E15: The higher American Ethanol blend that almost anyone can use.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the use of E15 in all passenger vehicles model year 2001 or newer. In fact, more than 70% of new (2016) models are explicitly approved for the use of E15 by automakers.

E15 is a blend of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline. It is the most widely tested fuel to ever be offered for sale in the United States. Since ethanol is cleaner and has a higher octane content than gasoline, E15 reduces the number of pollutants in fuel and produces less carbon emissions than regular gasoline. In addition, E15 is typically less expensive than E10 or ordinary unleaded gasoline.

EPA approval means that E15 is authorized for use in 239 million cars on the road in the U.S. today, including all the autos manufactured in the last decade (equal to more than 80 percent of all the vehicles on the road today).

A full move to E15 creates a bigger market for American Ethanol that could help create as many as 136,000 new jobs in the United States and eliminate as much as 8 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the air in a year – the equivalent of taking 1.35 million vehicles off the road.

E15 is consistently making its way to pumps across the nation. Kum & Go, a regional retailer with several locations in Omaha, will be introducing E15 at its stations over the next several months. “We have a strong tradition in our company to implement sustainability within our business and at our locations. E15 was a natural addition to our fuel offering,” said Jim Pirolli, vice president of fuels for Kum & Go. “Having E15 in our portfolio allows Kum & Go to offer our customers a quality product at a great value.”

Why do you choose E85?

Throughout the months of June and July, Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Ethanol Board, Green Plains and Kum & Go teamed up on Thursdays to offer E85 for just $0.85 a gallon for all flex fuel vehicle (FFV) drivers at select locations in the Omaha Metro. But these big savings weren't the only reason FFV drivers were excited about fueling up with American Ethanol-blended fuel. We asked drivers "Why do you choose E85?" and here’s what they had to say:

“I always fill up with E85 because it saves me money, and I have a friend who works in the industry (Novozymes).”

-Bryan Rowe, Papillion

“If it’s available I choose E85, because I am a stay-at-home mom of six children. I drive a big van (Chevy Express 3500) and it’s the most economical way for me to fill up.”

-Angela Estrada, Omaha

“I’ve been running my car and my wife’s car strictly on E85 for the past six years. When we’re traveling, I plan our vacation routes accordingly to fill up with E85. I even converted by lawn mower to run on E85 and it’s going five years strong. My dad and brother both farm, and it’s important to keep our money local. Ethanol keeps my engine clean so it lasts longer.”

-Brad Bolton, Omaha

“I drive a flex fuel Dodge Durango and I choose E85 because of the price and it’s better for our air. It’s a way to save money and take care of the earth. I have teen drivers and they would like to see more choice at the pump.”

-Sharon Carlos, Omaha

“I’m frugal, so I choose E85 because it’s the best price. Even if I lose a little mileage it’s still a better choice.”

-Angel Loza, Omaha (pictured with his son, Angel Jr.)

“I’ve been strictly using E85 since I purchased my flex fuel vehicle July 13, 2012. I choose it because it’s better for the environment, great price, I get good gas mileage and my vehicle performs great. I make an effort to find E85 stations when I’m traveling.”

-Mary Hochanadel, Omaha

“We’ve been buying flex fuel vehicles since they came out. I finally talked my son into purchasing one last week, and he loves it. We choose E85 for the price and it’s cleaner burning. We don’t see that much difference in our mileage.”

-John & Theresa Farmer, Omaha

“I choose ethanol because it burns cleaner. I am conscious of helping our environment – I don’t waste water, I don’t use Styrofoam. I love that ethanol helps leave a decent world for our loved ones.”

-Catherine Gordon, Bellevue

“I fill up with E85 because it’s cheaper and environmentally friendly. I’ve filled up with E85 since I started driving two years ago.”

-Gage Larsen, Gretna

Gov. Ricketts Highlights Benefits of Biofuels During Renewable Fuels Month

On Thursday, May 19, Governor Pete Ricketts highlighted Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska and the importance of biofuels to Nebraska by kicking off a unique ethanol promotion at Sapp Brothers in Omaha.  The Governor previously designated May as Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska by signing a proclamation.

