American Ethanol the Magazine - Issue 3 by Growth Energy

Spring 2017

JEFF BROIN:

Bringing the farmer-owner ethanol model to rural America

POINT OF OBLIGATION:

Time to call your congressman?

A great muffin for your

Sunday Brunch

Bronze Star vet reflects on Memorial Day

Richard Childress inducted into NASCAR Hall of Fame

Our Secret Ingredient is You

Yes, our enzymatic components are incredibly effective at maximizing your operation’s efficiency and output. And yes, we’re known for providing the best, most responsive customer support in the industry. But we wouldn’t be CTE Global without you. Your high expectations and unique requirements—and your willingness to entrust them to us—are what make us better every day at what we do. So keep telling us what you need in order to thrive. And we’ll keep listening.

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CONTENTS 14 28 26 4

ELC Meets in Miami Mohan in Fast Lane

Mr. Ethanol

Bronze Star Reflections

Gifts for Moms

A Battle Brewing

Louisiana Makes 29

Pinewood Pointers

Invisible Dangers

Biofuels Champion

Yummy Muffins

American Ethanol The Magazine is published quarterly by Growth Energy™, 701 8th St NW Suite 450 Washington, DC 20001. For more information, please call 202.545.4000 or visit AmericanEthanolRacing.com. Ryan Welsh, Director of Sales & Marketing. Houston Ruck, Creative Director. Majda Sarkic, Manager of Communications. © 2017 Growth Energy. All Rights Reserved. Published in partnership with VistaComm® (www.VistaComm.com).

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Opportunity

POETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jeff Broin shares strategies for success in business, life

Broin family farm including ethanol plant top right, Wanamingo, Minnesota, 1971.

AMERICAN ETHANOL THE MAGAZINE

of a Lifetime T

homas Edison noted that opportunity is missed by most people because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work.

Jeff Broin is not most people. The POET CEO owes his success to a mindset of seizing opportunities and a disposition to embrace challenges in order to overcome them, even when the odds seem insurmountable. “Every time I saw an opportunity, I’ve tried to find a way to capitalize on it,” said Broin. His conviction has propelled POET from a single ethanol refinery in South Dakota to one of the world’s largest producers of ethanol and various biorefined products. POET’s and Broin’s trajectory began in 1987 when the family purchased a foreclosed ethanol plant in Scotland, South Dakota. “It was a bad time financially for agriculture,” recalled Broin, who helped rebuild the plant. Earlier, the Broins built a small farm-scale plant in southeast Minnesota that was a stepping stone to learning the production process and economics of making ethanol. “Dad was looking to add another farm enterprise to add value to our corn.” The Scotland plant succeeded, which led to the development of a construction company as well as management and marketing companies and the creation of dozens of ethanol production plants across the Midwest. “We started with one 1-milliongallon-per-year plant and ended up with 1.8 billion gallons of production today through the buildout of multiple plants,” said Broin, who served as the first plant’s general manager.

Kenya trip for Seeds of Change (crop/yield improvements). Broin and David Priest.

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The farm crisis of the 1980s had a profound effect on Broin, and it continues to guide his commitment to America’s farmers and rural communities. When Broin got into the ethanol business, banks didn’t support ethanol ventures, insurance companies didn’t want to insure production plants, and politicians didn’t embrace the fledgling industry. “There had been a wave of bankruptcies in the early years of ethanol, so it was an uphill battle, especially in the 1980s,” Broin explained. “Ethanol was a bad word to many people who thought the industry would never succeed.” Broin helped ethanol prevail, thanks to smart business management and a commitment to bring the farmer-owner ethanol plant model to rural America. Broin and his team began building production facilities for others in the 1990s. “It’s a higher calling to help people,” Broin said. For years, he maintained a grueling schedule, traveling to some of the Midwest’s most remote regions, inviting farmers and others to invest in ethanol plants. “Farmers were hurting due to low commodity prices, and small towns needed economic development,” Broin remembered. “We’ve created financial opportunity for our 6,000 farmer-investors and we raised more than $500 million in equity over 15 years, which resulted in over $2 billion in capital investment in rural America. (continued next page)

Alyssa, Miranda, Tammie, Jeff Broin dine in Keyna with Mission Greenhouse partners.

