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Vital magazine is a news and media resource managed by POET, the world’s largest producer of biofuels. Since 2008, Vital has provided readers with forward-thinking content that helps to advance an industry that provides renewable energy and bio-based products from the surface of the Earth. Vital seeks to educate readers about the state of the biofuels sector today and the breakthrough stories of innovation and sustainability of tomorrow by presenting a variety of insights and perspectives. Each issue features in-depth, quality reporting on important topics, such as the fight against the climate crisis, innovation in agriculture, local and national policy landscapes and stories of the men and women advocating to advance bioethanol and other renewable bioproducts. Vital by POET is committed to editorial excellence, along with high quality print production and distribution. In the spirit of its continued commitment to being good stewards of the environment, POET is proud to produce Vital using recycled paper when printed. Additional reporting can be found online at vitalbypoet.com. The opinions and statements expressed by content contributors and advertisers in Vital are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of POET. Neither POET nor its third-party content providers shall be liable for any inaccuracies contained within Vital, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
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To Subscribe Visit vitalbypoet.com to receive a digital magazine Vital is published quarterly by POET, LLC and other individuals or entities. All materials within are subject to copyrights owned by POET. POET, BPX, and other associated designs and logos are registrations or trademarks of POET, LLC. Growth Energy is a registration or trademark of Growth Energy, a non-profit corporation organized under the laws of the District of Columbia. Any reproduction of all or part of any document found in Vital is expressly prohibited, unless POET or the copyright owner of the material has expressly granted its prior written consent to so reproduce, retransmit or republish the material. All other rights reserved. For questions, contact the POET legal department at 605.965.2200. The opinions and statements expressed by content contributors and advertisers in Vital are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of POET. Neither POET nor its third-party content providers shall be liable for any inaccuracies contained within Vital, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. ©2023 POET, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Contents FEATURES
COLUMNS
10 | The POETic Revolution of
06 | In Sight
Sustainable Bioproducts
By Jeff Broin POET extracts value from every kernel through its suite of bioproducts
22 | Mechanics Corner
24 | Plants of POET: A New Chapter for Cloverdale
Automotive advice from the Under the Hood radio show
POET reopens Cloverdale facility with significant investment in site infrastructure
46 | Farm Fresh
39 | Growing a Legacy Farm roots run deep for POET team members
50 | Never Satisfied Class of 2023 POET is empowering tomorrow’s trailblazers through its internship and scholarship programs
By Joe Heinrich
58 | Out Of Left Field By Scott Johnson
DEPARTMENTS 16 | Policy 18 | People of POET 34 | POET Sponsorship 48 | PAC
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Top: Farmers harvest corn | Bottom Left: Steve Lewis, POET Vice President of Innovation, examines lab sample Bottom Right: POET Bioprocessing - Menlo
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IN SIGHT
Embracing the Low-Carbon Future By Jeff Broin, Founder and CEO of POET POET has a storied past, with deep roots in many rural communities across the Midwest. From day one we have sought to embody a spirit of innovation and sustainability, never losing sight of our original mission to bring value to America’s farm families. Let’s go back in time about 40 years, to the family farm I grew up on in southeast Minnesota. To say the 1980s were a tough time to be a farmer would be an understatement — to say U.S. agriculture was dying would be more accurate. Land values had dropped, interest rates had skyrocketed, and thousands of farmers were being forced into bankruptcy. In addition, farmers were being paid by the government to set aside 20 percent of their land and receiving subsidies on every bushel they grew. There was simply too much grain, and the outlook for rural America was pretty bleak. That’s when we began producing bioethanol, and in the last four decades, bioprocessing has without question become the most significant value-added agriculture story in history. When bioethanol scaled up from less than one percent of the nation’s gasoline supply to more than 10%, farm income tripled. Land values more than doubled, adding more than a trillion dollars to farmers’ balance sheets. Today each major bioprocessing plant contributes more than $200 million per year to its local economy, and the bioethanol industry contributes $57 billion annually to the U.S. GDP. Can you imagine where U.S. agriculture would be today without bioethanol? Bioprocessing didn’t just create the lifeline needed to revive rural America — to this day, it continues to create markets for farmers and drives the value of every bushel grown on their land.
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The bioethanol industry processes 40% of the U.S. corn crop each year. POET alone purchases 7% from more than 40,000 farmers across our plant network — that’s almost a billion bushels, or a million semi-loads. We use that grain to produce three billion gallons of bioethanol each year, which is helping to replace millions of barrels of imported oil with clean, renewable, Americanmade energy. And we’re not only fueling the world; we’re feeding it too. POET also produces 14 billion pounds of animal feed that’s shipped to over 25 countries, proving that bioprocessing enhances the global food supply. Add to that a billion pounds of corn oil as well as purified alcohol for consumer products and bioCO2 for a wide variety of applications. That said, most people don’t realize just how much agriculture and bioprocessing touches their daily lives. There’s no question agriculture has been an integral part of our past and present — and I believe it has the potential to be an even bigger part of our future. Crop yields have increased steadily over the past century and even more dramatically in recent decades, and as they continue to improve, we will need a balanced supply and demand for grain to maintain a profit margin for agriculture. Ever-increasing grain yields without equivalent demand leads to oversupply, which leads to decreased value and subsidized grain like we saw in the 80s. But demand leads to profit margin, that margin leaves room for investment, and that investment leads to the innovation and infrastructure that can open the door for agriculture to thrive. That’s why it’s critical that we continue to seize new opportunities for ag-based products, like carbon capture, renewable diesel fuel, and global feed markets. It’s up to all of us to continue to embrace the technologies that will ensure the long-term prosperity of the Heartland. There is no question we can continue to create profitability for farmers while fueling the ag-based bioeconomy of the future — a future where we harness Earth’s regenerative capabilities, where we use the resources given to us in the ways we believe God intended, and where rural communities can prosper for generations to come. Now that’s a future to look forward to!
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in rhythm with nature biotechnology solutions At some point, technology and nature fell out of rhythm. POET is getting us back in rhythm with nature with sophisticated and sustainable biotechnology solutions to our most immediate challenges.
