ACE Membership Update

Membership Update

ACE's 5 Year Strategic Plan to Accelerate Ethanol Use

In the fall of 2020, ACE launched a strategic 5-year plan called Accelerate to keep members informed about the work we're doing, communicate the opportunities we see ahead and demonstrate the value of your ACE membership. These updates are part of our commitment to delivering results that matter to our members.

Learn more about the what, how and why behind Accelerate via our website, and check out our 2023 scorecard to track progress.

SCORECARD

MEMBER BENEFITS

May 5 | Late Winter & Spring Activity

1) Increasing demand and value through new clean fuel policies

Began enrolling farmers in ACE’s historic Regional Conservation Partnership Program that will incentivize climate smart agricultural practices and validate the GHG benefits of those activities so ethanol producers and farmers can earn premium prices in low carbon fuel markets.
Promoted the critical role low-carbon biofuels and climate smart agriculture practices can play to maximize the benefits of new federal clean fuel policy as the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on a national clean fuels program. ACE also joined a diverse group of over 20 organizations part of the Drive Clean Initiative in submitting principles upon which a Clean Fuel Standard could be drafted.
Mobilized 60 advocates in Washington DC, including representatives from dozens of ethanol companies and five fuel marketer companies for ACE’s 12th annual DC fly-in. Attendees met with USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie, EPA Agriculture Advisor Rod Snyder and Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN), and visited over 100 House and Senate offices.
Opened registration for ACE’s annual biofuels conference to bring together industry leaders to network with each other and share information.

2) Protecting and supporting existing policy-driven markets

Thanked bipartisan lawmakers for urging EPA to take swift action to implement the Midwest governors’ plan to ensure uninterrupted market access to E15 in their states.
Testified and commented on EPA’s proposed RFS rulemaking for 2023-2025, detailing how to adjust the rule to ensure the percentage of renewable fuels consumed in the U.S. increases year to year
Testified in support of EPA’s proposed rule to allow E15 in response to the requests from Midwest governors to remove the 1-psi volatility waiver for gasoline-ethanol blends containing 10 percent ethanol in their states.
Endorsed the reintroduction of the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act in both the House and Senate to clarify all blends above E10, including E15, should be allowed for sale year-round, nationwide.
Endorsed the reintroduction of the Next Generation Fuels Act in both the House and Senate – a bill designed to overcome a host of barriers to the use of higher ethanol blends.
Rallied over 130 industry advocates to call on EPA and President Biden to issue an emergency E15 waiver in time for the 2023 summer driving season, which EPA delivered on.
Called out EPA’s bias toward electric vehicles over other readily available, consumer-friendly CO₂ reducing technologies like biofuels in the Agency’s proposed GHG emission standards for Model Years 2027-2032 light- and medium-duty vehicles.
Submitted feedbac k to EPA on its proposed rule that would allow E15 all year in eight Midwest states, urging the Agency implement the rule in 2023 instead of delaying until 2024 and arguing EPA’s proposal favors refiners over consumers, retailers and the environment.

3) Developing Domestic and international markets

Traveled to India with the U.S. Grains Council to take part in the India Auto Expo in New Delhi. ACE CMO Ron Lamberty spoke on the U.S. experience and use of ethanol on a panel at the International Symposium for Thriving Eco-Energy in Mobility, which was co-located with the India Auto Show 2023.
Attended U.S. Grains Council’s International Marketing Conference and Annual Membership Meeting in Savannah, GA.
Connected with petroleum marketers at the Western Petroleum Marketers Association (WPMA) conference and trade show, which is attended by marketers from all over the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Took part in the Midwest Petroleum and Convenience Tradeshow (M-PACT) in Indianapolis, a joint effort of IL, IN, OH and KY marketers, and the Wisconsin Petroleum Marketer and C-store Association tradeshow in Wisconsin Dells.
Continued to work with USDA HBIIP (Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program) Program Manager Jeff Carpenter on the next round of infrastructure grants, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. Carpenter spoke with marketers at ACE’s tradeshow booth at M-PACT and WPMA.
Updated Flexfuelforward.com so prospective higher ethanol blend marketers can more easily add their names and contact information to be notified when the next round of USDA infrastructure grants is announced.