To find out more about all of those stories and more, we caught up with Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen to get his comments in this new edition of “The Ethanol Report.” We’ll be hearing more from him and others in the nation’s capitol next week when we attend the annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting Washington Watch.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on Current Events

Subscribe to “The Ethanol Report” with this link.

The study, entitled “2012 Corn Ethanol: Emerging Plant Energy and Environmental Technologies”, found that recent innovations in corn ethanol production have resulted in increased yield per bushel even as less energy is required for production.

In this edition of “The Ethanol Report”, study co-author Steffen Mueller, PhD with the University of Illinois at Chicago Energy Resources Center, talks about the findings and Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen comments on the significance.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on Efficiency Study 3:39

Subscribe to “The Ethanol Report” with this link.

In this edition of “The Ethanol Report” podcast, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen explains what RINS are and how the ethanol industry believes oil companies are choosing RINS instead of blending more ethanol and trading them amongst themselves, which is causing the volatility being experienced in the RIN marketplace this year.

So far this year, RIN values have been going up and down, increasing from about 7 cents to over a dollar at one point, which has increased calls from the oil industry for a repeal of the RFS, even though Dinneen says it was the refiners who wanted the credits to comply with the RFS.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on RINS

Subscribe to “The Ethanol Report” with this link.

“The mandate for cellulosic ethanol is not ended by this decision by any way shape or form,” said Dinneen, calling API’s characterization “the height of deception.”

Dinneen explains that the court decision simply means that EPA has to have better justification for cellulosic biofuel target numbers under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “They couldn’t create an incentive for investment,” he said. “All they can do is make a clear headed decision on what is likely to be produced.”

In this edition of the Ethanol Report, Dinneen talks about how the petroleum industry is very afraid of the potential of cellulosic biofuels to take over a greater percentage of the gasoline market. “They’re not happy about having lost 10% of the barrel,” Dinneen says. “They are apoplectic about the potential of losing even more of it to cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels.”

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on Cellulosic Court Ruling

Subscribe to “The Ethanol Report” with this link.

“The one year extension of the cellulosic producer tax credit and accelerated depreciation provides some measure of certainty to ensure that 2013 will be a year of growth and milestones for the advanced ethanol industry,” said Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. “In addition, and equally significant, is the extension of the alternative fuel infrastructure tax credit which will accelerate E15’s entry into the marketplace this coming year.”

Dinneen says it would be better that the alternative energy provisions were extended for 5-7 years instead of just one, but it is certainly understandable. “Folks do understand that is all that was on the table and really it’s teeing up a longer conversation about what to do with our tax code,” he said. “We want to have that conversation because we want all energy tax incentives on the table” including those benefiting the oil industry.

In this edition of the Ethanol Report, Dinneen talks about the dysfunctional 112th Congress and his optimism that the 113th Congress will be better.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on Congress in 2013

Subscribe to “The Ethanol Report” with this link.

Dinneen says those who deserve coal include industries that have continued to relentlessly attack ethanol this year, while he puts the Obama administration on the nice list for upholding the Renewable Fuel Standard and finally allowing sales of 15% ethanol.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on 2012 in Review

Subscribe to “The Ethanol Report” with this link.

In an interview immediately after the announcement was made by EPA, Bob Dinneen said he gave the agency credit for sticking to the science and doing sound analysis on the issue. “I was somewhat surprised that the petitioners never really presented EPA with a lot of analysis,” said Dinneen. “That was telling me all along that this was more about politics than about substance.”

Dinneen said the industry has maintained all along that it was not the RFS that caused higher prices for livestock feed this year. “It’s Mother Nature – it was this drought – and what we ought to be doing it sitting down and having a more constructive discussion about (this).”

Dinneen notes that the market has responded to the higher corn prices and lower supply. “The ethanol industry is down about 11 or 12% in terms of our production, our corn consumption, and you’re seeing exports being reduced some, other industrial uses being reduced some, and feeders looking for other sources of feed,” he said.

The ethanol industry is anticipating that the RFS will continue to face challenges by the oil industry and others opposed to the use of corn ethanol. “I don’t believe that they will be successful because in any objective review of this program, it has been an unmitigated success,” said Dinneen.

