Rhythms of Reinvention: FEW General Session Highlights

by Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine) At the 2022 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, the world's largest biofuels conference, producers, industry stakeholders and vendors gathered to connect and learn in Minneapolis, Minnesota. -- The 38th annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo welcomed producers, suppliers, innovators and policy experts to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in mid-June for three days of presentations, networking and speeches.

The FEW’s general session, the show’s big-stage event, featured an impressive lineup of industry leaders including Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy; Todd Becker, CEO of Green Plains Inc.; and Bruce Rastetter, CEO of Summit Agricultural Group, parent company of the planned Summit Carbon Solutions CO2 pipeline. Together, this trio of big-name executives—with Skor headlining and Becker and Rastetter speaking back-to-back after the FEW’s policy roundtable (see page 19)—relayed an array of topics ranging from the industry’s current policy and market priorities to carbon intensity reduction, coproducts evolution and the future of biorefining.

Skor’s keynote speech followed a special message from SAFFiRE Renewables and Southwest Airlines, which have partnered to develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from cellulosic ethanol, with the low-carbon alcohol biointermediate being developed first and the jet fuel second.

Skor highlighted how the Biden administration’s emergency waiver allowing E15 to be sold this summer, while temporary, has drawn attention to ethanol’s affordability.

Iowa went a step further and passed a 2022 Biofuels Access Bill, which guarantees statewide access to E15 by 2026.

Skor highlighted the importance of educating policymakers and the public on the facts, backed by data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and favorable scrutiny from the nation’s top modelers, including the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Lab.

“Every plant is calibrating and optimizing, whether that’s tapping into pipelines, test wells for sequestration or seeking renewable energy sources like solar or biomass to power their biorefinery. Our commitment to continuous progress is even opening a new world of opportunity for climate friendly agriculture.”

The organization wants to see increased awareness of ethanol’s benefits at home and abroad, she explained, outlining a pilot campaign the organization launched to encourage climate-conscious consumers to consider what fuel they use at the pump.

Green Plains CEO Todd Becker discussed the importance of remolding ethanol plants into “modern day biorefineries” by looking for ways to invest and adapt, creating higher value products.

Clean sugar is one of the new products Green Plains is investing in, and Becker believes that production of dextrose and glucose is a great opportunity for the ethanol industry, providing decarbonization opportunities and a new stream of revenue.

Another major investment Green Plains has pursued is high-protein feed and technology. Green Plains has put millions into backing Fluid Quip Technology’s development of Maximized Stillage Co-Products (MSC) platform, which gives producers the ability to not only make ultra-high protein feed (50%-60%) but also increase corn oil production, Becker explained.

With 1.5 billion internal combustion engines on the road today, and less than 20 million electric vehicles, Becker doesn’t think the demand for low-carbon fuels is going away. “I believe we can redefine ourselves and together redefine this industry,” he said. “The opportunity we have in front of us to reinvent our industry to supply low-carbon, renewable, plant-based biofuels and ingredients to the world is here.”

Summit Agricultural Group CEO Bruce Rastetter, closing out the 2022 FEW general session, described the importance of carbon capture to the industry.

When complete, the pipeline will serve 32 ethanol producers across North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. Rastetter talked about Summit’s ongoing efforts to gain easements from property owners, and how the company is honoring the heritage of agriculture in its negotiations with farmers.

“I truly believe there’s a renaissance that’s coming for our industry and our companies,” he (Becker) told his colleagues at the FEW. “We stand ready to provide the feedstock for the bio-revolution that is coming, and for the bio-revolution that is here.” READ MORE