RCPP Year in Review
ACE is leading the way in ensuring ethanol producers and farmers can fully leverage the ag practices and technologies that enhance the value of corn ethanol as a low-carbon fuel. In February 2024, USDA approved a $25 million investment in the ACE-led Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) expansion that builds on the successful South Dakota-based project announced in 2021. Over the course of 2024, ACE has held farmer meetings with project partners to engage growers about participating in the project. Ultimately, ACE’s work is helping set the stage for farmers and ethanol producers to gain a competitive advantage in unlocking new tax credits and market opportunities.
In 2024, ACE met with over 700 farmers in 167 counties within a 10-state region, received interest in the project from over 350 farmers, and there is nearly 500,000 acres available for implementing practices. This represents over five times more expressed interest than current funding availability.
John Christianson Retiring from Christianson CPAs, Continued Focus on Renewable Fuels
After more than 37 years, ACE Board Member John Christianson is retiring from the accounting firm Christianson CPAs, but he will continue lending his expertise to the biofuel industry by focusing on renewable fuel issues. Christianson began working with the renewable fuel industry when his firm helped Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company in Benson, Minnesota, get its start in 1994, which expanded into helping ethanol companies across the Midwest. Christianson CPAs was instrumental in developing dozens of ethanol plants during the construction boom of the 2000s. John was influential in developing and delivering Biofuels Benchmarking™ for ethanol plants to access industry data, insights and reports. John will continue his involvement here and also serve as the President at Beyond, A Christianson Company. Beyond offers software solutions connecting plant operations and accounting.
John (pictured left in photo) received the American Coalition for Ethanol’s Merle Anderson Award last year and was presented the award from ACE board members Ron Alverson (photo-middle) and Dave Sovereign (photo-right) during the association’s annual conference in Omaha.