The world’s leader in plant-based bioproducts.
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FEATURE
The POETic Revolution of Sustainable Bioproducts POET extracts value from every kernel through its suite of bioproducts By Erin Branick, POET Media Specialist Once hidden beneath green husks, the potential of the humble corn kernel can be redefined through an ingenious transformation: bioprocessing. Over 35 years ago, POET scientists and engineers, inspired by nature’s elegance, embarked on a mission to extract every ounce of potential from each kernel of corn. Through countless trials over numerous years — by testing in high-tech research labs and piloting at full-scale facilities — they have discovered the technology and processes necessary to unlock a treasure trove of bioproducts. This is the innovative tale of how POET’s visionary approach turned waste into wonder and how their sustainable marvels are reshaping the bioeconomy of the future. At POET, no part of the kernel is wasted. Only the starch goes to produce bioethanol and purified alcohol, while the remaining fiber, protein, oil, and micronutrients are utilized to create a wide array of bioproducts. Although biofuel is still at the forefront of its product line, POET is much more than just a fuel company. The company has developed a suite of bioproducts that further leverage its production process to provide renewable, plant-based solutions in several product categories — including those that have traditionally relied on petrochemicals.
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Biofuel Bioethanol Fuel-grade bioethanol is a clean-burning, renewable alternative to fossil fuel that is made from plant materials. It boosts octane, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and, when blended with gasoline, enables petroleum-based fuels to meet emissions and fuel efficiency standards — all while saving consumers money at the pump. Many Americans might be surprised to know they use biofuel every day; 98% of fuel sold in the U.S. contains up to 10% bioethanol. Today, more stations continue to offer higher biofuel blends like E15 (also labeled as Unleaded 88 at the pump), providing drivers with a lower-cost, lower-carbon option. The majority of bioethanol in the U.S. is made from corn starch, but it can also be produced from other feedstocks like sugarcane, sorghum, wheat, barley, and potatoes. There are significant benefits to bioethanol. POET believes it is the best, most sustainable, and most economically viable liquid fuel available to meet environmental and human health goals today. Bioethanol replaces the most expensive and toxic chemicals that are found in today’s fuel supply, which have been proven to cause cancer, asthma, and a number of other health problems. Biofuel also utilizes surplus grain — in fact, U.S. bioethanol producers purchase about 40% of the nation’s annual corn crop; POET alone processes 7%. This critical market creates profitability for farmers, enabling them to invest more readily in their operations and allowing rural communities to thrive for generations to come. Corn Oil POET’s low-carbon intensity (CI) distiller's corn oil (DCO) is used as a feedstock for biodiesel and renewable diesel. In other words, it's a co-product that makes it possible to produce biofuels as a byproduct of biofuels. Two of POET’s 34 bioprocessing facilities produce a more clarified corn oil product, which is an ideal feedstock for many renewable diesel refineries as it eliminates the pretreatment step.
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Animal Feed Dried Distillers Grains POET's longest-standing co-product division is animal nutrition. Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are a nutrient-rich co-product of the bioethanol production process that can be used as a feed ingredient for livestock. Distillers grains make for quality, valuable animal feed rich in protein, minerals, and fiber. POET’s DDGS lead the industry in quality and consistency, providing a highly palatable source of key nutrients for swine, poultry, and cattle. Additionally, due to POET’s patented BPX process that eliminates the cooking step in bioethanol production, studies show that POET’s feed products are more digestible, reducing methane emissions from livestock. Corn-Fermented Protein This next-generation protein ingredient is FSSC 22000 certified as a food-safe product. With a 50-percent protein content, this product is highly digestible and has excellent energy values to deliver nutrients for a variety of applications, including poultry, swine, dairy, aquaculture, and even pet food. Pellets and Cubes POET’s pellets and cubes are made up of 100% POET DDGS and boast the same nutritional benefits — but they differ in appearance. Traditional DDGS are pressed into a pellet or cube form for easy handling, reduced waste, and all the quality you can count on from a POET feed product. This form ensures uniform size, decreased shrinkage, and superior handling with better flowability, all while increasing feed efficiency. Modified and Wet Distillers Grain Modified and wet distillers grains both feature the same benefits as POET’s dried product but require less energy to produce — lowering the cost and carbon intensity of the feed. Syrup Corn condensed distillers soluble, or syrup, is an economical liquid feed ingredient predominantly used in ruminant diets. Corn Oil Distillers corn oil is used in animal feed rations to add a high-quality source of energy to the diet.
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Renewable CO2 BioCO2 POET has been capturing and selling CO2 since 1988, supplying a nationwide customer base for applications that include beverage carbonation, food processing, municipal water treatment, fire suppression, and agricultural applications. POET’s high-quality bioCO2 is derived from the bioethanol production process, which means it is 100% renewable. The company is the fastestgrowing renewable CO2 distributors in the U.S., with over a dozen different manufacturing facilities across the Midwest. POET's renewable CO2 is sourced at 15 bioprocessing facilities, and its dry ice is produced at two facilities. Dry Ice POET's high-quality bio dry ice is perfect for food, medical, and e-shipping applications. POET has the capability to produce many forms of dry ice in order to meet customer's specific needs. Purified Alcohol POET’s all-natural, bio-based purified alcohol is sustainably produced and held to the highest standards of quality, purity, and reliability. It is a fundamental component in products ranging from food and beverage ingredients to cosmetics and personal care products to cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, and industrial bioethanol uses. POET’s food-grade alcohol is distilled six times to meet the highest standards for purity, including the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) label standards and the Global Food Safety Initiative’s Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program standards, and it adheres to kosher guidelines. POET Purified Alcohol is also widely used and effective in a variety of pharmaceutical-grade applications and can replace petroleum-based synthetic ingredients in many current products.
Other Industrial Uses Asphalt Recycling Agent and Defoamer In addition to being used in biodiesel production and as a feedstock, corn oil created through POET’s patented BPX process enables it to make a safer, healthier, more cost-effective asphalt recycling agent and defoamer. These are extremely effective bio-based alternatives to their petroleum-based counterparts.
