American Coalition for Ethanol

American Coalition for Ethanol
Name	American Coalition for Ethanol
Formation	1986
Type	Nonprofit trade association
Headquarters	Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Region served	United States
Leader title	President
Leader name	Brian Jennings

American Coalition for Ethanol is a trade association representing the interests of ethanol producers, supporters, and allied industries in the United States. It advocates for biofuel policy, market access, and technology adoption across federal and state capitals, engaging with legislators, regulatory agencies, and agricultural stakeholders. The organization operates programs aimed at promoting ethanol use, coordinating research communication, and supporting member facilities through industry events and public campaigns.

History

Formed in 1986 amid debates over renewable fuels, the organization emerged in the context of policy discussions involving United States Congress, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Renewable Fuel Standard, and agricultural commodity groups like the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Corn Growers Association. Early activity intersected with high-profile events such as the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the political climate shaped by figures from Iowa and Nebraska congressional delegations, and industry responses to commodity price movements linked to the Chicago Board of Trade and the National Corn Index. The group developed alongside trade organizations such as the Renewable Fuels Association and commercial alliances including the National Biodiesel Board and local ethanol producer associations in the Midwest United States. Over decades its timeline paralleled regulatory milestones like the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and controversies involving the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit regarding fuel waivers and lifecycle analysis.

Mission and Advocacy

The coalition's mission focuses on expanding ethanol markets through advocacy before bodies such as the United States Congress, Department of Transportation, and Federal Trade Commission, while engaging state legislatures in Iowa Legislature and South Dakota Legislature. Its advocacy network connects with agriculture-oriented institutions like Iowa State University, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and South Dakota State University for research translation, and with industrial stakeholders including POET, Green Plains Inc., and Valero Energy Corporation on commercialization. The organization positions ethanol policy within discussions that involve Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking, Renewable Fuel Standard compliance, and trade considerations involving the World Trade Organization and bilateral talks with partners such as the European Union and Brazil.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs include market development campaigns, technical assistance, and annual conferences similar in scope to gatherings hosted by National Renewable Energy Laboratory and industry forums like the Bioeconomy Conference. Initiative topics align with lifecycle carbon analysis performed by entities such as the Argonne National Laboratory, fuel-testing standards referenced by Society of Automotive Engineers, and infrastructure efforts paralleling programs by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Training and demonstration projects often engage researchers from Iowa State University and University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, and coordinate with logistics partners tied to the Association of American Railroads and major ethanol purchasers including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Marathon Petroleum Corporation.

Membership and Governance

Membership spans independent producers, co-ops, and corporate stakeholders similar to POET, Green Plains Inc., Archer Daniels Midland, and regional cooperatives in Sioux Falls and Fargo. The governance model mirrors nonprofit trade associations that elect a board of directors, with leadership roles comparable to associations such as the Renewable Fuels Association and the National Corn Growers Association. Board interaction often includes legal counsel experienced with matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and lobbying representation at the United States Capitol and state capitols in Des Moines and Pierre. Members engage through committees on finance, policy, technical affairs, and outreach, coordinating with freight stakeholders like the American Trucking Associations and storage operators tied to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve infrastructure discussions.

Policy Positions and Legislative Activity

The coalition advocates for policies favoring higher ethanol blending, infrastructure support, and credit systems tied to the Renewable Fuel Standard. It participates in regulatory comment periods for the Environmental Protection Agency, files amicus positions in cases adjudicated by the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit or the United States Supreme Court, and lobbies members of the United States Congress including committees such as the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Its legislative priorities often intersect with agricultural policy in debates over the Farm Bill, trade negotiations involving the World Trade Organization, tax provisions administered by the Internal Revenue Service, and state fuel standards similar to discussions in California and Minnesota. The organization collaborates with allied groups such as the National Biodiesel Board and agricultural coalitions to shape policy outcomes.

Outreach and Public Relations

Outreach strategies include public education campaigns, media relations with outlets like the Des Moines Register, technical briefings for think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and American Enterprise Institute, and presence at trade shows including the National Ethanol Conference and agricultural expos in Iowa State Fairgrounds. Communications often reference lifecycle studies by Argonne National Laboratory and regulatory updates from the Environmental Protection Agency, and coordinate advocacy days that bring producers to the United States Capitol and statehouses in Jefferson City and Saint Paul. The coalition leverages partnerships with universities, commodity organizations, and private sector distributors to promote ethanol adoption among retailers, fleets, and fuel blenders represented by associations such as the Petroleum Marketers Association of America and the National Association of Convenience Stores.

Category:Trade associations based in the United States Category:Biofuels in the United States