Listen to this edition of the Ethanol Report with Bob Dinneen. Ethanol Report on RFS Waiver Denial

Subscribe to “The Ethanol Report” with this link.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) teamed up with Bobby Likis Car Clinic Network and Ricardo on the trade show floor of the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) and during a Myth Busters panel at the National Automotive Service Task Force meeting. The Ricardo EBDI (Extreme Boost Direct Injection) engine was on display in a GMC Sierra and Car Clinic Network television and radio programs were broadcast live from the event.

This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features comments from Automotive Service Association president Ron Pyle, RFA Director of Regulatory Affairs Kelly Davis, Ricardo Chief Engineer Powertrain Controls Dr. Matti Vint, and automotive talk show host Bobby Likis.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report from CARS

Subscribe to “The Ethanol Report” with this link.

CARS Event Photo Album

This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features comments from Bobby Likis, host of the Car Clinic Network, and Renewable Fuels Association Director of Market Development Robert White on ethanol’s role in the upcoming CARS event that will be held October 11-13 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The event will also feature auto engineering firm Ricardo and the work they are doing with ethanol and high octane engines.

Domestic Fuel will be attending that event to get feedback from the mechanics and technicians on what they learn about ethanol at the show.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on CARS

Subscribe to “The Ethanol Report” with this link.

In this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen talks about why it is important for ethanol interests to make comments on the waiver request and why they still believe a waiver is unnecessary.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on RFS Waiver Comments

Subscribe to “The Ethanol Report” with this link.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on E15 After 9-15

Subscribe to “The Ethanol Report” with this link.

“As expected, this morning’s supply-demand estimates from USDA showed a big reduction in the size of the 2012 corn crop and average yield. Today’s report estimates average yield at 123.4 bushels per acre (bpa), down nearly 23 bpa from USDA’s July estimate and the lowest yield since 1995. Harvested acres are pegged at 87.4 million, meaning a crop of 10.78 billion bushels (bbu) is expected. This is down more than 2 billion bushels from USDA’s July estimate and would be the smallest crop since 2006. Today’s USDA numbers were slightly worse than expected by analysts; on average, they had expected a crop of 10.97 bbu on a yield of 126.2 bpa. While this year’s harvest will be considerably smaller than initially expected, it is remarkable that farmers are still expected to produce the eighth-largest corn crop on record despite experiencing the worst drought in 50 years and the hottest month of July in recorded history.”

Listen to an interview with Cooper here: RFA's Geoff Cooper on USDA crop forecast

Subscribe to The Ethanol Report with this link.

In this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen explains how a waiver will not help livestock producers and why the RFS should remain, even though corn ethanol production is likely to drop below the requirement this year.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on RFS Waiver Request

Subscribe to The Ethanol Report with this link.

This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features comments from Jere White, Executive Director of the Kansas Corn Commission, who bought the first gallon of E15 at the station; Zarco 66 owner Scott Zaremba, who is a big supporter of alternative fuels; and Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on First E15 Sales

Subscribe to the Ethanol Report here.

Likis recently visited Argonne National Labs and the Detroit Technical Campus of Ricardo Engines to find out more about new research to produce engines that use ethanol more efficiently. So, we visited with him to find out what he learned and what he is doing to share that information with others.

Likis is the only car-talk host on commercial radio named to the “Talkers 250,” the list of the top 250 talk-show hosts in America – five times no less. He’s on everywhere answering consumer car questions so this sounds like a great way to educate people who care about cars about ethanol. Find out more at CarClinicNetwork.com and check out his 20 Facts About Ethanol page.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on Bobby Likis

Subscribe to the Ethanol Report here.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on Final E15 Hurdle

Subscribe to the Ethanol Report here.

“The results are significant,” Dinneen said. “It reflects the fact that ethanol is less expensive than gasoline today and is displacing ten percent of liquid transportation fuel today and has a huge impact on the price of crude oil.” The $1.09 per gallon impact is 20 cents more than the previous year.

Dinneen explains that the $1.09 a gallon savings means that ethanol reduced the average American household’s spending on gasoline by more
than $1,200 last year, based on average gasoline consumption data. “Since 2000, ethanol has helped save $39.8 billion annually in excess gasoline costs – or roughly $349 per household per year,” he said.

Since the study is based on just 10% ethanol in the nation’s gasoline supply, Dinneen notes that increasing that under the E15 waiver approved by EPA can only result in more savings. “If you’re going to be adding 50% more of a product that is less expensive than gasoline to the overall blend, you’d be providing consumers an even more significant benefit,” he said. “We believe the economics of ethanol are going to drive E15 into the marketplace this summer.”