With POET’s suite of bioproducts, the potential of every kernel is harnessed. POET’s pioneering efforts have not only redefined sustainability but have also paved the way for a greener future. It has been a remarkable journey to transform corn kernels into cornerstones of environmental stewardship and innovation.
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POLICY
Freedom to Fuel By Matt Ward, POET Government Affairs Manager It’s been a year since the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed, and there are myriad opinions on the legislation both for and against. From a biofuel perspective, one thing is clear: the policies that came out of this legislation have the potential to transform the industry through incentivizing investment in technologies that will rapidly accelerate decarbonization. The Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z) is a tax credit that incentivizes production of clean transportation fuel, including bioethanol. This tax credit applies to fuel produced after December 31, 2024 and sold before December 31, 2027. 45Z has a base credit of $0.20 per gallon and utilizes an emissions factor that increases the base credit value as the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of bioethanol approaches zero, where the credit is worth $1.00 per gallon. Importantly, the model governing on-road transportation fuel in 45Z is the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) model developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory. This model is the gold standard for carbon intensity lifecycle analysis for biofuels. Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, released a study analyzing 45Z implementation’s impact on the U.S. economy. The study found that, if implemented properly, the 45Z tax credit would add $21.2 billion to the U.S. economy, generate roughly $13.4 billion in household income, support more than 192,000 jobs across all sectors of the national economy, and provide farmers with a 10% premium price on low carbon intensity (CI) corn used at a bioethanol plant. But, making sure the credit is implemented correctly is key to unleashing the potential of 45Z. “45Z represents an historic opportunity for the American bioeconomy, but the bill’s final impact will depend on its implementation,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “This new research not only illustrates the enormous economic potential of this key tax credit — it also underscores why it is so important for the U.S. Treasury to adopt the right approach in administering the credit. To deliver on its potential, 45Z must reward the full array of innovations taking place on the farm and in America’s bioprocessing facilities, including technologies like carbon capture and sequestration and climate smart agriculture.” If implemented correctly, the study finds that 45Z will provide ample incentive for bioethanol producers to invest in technologies like carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), renewable natural gas as process fuel, and using low CI corn to further reduce the lifecycle GHG emissions of bioethanol production. “The U.S. Treasury can unleash these benefits by fully adopting the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) GREET model — the best, most accurate lifecycle analysis (LCA) model available today for both aviation and non-aviation fuels,” Skor added. “Regulators cannot afford to miss this opportunity. We look forward to working with our champions in Congress and the administration to make sure we implement the IRA in a way that maximizes both its environmental and its economic benefits.” 45Z can be transformative for bioethanol producers, corn growers, agriculture, and rural communities, while achieving significant gains toward reducing GHG emissions. POET, its industry allies, and champions in Congress are working to ensure that 45Z’s implementation reaches its full potential.
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BIOFUELS MUST BE PART OF THE CLIMATE SOLUTION Learn More at GrowthEnergy.org/Environment
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PEOPLE OF POET
Humble Brilliance In 25 years with POET, innovator Steve Lewis has left an indelible mark on modern bioprocessing By Darrell Boone How did a scientist who just received one of engineering’s highest honors for his work in industrial biotechnology choose that particular career path? Steve Lewis, POET Vice President of Innovation, grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and credits his dad, Bill “Popcorn” Lewis, and his uncle, John Schmidt, with stimulating his interest in biotechnology. Lewis described his dad as an “armchair ecologist” who owned a cabin in southern Ohio. His uncle, National Tree Farmer of the Year in 1990, owned a tree farm nearby, sold timber, and produced maple syrup. “They were both an inspiration to me for wanting to get into an area of industrial microbiology, including engineering,” said Lewis. “I thought that field was going to be very important in the future, and it’s turned out to be a good choice.” After earning his degree in microbiology at Ohio State University, Lewis began working for a startup biotech firm in northern Ohio. There, he honed his abilities to combine biotechnology and enzymology with engineering as the field of industrial biotechnology was beginning to take off. While working with Enzyme Technology Corporation, he obtained an MBA from Ashland University with a focus on economics. A subsequent stint in Chicago with Genencor allowed Steve to study food science and engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois. As a technical service manager, he was able to expand plant capacity with new enzyme technology. In 1998, he took a leap and joined Broin and Associates, the forerunner of POET, in South Dakota. The company had begun expanding plant capacity using enzymes as opposed to increased capital investment. It was nonobvious at the time, but it is now a core technology used at POET. “They were small, with only 15 people in the office and two plants with a production capacity of twenty million gallons of bioethanol when I started,” says Lewis. “But they had a vision that I thought would be important for the future. They were driven by a passion to improve their processes with the right research.” Thus began the creation of what Steve calls a “learning organization.” Lewis was hired as head of operations and research and started bringing in research and biotechnology to improve processes. Soon, the company expanded to four plants, producing 50 million gallons. They continued to improve the plants with biotechnology and began building additional facilities. During Lewis’s tenure, the company has become the world’s largest producer of bioethanol, having grown to 34 bioprocessing facilities producing three billion gallons of bioethanol, plus a suite of other sustainable bioproducts.
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Giving credit where it’s due Lewis was elected to the National Academcy of Engineering for "leadership in developing and commercializing bioprocessing technologies that establish corn ethanol as a cost-competitive sustainable transportation fuel." Initially, he was a little surprised. “It was a great honor, but I don’t consider myself a traditional engineer,” he said. “I consider myself more of a hybrid between biotechnology and engineering. If anything, I had a vision of how biotechnology could be married with engineering.” Lewis is a sports enthusiast, and like any athlete who has just been named an MVP, he was quick to say that it was a team effort. “Rod Pierson and Neil Anderson are great examples of world-class chemical/ mechanical engineers who were able to take some of my ideas and make them even better,” he said. “And Deb Roth, our plant manager at POET Research Center, was also fundamental in helping POET marry biology with engineering. In doing so, POET has been able to achieve a unique position in the renewable fuels industry. The team learning concept was pioneered at POET.” Lewis also credits Mike Ingledow, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Saskatchewan, with being an important contributor to his and POET’s success. “Some of Mike’s academic work championed ideas and concepts we improved and based our process technology on,” he said. Perhaps most importantly, that team also includes Lewis’s wife, Lisa, of whom he said, “She has followed me across the country in my career, and I’m thankful for her love and support.”