“With renewable fuels, we’re not only adding value to the crops we grow, but also expanding America’s domestic fuel supply while creating quality jobs all across our state,” Governor Ricketts said.  “Renewable fuels have a positive influence on our economic landscape in Nebraska.  By filling up with biofuels, you support Nebraska’s farm families and generate as much as $3 million in tax revenue for our rural communities.”

Nebraska’s economic prosperity is closely tied to agriculture, the state’s number one industry.  Nebraska ranks second national for ethanol production, which consumed 43 percent of the state’s corn crop in 2014 according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

Both American Ethanol and soy biodiesel are clean-burning, renewable fuels made from homegrown Nebraska commodities.  These fuels and co-products greatly contribute to Nebraska’s economic vitality and make an impact across the entire country.  More than 1,500 people in rural Nebraska and more than 850,000 people nationwide are employed in the renewable fuels industry, according to a 2014 economic impact study released by Fuels America.

In addition to financial benefits, biodiesel and American Ethanol also provide many environmental and consumer benefits.  According to the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, some 70 percent of harmful air pollution is attributable to mobile sources such as passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, and construction equipment.  Biodiesel reduces hydrocarbon emissions by 67 percent.  Similarly, American Ethanol is a non-toxic, clean-burning fuel that dramatically reduces the level of toxics added to gasoline, including proven and suspected carcinogens such as benzene, toluene, and xylene.

"When it comes to air quality, renewable biofuels such as American Ethanol and biodiesel burn cleaner and help make our air healthier,” Governor Ricketts noted.  “Renewable Fuels Month is a great way to bring awareness to the wide range of benefits biofuels provide.  Nebraska-produced biofuels are cost-effective, American-made, renewable, and better for our environment.”

In recognition of Renewable Fuels Month, Nebraska’s corn and soybean farmers announced they would give drivers in the Omaha metro cause to celebrate.  Renewable biofuels were offered at a steep discount from 4-7 p.m. at Sapp Bros. located at I-80 Exit 440 in Nebraska.

More photos of Renewable Fuels Month celebrations can be found here.

May Proclaimed as Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska

Biofuels Improve Economic Activity, Environment and Human Health Across the State

Ethanol and soy biodiesel have become major markets for Nebraska corn and soybeans—and are providing significant economic, environmental and consumer benefits. In recognition of the importance of renewable biofuels to the state, Governor Pete Ricketts has proclaimed May as Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska. 

Nebraska is the nation’s second largest ethanol producer, home to 25 ethanol plants with the capacity of more than two billion gallons of production. These plants, which employ more than 1,300 people, process more than 700 million bushels of corn a year into clean-burning ethanol as well as distillers grains, a high protein feed ingredient for livestock. Some Nebraska ethanol plants also produce carbon dioxide for bottling and food processing as well as corn oil for human food consumption.

Biodiesel production, which uses soybeans as a primary feedstock, is on the rise in Nebraska. A biodiesel plant in Beatrice is expected to begin commercial operation in 2016 with the capacity to produce 50 million gallons, requiring more than 33 million bushels of soybeans.

“Renewable biofuels have absolutely transformed the economic landscape in Nebraska,” said Ron Pavelka, a farmer from Glenvil and chairman of the Nebraska Soybean Board. “The additional demand for Nebraska commodities created by renewable fuels production has created a new market for farmers, generated significant investment and tax revenue in rural communities, and created good paying jobs in areas of the state that really need them.” 

“The growth of renewable biofuels has helped reduce our nation’s dependence on imported petroleum, reduced prices at the pump and provided greater choice for consumers,” said David Merrell, a farmer from St. Edward and chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board. “But perhaps the most important benefit of these fuels is their dramatically positive impact on the environment and on human health.”

For example, biodiesel reduces hydrocarbon emissions by 67 percent and reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 86 percent compared to its petroleum based counterpart. The 2.1 billion gallons of biodiesel used in 2015 reduced the amount of carbon in the atmosphere by 18.2 million metric tons, the equivalent of removing 3.8 million cars from the road or planting 466 million trees.