Listen to Dinneen talk about the new report in this edition of “The Ethanol Report.” Bob Dinneen Discusses Impact of Ethanol on Gas Prices Report

“By all accounts, it could be a monster,” says Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Vice President of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper who did an analysis of the numbers that came out this morning.

Besides a record projected corn crop for 2012 of 14.8 billion bushels, Cooper says there are a number of interesting points to be made about the report, like the fact that use for ethanol is expected to remain steady, while usage for exports and animal feed are increased. “This report shows the increases in demand would not be coming from ethanol,” Cooper says. “So all this rhetoric we hear about ethanol diverting corn away from the feed market, what we’re seeing in this report is that isn’t the case.”

In addition, Cooper says adding in the use of the ethanol co-product distillers grains for livestock feed, “you end up with the equivalent of almost seven billion bushels of corn and co-products going into feed use and that’s an all time record.”

Listen to Cooper’s analysis of the numbers in this edition of “The Ethanol Report.” Geoff Cooper Analyzes USDA WASDE Report

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen talks about the poll results and what they mean in this edition of “The Ethanol Report.”

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on Poll Results

Subscribe to the Ethanol Report here.

In January 2011, EPA approved a waiver for the use of E15 in 2001 and newer vehicles. Since then, a pump label has been finalized, health effects testing approved and finally, last week, the approval of the Misfueling Mitigation Plan developed by the Renewable Fuels Association.

This edition of “The Ethanol Report” includes comments from RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen, Vice President of Technical Services Kristy Moore, and Director of Market Development Robert White about the MMP, as well as RFA’s E15 Retailer Handbook, and the E15 Education and Outreach plan for consumers. More information on RFA’s education and outreach plan can be found at e15fuel.org.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on E15 Plan

Subscribe to the Ethanol Report here.

In a new RFA Issue Brief, the Renewable Fuels Association has analyzed the data to provide background information on the downward pressure exerted by domestic ethanol production on gasoline prices.

This “Ethanol Report” features an interview with Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Vice President for Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper on just how ethanol does it. From ethanol’s lower cost at the wholesale level to how it reduces oil demand and prices and provides a cost-effective source of octane, Cooper says “there’s no argument that ethanol is playing a significant role in holding gasoline prices lower than they would be otherwise.”

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on Ethanol's Role in Gas Prices

Subscribe to the Ethanol Report here.

Over 1200 ethanol industry leaders from around the country and the world attended the conference in Orlando and were treated to yet another first class event that provided the most up-to-date information on issues important to the industry as well as lots of time to network.

This edition of “The Ethanol Report” offers a wrap-up with some of the highlights from the conference, featuring comments from keynote speakers Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, futurist Dr. James Canton, political commentators Karl Rove and Robert Gibbs, and RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report Wrap-Up of 17th NEC

Subscribe to the Ethanol Report here.

2012 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Last year, more than 1,250 industry leaders attended the NEC, representing 42 states and 19 countries and at least as many, likely more, will be there this year at the preeminent conference for delivering accurate, timely information on marketing, legislative and regulatory issues facing the ethanol industry.

In this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen gives us a preview of what to expect at the conference this year – including speakers, panels, topics and networking opportunities.

The event starts Tuesday with the annual golf tournament and a networking trip to Kennedy Space Center, with the welcome reception that evening. More information about the program can be found on-line at NationalEthanolConference.com. On-site registration for the event will be open starting Tuesday afternoon at 2 pm.

Domestic Fuel will be at the National Ethanol Conference providing start to finish coverage, including live webcast of Bob Dinneen’s State of the Industry address at 8:10 am Eastern on Thursday, February 23, and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s address at 8:20 am on Friday, February 24.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on National Ethanol Conference

Subscribe to the Ethanol Report here.

In this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen talks about what this means for the challenge to the RFS, which is vital to the expansion of renewable fuels for the transportation sector of the United States. “In the absence of the tax incentive, what is providing the foundational demand for the ethanol industry is the Renewable Fuel Standard,” says Dinneen. “We think that program has proven to be tremendously successful in reducing our nation’s reliance on imported oil.”