Broin at the 2017 Executive Leadership Conference.

Alyssa and Jeff Broin confer at the 2017 Executive Leadership Conference.

(continued from previous page) “I truly have a passion for the ethanol industry and the many ways it can improve people’s lives,” Broin explained. So in 2011, he launched Seeds of Change to spread agriculture technology throughout Africa. Out of that came Mission Greenhouse, a multi-year project to construct a school for disadvantaged girls in Kenya, Africa, which is supported by Seeds of Change. “Underprivileged girls wouldn’t be able to attend school without this opportunity,” said Broin. In addition, Broin and his family support several other philanthropic projects in Africa, Haiti, and the United States. One of the largest projects involves working with 80,000 farmers in Kenya to triple farm income in about two years. “We’ve seen tremendous success with this,” said Broin, who also supports the distribution of ethanol-powered cookstoves in Haiti. Approximately 3 billion people — about half of the world’s population — cook with wood and charcoal, which causes significant health effects and is deforesting the planet, Broin noted. “We believe wood should be replaced by ethanol, which can help clean up the air and improve people’s health.” The ethanol business has always been a family affair for Broin and his wife, Tammie, and they are proud their three children are starting to take interest in the family business. Tammie is involved in the work in Africa; daughter Alyssa is now Jeff’s executive coordinator; daughter Miranda also works with Seeds of Change and writes articles and speeches for POET; and his son Austin has worked two summers at Project Liberty in Emmetsburg, Iowa.

“Opportunity is everywhere if you know where to look.”

Ask Broin for three words to describe ethanol, and he’s quick to respond: “American, powerful, and healthy. Every parent should be concerned with what’s coming out of their vehicle’s tailpipe. Ethanol removes cancer-causing components from gasoline and other toxins that can contribute to autism. The more ethanol we use, the cleaner those emissions will be.”

This is especially valuable in urban areas, where smog and pollution can pose major health threats. “My family and I want to do everything we can to help others, especially people living in cities where smog is a challenge,” Broin said. “We can help eliminate smog and cancer-causing components from gasoline if ethanol is allowed to grow, and that’s exciting.” Broin is always looking for the next opportunity, and he sees it in cellulosic ethanol, which is produced from the fiber of the plant. POET’s cellulosic plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa, has been online for two years and is running well. “We are very excited about the potential that cellulosic ethanol offers to replace even more carcinogens and other harmful components in gasoline,” Broin said. There are tremendous synergies between cellulosic ethanol production and starch-based ethanol production, he added. “I predict that every starchbased ethanol plant in America will have a cellulosic plant adjacent to it in the next 20 years.” Broin is energized by the future of ethanol, which helps lower the price consumers pay at the pump, while offering more options to help protect the environment. And agriculture needs more ethanol production to use up surplus supplies of ag commodities, which currently are the highest stocks in the history of the world. “We can drive America towards energy independence and export clean energy in the future, while cleaning up our air and driving rural and nationwide economic development,” said Broin, who is proud that POET employs more than 1,800 people. “There are tremendous opportunities here.” It’s almost hard to believe it all started with a bankrupt ethanol plant and a dream more than 30 years ago. “I could have never foreseen the growth and success POET and the ethanol industry have experienced,” Broin said. “Opportunity is everywhere, if you know where to look.” AMERICAN ETHANOL THE MAGAZINE

