EPA approves efficient producer pathway for Element

The U.S. EPA approved an efficient producer pathway petition from ICM Inc. and The Andersons Inc. for Element LLC in Colwich, Kansas. The facility is a partnership between the two companies, set to come online in the spring of 2019. The pathway allows the plant to generate renewable identification numbers (RINs) for nongrandfathered ethanol under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

When the RFS was established in its current form, the rulemaking grandfathered in the production volume of existing corn ethanol plants. To qualify for compliance, any new production above the grandfathered gallons must meet a 20 percent greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction threshold when compared with the gasoline baseline.

Element, which is under construction on the site of a former Abengoa plant, will use all new ICM technologies. ICM and The Andersons expect it to be the lowest-carbon-footprint ethanol plant in the world.

Data the developers submitted to the EPA show that Element, set to produce 70 MMgy, will achieve a 24.7 percent GHG reduction. A typical natural gas-fired drill mill plant producing 100 percent dry distillers grains achieves a 16.8 percent reduction. Element will use ICM’s gasification technology to produce the majority of its electricity from waste wood to offset natural gas use.

EPA approves efficient producer pathway for Element

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