Off the job, Lewis said that he and Lisa have triplet adult children and six granddaughters who keep them pretty busy. Lewis also takes pride in playing in Grove City High School’s “World’s Largest Alumni Softball Tournament” every year since 1983. He adds that as his career has taken his family across the country, their sports allegiances have included Buckeyes, Hawkeyes, Cougars, Coyotes, Jackrabbits, Cardinals, and Bruins. Of his 25-year career at POET, Lewis says it’s been a great ride. “I’m proud of the growth in POET, that we’ve been able to create significant job opportunities for folks, and the caliber of people we’ve been able to hire. Plus, there’s always something new to learn. Serendipity has played a role, but that is a longer story.” Lewis ends with some philosophical thoughts. “POET is creating a more sustainable future, recognizing that agriculture can be part of the solution to climate change. Agriculture without Jeff Broin and POET is kind of like Bedford Falls without George Bailey.” The notion is reciprocated by Broin. “Steve’s leadership has shaped the POET team to ask questions and push the bounds of what is possible in biotechnology,” he said. “His contributions to POET’s intellectual property portfolio have created a significant competitive advantage for POET and, over time, have served to benefit the entire bioethanol industry. His dedication to his craft and ceaseless search for knowledge have played a key role in revolutionizing modern biotechnology, and his humble brilliance has left an indelible mark on all who have had the fortune of working with him.”
Top: Steve Lewis and his lab team; Andrea Glynn, Elizabeth Crowley, Benjamin Gacke, Michelle Harmon, Jennifer Headman, and Lauryn Regenmorter | Bottom: Steve Lewis works with the POET lab team
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UNDER THE HOOD
Be Proactive to Protect Your Engine Russ Evans, Under the Hood Radio Show Host and Mechanic We Motor Medics are just gearheads and mechanics who would rather be in the shop working on cars. We’re not here to push an agenda, but we are here to share our knowledge, and we think we’ve earned it by putting in years of work in the shop. We’ve been full-time gearheads for almost 40 years, so we do know a thing or two about cars. As always, we’ve recently seen a lot of engine repairs, and none of them have been due to bioethanol use. We had a few cars that needed general tuning maintenance done to get them running at their best again, and when they were running poorly, some customers claimed that they ran worse when using biofuel — except one, that is. This customer said the car would only run well when using higher bioethanol blends. This person came to our shop and said, “My car runs poorly on non-bioethanol fuel but is fine on E85.” He uses E30 almost exclusively, so when he had to get E10 on a road trip, he found that his car ran poorly. As a regular user of bioethanol who had hands-on experience with how it works in his vehicles, he wanted to know what was wrong with his car. On the other hand, we had two customers who immediately thought it was the bioethanol making their cars run poorly. So, what was the problem with these cars? As a general rule, your car needs to be in good running condition to get the best mileage and performance it is capable of. If your car has vacuum leaks, leaking injectors, or even worn spark plugs, it will affect the fuel mileage and hinder performance. When you operate a car that needs repair — even if the check engine light isn’t on — and start using different fuel types, you can make those issues more noticeable, and they can make you think the fuel is the problem. The two that ran poorly only while using E10 or higher were both running lean, even when they came in using non-bioethanol fuel. In fact, they were almost ready to turn on a check engine light because they were so lean. One had a vacuum leak, and the other needed a mass air flow sensor. After repairing them, the cars both ran perfectly with E30 in them. The bioethanol user whose car ran poorly on regular fuel had a leaking injector and was running rich all the time. If you’re dealing with vehicle issues, it’s not caused by the fuel. It’s likely a deeper issue that needs repairing. That’s why it’s important to keep your vehicle in peak condition — and a good idea to choose bioethanol — to maximize fuel performance, save money, and keep your engine running better for longer. The Motor Medics Under The Hood can be found on a station near you or your favorite podcast site.
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November 7-8, 2023 Iowa Event Center Des Moines, Iowa S AV E T H E D AT E
Leading Carbon Capture Business How Can You Be a Part of the Action? Capturing and storing carbon dioxide in underground wells has the potential to become the most consequential technological deployment in the history of the broader biofuels industry. The National Carbon Capture Conference & Expo will offer attendees a comprehensive look at the economics of carbon capture and storage, the infrastructure required to make it possible and the financial and marketplace impacts to participating producers.
BE INVOLVED Speak. Exhibit. Sponsor. Network 866-746-8385 service@bbiinternational.com @CarbonCaptureMg Produced By
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FEATURE
Plants of POET: A New Chapter for Cloverdale POET reopens Cloverdale facility with significant investment in site infrastructure By Andrea Van Essen In the spring of 2022, POET announced that it would be reopening its bioprocessing facility in Cloverdale, Ind., where production had been temporarily idled several years prior. After completing facility upgrades and onboarding new team members, the plant celebrated its grand reopening on August 31, 2023.
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“POET is proud to work with more than 40,000 American farmers as we harness the power of agriculture to create a more sustainable world,” said Jeff Broin, POET Founder and CEO. “The addition of our 34th bioprocessing facility displays our commitment to growing the bioeconomy, and it is with immense pride in our team and gratitude to the surrounding community and the state of Indiana that we reopen POET Bioprocessing – Cloverdale.” POET – Cloverdale is one of five POET facilities in the state of Indiana. Operations were halted in 2019 for a variety of reasons, including production inefficiencies and regulatory challenges. But circumstances have changed over the last few years, including better management of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and strong support for E15 at the state level, and POET leadership saw an opportunity to reinvest in Cloverdale with bright hopes for the future. “We’ve made pretty substantial process and site reliability improvements that are going to lead
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us to have an asset that’s a high-performing plant within our fleet,” said Matt Braun, Senior Vice President and General Manager for POET Bioprocessing. The capital investment at Cloverdale amounts to $30 million in new technology, which Braun estimates will position the plant for the demand of around 34 million bushels of corn annually — about a 15 percent increase from where it was sitting in 2019. These improvements will bring the plant up to speed with other facilities in the POET network. The Cloverdale location was acquired in 2010 and needed significant upgrades to meet POET’s design and production standards at the time. While some of those upgrades were made initially, this second round of investments will bring the plant where it needs to be on a competitive level. “The investments we’re making today are significantly broader in scope, and it’ll be right up there in the top tier of our plants in terms of overall size and production,” Braun said.