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Don’t Lose the Option to Choose How the clash over ethanol’s point of obligation impacts you Having choices is good, whether you’re deciding something complex, such as which vehicle to purchase, or something more routine, like what fuel to select at the gas station. Your opportunity to choose renewable fuels could be in jeopardy, however, due to a critical issue called the “point of obligation.” Under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), oil refiners are the obligated parties. Therefore, they are the “point of obligation” under the RFS. It has worked well since the program’s inception over a decade ago. “The battle over the point of obligation has been brewing for several years,” said Chris Bliley, vice president of regulatory affairs for Growth Energy. “If the point of obligation shifts, it would derail the RFS and mean fewer choices for consumers.” The issue has far-reaching consequences because 97 percent of all gasoline today is blended with ethanol, Bliley added. That’s why Growth Energy has been actively opposing changes to the point of obligation. To help clarify this complex issue, American Ethanol talked with Bliley, who explained how shifting the point of obligation would impact drivers’ ability to choose renewable fuels.

American Ethanol (AE): If the current system works, why mess with it? Bliley: A number of lawmakers, retailers, consumer companies like UPS, and even railroads are asking this same question. Supporters of the biofuels industry note that keeping the point of obligation where it is now, with oil refiners and importers, has worked well and makes sense. Moving the point of obligation

What Retailers Are Saying 8

Chris Bliley, Growth Energy’s vice president of regulatory affairs, addresses the 2017 Executive Leadership Conference.

“Sheetz is the largest retailer of E15 and E85 in the U.S. today, so we know what it takes to sell higher blends of ethanol. Changing the point of obligation would be the death knell for the RFS.” Mike Lorenz executive vice president of fuels

AMERICAN ETHANOL THE MAGAZINE

FACT:

97%

from a handful of refiners to hundreds or thousands of small fuel retailers would undermine the viability of this successful program.

AE: Will changing the current system limit my ability to save money at the pump? Bliley: Most likely. Under the current system, retailers offer biofuel blends, such as E15, at a discount (often 3 to 10 cents per gallon), even when ethanol costs nearly as much as gasoline. These discounts help fuel retailers to price fuel as low as possible to attract customers and sell more convenience items like drinks and candy. A shift in the point of obligation would shake this system to its foundation since refiners do not have this incentive to pass along the savings.

AE: Would a shift in the point of obligation limit my choices at the pump? Bliley: If your retailer offers ethanol blends like E15, everything could change. Shifting the point of obligation would undercut the retailers who are doing the most to offer you more choices at the pump. The number of stations selling E15 (currently 700 stations in 29 states) would drop significantly.

AE: Why would changing the point of obligation be so detrimental to renewable fuels? Bliley: The RFS has been the law since 2005. The entire fuel and blending system has been built based on the certainty of the RFS. Changing the point of obligation would immediately throw the program into turmoil. Federal government regulators would have to begin a long, complicated rulemaking process that would, at a minimum, take 18 months but would not likely be resolved for several years.

“Changing the point of obligation will impose dramatically higher costs on consumers or even result in the withdrawal of options from the marketplace.”

AE: What would a shift in the point of obligation mean for the future of biofuels?

of our gasoline supply now contains ethanol.

Bliley: It will halt the expansion of E15 and decrease ethanol sales overall. All the major fuel retailers and convenience store chains, from Sheetz to Minnoco to Kum & Go, oppose a shift in the point of obligation.

AE: Are convenience stores the only ones affected by these potential changes? Bliley: No. A shift in the point of obligation would also impact marketers, truck stops, trucking companies, railroads, and even consumer service companies like FedEx and UPS, which would suddenly have to deal with significant compliance costs.

AE: Are there any alternatives? Bliley: Some have suggested that a change to the point of obligation would be an acceptable sacrifice if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would lift obscure, outdated regulatory barriers limiting sales of E15 in the summer. This would involve a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver. However, an RVP waiver is essentially meaningless if the point of obligation is changed because retailers would no longer have any incentive to sell higher ethanol blends.

AE: What can I do? Bliley: Contact your federal lawmakers and tell them you want choices when it comes to renewable fuels. Also, let them know you don’t want the market uncertainty that would arise from a shift in the point of obligation. For the latest updates on this key issue, visit growthenergy.com.