Ethanol is a non-toxic, clean-burning fuel that dramatically reduces the level of toxics added to gasoline to increase octane, including proven and suspected carcinogens such as benzene, toluene and xylene. “Since these toxics do not completely combust in the engine, they enter the atmosphere through exhaust emissions and are directly connected to cancer, heart disease and asthma in humans,” Merrell added. “The more ethanol we add to gasoline, the lower the levels of these harmful toxics in the air we breathe.”


According to the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, some 70 percent of harmful air pollution is attributable to mobile sources such as passenger vehicles, trucks, buses and construction equipment. “When consumers choose renewable biofuels at the pump, they are not only saving money and supporting a homegrown fuel, they are also making the choice for a better environment and cleaner, healthier air for their families,” Pavelka said.

High Octane Fueling the Future

Knock, Knock!

Who’s there?

Ethanol!

In 2012, the Obama Administration set groundbreaking standards to increase fuel economy to the equivalent of 54.5 MPG for cars and light-duty trucks by model year 2025. 

Although the auto industry has made many design innovations during the years, it will take a better fuel to meet this lofty goal. That better fuel contains ethanol.

Engine efficiency is how much of the energy in the fuel is converted to “useful work.” In a vehicle “useful work” is measured as MPG (miles per gallon). Gasoline engines in vehicles are typically 25-30% efficient, which means that only 25% of the energy contained in the fuel is used to move the car down the road. Diesel engines are 40-50% efficient, much higher than gasoline engines.

The main reason for the increased efficiency is that diesel engines run on a much higher compression ratio or a higher pressure. Higher compression means greater engine efficiency. Gasoline engines cannot be operated at higher compression, because the fuel prematurely combusts under high engine pressure causing “engine knock,” which greatly decreases engine efficiency and can be harmful to the engine.

Reducing engine knock is all about octane – and what’s added to our fuel to get it. But what’s octane?

Octane is a measure of the ignition quality of gasoline. The higher the octane number the less susceptible the fuel is to knocking. Knocking occurs when the fuel prematurely burns in the engine’s combustion chamber due to compression, instead of being ignited by the spark as the engine is designed. The higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can withstand before igniting.

^{These numbers at the fuel pump represent the octane number. You can see that E85 (85% ethanol) has an octane of 105. Traditionally, denatured ethanol from an ethanol plant usually has a 113 octane number.}

A recent report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory noted high-octane ethanol blends containing 20-40% ethanol are being “extensively studied” as fuels that would enable the design of engines that get better performance and fuel economy and produce fewer emissions.

Ethanol is a non-toxic, cleaner-burning octane booster that combusts more completely in the engine. Higher blends of ethanol dilute the level of toxic additives in our fuel, which helps reduce pollution.

It’s important that flex fuel infrastructure is available now to supply higher blends of ethanol for flex fuel vehicle drivers and new high-compression engine vehicles hitting the market.

Ethanol is truly the fuel of the future.

This post was submitted by the Nebraska Ethanol Board. The Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Ethanol Board continue to work together to establish procedures and processes necessary to the manufacturing and marketing of ethanol fuel. 

This Earth Day Choose the Cleaner-Burning Fuel, American Ethanol

As Earth Day nears, environmental stewards around the world will take part in events to raise awareness about challenges facing the environment. But drivers can do their part year round by filling up with renewable biofuels such as American Ethanol.

In 2015, the use of ethanol in gasoline reduced greenhouse gas emissions on our roads and highways by 41.2 million metric tons. That’s equivalent to removing 8.7 million cars from the road, according to the Renewable Fuels Association.

Drivers, who fill up with cleaner-burning biofuels, take a little step every day to make a big impact on the environment.

Everyone can choose E10 at the pump. If you drive a 2001 or newer vehicle, you can use E15. And if you are among the one in seven Nebraskans who drives a flex fuel vehicle, choose higher American Ethanol blends such as E30 and E85.

In order to reach the octane levels needed for our engines to run, oil companies replaced lead in gasoline with toxic chemicals – toluene, benzene and xylene. What doesn’t combust in the engine leaves the tailpipe as harmful particles.

