Jeff Broin Resumes Role As POET CEO

Jeff Broin, founder of POET, has resumed his role as the company’s CEO after stepping into the Executive Chairman role for the last three and one-half years.

“A few years ago, I wanted to slow down a bit, be less involved in the affairs of POET and have time to do other things and spend more time with my family. In the last few years I have been able to work on broader industry and ag issues, get our new foundation – Seeds of Change – up and running and support several third-world causes. However, I also found myself continuing to work regularly on company issues. The fact is, my passion and love for this company, our industry, agriculture and the people I work with is just too great. I guess you could say my heart has always been in this company. We have so many great opportunities in front of us to change the world, and I think I can be of most value moving forward by serving as CEO,” Broin said.

Jeff Lautt has been CEO and will continue to manage the day-to-day operations of POET as President and Chief Operating Officer. Broin stressed the success of POET under his leadership. 

“Jeff [Lautt] has done an outstanding job as CEO of POET. He’s been an effective and gracious leader for our team members and investors. In fact, 2014 was a record year at POET, and our cellulosic venture – Project LIBERTY – is advancing toward full operations. I could not have asked for a better person to take on this role, and POET will continue to benefit from his direction as President,” Broin said.

“No one is more passionate about this company and industry than Jeff Broin. This business is in his blood,” Lautt said. “He built a world leader, and it’s no surprise that he would want to continue that work. I’m honored to have been entrusted as CEO of POET over the last few years, and I look forward to continuing my leadership as President and COO.”

After early small-scale ethanol production on the Broin family farm, POET got its start in 1987 with the purchase of a 1 million gallon-per-year ethanol plant in Scotland, S.D. From there, the company has grown to be one of the largest ethanol producers in the world, with 1.7 billion gallons of production today from 28 plants in seven states. 

With a focus on research and market development, POET has pioneered new efficiencies in biofuels production as well as development and improvement of co-products to make ethanol the most competitive, renewable, domestic fuel in the market today. POET, along with the Dutch life sciences company DSM, is working to license cellulosic ethanol technology to further grow the world’s supply of sustainable transportation fuel.

Green Plains Completes Acquisition Of Texas Ethanol Facility

Green Plains Inc. announced today that it has completed the acquisition of an ethanol facility located in Hereford, Texas. The Hereford facility is the company's fourteenth ethanol plant, bringing Green Plains' total production capacity to more than 1.2 billion gallons per year.

The company expects to offer the facility's transportation and storage assets to its master limited partnership, Green Plains Partners LP.

Green Plains to Purchase Texas Ethanol Facility From Murphy USA

Green Plains Inc. and Murphy USA Inc. announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement regarding the purchase by Green Plains of Murphy USA's ethanol production facility located in Hereford, Texas. Under the terms of the agreement, Green Plains will acquire Hereford Renewable Energy, LLC for approximately $93.8 million, subject to customary closing adjustments. The transaction value includes $78.5 million for the ethanol production facility with the balance for working capital. The transaction is expected to close this month subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

The facility is a Lurgi-designed, ICM-modified ethanol plant with approximately 100 million gallons per year of production capacity, a corn oil extraction system and other related assets.

"The Hereford facility has many strategic and financial advantages over other destination plants because of its location, leading to both export and domestic market opportunities for ethanol and distillers grains," commented Todd Becker, president and chief executive officer of Green Plains. "Because it is located near the largest concentration of cattle in the world, with over a million head of cattle fed within a 50-mile radius, the plant can produce a low carbon intensity fuel which is typically sold for a premium to ethanol produced at most other plants."

Andrew Clyde, president and CEO of Murphy USA, added, "The Hereford facility has become a high-performing facility and we want to recognize the commitment of the Hereford employees who executed the two-year turnaround plan and established a track record of consistent, strong performance. Their commitment created the opportunity for us to attract a prominent, long-term focused buyer such as Green Plains who can build on the progress demonstrated to date at Hereford. This transaction reinforces Murphy USA's strategic intent of selling our non-core assets in a manner that captures the most value for our shareholders."

The facility's production capacity is complemented by a shuttle unload facility that can unload 40,000 bushels of corn per hour, a double-loop track that holds two unit trains at a time and a grain handling system with over 4.8 million bushels of storage. The plant also has 4.5 million gallons of ethanol storage capacity.

"We intend to utilize this asset and its shuttle train unload capability to serve the local market with corn and distillers grains produced in the Midwest to further improve the overall economics of the facility," stated Becker. "The value of this acquisition goes well beyond just producing ethanol."

The company will offer the facility's transportation and storage assets to its master limited partnership, Green Plains Partners LP.

Green Plains Acquires Hopewell, Virginia Ethanol Facility From Future Fuels LLP

Green Plains Inc. announced recently that it has acquired an ethanol production facility in Hopewell, Virginia from Future Fuels LLP. Operating at full capacity, the facility's dry mill ethanol plant will increase the company's annual production capacity by approximately 60 million gallons to nearly 1.1 billion gallons per year.

"We are confident in our ability to significantly improve the plant's production economics by applying our operational and commercial expertise," said Todd Becker, president and chief executive officer. "We plan to make several capital investments before restarting the plant to increase its operational efficiency and production volume. In addition, we anticipate using the site to transload distillers grains that are produced locally and at our other plants located on the Norfolk Southern rail line into containers destined for export markets to further enhance the property's profitability."