“Any change in the point of obligation would be detrimental to the biofuel industry and result in higher retail fuel prices.”

Lance Klatt executive director

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AMERICAN ETHANOL MAGAZINE

Seeing Is Believing

Lighted artwork reveals invisible air pollution in real time

[NOTE to art director: Layout headline, photos and sidebar copy and Greek-in a block of copy for the client to write to finish this off. It is two pages.]

Earth Day — Saturday, April 22 — saw the culmination of PARTICLE FALLS, a truly dynamic public art display designed by artist/scientist Andrea Polli and sponsored by the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, in conjunction with Growth Energy and other organizations. PARTICLE FALLS highlighted the invisible dangers of air pollution in real time. Beginning each evening at dusk from March 24 to April 22, an air-monitoring device and specialized computer software guided a waterfall-like projection of aqua-colored vertical lines onto the five-story Empire Properties Building in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. As various forms of particle pollution — invisible to the human eye — came in touch with the unique exhibit, the projection was infused with brilliant specks of light. The more dots and colors visible, the more pollution in the air.

PARTICLE FALLS made it hard to ignore how the fuels used to power our vehicles impact our environment. The display appeared much different when a dieselpowered truck or gas-powered car drove by, compared to a passing bicycle. In addition, wind patterns generated unexpected real-time changes in the PARTICLE FALLS display, emphasizing the vulnerability of air quality and transportation’s role in pollution levels.

Particle Falls art installation displaying air pollution in action in downtown Raleigh, N.C.

According to the EPA, by 2022 the Renewable Fuel Standard will reduce carbon pollution by

138 metric tons

(continued next page)

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Downtown Raleigh street where the air monitoring device picked up pollution in the air.

(continued from previous page) Making the exhibit even more meaningful beyond the revealing display of lights, industry representatives were on hand nearly every night to share information about air quality and clean transportation options, including ethanol. PARTICLE FALLS let people see for themselves just how clean or dirty their air is by engaging its viewers through emotion and aesthetics, instead of just data. Growth Energy was pleased to offer support and applauds this fresh approach to raise awareness about air pollution. We encourage people to choose cleaner-burning biofuels like ethanol.

Above: The air-monitoring device that captured air pollution in real time. Below: Novozymes’ Paige Donnelly (left), Heather Brutz with NC Clean Technology Center, Artist Andrea Polli (center), John Donalds, and Eric Geusz, both Polli’s technicians.

Breathe Easier With These Simple Changes Concerned about the air you’re breathing? The PARTICLE FALLS exhibit shows you have the power to contribute to cleaner air. When possible, walk, bicycle, or take the bus more often. When you’re driving, fill up with E15 (a cleanerburning, renewable biofuel that contains 15 percent ethanol) to reduce the amount of harmful emissions. On average, ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 110 million metric tons every year. That’s like taking 20 million cars off the road. Ethanol also replaces toxic fuel additives that have been proven to cause cancer, asthma, groundwater contamination, and smog.

AMERICAN ETHANOL THE MAGAZINE

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Driving Force of Change Rolls Into Miami

Growth Energy hosted its annual Executive Leadership Conference (ELC), The Driving Force of Change, in Key Biscayne, near Miami, this past February. At the ELC, key issue experts, thought leaders, and executives shared their insights into the changes transforming the ethanol industry, whether priming the

domestic or foreign markets, engaging with a new consumer base, or working with the new administration and Congress. Growth Energy also provided attendees with the tools and messaging needed to instill change within their local, business, and social communities, further driving consumer demand for higher ethanol blends at the pump.

1 1) “American Ethanol: A 21st Century Fuel for 21st Century Performance” was moderated by Minnoco’s Steve Anderson (left) and featured panelists Dr. Andy Randolph, Technical Director of ECR/RCR Engines, Keith Holmes of CK Motorsports, and Kyle Mohan of Kyle Mohan Racing.

strength IN

n u m b e r s.