“Hydrocarbon octane sources like benzene are highly toxic and pose a threat to our air and water,” said Roger Berry, director of market development for the Nebraska Corn Board. “They end up in the air we breathe as tiny particles that enter our lungs, hearts, brains and bloodstream.”

American Ethanol adds oxygen which helps fuel burn more completely. The more American Ethanol in our fuel, the fewer toxic chemicals and particles floating in the air we breathe.

“Adding 10 percent American Ethanol to base gasoline reduces the volume of toxic compounds in our fuel by about 25 percent,” added Berry.

By making a green choice and using American Ethanol, every time you fuel up, drivers can help improve the air quality in their community and the world. 

Learn more about American Ethanol here.

Nebraska Corn Board Presents Awards of Recognition and Achievement

The Nebraska Corn Board presented its annual awards to five exceptional individuals and organizations during its Cooperator and Awards Dinner in Lincoln last week.

For 25 years, the Nebraska Corn Board has acknowledged outstanding representatives in the livestock, ethanol and agribusiness industries, as well as awarding an organization in the media. The Ag Achievement Award is the pinnacle of awards given to an individual who has helped develop Nebraska’s corn industry and agriculture over time.

The Ag Achievement Award was the Corn Board’s first-ever award presented in 1991 with the intent of recognizing outstanding and unselfish efforts which further the corn industry.  This year, the Nebraska Corn Board selected a highly respected leader in the agricultural industry, Don Hutchens, to be the recipient of this prestigious award. Don served as the executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board from 1987-2014.   

“Don has played an instrumental role in representing agriculture. His diligent leadership and commitment to Nebraska’s grain and livestock industries is evident through his many years of service on a local, state, national, and international level,” said David Merrell, farmer from St. Edward, Nebraska and chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board. “On behalf of Nebraska’s 23,000 corn producers, it was an honor to recognize Don for his tireless dedication to agriculture and admirable goals in moving the state forward in its agricultural ambitions.”

The Livestock Industry Appreciation Award was given to Duane “Dewey” Lienemann, extension educator in Webster County, whose focus is primarily on beef systems. Lienemann was selected for this award based upon his outstanding 45 years of focused commitment to Nebraska agriculture education and his continued enthusiasm to share his wisdom about the beef industry with young agricultural leaders in 4-H and FFA.

“Dewey has always had a wonderful ability to share the story of agriculture with youth,” said John Greer, farmer from Edgar, Nebraska and director on the Nebraska Corn Board. “Over the years as an FFA advisor and extension educator, he has helped students and community members not only understand, but appreciate the value of the livestock industry in Nebraska. He was very deserving of this award.”

The Ethanol Industry Appreciation Award recognizes a producer or organization in the industry who has worked hard to develop ethanol markets and expand demand for ethanol in the state while appreciating the value of the corn checkoff and its involvement in ethanol market development. The recipient of this year’s award was the fuel retailer, Kum & Go.  They were recognized for their extensive efforts to advocate and promote E85 and their continued commitment to Nebraska’s ethanol industry.

“Over the last few years, Kum & Go has been an exceptional partner to the Nebraska Corn Board, hosting a series of summer E85 pump promotions in Omaha and the front range of Colorado. These popular promotions have been highly successful in educating consumers and bringing awareness to not only E85, but also the clean air benefits of using ethanol,” said Dennis Gengenbach, farmer from Smithfield, Nebraska and vice-chair on the Nebraska Corn Board.  

The Media Appreciation Award recognizes an outstanding individual or organization that helps tell the story of agriculture. This year’s Media Appreciation Award was presented to KOLN/KGIN TV’s daily show, “Pure Nebraska”. “Pure Nebraska” was started in 2012 by Jon Vanderford and was originally a weekend program showcasing Nebraska’s number one industry, agriculture. As the show quickly gained popularity, it expanded to a daily program, airing from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

“As a full-hour daily show, “Pure Nebraska” has become a great platform to tell the story of agriculture to a diverse audience,” said Alan Tiemann, farmer from Seward, Nebraska, chairman of the US Grains Council and chair of the communications committee on the Nebraska Corn Board. “Simply put, the “Pure Nebraska” team gets it. They have an extensive knowledge of the state and national economy, and agriculture’s role in that.  And they do an outstanding job highlighting that during their show.”