Dinneen says the environmental groups’ challenge to the RFS was much broader based than the poultry groups’ challenge, including that EPA had not taken into account the “global rebound effect” of ethanol driving down the price of oil which supposedly has led to third world countries using more oil. “That is how silly the environmental claims were,” he said. All that is left now, according to Dinneen, is a narrow issue regarding how EPA applied grandfathering provisions for addressing ethanol plants built in 2008 and 2009. “It says a lot about how far the angry birds are willing to go on this case,” he added, expressing optimism that the case will ultimately be thrown out.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on RFS Challenge

Subscribe to the Ethanol Report here.

They are:

1. First commercial availability of E15 for use in 2001 and newer vehicles
2. Free and fair trade for ethanol
3. Legal battles over ethanol use, particularly the LCFS in California and E15
4. Challenges to the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2)
5. Answering the cellulosic ethanol challenge

In this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen comments on the year in preview and some of the top ethanol stories he expects to see in 2012.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on 2012 Preview

They are:

1. EPA approval of 15 percent ethanol for use in 2001 and newer vehicles
2. The end of the blenders tax credit and secondary tariff on ethanol imports
3. Surge in U.S. ethanol exports
4. New strides in advanced and cellulosic ethanol development
5. Emergence of the integrated biorefinery model

In this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen comments on the year in review and some of the top ethanol stories of 2011.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on 2011 in Review

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Vice President of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper wrote about the “Ethanol Shuffle” this week on the RFA E-xchange Blog. Basically, it’s about the shuffling of sugarcane ethanol from Brazil to California to meet that state’s Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS) – at the same time, Brazil is importing lower priced corn ethanol from the United States to make up for not only the ethanol it is exporting to California, but the shortfall that country has experienced in ethanol production recently.

So, that’s how the “Ethanol Shuffle” works. California imports sugarcane ethanol from Brazil rather than corn ethanol from Nebraska or Kansas; and in turn, corn ethanol from the Midwest travels to Houston or Galveston via rail, then is shipped to Brazil via tanker to “backfill” the volumes they sent to the U.S. Picture the irony of a tanker full of U.S. corn ethanol bound for Brazil passing a tanker full of cane ethanol bound for Los Angeles or Miami along a Caribbean shipping route.

Cooper explains the sweet irony of it all in this edition of “The Ethanol Report.” Geoff Cooper on the Ethanol Shuffle

RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen spoke with a number of broadcasters about important topics facing the ethanol industry, including the expiration of the VEETC at the end of this year and the ability of U.S. farmers to produce enough corn for food, feed and fuel. In our Domestic Fuel Ethanol Report from NAFB, we also talked with Dinneen about European ethanol producers charging the U.S. with unfair imports and Brazil’s increasing imports of ethanol from the U.S.

Listen to the Ethanol Report from NAFB with Bob Dinneen here: RFA CEO Bob Dinneen

I caught up with him this week for an update on the state of the industry, how this year has been, progress on implementing EPA’s E15 waiver, challenges to the RFS2, the importance of exports and distillers grains, and more.

Woodside thinks 2011 has been a positive year for ethanol production, despite the policy challenges the industry continues to face, and he is optimistic about the future, even as they expect the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) to expire at the end of the year for good. “There will be some transition, but I think the industry is confident we can compete with gasoline without the tax credit,” he said. “The VEETC was an incredibly successful program and we think there’s opportunities to build on that investment that the taxpayers made in our industry.”

Listen to Chuck Woodside’s comments in this edition of “The Ethanol Report”: RFA Chairman Chuck Woodside

According to the Renewable Fuels Association, America’s ethanol producers are on pace to produce nearly 40 million metric tons of livestock feed in 2011 – a volume greater than all the corn used on cattle feedlots all across the country. “When a bushel of corn enters an ethanol plant, fully one third of that bushel gets returned to the livestock feed market in the form of distillers grains,” said RFA’s Matt Hartwig, who adds that the industry wants to work with livestock producers to increase efficiency and usage of distillers grains.

The hearing by the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry on Wednesday included no representatives from the corn or ethanol industries and raised the food versus fuel flag again, but Hartwig encourages lawmakers to look beyond the price of corn as the cause of higher food prices. “A pound of pork chops retails for around $3.50 and in that pound, there is roughly 30 cents worth of corn at today’s prices,” Hartwig says. “So there are other factors after that pig leaves the farm that influence the prices consumers pay at the retail level” like higher energy prices, labor and manufacturing.

Listen to Hartwig’s comments in this edition of “The Ethanol Report”: Ethanol Report on Feed Availability