2) The Growth Energy 2016 Snapshot was the primary document at the ELC providing an in-depth year-in-review. 3) Miranda and Alyssa Broin with a Growth Energy conference attendee enjoy an ELC presentation.

TOGETHER, WE’RE CHANGING THE RENEWABLE FUELS INDUSTRY.

AMERICAN ETHANOL THE MAGAZINE

4) Kyle Mohan of Kyle Mohan Racing speaks about ethanol’s benefits. 5) Jeff Broin gives the ELC keynote address. 6) Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor poses for a photo with Jeff Gallic, VP of Petroleum Supply at Thorntons, who received the night’s TOBI award for Market Development. 7) Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor set out the organization’s goals and highlighted achievements at the conference. 8) Mark Marquis, Marquis Energy CEO and Growth Energy board member and Stefanie Brice pose in a Miami Vice cut-out at the Miami Vice-inspired ELC awards ceremony. 9) Senator Rick Santorum gave insight at the “Crystal Ball into Ethanol Policies: 2017 & Beyond” panel.

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6 Tips for the Fastest Pinewood Derby Car There’s nothing like a childhood dream to fuel imaginations. When racing enthusiasts watch No. 3 Austin Dillon fly around the NASCAR track, it’s exhilarating and inspiring. The Pinewood Derby gives Scouts an opportunity to have their own No. 3 Austin Dillon car, and we give you tips on ensuring it gets in the winner’s circle.

T:10.5”

B:11.5”

S:9.5”

When the pinewood derby’s creator, Don Murphy, hosted the first race in 1953 with Cub Scouts in California, he envisioned a wholesome, constructive activity that would foster closer family ties and promote craftsmanship and good sportsmanship through competition. It’s a proud tradition that lives on today. While your pinewood derby car doesn’t get a boost of power from E15, like Austin Dillion’s racecar does with Sunoco Green E15, these six tips from Boys’ Life magazine will help max-

imize the performance of your creation and enable you to become a pinewood pro: 1. Make the maximum weight. Your car should weigh as much as allowed. 2. Place most of the weight in the back. Leave enough wood in the rear of the pinewood derby car, so you can place additional weight there. 3. Avoid designs with a pointed nose. A pointed nose will make it difficult for your pinewood derby car to rest on the pin at the starting gate. It may also cause your car to get bumped around when the pin drops. 4. Think of air movement. Pinewood derby cars with aerodynamic profiles go faster. Choose a design that allows the air to move easily over and around your car’s body. 5. Extend the wheelbase. The front and rear wheels should be as far apart as possible. Make sure this is allowed in your race. 6. Sand and paint. Make the wood smooth to reduce friction, and paint an awesome No. 3 Austin Dillion design to make it look great. Finally, remember the No. 1 rule of a pinewood derby: have fun, and enjoy the ride!

Leo Olson raced his #3 Austin Dillon car at the Pinewood Derby in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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“Only in America” NASCAR inducts biofuels Champ Richard Childress

He grew up in poverty in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. At age 17, he purchased his first racecar — an old 1947 Plymouth — for $20. He went on to win six championships in NASCAR’s premier series, with Dale Earnhardt, and has been making automotive history ever since.

performance benefits of higher-octane, homegrown fuels,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. “We could not be more excited to join loyal fans across the country in celebrating his recognition by the Hall of Fame.”

He’s Richard Childress, a biofuels champion, owner of Richard Childress Racing, and Growth Energy board member who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame this year.

Childress got his start in 1969 and earned 76 top-10 finishes in 285 races before handing over driving duties to Dale Earnhardt in 1981. He founded Richard Childress Racing, a 17-time NASCAR championshipwinning organization with more than 200 victories that continues to drive innovation in the sport.

