Minnoco and AAA Mechanic in Coon Rapids, Minn., is one of those retailers. "We've had zero problems," Charmoli reports, "in fact my customers love the cost savings and extra performance."

"All of our work with consumer research, analyzing consumer E15 purchasing behavior and our test marketing programs are paying off for our E15 retailers with optimized sales of the new product," O'Brien adds. "With the price advantage E15 provides retailers, they can now offer a more competitive product than retailers who don’t offer E15."

In case you missed it, Growth Energy Market Development hosted a webinar last week, discussing how fuel retailers can increase their sales by offering E15 and utilizing the best marketing practices. Growth Energy VP of Market Development, Mike O’Brien discussed branding efforts, promotions, marketing and what retail partners have fun most effective for marketing E15. You may listen to the webinar here.

To view the article directly you may visit: At the Pump Configuration.

To view our booklet, visit our website.

For more details, contact Senior Vice President of Market Development, Mike O'Brien.

IN COMMUNICATIONS

Growth Energy CEO Went Live on RFD-TV to Discuss Importance of Biofuels and E15 Year-Round

Last Thursday, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor was joined by former NCGA President and Maryland corn farmer, Chip Bowling and Executive Vice President of Petroleum Supply at Sheetz, Mike Lorenz, for a live broadcast interview for Rural America Live on RFD-TV. During the hour long discussion, Skor and our industry allies discussed the importance of securing E15 year-round sales for our producers and farmers. US Senator Deb Fischer also participated in showing support for year-round sales of E15 by sending in a recorded video, shown during the broadcast, that reinforced her support for securing E15 year-round. This live show was a testament to the attention that biofuels have garnered nationwide and serves as a hallmark of our progress to date. To see the whole interview, visit our youtube page.

For more details, contact Senior Vice President of Global Markets Craig Willis.

IN OUR ASSOCIATION

Lincolnland Agri-Energy Sends Ethanol Float to Local Labor Day Parade

Lincoln Land Labor Day Parade float featuring mock ethanol plant and E15 sign

Lincolnland Agri-Energy proudly displayed an E15 ethanol float at their local labor day parade. The float featured an ethanol plant and a 'Brock Food Truck' fueling up with E15 at an E15 pump. Leading the colorful and shining display was a larger-than-life ear of corn, which brought the entire life cycle of ethanol full-circle, from corn to pump.

For more details, contact Vice President of Development, Kelly Manning.

ON THE TRACK

Kyle Mohan to Represent American Ethanol at Formula Drift Dallas

Kyle Mohan's American Ethanol Mazda MX5

Kyle Mohan and American Ethanol are teaming up once again for an engine performance workshop at his competition this weekend, Formula Drift Dallas! The event will be attended by thousands of race fans and gearheads, and we’ll be talking shop with them at Kyle’s Paddock area about the benefits of American Ethanol. Stay tuned for more!

For more details, contact Manager of Communications, Austin Dabney.

The Weekly Rundown is the weekly newsletter for Growth Energy's members. It is published 51 times a year by the communications staff at Growth Energy. For more information, email team@growthenergy.org. 

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