Production is expected to resume by the end of the year and corn oil processing is expected to be operational during the second quarter of 2016. When the plant is fully operational, Green Plains expects to offer the Hopewell plant's transportation and storage assets to its master limited partnership, Green Plains Partners LP.

RFA Applauds Fiat Chrysler Approval of E15

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is applauding Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ (FCA) decision to approve the use of E15 (15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline) in its model year (MY) 2016 Chrysler/Fiat, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles. The decision means that FCA joins General Motors and Ford (the “Detroit Three”) in covering E15 in its warranty statements; GM started covering E15 with its MY 2012 vehicles, while Ford joined a year later with its MY 2013 vehicles. More than 12 percent of the vehicles sold so far in the United States in 2015 have been FCA vehicles. RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen, who specifically called on Chrysler to approve E15 during his State of the Industry address at this year’s National Ethanol Conference, called the decision “a seminal moment that augurs well for the continued expansion of E15.” “FCA’s decision to join GM and Ford provides clear evidence that the tide on E15 has turned,” Dinneen said. “The automaker’s decision not to embrace E15 had been a major point of concern and tension for the last three years. FCA customers will be afforded a benefit that will likely lower their weekly motor fuel bill: the freedom to choose what fuel to put into their vehicles.” - See more at: http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfa-applauds-fiat-chrysler-approval-of-e15/#sthash.REx0EzIZ.dpuf

United Airlines Invests in Fulcrum BioEnergy

United Airlines recently announced an historic $30 million equity investment in U.S.-based alternative fuels developer Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc., a pioneer in the development and commercialization of converting municipal solid waste into low-cost sustainable aviation biofuel. It is also the single largest investment by a U.S. airline in alternative fuels and sets United apart in the aviation industry in the advancement of aviation biofuels and carbon emissions reductions. In addition to the equity investment, United and Fulcrum have entered into an agreement that contemplates the joint development of up to five projects located near United's hubs expected to have the potential to produce up to 180 million gallons of fuel per year.

"We know alternative fuels is an emerging industry that is vital to the future of aviation and this is just one of our initiatives to help make these fuels saleable and scalable," said United's Executive Vice President and General Counsel Brett Hart. "Investing in alternative fuels is not only good for the environment, it's a smart move for our company as biofuels have the potential to hedge against future oil price volatility and carbon regulations."

United has also negotiated a long-term supply agreement with Fulcrum and, subject to availability, will have the opportunity to purchase at least 90 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel a year for a minimum of 10 years at a cost that is competitive with conventional jet fuel. This alternative fuel will be a drop-in fuel that meets all of the airline's technical requirements and specifications, and will power the aircraft in the same way as conventional jet fuel. Fulcrum expects its first alternative fuels plant to begin commercial operation in 2017.

Stockholders Approve Merger of Pacific Ethanol and Aventine

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. and Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc. announced their respective stockholders approved the proposed merger of the two companies at separate meetings held today.

Completion of the merger is expected to be effective July 1, 2015, subject to the satisfaction of all conditions to closing.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Aventine stockholders will receive 1.25 shares of Pacific Ethanol common stock for each share of Aventine common stock they own at closing. Upon closing of the transaction, Aventine stockholders are expected to own approximately 42% and current Pacific Ethanol stockholders are expected to own approximately 58% of the combined company.

Pacific Ethanol Begins Production of Corn Oil at Madera Plant

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. has begun commercial production of corn oil utilizing Valicor's proprietary VFRAC corn oil recovery system at its Madera, California plant.

Neil Koehler, the company's president and CEO, stated: "We are pleased to be producing corn oil at our Madera plant, which further diversifies our plant revenue streams and significantly improves operating income. In addition, plans are underway for corn oil production to begin at our Boardman, Oregon plant in the second quarter, at which time all four of Pacific Ethanol's ethanol production facilities will be producing and benefitting from this high-value co-product."

Pacific Ethanol Stockton Plant to Install Cogeneration Technology

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. announced its agreement with Dresser-Rand to install a 3.5 megawatt cogeneration system with gradual oxidizer at its Stockton, CA plant for approximately $12 million. The cogeneration system will displace purchased electricity by using Ener-Core, Inc.'s innovative gradual oxidizer technology to convert waste gas from ethanol production and natural gas into electricity and steam. With this technology, the plant will have among the lowest air emissions in the ethanol industry.

Neil Koehler, the company's president and CEO, said: "The Stockton cogeneration system will replace most of the electricity we currently purchase from the grid and will reduce our energy costs by an estimated three to four million dollars per year. This system is one of the most advanced cogeneration systems on the market and will more efficiently deliver steam and electricity to the plant while lowering emissions. Rather than destroying waste gases, we will reuse them as a source of process energy, reducing costs and improving profitability."

Under the terms of the agreement, Dresser-Rand will supply two 1.75 megawatt gas turbine generators with heat recovery steam generators and two gradual oxidizers that are manufactured by Ener-Core. The combined system will replace the current use of thermal oxidizers. Pacific Ethanol expects the cogeneration system to be operational by the second-quarter of 2016.