“Only in America could a kid selling peanuts and popcorn at Bowman Gray Stadium have a dream of becoming a race driver someday,” said Childress during a speech at his Hall of Fame induction. “Only in America. What a great country we live in.” Just like Childress, ethanol is an American success story that’s helping us be more energy independent all while reducing our impact on the environment and giving drivers a choice at the pump. “Richard Childress helped introduce the sport to ethanol, demonstrating time and again the

10 million miles of progress

In 2011, Childress was among the leaders who helped launch the NASCAR Green initiative, which included a switch to Sunoco Green E15, a powerful blend containing 15 percent American ethanol. Since then, NASCAR has surpassed 10 million miles on the fuel. E15 is also available off the track. American consumers have driven more than 750 million miles on the blend, reducing emissions, saving money, and boosting engine performance.

AMERICAN ETHANOL THE MAGAZINE

Childress made 41 starts in the NASCAR Grand Touring/ Grand American division between 1969 and 1971 before moving on to Cup racing. He finished 22 of those races in the top ten. (ISC Archives via Getty Images)

Dale Earnhardt looks on from atop his hauler alongside car owner Richard Childress as he prepares to drive the #3 Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet in the Mall.com 400 at Darlington Raceway on March 19, 2000, in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

“The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions attributable to this fuel is equivalent to removing nearly 20 million cars from our nation’s roads every year — keeping our air cleaner,” said Childress, who uses Sunoco Green E15 race fuel on the track and E15 fuel in his personal cars. “That’s a lasting impact that benefits us all.”

Bringing the best to the track and the fuel pump The future is even more energizing, said Childress, whose grandson, Austin Dillon, drives the No. 3 car for Richard Childress Racing that Dale Earnhardt made famous. “NASCAR brings the absolute best engine performance experts, scientists, and researchers together to produce world-class engines,” Childress said. “Similarly, the strides made in ethanol production are incredible.” Ethanol plants utilize some of the brightest scientific minds to constantly innovate new ways to increase production efficiency and make a cleaner fuel that boosts engine performance, all while saving consumers money at the pump. “Seeing all the care, precision, and

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Team owners Richard Childress and Richard Petty hug on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway on May 16, 2010, in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Childress atop the team hauler at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Photo by Geoff Burke/ Getty Images for NASCAR)

passion that goes into an ethanol plant running at full tilt is an impressive spectacle, and it makes me proud that NASCAR uses Sunoco Green E15 every day,” said Childress, who encourages consumers to visit GetEthanol.com for more information on this 21st century fuel. As he takes stock of his achievements and looks to the future, Childress is quick to thank the many people who have supported him along the way, especially his wife, Judy; daughter, Tina; son-in-law, Mike Dillon; grandson, Ty Dillon, and his wife, Haley; and grandson, Austin Dillon, and his fiancée, Whitney Ward. “We are a NASCAR-racing family,” he said. Growth Energy congratulates Childress on his historic achievements and the victories yet to come, Skor said. “Richard’s career is a tribute to American ingenuity and perseverance, and we’re proud to count him as a friend.”

KICK ASPHALT. To get all the performance you can get from your ethanol plant, you need a chemistry provider with a proven track record—Buckman. We’ve long supported the corn ethanol industry as a member of key organizations and as a leading supplier of advanced process and water technologies that optimize production, lower costs and reduce environmental impact. With solutions for improving oil separation, fermentation, evaporators, cooling towers, boilers, reverse osmosis systems and more, we are uniquely qualified to help your team take the lead. Learn more. Contact a Buckman representative or visit buckman.com.

AMERICAN ETHANOL THE MAGAZINE

Top 10 Gifts for the Moms in Your Life Let’s face it — we celebrate moms the entire month of May! And you don’t have to spend a lot of money to show all the moms in your life how much you care. Here are 10 things moms can really use and will appreciate:

5. Memory book. With today’s computer technology and online tools, it’s easier than ever to make a personalized book filled with photos of Mom’s favorite people.