The Agribusiness Appreciation Award identifies a Nebraska agribusiness that recognizes and appreciates the mission of the Nebraska corn checkoff program, shows proven leadership in explaining the benefits of the checkoff and its investments and supports Nebraska agriculture. The recipient of this year’s award was Cargill.  While Cargill has been a valuable partner with Nebraska agriculture for a very long time, this award was in special recognition of Cargill’s generous contribution to Raising Nebraska—the award-winning ag literacy experience on the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Grand Island. 


Tim Scheer, farmer from St. Paul, Nebraska and past chair on the Nebraska Corn Board noted that, “The Nebraska team at Cargill have been true champions of Raising Nebraska. Their communications team has served as a valuable resource as Raising Nebraska continues to evolve and educate consumers more about their food and the families who grow it. Additionally, the credibility that the respected Cargill name has brought to Raising Nebraska has been instrumental in building the Raising Nebraska brand.”

Exports Matter to Nebraska Corn Farmers

International exports play a crucial role in supporting prices and enhancing the value of Nebraska corn!

With more than 95% of the world’s population living outside the United States and representing 75% of the world’s purchasing power, there is huge market potential for Nebraska corn around the world. From raw grain—to red meat—to ethanol, exports in all forms help support corn prices for Nebraska corn farmers. And each value-added product plays a fundamental role in building global demand.

Enhancing the profitability of Nebraska corn and value-added corn products through market development is one of the cornerstones of the Nebraska Corn Board. That’s why the Nebraska Corn Board has long standing relationships with organizations such as the US Grains Council (USGC) and the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).  With offices in key markets around the world, these organizations work hard to help identify and develop export markets for Nebraska corn. Their international directors are positioned as the ‘boots on the ground’ force that helps recognize opportunity and identify challenges in new and existing global markets.

“Even though most corn grown in Nebraska is used right here in our state for livestock and ethanol—or shipped to dairies in California and feedlots in Texas, we still have a lot at stake when it comes to exports,” said Alan Tiemann, a farmer from Seward, the at-large director on the Nebraska Corn Board and chairman of the U.S. Grains Council. “International exports in all forms help use the U.S. corn supply and create demand that affects our corn prices here at home.”

As the chairman of the USGC, Tiemann has a key role in helping the Council identify new opportunities and priorities in a rapidly changing global market. With the population projected to grow to 9 billion by 2050, USGC is working hard to teach producers around the world how to use feed grains effectively and manage their operations efficiently.

In February, Tiemann helped lead USGC’s 13^th annual International Marketing Conference where they highlighted the Council’s mission to drive Excellence in Exports. One key topic of discussion at the conference was ethanol exports. “Ethanol exports continue to be a big priority to the Grains Council. As the number of vehicles increase worldwide, international markets for ethanol are growing dramatically,” added Tiemann.

USGC is the market development arm for Nebraska corn and value-added corn products around the world, while USMEF is the market development arm working to increase our market share for red meat around the world. Both organizations have international directors that work around the globe to build demand, knock down trade barriers and serve our customers in the most critical overseas markets.

To hear more of Tiemann’s remarks on the USGC’s International Marketing Conference, watch our video above.  Additionally, to learn more about the importance of exports to Nebraska corn farmers, watch our video, “Why Exports Matter to Nebraska Corn Farmers.”

The Benefits of Ethanol Go Beyond Price

When you pull up to a fuel pump, you may notice that ethanol blends are friendlier to your wallet, but the benefits of ethanol go beyond your pocketbook. American Ethanol makes an important contribution to our environment, public health, economy and agricultural industry.

Public Health & Environment

Ethanol is a non-toxic, cleaner-burning octane booster that combusts fuel more completely in the engine. Higher blends of ethanol dilute the level of toxic additives in our fuel, which helps reduce pollution. This is good for our health and the environment!