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These include changes to the distillation system, modifications to improve water balance, upgrades to automation systems, improvements to the administration building, and constructing additional enclosures to make the plant more operator-friendly. Overall, POET leadership feels that these improvements will make Cloverdale a state-of-the-art location. “It’s a good facility, which is why we acquired it originally. We’re looking forward to seeing the benefits of these modifications and having the plant operate at a much higher level of performance,” said Rod Pierson, Senior Vice President of Operation Excellence at POET. Technical updates aside, a critical element of any plant’s success is its culture. In order to reopen, Cloverdale needed to hire about 50 new employees. When it came to rebuilding that team, it was important to ensure that all the people coming in were aligned with POET’s values. “We’re still looking to round out our team,” said Jeremy Jacobs, General Manager of POET Bioprocessing – Cloverdale. “We’re hoping to bring on a few more team members to fill our last roles. We’ve had great success with the team we have now and are looking forward to continuing to support local farming families and the community.” Cloverdale’s Plant Manager, Chris Williams, started on-site in February 2023, and he says that a positive workplace environment was his number one priority when searching for a new role. “I have 16 years of operational manufacturing experience, and when I started looking for a new career path, it was solely culture-driven. I wanted to be part of a team and work in an environment where people mattered,” he said. While on the job search, Williams had the opportunity to meet with POET team members at another location in Indiana. He said they all spoke highly of the organization and how well employees were treated — inspiring him to take a closer look at POET’s culture. What he found really stood out to him.
Top Left: POET Bioprocessing – Cloverdale Grand Opening Ceremony Bottom Left: Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb speaks at grand opening event Right: Jeff Lautt, POET President and COO, speaks to crowd
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“They’re consistently communicating that you park your ego at the door, and everyone is part of the same team,” he said. When the plant manager role opened up, Williams jumped at the opportunity to build a team from the ground up while working for an impactful organization. Creating that team was his first responsibility on the job, and with the help of two other managers, he began interviewing candidates and making hiring decisions. “We’ve ensured that the individuals we interview and match to positions are willing to foster POET’s ‘win together’ attitude and really understand the culture here and what an amazing organization it is to work for,” he said. He added that it’s one thing for a company in the manufacturing industry to profess strong values, but it’s another thing for them to genuinely mean what they say. That wholehearted commitment to culture is what truly sets POET apart as an employer. “In the limited amount of time that I’ve been here, there is not a single person I’ve spoken with who hasn’t been willing to go out of their way to help me. That tells me that POET is the type of organization that actually stands behind what they say,” he said. Finding ways to support the communities it calls home is just another way that POET stands by its values. Typically, plants make an effort to do community outreach in their region by connecting with local leaders, providing educational opportunities for students or recent graduates who might be interested in the industry, and supporting area charities and events. “We’re in a growing stage right now at Cloverdale, but we want to be part of the community, foster a positive image, and ultimately build up the community we call home,” said Jacobs. As the plant resumes operations with a 95-million-gallon-per-year capacity, POET looks forward to re-engaging with Putnam County and making a positive impact on local economic development. The facility is providing new jobs in the area, as well as an additional outlet for local farmers and producers to sell their grain.
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“Cloverdale has never fully been shut down,” said Jacobs. “While the biofuel production was idled, the grains team continued to work with local farmers to provide a market for their grain. Their grain was transported to other POET locations to be processed. We are excited to see the expansion of the local markets and increase our support of the rural economy.” That local support for farmers will only increase as POET – Cloverdale starts up. “We think it will increase local grain values like it has at all of our other plants, and it should provide more value for farmers,” Pierson said. “It’s a little early, but we’re encouraged that the local area is excited about the startup.” POET is proud to enter the next chapter of Cloverdale and anticipates continued opportunities for advancing innovation in the biofuels sector. “At POET, we believe the future of biotechnology lies at the intersection of innovative science, practical engineering, and responsible agriculture,” said POET President and COO Jeff Lautt. “This facility will continue POET’s legacy of creating value for rural America, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with the state of Indiana for many years to come.”
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FEATURE
Growing a Legacy Farm roots run deep for POET team members By Matt Merritt The story of POET started in the late 1980s on a farm near Wanamingo, Minnesota, when the Broin family saw good cropland going to waste and thought there must be a better way. In the coming decades, the company — and the entire bioethanol industry — would grow, motivated by that same farmer’s spirit. Farmers don’t just want to farm. They need to farm. It’s in their genes. And anything they can grow, we can find a way to use to better our world. At POET today, that same spirit is alive not only in CEO Jeff Broin but also in many of the people who work at its bioprocessing facilities, headquarters, and other business units. Although they have built their careers in the bioethanol industry, they just can’t resist working the land as well.