1. Fuel card. Mom is a busy lady, so make it easy for her to get where she needs to go. Encourage her to visit GetEthanol.com to see how E15 (a 15 percent ethanol blend) is a money saver and to find the nearest E15 station.

6. Custom cell phone case. If she’s like most people today, Mom takes her cell phone everywhere. Check out the cool designs for cell phone cases, and pick one in Mom’s favorite color. Bonus points for unique designs or bling!

2. A great meal—that she doesn’t have to cook. Why not surprise her some Sunday with a simple brunch, complete with fresh fruit, juice, coffee, yogurt, and homemade Luscious Blueberry Cornbread Muffins? You’ll find the easy recipe on page 22.

7. Stemless wine glasses. Sometimes Mom just needs a little “me” time. Help her unwind with these low-maintenance wine glasses.

3. Décor featuring your family’s initial. Discount stores, craft stores, and more offer pillows, artwork, and countless home décor items featuring each letter of the alphabet. Find a fun item that Mom could use to personalize her living space. 4. Picture frames with prints. Take a favorite photo of you and Mom, print it, and present it to her in an attractive frame.

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8. Chocolate overload. Round up an array of Mom’s favorite treats and present them in an attractive basket or colorful gift bag — any day in May! 9. A home spa package. Select bubble bath, scented bath salts, scented candles, and some soft, new bath towels to make it easy for Mom to enjoy a little getaway, right at home. 10. A phone call. Few things are more personal — and welcome — than the sound of a loved one’s voice. Take time to call and tell her how much you love her!

LUSCIOUS BLUEBERRY LEMON CORN MUFFINS INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 400°.

• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal • 1/2 cup sugar • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1 cup blueberries (or raspberries)

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next five ingredients (cornmeal through salt) in a medium bowl. Stir in blueberries; make a well in center of mixture. Combine buttermilk, butter, rind, and egg; stir well with a whisk. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moist.

• 1 large egg, lightly beaten

Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove muffins from pans immediately; place on a wire rack.

• Cooking spray

SERVINGS: 12 muffins

• 1 cup low-fat buttermilk • 3 tablespoons butter, melted • 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind

• 1 tablespoon sugar

AMERICAN ETHANOL THE MAGAZINE

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AMERICAN ETHANOL THE MAGAZINE

Honoring the Meaning of Memorial Day Soldier reflects on family, fuel, and freedom From Josh Willis’ vantage point on his family’s ranch near the tiny southwest Kansas town of Kismet (population 459), a quiet, country life suits him just fine. It’s a welcome transition for the Bronze Star recipient, whose eight years of active duty with the U.S. Army took him from Iraq to El Salvador. His time in the Middle East left an indelible impression on Captain Willis, 32. Not only did it influence his views on the value of homegrown fuel and energy independence, but also it shaped his perspective of Memorial Day. “There’s a day to honor veterans in November, but Memorial Day is for the fallen,” said Willis, who continues to serve as a captain in the Kansas National Guard. “I had close friends I lost, and so do many others who have served. Memorial Day is about honoring them.”

Reducing our dependence on foreign oil Military service has always been meaningful to Willis, who grew up in the western United States and developed a love of agriculture and the outdoors on a small ranch in northern Utah. “My grandpa was in the Air Force, and I always wanted to serve in the military,” said Willis, whose Army training has taken him from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Fort Riley, Kansas.

Now that he and his wife, Katie, are raising their three children on his family’s Kansas ranch, Willis relies daily on skills he developed in the military, from discipline to problem solving. All this comes in handy as he raises cattle, corn, wheat, soybeans, sorghum, and alfalfa with his father, Tom, and cousin, Dallin Willis. Some of the family’s crops go into the production of renewable fuels. “Ethanol reduces America’s reliance on foreign oil,” said Willis, whose father serves as CEO of Conestoga Energy Partners, LLC, which operates ethanol plants in Kansas and Texas. Willis gained a new appreciation for energy independence during his service in Iraq in 2011 — a pivotal time when he earned the Bronze Star. Willis will never forget those days or his fellow soldiers, especially those who didn’t return home. “So many Americans have given their lives for our freedom. Memorial Day is a time to honor their sacrifice.”

