ZimmCast 738 – Reaction to Elections

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to the ZimmCast. In this episode I’m going to share some interviews from the NAFB Trade Talk about reactions from the recent presidential election. I’m going to include Mary Kay Thatcher, Syngenta Sr. Manager, Federal Government and Industry Relations; Brian Jennings, ACE CEO; Geoff Cooper, RFA CEO and Ethan Lane, NCBA, VP of Government Affairs. Adding to …

ACE, Ag Groups, Audio, NCBA, politics, RFA, Syngenta, ZimmCast

Vilsack Hopeful for 45Z Guidance by 2025

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) last week and thanked them for the work they have been doing on the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which is helping to set the stage for 45Z tax credit guidance. The RCCP started in South Dakota in 2021 and recently received a $35 million investment through …

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, SAF, USDA

Would Vilsack Serve Another Term?

Cindy Zimmerman

At the end of the current administration, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will have served in that role for 12 years under two different presidents. But that’s only second best. The record – actually for any cabinet member – is held by James “Tama Jim” Wilson, the fourth secretary of agriculture who served for 16 years under three presidents. First …

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, USDA

SAF Tax Credit Guidance Affirms Climate Smart Ag

Cindy Zimmerman

Tuesday afternoon the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released guidance on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The guidance released today will “catalyze innovation in the aviation industry and incentivize the production of cleaner and more sustainable aviation fuels,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during a House …

ACE, Audio, carbon, Corn, cover crops, Ethanol, RFA, SAF

Farm and Biofuel Groups Pleased with E15 Waiver

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency Friday issued a waiver to allow E15 (15 percent ethanol fuel) to continue to be sold this summer. The temporary waiver under the Clean Air Act was issued “to address extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances caused by a confluence of events, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East, that are …

ACE, Corn, EPA, Ethanol, RFA

EPA Committee Gives Ag Seat at the Table

Cindy Zimmerman

EPA Administrator Michael Regan recently responded to recommendations from the agency’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC) on how EPA can best support the agriculture sector’s climate mitigation and adaptation goals. FRRCC consists of representatives appointed by the agency that provide independent policy advice and information on a range of environmental issues that are of importance to …

ACE, Animal Agriculture, Environment, EPA, Ethanol, Livestock

2023 American Coalition for Ethanol Annual Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Cindy has been working on the ACE Annual Conference and you can find her stories on Energy.AgWired.com and also in our AgNewsWire virtual newsroom. Here’s a taste from the start of the conference. The increased emphasis on reducing carbon provides a great opportunity for the ethanol industry and everything counts when it comes to getting that carbon score down. In …

ACE, Ag Groups, Audio, Energy, Ethanol

USDA Under Secretary Discusses Climate Strategies

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Robert Bonnie spent an hour with members of the American Coalition for Ethanol last week, answering questions on various climate and conservation topics and stressing the administration’s support for biofuels. “I hope you know this administration has a strong commitment to ethanol,” Bonnie began. “There’s a lot of alignment between things that …

ACE, Audio, climate, Conservation, Environment, Ethanol, USDA

USDA Grants Include Climate Smart Ag for Low Carbon Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest nearly $75 million for 15 partner-led projects to address natural resource concerns on private lands. The projects include a $7.5 million investment in the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE)-led Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project to secure farmers premier access to low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) markets based on their adoption of …

ACE, Audio, Biofuels, carbon, climate, Conservation, Corn, Ethanol, USDA

Minnesota Ethanol Champion Addresses ACE

Cindy Zimmerman

Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) may be from a more suburban area of Minnesota, but she clearly recognizes the value of agriculture and biofuels to her state. “I care about ethanol because I care about good ag and energy policy in this country,” said Craig during remarks today before the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) conference. “Ethanol drives rural investment, it …

ACE, Audio, Ethanol