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‘I like to see things grow’ Russ Hazel, Commodity Manager at POET Bioprocessing – Hudson, South Dakota, has been with the plant for almost 20 years. His roots in the community are even deeper. “I’ve never lived in another house since I was five years old,” he said. “I’ve always been in the same place. I went to school in Hudson, graduated from Hudson, farmed for a few years in Hudson until I wanted something more stable, started an elevator for 11 years, and then started at the bioethanol plant.” That connection to the community and his relationships with customers are what Hazel values most about the life he’s built in Hudson. “You get to be part of their life, share in their successes, watch their kids graduate, get married, and watch your customers becoming grandparents — one of the best things I get to do,” he said. “I’m lucky because all of my kids and grandkids live within 10 miles of here.” Farming is also an important part of that connection for Hazel. He and his brother still grow corn and soybeans on their family farm near the POET facility. Working at POET and working on the farm is an exercise in time management, but for Hazel, now in his 60s, the payoff is worth it. “I enjoy the planting and spraying and looking at the crop when it’s maturing and coming up,” he said. “I like to see things grow. I like to figure out what I could have done better to make it better for next year.” That perspective is important in relating to his customers. “How can I help them be successful if I don’t understand their business?” he said. “If they’re not successful, then I’m not. You can’t have customers work with you for 30 years without trust being in there at some place.”
Left: Russ Hazel both farms and works at POET Bioprocessing – Hudson
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‘Loving it ever since’ Shane Breheny, Quality Manager at POET Bioprocessing – Menlo, Iowa, is the fourth generation to work his family’s farm in southwest Iowa, just 10 miles south of the facility. For him, the POET plant was always a part of farm life, both for selling corn and buying feed. “When my family was farming corn, we'd bring some corn up here, buy feed from the bioethanol plant, buy the modified and wet cake,” he said. After finishing college with a degree in biology, Breheny saw that a lab tech position had opened up at the plant. That was a little over a year ago, and he’s been “loving it ever since.” The career he is building at POET is only part of his working life. His family’s farm has transitioned away from row-crop farming and is now focused on livestock. When he’s not at POET, Breheny spends weekends and free hours at the family farm. It’s something he would never want to give up. “I love calving season, getting to see the little calves in the spring and help them with that,” he said. “It's a lot of work, but I feel like it's rewarding. I feel like I'm giving back to my family as well as supporting the local community and feeding the world.” “It’s mostly just being outside in the fresh air. Sometimes it smells like manure,” he chuckles, “but it’s still fresh in my eyes, I guess.” Right: Shane Breheny enjoys his work at POET in addition to working on his family's farm
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‘True work that means something’ Brent Pekelder, Grain Merchandiser at POET Bioprocessing – Ashton, Iowa, has been with POET since 2017, and he’s been farming his whole life. Pekelder and his father farm together on a combination of family land and rented acres near Sheldon, Iowa. He lives in the home his father grew up in, purchasing it after his grandparents retired and moved to town. Pekelder farms corn and soybeans, and he and his father employ a number of sustainable practices such as no-till and strip-till. Farming is an essential part of who he is. “I just grew up with it and kind of learned to love and appreciate the land for what it provides,” he said. “Even the ups and downs. It provides a grounding when it comes to doing true work that means something.” The connection to agriculture helps him in his career. Being able to relate to farmers and go through things with them is important for maintaining strong relationships. “I think I came naturally to understanding where most of the farmers come from, understanding their problems, understanding their objectives and why those would be important to them,” he said.
And it works both ways. Pekelder said his work at POET also inspires his work on the farm. “Being attached to a company that has a vision forward and has a vision for better days has kind of helped steer my own vision for my farm,” he said. “When things do get tough, you know that you put in a little work, and things are going to be better eventually.” Fulfilling a purpose For all three, working on the farm and working in the bioethanol industry means being a part of something bigger. These industries work in tandem to support the world today and our vision for a better future. “If it wasn’t for agriculture, you and I wouldn’t eat,” Hazel said. “And as far as the energy part of it, we’re part of the solution.” “Everybody finds their purpose; that’s just what I felt like was part of mine, you know?” Pekelder said. “To farm and to provide value growing corn, soybeans and making things more sustainable.” “Being able to be more sustainable in the future is going to be really important in the next hundred years or so, I believe,” Breheny said. “It all starts on the ground and in the ground.”
Left: Brent Pekelder, POET team member, and his father farm their family's land
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FARM FRESH
How Does Carbon Capture Benefit Local Economies? By Joe Heinrich, Executive Director of the Smart Carbon Network For generations, Midwest farms have supplied our nation with the food and fuel needed to keep our country going. I'm proud to be part of a longstanding line of farmers who have kept our operation in the family for 150 years. When I think about the next generation of farmers, I think about what tools they’ll need to be successful. Carbon capture is one of those tools. Corn and bioethanol are staples to the economy of the Midwest. As we look to the future, increasing demands for lower-carbon fuels will thrust bioethanol into the spotlight as a viable low-carbon biofuel. Carbon capture will help Midwest farms and biofuel facilities meet the needs of a growing market while ensuring local demand for corn and abundant supplies of feed. Carbon capture is a method of carbon management that employs a variety of technologies to trap carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions before they reach the atmosphere. However, the benefits of carbon capture extend far beyond reducing emissions. Carbon projects contribute significantly to a state’s economy: creating thousands of new jobs, generating billions of dollars in investment, and increasing the value of corn and bioethanol. By adopting carbon capture, we can create a positive ripple effect for farmers and local communities. Two recent studies highlight carbon capture’s economic impact on top-performing corn and bioethanol states: South Dakota and Iowa. A study by the Dakota Institute, “Economic Impacts of CO2 Pipelines in South Dakota,” emphasizes the role of carbon transportation projects, such as carbon pipelines, in boosting the state’s economy. The study concluded South Dakota could see $6 billion in economic output by connecting many of their bioethanol plants to the proposed carbon management systems. Researchers found the two projects can support an