AMERICAN COALITION FOR ETHANOL
5000 S BROADBAND LANE NO 224, SIOUX FALLS, SD 57108 www.ethanol.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: AMERICAN COALITION FOR ETHANOL (ACE) WAS FORMED TO BRING TOGETHER A WIDE RANGE OF GROUPS IN SUPPORT OF MAKING U.S. ETHANOL THE CONSUMER FUEL OF CHOICE. ACE UNITES AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, COMMODITY AND FARM ORGANIZATIONS, ETHANOL PRODUCERS, RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, BUSINESSES, AND INDIVIDUALS BEHIND COALITION INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE THE PRODUCTION AND USE OF ETHANOL IN THE U.S. A NATIONAL, NONPROFIT, GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION, ACE DELIVERS VALUE TO MEMBERS THROUGH GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, MARKET DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND INFORMATION STRATEGIES.

DELIVER VALUE TO MEMBERS THROUGH GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, MARKET DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC RELATIONS.

PUBLIC POLICY & LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY:ACE'S PUBLIC POLICY STRATEGY IS TO PROVIDE GRASSROOTS-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY FOR LEGISLATION AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL THAT SUPPORTS THE PRODUCTION AND USE OF ETHANOL. SPECIFIC FOCUS IS ON POLICIES THAT CREATE DEMAND FOR ETHANOL.MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS WITHIN PROGRAM:ACE WORKED TO HELP CONVINCE THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) TO ISSUE A RULEMAKING TO ALLOW FOR THE YEAR-ROUND SALE OF E15 BY EXTENDING THE ONE POUND REID VAPOR PRESSURE (RVP) WAIVER TO THE BLEND OF FUEL. EPA ANNOUNCED THE RULEMAKING ON MARCH 12 AND TOOK COMMENTS FROM GROUPS UNTIL APRIL 21. ON MAY 31ST EPA FINALIZED THE RULE TO ALLOW E15 USE YEAR-ROUND NATIONWIDE. ON JUNE 11 THE PRESIDENT TRAVELED TO ACE-MEMBER PLANT SOUTHWEST IOWA RENEWABLE ENERGY (SIRE) NEAR COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA TO MAKE THE FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT THAT E15 WOULD BE APPROVED FOR SALE YEAR-ROUND.ACE ONCE AGAIN ORGANIZED OUR ANNUAL GRASSROOTS MEMBER "FLY-IN" TO WASHINGTON, DC, HOSTING 70 MEMBERS FROM 12 STATES (PLUS D.C. AND ONE FROM ENGLAND) VISITING 125 OFFICES (REPRESENTING 45 STATES) ON CAPITOL HILL. PRIORITY ISSUES INCLUDED EPA'S RVP/RIN RULEMAKING, RFS WAIVERS, AND ASKING CONGRESS TO CONSIDER ETHANOL'S LOW CARBON, HIGH OCTANE BENEFITS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES (GHGS) AND IMPROVE FUEL ECONOMY WHEN TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE. WILLIAM WEHRUM, (AT THE TIME) ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE EPA FOR AIR AND RADIATION, SPOKE TO THE GROUP, AS WELL AS CONGRESSMAN DAVE LOEBSACK (D-IA). FOR A RECAP, VISIT WWW.ETHANOL.ORG/EVENTS/FLY-INACE IS CONSTANTLY JOINING INDUSTRY ALLIES IN PUSHING BACK ON EPA'S MISMANAGEMENT OF THE RFS, SOMETIMES THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM. IN 2018, ACE JOINED THE NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL FARMERS UNION, AND RENEWABLE FUELS ASSOCIATION IN CHALLENGING THREE SMALL REFINERY WAIVERS GRANTED TO CVR ENERGY AND HOLLYFRONTIER IN THE 10TH CIRCUIT. WE EXPECT A COURT DECISION ON THIS LITIGATION IN EARLY 2020. THAT YEAR WE JOINED WITH GROUPS IN PETITIONING EPA TO REALLOCATE SRES IT ISSUES RETROACTIVELY. AFTER 13 MONTHS OF NO ACTION FROM EPA, THIS PAST JULY, THE COALITION ASKED THE COURT TO LIFT A STAY IT PLACED ON OUR JOINT 2018 PETITION AND RESTART THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. THIS CASE IS PENDING IN THE DC CIRCUIT COURT. FINALLY, AT THE END OF OCTOBER, ACE JOINED NCGA, RFA, GROWTH ENERGY, THE NATIONAL BIODIESEL BOARD AND NFU TO CHALLENGE THE 31 SRES GRANTED FOR 2018 IN THE DC CIRCUITWE HAVE BEEN URGING EPA TO FIX ITS SUPPLEMENTAL RULEMAKING TO THE 2020 RVO TO FULFILL THE PRESIDENT'S PROMISE THAT 15 BILLION GALLONS MEANS 15 BILLION GALLONS BY REALLOCATING THE ACTUAL AVERAGE OF WAIVED VOLUME FROM 2016-2018. AS OF EARLY DECEMBER, EPA HAD RECEIVED 10 SRE REQUESTS FOR 2019. WE ANTICIPATE FULL EXEMPTIONS FOR THIS COMPLIANCE YEAR, BUT EPA SAID IT WILL BEGIN APPROVING "PARTIAL" SRES FOR THE 2020 COMPLIANCE YEAR, ALTHOUGH RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CONTINUE ISSUING FULL WAIVERS AS WELL.ACE BEGAN WORKING WITH PARTNERS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL TO DISCUSS LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO INCREASE ETHANOL DEMAND BASED ON THE FUEL'S ABILITY TO REDUCE LIFECYCLE GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS.AS CONGRESS FOCUSES ON CLIMATE CHANGE, ACE HAS BEEN DISCUSSING THE NEED FOR A NEW POLICY TO EXPAND ETHANOL USE, REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS, AND REVITALIZE THE ECONOMY CALLED THE LOW CARBON OCTANE STANDARD (LCOS). BY INCREASING THE OCTANE RATING OF GASOLINE, THE LCOS IMPROVES THE EFFICIENCY OF ENGINE TECHNOLOGIES, GIVING AUTOMAKERS A TOOL TO COMPLY WITH FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS. THE LCOS WOULD ALSO REQUIRE THE SOURCE OF OCTANE TO REDUCE GHGS COMPARED TO GASOLINE. AT THE STATE LEVEL, ACE IS ALSO WORKING TO INCREASE ETHANOL USE THROUGH A MIDWEST CLEAN FUEL STANDARD (CFS), WHICH WOULD SERVE AS A TOOL TO DRIVE ETHANOL DEMAND. A PROPERLY STRUCTURED STATE CFS WOULD GIVE A SHOT IN THE ARM TO OUR FEDERAL EFFORT TO COMMERCIALIZE HIGH OCTANE FUEL. THIS EFFORT ALSO ENABLES US TO BE PROACTIVE AT THE STATE LEVEL, GIVING OUR MEMBERS SOMETHING TO ADVOCATE FOR AND OUR ELECTED BIOFUEL CHAMPIONS SOMETHING TO PUSH FOR ON OUR BEHALF.

