ACE Members Talk E15 at Minnesota Ag Roundtable
In February, Rod Jorgenson, board chairman at American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) producer member Al-Corn Clean Fuel, participated in an agriculture roundtable with Senator Amy Klobuchar, which was coordinated with the help of the MN Bio-Fuels Association. At the roundtable, Jorgenson emphasized the importance of making E15 available year-round nationwide to shore up the growing supply-demand imbalance in the corn market and deliver much-needed relief to farming communities in Minnesota while saving consumers at the pump. E15 saved Minnesotans $24 million at the pump in 2024.
He also discussed the role that Al-Corn plays in purchasing millions of bushels of corn each year from local farmers and supporting rural economic development in southern Minnesota. Al-Corn will be celebrating its 30th year of producing ethanol in 2026.
Jorgenson mentioned that Al-Corn and MN Bio-Fuels strongly support the efforts by biofuel champions in Congress to provide permanent regulatory certainty for year-round E15. Klobuchar expressed her longstanding support for year-round E15 and committed to working on a solution that would help Minnesota’s agriculture and ethanol industries.
ACE Speaks at East River Energize Forum
In February, American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings joined ACE board members Chris Studer with East River Electric Cooperative and Ron Alverson with Dakota Ethanol on a panel at the East River Energize Forum in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The forum is an annual event for electric cooperatives to explore energy industry trends, such as energy transition, rate structures, and new technologies.
The panel, led by Studer, covered ethanol, tax credits, and the future of biofuels. Specifically, diving into the latest surrounding 45Z, year-round E15, the Renewable Fuels Standard and small refinery exemptions, exports, and other ethanol demand drivers.
ACE Board Elects 2026 Officers
During its first quarter meeting at the end of January, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Board of Directors elected its 2026 officers who also comprise the organization’s Executive Committee.
Those elected to serve as officers in new Executive Committee positions in 2026 are:
"It's humbling to be the incoming President of ACE. I'm thinking of so many industry giants and leaders who currently serve on the board or have in the past,” said Troy Knecht. “I look forward to carrying on their legacy and the mission of ACE. Our grassroots efforts to support the ethanol industry and rural America are more important than ever right now, and I don't take that lightly."
“We are enormously grateful for the leadership and dedication Dave Sovereign has demonstrated during his five years as ACE board president,” said ACE CEO Brian Jennings. “Fortunately, Dave will continue serving on the board, where his experience and insight will remain a valuable asset to ACE and the industry. Further, Troy Knecht will be an outstanding president. We are excited he is stepping into the role and look forward to a strong year ahead for ACE and the ethanol industry.”
Re-elected to serve as officers on the 2026 Executive Committee are Ron Alverson representing Dakota Ethanol, John Christianson Representing Beyond Agribusiness Solutions, and Bill Dartt representing Cardinal Ethanol.