estimated 7,105 local jobs by 2034 and strengthen the corn basis by an average of 19 cents per bushel. Furthermore, if the state were to increase bioethanol production with carbon capture by 15%, it would drive demand for an additional 77 million bushels of corn annually and increase the value of corn by $123.46 million. In a study conducted for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, “Comparative Economics of Carbon Sequestration for Iowa Bioethanol Plants,” researchers evaluated the impact of carbon capture on Iowa’s economy. The findings of the study indicate if Iowa doesn’t adopt carbon capture technology, the state could be susceptible to critical economic losses. Researchers found Iowa farms could lose local markets for as much as 1.18 billion bushels of corn. The study concluded without carbon capture, Iowa bioethanol production can shrink by 75% and farm income could drop by more than $10 billion annually. These studies underscore the pivotal role this technology plays in shaping the future of these top-performing corn and bioethanol states. As the Midwest’s agricultural heartland stands at the crossroads of innovation and economic advancement, the integration of carbon capture technology stands as a promising avenue to usher in a new era of sustainable innovation alongside significant economic growth. 4 2 | VITAL
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POET PAC
Congressman Brad Finstad: Champion for Ag and Biofuels By Matt Ward, POET Government Affairs Manager Congressman Brad Finstad represents Minnesota’s 1st District, which includes POET Bioprocessing – Preston, Glenville, and Lake Crystal. He is a Freshman Congressman who has been an ardent supporter of biofuels since arriving on Capitol Hill. We recently sat down with Rep. Finstad to discuss the importance of biofuels. Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself? Yeah, it’s a simple story. I’m a fourth-generation farmer from south central Minnesota. My wife and I met in second grade on the school bus. She’s [from] a farm family. She's a former Watonwan County Dairy Princess (and my niece is a former Princess Kay of the Milky Way). We have strong agriculture roots and that’s what I take with me everywhere I go. When I’m in [Washington] D.C. I, quite frankly, don’t want to be there. And that’s probably why I should be there. I think that we need more people that are average, everyday people that are just trying to make good on their farm, make good on their business, make good on that generational leadership to really answer that question of how are we leaving our backyard better than we found it. That’s who I am. Why is the biofuels industry important to you, MN-01, and Minnesota in general? In southern Minnesota, I have the honor of representing 21 counties; primarily very strong agriculture producing counties. As a corn and soybean farmer myself, the more market opportunities that I have and my neighbors have, the better we all are. I believe that one of the most important parts of the biofuels industry right now is how it plays into our national security. It really comes down to who do we trust to provide our energy resources? And I’m going to bet on the American farmer, my neighbor, and my family to produce that energy any day over someone who doesn’t like us. So, for me, I think that it comes down to homegrown energy from people that we can trust. There are so many opportunities not just from a market diversification standpoint, but also from a farmer's perspective. There’s also job-creating, energy-producing, economic opportunities for rural America. Your district currently offers E15. Why do think it’s important that consumers have a choice to access higher blends of biofuels at the pump? Very basically, from my perspective as a father of seven children with three who are driving, it’s about price. At the end of the day, farming is pretty simple. Grow things people want. Produce low-cost, great commodities that the consumer wants. And it has been proven over and over again that E15 (or Unleaded 88) is a price decision that consumers want. They know that it works great in their cars. They know that it’s the price that meets their family budget. Now more than ever with inflation and some of the uncertainty, specifically with our energy costs, we need to double down on this and make sure that the consumer has this low-cost, high-performing, good-for-theenvironment fuel source.
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Any parting thoughts for our readers today? First off, I just want to say thank you to each and every one of you reading just based on the fact that you have done so much to strengthen our rural economy and our rural way of life. Whether it's from the investment side, the grower side, the employee side, everyone in the bioethanol industry has a lot to be thankful for. And I’m thankful that as a farmer I have a better market opportunity. I feel good about my neighbor growing corn that I’ll put into my tank and I can trust that process. You know, I’m grateful for the partnership that I’ve been able to develop over the past year with the POET family, the POET team. Thank you for the awesome economic opportunities that you’re creating for southern Minnesota.
To learn more or contribute to POET PAC, visit poetpac.com
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FEATURE
Never Satisfied Class of 2023 POET is empowering tomorrow’s trailblazers through its internship and scholarship programs By Erin Branick, POET Media Specialist As Nelson Mandela said, "The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow." In a world hungry for visionary leaders, POET takes pride in offering an integrated internship and scholarship program designed to cultivate the next generation of innovators, trailblazers, and dreamers. Nestled at the intersection of academics and real-world experience, the POET Never Satisfied program provides educational opportunities for aspiring young people with a focus on supporting their goals, igniting their passion, acquiring essential skills, and shaping a future brimming with untapped potential. “Both our internship and scholarship programs have grown into comprehensive and highly regarded initiatives that attract talented students from across the country,” said Wendy Alexander, POET Talent Scout. “We’re excited to wrap up another successful Never Satisfied season as we look ahead to the next.” Formerly two separate programs, POET recently merged its scholarships and internships into one Never Satisfied educational initiative.
Scholarships The POET Never Satisfied Scholarship program, established in 2016, awards $5,000 scholarships to students who are never satisfied with "good enough,” who work hard to take change into their own hands and connect with POET’s mission to create a brighter future. POET receives thousands of applications from some of the best and brightest young minds from across the country each year, from private colleges to state schools to Ivy League universities. “These students are the next generation of leaders, inventors, policymakers, farmers, engineers, and communicators,” said Miranda Broin, POET Director of Strategic Communications. “They already have the talent — we simply want to give them the support they need to achieve their goals.” POET Never Satisfied Scholarships are open to any student enrolled in a two- or four-year postsecondary school for the upcoming fall semester, and one scholarship is reserved for a relative of a POET team member. Applications are open from January to mid-February of each year, and scholarships are awarded in the spring.