MARKET DEVELOPMENT, RESEARCH & PROMOTION:ACE TAKES AGGRESSIVE STEPS TO DEVELOP NEW MARKETS FOR ETHANOL BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION TO FUEL MARKETERS AND RETAILERS TO INCREASE THE USE OF ETHANOL-BLENDED FUEL, SUCH AS E15, E20, E30 AND E85. ACE TARGETS RETAILERS IN EMERGING MARKETS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. TO ENSURE THEY HAVE USEFUL INFORMATION ON THE BENEFITS OF ETHANOL. ACE WORKS CLOSELY WITH NOT JUST RETAILERS BUT ALSO WITH AUTOMAKERS TO INCREASE THE USE OF ETHANOL-BLENDED FUELS.MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS WITHIN PROGRAM:ACE EXPANDED ITS ACTIVITIES UNDER THE FLEX FUEL FORWARD CAMPAIGN WE LAUNCHED IN 2015. THE FLEX FUEL FORWARD CAMPAIGN IS DESIGNED FOR GAS STATION OWNERS. THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDES PAID ADS IN THE NATIONAL FUEL/RETAILER PUBLICATIONS WHICH FEATURED ACTUAL RETAILERS WHO HAVE "BEEN THERE, DONE THAT" WHEN IT COMES TO E15 AND FLEX FUELS.WORKED WITH KEY AUTOMAKERS AND EPA TO TRY AND ESTABLISH MEANINGFUL AND LONG-LASTING INCENTIVES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FLEXIBLE FUEL VEHICLES THAT WILL USE BLENDS SUCH AS E85 AND ON STRATEGIES TO CAPITALIZE ON ETHANOL'S CLEAN OCTANE TO POWER FUTURE ENGINE TECHNOLOGIES.OVER THE COURSE OF 2019, THE ACE MARKET DEVELOPMENT TEAM ATTENDED NINE TRADESHOWS, IN ADDITION TO A HANDFUL OF SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AT EVENTS AND RETAILER WORKSHOPS. OVER THE SUMMER, ACE SPREAD ITS FUEL RETAILER OUTREACH ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BRINGING THE FLEX FUEL FORWARD CAMPAIGN FROM TEXAS TO FLORIDA, AND OVER TO CALIFORNIA. ALL THREE STATES HAVE A LARGE VOLUME OF FFVS, SO SOME OF THE TRADESHOW TALK FOCUSED ON E85 SALES AND RETAILER INTEREST IN THE ECONOMICS OF SELLING THAT FUEL BLEND. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE CONVERSATIONS AND QUESTIONS FROM RETAILERS WERE PRIMARILY ABOUT E15. CURIOSITY HAS BEEN RISING AMONG RETAILERS, MANY WANTING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CHAINS THAT HAVE ADDED THE BLEND TO THEIR FUEL SLATE. ACE'S MARKET DEVELOPMENT TEAM ENDED THE TRADESHOW SEASON AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONVENIENCE STORES SHOW, THE LARGEST ANNUAL GATHERING OF CONVENIENCE AND FUEL MARKETING PROFESSIONALS. ACE INTRODUCED THE REVAMPED FLEXFUELFORWARD.COM WEBSITE AND NEW VIDEOS TO PROSPECTIVE E15 AND FLEX FUEL RETAILERS ATTENDING THE SHOW.ACE AND THE IOWA RENEWABLE FUELS ASSOCIATION HOSTED A TOUR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL IN IOWA TO SHOW NINE DECISION-MAKERS FROM KEY MEXICAN RETAIL AND SUPPLIER GROUPS HOW ETHANOL BLENDS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY AND PROFITABLY INCORPORATED ACROSS IOWA.

