The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is set to host its 39th annual conference August 19-21, 2026, at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This year’s agenda features a dynamic lineup of sessions focused on key issues shaping the ethanol industry. In addition to three outstanding keynote speakers, attendees will hear from industry leaders during general sessions focused on expanding new markets for ethanol and the implementation of the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit.
Thursday morning’s general session will feature a panel titled "Unlocking New Markets for Ethanol," highlighting the opportunities and challenges facing the industry across three emerging markets. Shailesh Sahay, partner at Bracewell LLP, will explore the growing potential for ethanol as a maritime fuel. Jeff Davidman, vice president of state and local government affairs at Delta Air Lines, will discuss sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and ethanol’s role as a feedstock for SAF production. Nate Green, director of biofuels at John Deere, will provide an update on the company’s prototype E98 ethanol tractor and related efforts underway.
The conference will conclude on Friday morning with a panel titled "The 45Z Playbook: Policy, Modeling, and Compliance for Biofuel Producers," offering attendees practical insights into one of the industry's most significant policy developments. Kathryn Zook, acting director in the Office of Energy and Environmental Policy at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will discuss the final Feedstock Carbon Intensity Calculator (FD-CIC) and low-carbon farming guidelines, highlighting key updates, important features, and the remaining elements still under development. Kari Buttenhoff, partner at Christianson PLLP, will focus on the 45ZCF-GREET model, qualifications to use Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs), and how the credit could affect ethanol producers' market value. Jamey Cline, also a partner at Christianson PLLP, will address implementation challenges, commercial-scale operational realities, verification considerations, and common compliance obstacles facilities may encounter.
The full 2026 ACE Conference agenda is available at ethanol.org/conference/agenda.