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Never Satisfied Scholars also have the opportunity to engage in hands-on networking and mentorship with members of the POET team. “POET isn’t just here to support our scholars financially,” said Broin. “We also work to connect them with industry leaders in their fields of interest, and we aim to be a resource for them long after they receive the scholarship. Every year, we’re blown away by our talented scholars and their ambitions, and we look forward to seeing where their educational journeys will lead them.” 2023 Never Satisfied Scholars: Adam Knoblock | Ammaar Zindani | Bailey Feistner | Brandon Nesbit | Elis Daniela Zamora Alviarez | Josh Salmon | Mia Salgado | Molly Simmons | Samantha Giles | Sophia Schmaltz Sydni Wietfeld | Tyler Bartolome
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Internships The journey from a college classroom to a fulfilling career can be a daunting one. That’s why, for over a decade, POET has helped bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world experience with POET internships. The POET Never Satisfied Internship program has grown into a robust and respected summer program, and this year, the company hosted 43 interns across 14 of its locations in six states. “The most valuable part of my internship was getting exposed to all parts of the business,” said Adam Knoblock, who spent the summer as a merchandising intern with the POET Grain team. “Everyone I talked to who had interned with POET loved their internship and mentioned that you are treated as a fulltime team member, not just doing busy work, which is something I experienced firsthand.” A POET internship provides engaging, realworld work experience that allows students to have genuine involvement in the day-today activities of the company, in addition to several learning events throughout the summer. Most are centered on how bioproducts are made, networking skills, emotional and physical well-being in the workplace, and how to develop a healthy work-life balance. This year, interns also had the opportunity to attend POET’s first Never Satisfied Intern Summit. The two-day, conference-style event was hosted in June at POET’s corporate office in Sioux Falls. The agenda included professional development sessions, town halls with POET executive leadership, and networking opportunities. Through these immersive experiences and hands-on projects, POET interns navigate the intricacies of the workplace in a supportive environment that values experimentation and fosters innovation. “I chose POET because of the mission and values of the company,” said Sydni Weitfeld,
a 2023 process engineering intern and Never Satisfied Scholar. “POET’s goal to use resources found on the Earth and restore a natural balance is vital to the future of energy consumption, and I admire the commitment to improving the process every day to reach those standards. I felt inspired by the teamoriented structure and the way every team member is working toward a common goal.” Most importantly, the internship program emphasizes collaboration and networking, connecting the students with peers and industry experts who will inspire and challenge them to reach new heights. “At POET, you’ll find yourself surrounded by supportive team members who are eager to share their expertise,” said Alexander. “Our seasoned professionals mentor and guide our interns, helping them develop essential skills like critical thinking, effective communication, and adaptability. We strive to ignite a lifelong passion for leadership and innovation that extends far into their careers.” The company works to help its interns be confident and well-prepared to enter the working world, which is made especially meaningful when their careers take root at POET. The company has hosted 480 interns over the course of the program’s history, with 21 percent of those interns so far becoming full-time team members at the end of their internship. “The Never Satisfied Program is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and experiential learning and the unwavering pursuit of excellence,” said Jeff Lautt, POET President and COO. “We send our scholars and interns out into the world with the knowledge that they are armed with the skills and passion to tackle the challenges that lie ahead, to shape groundbreaking industries, and to pave the way for a brighter future. As the program continues to grow, we look forward to supporting the next generation of leaders who will work alongside us to change the world.”
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POET Interns:
Gregory Duggan
Sydney Taylor
David Baden
Nabeel Raheem
John Kunkel
Daniel Miller
Cooper Emery
Cody Thompson
Emma Bailey
Sophia Schmaltz
Ethan Larson
Matthew Mitzel
Arlo R. Forrester
Chad Unruh
Janelle Bergkamp
Brady Schwartz
Benjamin Laufman
Luke Niemann
Jacob Fyffe
Blayne Vandeveer
Brenden Blakney
Zachary Sedakis
Andrew Ledbetter
Thomas Paulsen
Cole Hasty
Stephen Verhoff
Kate Blankenship
Shelby Solem
Dustin McAdaragh
Weston Peschel
Rana Hegg
Olivia Warriner
Everette Carroll
Joseph Sullivan
Noelle McCarthy
Lukas Peterson
Jay Horning
Sydni Wietfeld
Sorayda Castillo
Noah Surprenant
Grace Mernagh
Ryan Ptak
Adam Knoblock
Jessica Woodall
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Chris Morey, General Manager works to keep the facility clean.
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OUT OF LEFT FIELD
Smoother Roads Ahead By Scott Johnson, A Thinker of Thoughts (and POET Data Systems Administrator) Construction season. Yuck! A sea of orange cones. Obnoxious blinking arrows. Speed reduction. Detours. Miles of torn up roads and bridges, all under the guise of future “improvement.” It seems to be an elaborate ploy to aggravate me and waste my precious time. I can’t escape it. I always find that one section of highway under major reconstruction. An entire lane closed for miles. I sit and wait an eternity for the pilot car to return with a million cars slowly trailing behind. It’s like the drive through of a Chick-fil-A grand opening. At least they get a sandwich after the excruciatingly long wait! Even the smallest tasks take forever. I realize “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” But I’m not asking for Rome. I just want that pothole on 63rd fixed! Are they replacing the pothole with a Colosseum? I’ve had to navigate through a bridge repair for the past three months. I barely notice any progress. I understand this is a big undertaking. But you should be able to complete any difficult project in three months. It only took me 90 days to get six-pack abs! Well, I assume it will only take me 90 days. That’s all it took for the seemingly already in-shape guys from the commercial. I bought the workout videos a while back. I just need to find the right time to start the 90-day clock. And a working VCR to watch the videos. Construction chaos is everywhere. It’s slowing me down. It’s interrupting my daily routine. And it’s annoying me to no end. You, the reader, likely thinking: Uh oh, I sense he’s going to turn this into a life lesson. I hate when he does that. Indeed. Thank you for the seamless segue, dear reader. Construction, by its very nature, is a process of improvement. It’s either intended to fix something, enhance something, or to build something completely new. Each of the annoying projects I bemoan will soon make my commute better than before. I’ll be coasting on buttery smooth roads and benefiting from improved traffic flow. Sometimes we are under construction. When we take time to learn, adapt, evolve, and improve, we are in the midst of a personal upgrade. We are tearing down the old and building something new. Sometimes that project is a voluntary venture. And sometimes a project is unexpectedly forced upon us. These worthy projects of self-improvement can be messy. They can take longer than we originally anticipated. They can be frustrating. And through the process, we might even annoy those around us within our construction zone! But the impatience of others does not expedite our progress. Building something worthwhile takes time. We can’t wish for great things today and have them tomorrow. Ignore the haters who complain about your construction projects. (No matter how handsome and charming they are.) Give yourself some grace. Have some patience. Smoother roads are ahead. 5 4 | VITAL
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