PUBLIC RELATIONS & INFORMATION:ACE PROACTIVELY PROMOTES THE BENEFITS OF ETHANOL TO THE PUBLIC, MEDIA, AND OPINION LEADERS THROUGH A WIDE VARIETY OF MEDIUMS AND TOOLS. ACE PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS INCLUDE OUTREACH THROUGH TELEVISION, PRINT, AND RADIO MEDIA, EDITORIAL BOARD MEETINGS, REPORTER DESK-SIDE BRIEFINGS, PRESS RELEASES AND OP-ED PLACEMENTS. ACE MOBILIZES ITS GRASSROOTS MEMBERSHIP TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC RELATIONS, INCLUDING LETTER TO THE EDITOR WRITING, AND BY CONTACTING POLICYMAKERS. NEARLY 2000 MEMBERS AND KEY OPINION LEADERS RECEIVE "ETHANOL TODAY" MAGAZINE. PUBLISHED SIX TIMES PER YEAR, ETHANOL TODAY COVERS RISK MANAGEMENT ISSUES, LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS, EMERGING ETHANOL MARKETS, AND HOT INDUSTRY TOPICS. ACE HOSTS AN ANNUAL ETHANOL CONFERENCE PROVIDING TIMELY AND RELEVANT INFORMATION ON THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY. ACE MAINTAINS WWW.ETHANOL.ORG, AN AUTHORITATIVE ONLINE RESOURCE ABOUT ETHANOL FOR MEMBERS, MEDIA, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. ACE HAS A ROBUST SOCIAL MEDIA PUBLIC RELATIONS PLATFORM AND IS ACTIVE IN PROMOTING ETHANOL VIA TWITTER AND FACEBOOK. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT WITHIN PROGRAM:ACE'S 2019 ANNUAL CONFERENCE THEME AND PROGRAMMING "WHAT IT TAKES" REFLECTED THE INDUSTRY'S FORTITUDE FOR GROWING THE BUSINESS OF CLEAN FUEL DESPITE SEVERAL HEADWINDS THE INDUSTRY'S BEEN BATTLING. IT WAS A SOMBER YET DETERMINED GROUP OF ETHANOL INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES WHO MET THIS YEAR IN OMAHA FOR THE CONFERENCE, IN THE WAKE OF THE EPA GRANTING ANOTHER 31 SRES FOR 2018 ON TOP OF THE PREVIOUS 54 SRES IT GRANTED FOR 2016 AND 2017. NEBRASKA GOVERNOR PETE RICKETTS KICKED OFF THE FIRST DAY OF CONFERENCE SESSIONS WELCOMING ATTENDEES AND PRESSING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STAND BEHIND THE RFS. WITH EXPORT MARKETS AND TRADE POLICY IN THE SPOTLIGHT, RYAN LEGRAND, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE USGC, OUTLINED OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES TO INCREASE ETHANOL AND COPRODUCT MARKETS AROUND THE WORLD. USGC'S MEXICO TEAM, STEPHAN WITTIG AND JORGE LERDO DE TEJADA, SHARED A MEXICO MARKET SPECIFIC UPDATE. THE CONFERENCE ALSO HOSTED THE POPULAR RETAILER PANEL THIS YEAR WITH MIKE LEWIS OF CALIFORNIA-BASED PEARSON FUELS AND RANDY GARD OF BOSSELMAN ENTERPRISES, OWNER OF THE NEBRASKA-BASED PUMP & PANTRY CONVENIENCE STORE CHAIN. OTHER TOPICS HIGHLIGHTED DURING THE CONFERENCE INCLUDED TIMELY DISCUSSIONS ON HOW THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY CAN BENEFIT FROM THE EMERGING CARBON ECONOMY AND STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME THE MARGIN SQUEEZE, AS WELL AS AN UPDATE ON THE VARIOUS LEGAL BATTLES OVER THE RFS FROM AN ATTORNEY WITH PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN LLP. DURING THE ANNUAL MEETING, ACE ANNOUNCED THE RE-ELECTION OF SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS AND ELECTED TWO NEW REPRESENTATIVES, TROY KNECHT AND OWEN JONES, TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.WE CONTINUED THE "POWER BY PEOPLE" FEATURING A MORE ENGAGING DIGITAL EXPERIENCE AT WWW.ETHANOL.ORG, SOCIAL MEDIA FRIENDLY VIDEOS AND INFOGRAPHICS THAT ARE EASILY SHARABLE, AND PAID ADVERTISING. THE GOAL OF THE CAMPAIGN IS TO DO A BETTER JOB OF CONVEYING THE HUMAN GOOD ETHANOL DELIVERS TO PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE, CONNECTING TO PEOPLE ON THEIR TERMS, AND PUTTING A HUMAN FACE ON THE BENEFITS OF ETHANOL.ACE ALSO HOSTS A "WEBINAR SERIES" FOR ITS MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST NEWS IMPACTING THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY.

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