Oil companies use a combination of toxic carcinogens known as BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene). These carcinogens don’t completely combust in the engine. As a result, fine and ultrafine particulates leave the tailpipe and enter the air we breathe. These particles are linked to serious health problems including asthma, lung and brain cancer, and heart disease.

As technology becomes more efficient, farmers produce more crops with less resources. This reduces our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

Today more energy is being produced from ethanol than is used to produce it, by factors of 2 to 1 nationally and by 4 to 1 in the Midwest, according to the 2015 Energy Balance for the Corn-Ethanol Industry done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Chief Economist.

Economy & Agriculture

A recent study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln economists reveals Nebraska’s value of production for ethanol and dried distillers grain (DDGs) is approximately $5 billion annually.

Nebraskans grow and process their corn into ethanol within the state, which keeps more money in the local economy. Nebraska ethanol production results in a net positive of both ethanol and its co-products, which brings new money into the state economy.

The ethanol industry creates a substantial annual impact on the Nebraska labor market by supporting approximately 4,500 jobs with average annual earnings (wages, salaries and benefits) of $72,000. The average earnings include direct jobs in the ethanol industry as well as jobs throughout the state, which are primarily created in rural Nebraska.

Additionally, the increased use of ethanol helps reduce the need for agricultural subsidies — and America’s energy dollars will go to domestic producers rather than members of foreign oil cartels.

Make the CleanAir® Choice

When you fill up, consider the many benefits of ethanol:

• Renewable fuel made here in Nebraska

• Reduces toxic exhaust emissions, which reduces air pollution and its effect on human health

• Provides consumers a wider choice of high-quality fuels

• Lowers the cost of filling up at the pump

• Burns cleaner and cooler, helping extend engine life

Learn more about the benefits of American Ethanol at: americanethanolne.org 

This post was submitted by the Nebraska Ethanol Board. The Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Ethanol Board continue to work together to establish procedures and processes necessary to the manufacturing and marketing of ethanol fuel. 

Learning About Ethanol

There’s no doubt that corn is one of the world’s most a-maize-ing crops!  It has so many uses that benefit people all around the world.  Over the next few weeks, we will feature a new blog series called, “For the Love of Corn”, where we will look at the six different high-value corn product categories and how they are used.

This week, we will take a look at the high-value corn product category, Ethanol!

Henry Ford first suggested running cars on ethanol made from corn in the early 1900’s, but it took the oil shortages of the 1970’s and the environmental problems of the 1980’s to turn ethanol into an important component in the American fuel supply. Now, over the last three decades, ethanol made from corn has become an important fuel in Nebraska and across the country. Biofuels like corn-based ethanol directly replace petroleum-based fuels – and they’re renewable! Ethanol is better for the environment, helps keep fuel dollars here at home and it supports rural communities—because that’s where most ethanol plants are located.

In Nebraska, ethanol plants have a capacity of more than 2.0 billion gallons – making Nebraska the second-largest ethanol producing state in the country. They use about 700 million bushels of corn annually – and directly provide and support thousands of jobs. Since ethanol is made only from the starch in a kernel of corn, these ethanol plants also produce more than 6 million tons of distillers’ grains annually. On a national level, fuel ethanol production capacity has passed 13.0 billion gallons at more than 200 facilities.

Ethanol has been the fuel choice of most drivers in Nebraska – with market share reaching 70 percent beginning in 2007. Although E10 (10 percent ethanol blend) is common throughout Nebraska – and across the country – the use of E85 (a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent regular unleaded gasoline) and other blends, such as E15 & E30, is continuing to grow, thanks to continued sales of flex fuel vehicles.

So how is it made?  Ethanol is made by fermenting sugars produced from corn starch. Many ethanol plants produce both ethanol and other corn products - like starches and sweeteners so that capital and manufacturing costs can be kept as low as possible. While they are making ethanol, ethanol plants also produce valuable coproducts such as corn oil and corn gluten feed.

Below is an infographic that further explains the production process at an ethanol plant!

