The ACE Homefield Advantage

With a record corn crop and new market opportunities on the horizon, ACE members came together to build momentum for ethanol.

By: ACE Staff

Photos by: Cindy Zimmerman, ZimmComm

For nearly four decades, the American Coalition for Ethanol’s annual conference has been the place where the ethanol industry comes together to tackle challenges, share ideas, and advance new opportunities. Ethanol producers, retailers, policymakers, researchers, and industry partners convene each year with one common goal: to move the industry forward.

The 38th annual conference in Sioux Falls did just that, packing more than 40 speakers into two days of content. Highlights included a keynote from South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson, an update from ACE leadership, and a roundtable with tax experts addressing questions on the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z). Attendees also gained insights into global trade and market development, and ideas around advancing ethanol opportunities into new markets such as chemical value chains and ensuring farmer premiums and carbon intensity accountability endure past 45Z.

State-led initiatives took center stage as well, from Nebraska’s E30 demonstration to the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council’s E15 consumer campaign. Sessions also explored energy efficiency and enhanced corn oil recovery, along with new research from the Hormel Institute on ethanol’s role in reducing cancer risk. Breakouts ranged from ways to lower carbon intensity and AI-driven operations to board governance, profitability drivers, and succession planning.

“Year-round E15 is the single most impactful step Congress can take right now to strengthen the farm economy by driving greater demand for ethanol,” said ACE CEO Brian Jennings during the ACE leadership update. “At the same time, the Administration can do its part by finalizing robust RFS volumes and making sure those volumes aren’t undercut by excessive refinery exemptions—reallocating any that are granted. Expanding ethanol demand is a better long-term solution for managing a surplus corn crop than short-term government assistance.”

Read on for a recap of the event!

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GENERAL SESSION PANELS & SPEAKERS – August 21

ACE Leadership Panel: Homefield Advantage

 The conference launched with a leadership “Fireside Chat,” setting the stage for the Homefield Advantage theme by spotlighting the top issues and opportunities facing the industry. ACE CEO Brian Jennings, ACE CMO Ron Lamberty, and ACE Board President representing Golden Grain Energy, Dave Sovereign, who is also an Iowa farmer and fuel retailer, began with the implications of a projected record corn crop, underscoring the need for near-term demand drivers—like year-round E15, strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes, and export growth—while also exploring longer-term opportunities through low-carbon farming practices and the 45Z tax credit.

L to R; Brian Jennings, Dave Sovereign, Ron Lamberty

45Z Outlook and Implications

MAXIMIZING ON INCENTIVES: Moderated by ACE CEO Brian Jennings, and joined by Dana Jackson of RSM US LLP, Rebecca Johnson of Christianson PLLP, and Mickelson & Company’s Faith Larson, the panel went into detail on the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z), what it means for ethanol producers, and what steps are needed now to position for eligibility and success.

Keynote: Driving Global Ethanol Market Acceleration

TRADE UPDATE: Linda Schmid, USGBC’s Multilateral Ethanol Policy Manager, gave ACE conference attendees a global perspective on ethanol trade and market development, with a focus on overcoming tariff, policy, and regulatory hurdles to expand international demand.

 Advancing Ethanol from Tax Incentives to Long-Term Markets

NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES: Jessica Monserrate of BASF moderated this panel (at podium) featuring Ron Alverson of Dakota Ethanol, Thomas McKay of BASF, Linda Schmid of USGBC, and Martin Baker of Anew. The speakers spotlighted the unique confluence of timing, policy, and market demand. With Section 45Z creating unprecedented momentum, this panel unpacked opportunities to integrate ethanol into new markets such as chemical value chains, including discussion of chain-of-custody and ensuring farmer premiums and carbon intensity accountability endure.

 Special Keynote: Congressman Dusty Johnson

HOMEGROWN AMERICAN FUEL: During lunch at the conference, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) delivered a keynote address. “We’ve been working together a long time on E15; it’s the biggest no-brainer policy in the history of American government,” Congressman Johnson said. “I’m proud to partner with you to unlock more opportunities for homegrown American fuel.” The Congressman spent time addressing attendee questions after his remarks.

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 GENERAL SESSION PANELS & SPEAKERS – August 22

 Advancing Higher Blends: State-Led Strategies to Expand Ethanol Use

STATE-LEVEL ADVANCEMENTS: ACE CMO Ron Lamberty moderated a panel with Ben Rhodes of the Nebraska Ethanol Board and Amanda Bechen of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association, highlighting how state initiatives are driving higher ethanol blends. Rhodes shared interim results from Nebraska’s E30 demonstration, while Bechen discussed their E15 consumer campaign.

Advancing Energy Efficiency and Oil Recovery

NEW STRATEGIES, NEW GAINS: Michael Franko of Fluid Quip Technologies and Chris Gerken of ICM, Inc. led this technical session, moderated by Christianson PLLP’s Jamey Cline. Experts explored plant-level innovations that boost operational efficiency and enhance oil recovery, what’s working, and what’s next.

 Ethanol's Role in Reducing Cancer Risk

INSIGHTS FROM THE HORMEL INSTITUTE: Rick Schwarck of Absolute Energy welcomed Gail Dennison with The Hormel Institute/University of Minnesota to speak on new research that has discovered links between breast cancer risk and exposure to carcinogens and aromatics from gasoline. Dennison shared the latest research and how ethanol could substitute for the octane-enhancing additives in gasoline that may contribute to the risk of cancer.

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AWARDS

Merle Anderson Award Recipient: Rick Schwarck, Absolute Energy, LLC board of directors’ chairman and ACE board member.

L to R: Dave Sovereign, Rick Schwarck, Brian Jennings

Grassroots Award Recipient: Greg Veerman, in memoriam

L to R: Brian Jennings, Jane Veerman (Greg's wife), Ron Lamberty

Paul Dana Marketing Vision Award Recipient: South Dakota Corn Utilization Council (SDCUC)

L to R: Jim Ketelhut, Ron Lamberty

Special Recognition: Cindy Zimmerman, ZimmComm

L to R: Cindy Zimmerman, Katie Muckenhirn

For more details about this year’s event, visit ethanol.org/events/conference. Look back on social media by searching the event hashtags #HomefieldAdvantage and #TheACE25.

Testimonials

“The ACE Conference continues to stand out as one of the most valuable events in our industry. Its intimate setting fosters meaningful engagement while providing highly targeted learning opportunities. Each year, I leave with fresh insights from direct access to industry leaders who share perspectives on technology, policy, and markets. ACE does an exceptional job leveraging its platform to deliver timely, relevant information that helps drive progress across the industry.” – McCord Pankonen, EcoEngineers, 2025 ACE Conference Attendee

“I really enjoyed the ACE Conference. The sessions were timely and insightful, and I especially appreciated hearing from industry leaders with different perspectives on where the industry is headed. It was also a great place to connect with other colleagues and vendors. All in all, it was a valuable and energizing event. – Tom Miller, DENCO II, LLC, 2025 ACE Conference Attendee

“Attending and presenting at ACE for the first time was a valuable experience. The event created an engaging environment to share ideas, connect with industry peers, and learn from others who are driving innovation in ethanol. I left with new insights and meaningful connections that will carry forward into my work.” – Jessica Morrison, Golgix, 2025 ACE Conference Attendee

“The ACE Conference was a wonderful opportunity to learn about cutting edge developments in ethanol production as well as policy initiatives at the state level and nationally. – Linda Schmid, 2025 ACE Conference Attendee

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