Key vocabulary of the biofuels and carbon pipeline industries

The renewable fuels and carbon capture industries regularly use dozens of acronyms and other jargon. Here are the terms you need to know to understand the latest news and how it impacts the broader agriculture industry.

Government entities

• EPA: Environmental Protection Agency

A federal government agency with a mission to protect human health and the environment. EPA is responsible for setting the annual requirements for how much biofuel must be blended into the nation's fuel supply, otherwise known as a renewable volume obligation, RVO for short. These blending obligations are required by the law known as the Renewable Fuel Standard or RFS for short.

• DOE: Department of Energy

A federal government agency with a mission to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.

• USDA: United States Department of Agriculture

A federal government agency with a mission to provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management.

• IUB: Iowa Utilities Board

The Iowa Utilities Board has regulatory authority over rates and services of certain utilities and utility infrastructure in the state. The three-member Iowa Utilities Board is the policymaking body for the agency.

• PUC: South Dakota Public Utilities Commission

South Dakotans elect their three Public Utilities Commissioners to staggered, six-year terms. A dedicated staff of analysts, attorneys, consumer representatives and other professionals work with the commissioners to carry out the duties of the PUC, which include utility regulation, siting authority, dispute resolution, safety programs, advocacy, and education.

Companies

• Summit Carbon Solutions

In 2021, the company announced a partnership with more than 30 ethanol plants across the Midwest to build a pipeline. Summit Carbon Solutions' website says the company plans to capture carbon dioxide before it is emitted into the atmosphere and channel it to North Dakota where it will be permanently and safely stored deep underground.

• Wolf Carbon Solutions

Wolf Carbon Solutions is seeking to build a carbon capture and storage pipeline named the Mt. Simon Hub. The Mt. Simon Hub will allow for the capture, compression and transportation of CO2 via a 280-mile steel pipeline capable of transporting 12 million tons of CO2 per year. Wolf Carbon Solutions and ADM have signed a Letter of Intent allowing CO2 produced at ADM’s Clinton and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, facilities to be transported via this new pipeline to downstream storage sites in Illinois.

• Tallgrass

Tallgrass is working to convert its Trailblazer natural gas pipeline to a carbon capture and storage pipeline. The roughly 400-mile line will allow for the capture, transport and permanent sequestration of over 10 million tons of CO2 per year from industries in Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming.

• Navigator CO2

One of many companies with plans to build a multistate pipeline dedicated to carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration, primarily from ethanol plants. In October 2023, the Omaha, Nebraska, based company announced the cancellation of its Heartland Greenway pipeline project.

Advocacy and trade organizations

• IRFA: Iowa Renewable Fuels Association

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry. IRFA aims to foster the development and growth of the state’s biofuels industry through education, promotion, and infrastructure development.

• RFA: Renewable Fuels Association

RFA is a national ethanol trade association with a vision to help the world by unlocking the power of renewable fuels and bioproducts.

• Growth Energy

Growth Energy is a national ethanol trade association. Growth Energy members operate and support biomanufacturing facilities at the heart of America’s bioeconomy, delivering a new generation of plant-based energy and climate solutions.

• ACE: American Coalition for Ethanol

ACE is a national ethanol trade association. According to the association's website, ACE brings together ethanol producers, farmers, consumers, researchers, technology firms, Main Street businesses, automotive companies, cellulosic biofuel leaders, investors, rural electric cooperatives, and businesses that supply and benefit from the ethanol industry.

• Clean Fuels: Clean Fuels Alliance America

Clean Fuels is a trade association representing biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel producers. Clean Fuels is focused on advancing the interests of its members by supporting sustainable biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel industry growth. 

• ACA: American Carbon Alliance

The American Carbon Alliance is an alliance of supporters of the carbon capture industry. The group seeks to form one unified voice for carbon capture pipelines, ethanol producers, landowners, farmers, construction trade workers and citizens that embrace this new energy future for America.

Carbon capture

• CCS: Carbon capture and storage

Carbon capture and storage involves the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial processes, such as steel and cement production, or from the burning of fossil fuels in power generation. This carbon is then transported from where it was produced, via ship or in a pipeline, and stored deep underground in geological formations.

• CI: Carbon intensity

Carbon intensity is a measure of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases per unit of activity, like generating a product.

• UIC: Underground Injection Control program

Aviation fuel

• SAF: Sustainable aviation fuel

According to the Department of Energy, sustainable aviation fuel is a biofuel used to power aircraft that has similar properties to conventional jet fuel but with a smaller carbon footprint. To qualify for the SAF tax credit the fuel must reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50%.

• ETJ-SAF: Ethanol-to-jet sustainable aviation fuel
  
• HEFA-SAF: Sustainable aviation fuel made from fats, oils, and greases
• GREET: Department of Energy's Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies model
  

According to the Department of Energy, for any energy or vehicle system GREET can calculate total energy consumption (non-renewable and renewable), fossil fuel energy use (petroleum, natural gas, coal), greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutant emissions, and water consumption.

Biofuel basics

• RFS: Renewable Fuel Standard

Passed in 2005 and expanded in 2007, the RFS is a U.S. law that requires biofuels to be blended into the nation's fuel supply. How much biofuel must be blended each year is set by EPA, following certain statutory guidelines.

• RVO: Renewable Volume Obligation

RVO is the amount of biofuel oil refiners are required by law to blend into the U.S. fuel supply. RVOs are set each year by EPA.

• RIN: Renewable Identification Number

RINs are tracking numbers assigned to gallons of biofuel. When a gallon of biofuel is blended, the blender retains that tracking number as proof. Oil refiners can obtain RINs by blending or purchase them from other blenders in an open market. Oil refiners submit RINs to EPA as proof of compliance with RVOs.

• E15, E85, & B20

These terms and ones like them are a shorthand to describe biofuel blends. E15 refers to fuel that is 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline. E85 is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The "B" in B20 stands for biodiesel. B20 is 20% biodiesel and 80% diesel. B5 is 5% biodiesel and 95% diesel.