'The Bachelor' and 'DWTS' celebrity farmer promotes benefits of ethanol

Growth Energy and Chris Soules, Iowa farmer and star of The Bachelor and Dancing with the Stars announced a new television ad emphasizing the economic and environmental benefits of ethanol. The ad points to the significant harm that the EPAs proposal poses to Americas farmers and features Soules urging politicians in Washington to support clean, secure, American-made ethanol.

Growth Energy Co-Chair Tom Buis spoke to the major progress in revitalization and job creation in rural America thanks to ethanol production. Currently the ad is airing in Iowa, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana.

Under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the ethanol industry has helped to generate more than 852,000 jobs throughout America and helped farming communities make a strong comeback. In Iowa alone, the renewable fuel industry spurs more than 73,000 jobs, generates $19.3 billion in annual economic output and $5 billion in wages annually, and contributes $1.7 billion in state and federal taxes each year.

The Renewable Fuel Standard is a great American success story, said Tom Buis, co-chair of Growth Energy. More renewable fuel like ethanol means more investments in rural economies across America. Homegrown renewable fuel is also helping consumers at the pump, driving down our dependence on oil from hostile foreign regions, and reducing pollution in our air and water.

American-made ethanol reduces our dependence on foreign oil, said Chris Soules, a fourth-generation Iowa farmer. Our farmers are also leading the way in helping reduce carbon emissionsthe use of corn ethanol results in a 34 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to regular gasoline. We need a strong Renewable Fuel Standard so we can continue providing opportunities for our countrys farmers and produce clean energy right here in America.

Renewable, Homegrown Fuels Provide Energy Independence

September is Renewable Fuels Month!
Part Four of a Four-Part Series for Renewable Fuels Month

Biodiesel and American Ethanol, two energy sources made from Nebraska soybeans and corn, that are homegrown, locally produced and contribute to our energy independence and security. To wrap-up Renewable Fuels Month this September, Nebraska farmers can celebrate these homegrown renewable fuels and the economic benefits they provide.

Last year, Nebraska farmers raised nearly 289 million bushels of soybeans and 1.6 billion bushels of corn – numbers they expect to grow in coming years. From these two crops, renewable fuel sources and distillers grains co-products are created right here in Nebraska.

These homegrown, renewable fuels and co-products greatly contribute to the economic vitality in Nebraska and across the United States. More than 1,500 people in rural Nebraska and more than 850,000 people nationwide are employed in the renewable fuels industry, according to a 2014 economic impact study released by the Fuels America coalition.

The economic report tells the story of an innovative, advanced biofuels industry that is benefiting America’s economy. Part of the effort contributing towards an expanded biofuels industry is attributed to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “The data is in: The RFS is driving billions of dollars of economic activity across America,” the report concludes. “This is the result of years of investment by the biofuel sector to bring clean, low carbon, renewable fuels to market.”

“There are some rural communities in Nebraska that probably wouldn’t have the opportunities they do today if it wasn’t for renewable fuels,” said David Merrell, farmer from St. Edward, Nebraska and chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board. “Renewable fuels support the local farmer and provide as much as $3 million in tax revenue for the state of Nebraska.”

The RFS program was expanded in 2007 to include biodiesel, increasing the amount of fuel required to be blended into transportation fuel to 36 billion gallons by 2022, created new categories of renewable fuels including advanced, cellulosic, and conventional.  The program also evaluated the lifecycle of greenhouse gases to ensure each category was meeting a minimum threshold.

With the help of the RFS, renewable fuels now represent more than 10% of America’s fuel supply and have helped reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil to the lowest level in years.

“Each year we continue to produce more renewable fuels in the United States. In 2014, we reduced our imported crude oil by 512 million barrels and 1.75 billion gallons of imported petroleum diesel—that’s a clear sign the RFS is doing exactly what it was intended to do,” added Merrell.


The RFS is reducing our dependency on imported oil, providing a homegrown, locally-produced renewable fuel, creating jobs, providing tax revenue, and more.  Renewable fuels are a win-win situation for the farmers, rural communities and consumers.