According to the USDA, ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emission by 43% compared to conventional gasoline.

Top: Bronze Star recipient, Willis, on duty in Middle East. Bottom: Back home in Kismet, Kansas.

SPRING 2017

Burn Tires, Not Gas Kyle Mohan Racing puts E15 to the test If you’ve seen a “Fast and Furious” movie, a Volkswagen commercial or a music video, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Kyle Mohan. He’s accelerating his career as a drift racing champion, racing team owner, entrepreneur, stunt driver, brand ambassador, and ethanol fan — all at full power. “I’m into extreme sports, working with my hands, and using my artistic skills to build motors,” said Mohan, 35, of Long Beach, California. “I’m always on a quest for more horsepower and reliability — and, along the way, I discovered ethanol.” E15 provides a perfect fit with drifting, which emphasizes car control and speed and has become the fastest growing motorsport in the world. “Everyone in this sport is always pursuing more horsepower,” said Mohan, who established Kyle Mohan Racing in 2007 and competes in the GT-Radial/Mazdatrix Mazda MX-5 in Formula Drift. “I started experimenting on my own with ethanol and was so impressed with its performance that I started using it in our racing program nearly seven years ago.”

Even when Mohan received an incentive for free fuel, he passed on it when he found out it didn’t contain ethanol. “Our industry picked up on ethanol really fast,” he noted. “About 85 percent of the field runs ethanol today.”

“Tree hugger” in the fast lane As a cleaner-burning, non-corrosive fuel, ethanol can also help engines last longer by reducing carbon buildup, added Mohan, a highly sought-after builder of Mazda rotary engines. “My motors cost $30,000-plus. Racers want to protect their investment, just like you want to protect your investment in your car. If we can make our motors last an extra race, that’s huge.” It’s almost an added bonus that ethanol is a less expensive, homegrown, sustainable, eco-friendly fuel that reduces harmful air emissions. This is important to Mohan and his wife, Adrienne, an environmental scientist who manages coastal cleanup projects on public and private lands. “We’re tree huggers who love the outdoors,” said Mohan, who enjoys raising orchids and fruit trees in his free time. “Our garden is living artwork, and we want to protect the environment.” This includes choosing ethanol. “So many things about ethanol make sense,” Mohan said. “It fits my philosophy of work hard and do good.”

AMERICAN ETHANOL THE MAGAZINE

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Louisiana Joins Growing Number of States Expanding Fuel Options If you’re headed to Louisiana, the Pelican State has become the 29th state to offer you a better choice at the pump — E15, gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol. With the addition of a RaceTrac station in Baton Rouge, there are now 700 locations nationwide that offer Americans E15, a more affordable, cleaner biofuel. When you fill up with E15, you’ll save an average of 5 to 10 cents per gallon. E15 also burns cleaner and cooler than regular gasoline, allowing engines to perform at their peak while reducing your vehicle’s impact on the environment. “The ethanol industry stands ready to provide American drivers with this performanceboosting, homegrown fuel, and, with every new pump offering E15, we are doing just that,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Growth Energy is committed to working with our retail partners to continue this expansion.”

Growth Energy applauds RaceTrac and all additional major retailers that currently sell E15, including Sheetz, Kum & Go, Thorntons, Minnoco, Murphy USA, MAPCO, Family Express, Cenex and Protec Fuels.

There are now 700 locations offering Americans E15. “American consumers have surpassed 935 million miles on E15,” Skor noted. “When given the option, consumers choose E15. Thanks to dedicated retailers who care about their customers, more Americans can make this choice.” Visit GetEthanol.com to learn more about E15 and locate your nearest E15 station.