The 32nd annual American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) conference, in Omaha, Neb., August 14-16, will feature a discussion on how the ethanol industry can benefit from the emerging carbon economy and the new opportunities on the horizon during the “Capitalizing on Carbon” general session panel on August 15.
As it becomes increasingly important for ethanol producers to calculate the upside potential of investing in processes and technologies to reduce carbon intensity, the ACE conference provides a platform for this timely discussion moderated by ACE CEO Brian Jennings.
The panel includes Pam Miller, ACE board chair and director of industry and investor relations for Siouxland Ethanol LLC; Ron Alverson, ACE board chair and director of Dakota Ethanol; and Brendan Jordan, vice president of transportation and fuels at the Great Plains Institute.
Miller, sharing how Siouxland Ethanol has financially benefitted from selling low carbon ethanol in the California market:
“The fact that ethanol in general has a low carbon score on a lifecycle analysis of transportation fuels needs to be highlighted and promoted as part of the solution to concerns about our climate, air quality and the environment. Siouxland Ethanol recognized long ago that promoting ethanol as a clean octane source was important to our industry going forward and we have been on the cutting edge of innovation to reduce our carbon score.”
Alverson, giving a breakdown of what the latest Greenhouse Gases Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) modeling reveals about corn ethanol:
“The Department of Energy’s GREET model assumptions are under constant review with updates occurring frequently over its nearly 30-year history, and I look forward to sharing what the latest science tells us about corn ethanol production, as well as the importance of accounting for these trends so biofuels are not unfairly penalized in low carbon markets in the U.S. and around the world at this year’s ACE conference. Ethanol plants have individual Carbon Intensity scores and are able to capture carbon credits in low carbon markets, why not individual biofuel feedstock producers? I’ll also discuss using the GREET model to calculate upstream corn production GHGs for individual corn producers.”
Jordan, discussing the opportunities for a Midwest Clean Fuel Standard:
“Ethanol producers are continuously innovating to reduce energy use and their emissions, and farmers are innovating to improve soil carbon storage, reduce nitrogen emissions, and benefit water quality. We will be exploring opportunities for state policy to reward ethanol producers and farmers for providing these environmental benefits to society.”