SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA, US — The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) honored at its annual conference several advocates for their contributions to the ethanol industry.
The Merle Anderson Award, named after the organization’s founder, went to Ron Alverson. Alverson was a founder and is a current board member of Lake Area Corn Processors LLC (Dakota Ethanol), a 90 million gallon per year ethanol production plant in Wentworth, South Dakota, US, where he works on low carbon ethanol fuel pathways. He is a past president of ACE’s board of directors and current treasurer.
Alverson has played an influential role in advocating the importance of carbon intensity to corn farmers and ethanol producers; from how tillage practices help increase soil organic carbon, and how 4R nutrient management reduces nitrous oxide emissions, to helping the Department of Energy scientists at the Argonne National Laboratory, who invented the GREET model, better understand modern day farming practices.
Brian Jennings, chief executive officer of ACE, presented the award to Alverson during ACE’s luncheon and awards ceremony on Aug. 24.
“The famous English scientist Isaac Newton once said, ‘If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,’” Alverson recited during his acceptance speech. “And that’s so true today, we can see perfect because we had the opportunity to stand on their shoulders and see out into the future. That really exemplifies the ACE board.”
David Thompson, chairman of the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) board, presented the Grassroots Award to Jan Lundebrek during the ceremony. Lundebrek’s leadership was instrumental in the formation of Chippewa Valley Agrafuels Cooperative (CVAC) and CVEC, one of the first ethanol plants in the state of Minnesota. Her extensive financial background helped ensure shares were sold to local farmers and loans were secured to build the plant.
“I just want to thank everyone for stepping up when it counts,” Lundebrek said. “It’s not just me — it’s the work of the rural communities, ACE and the individuals that really make a difference. I’m proud of the work I have done and to be able to receive this award, but I am more so pleased with the way others have done the work and advocated to get the industry to where it is today.”
Ron Lamberty, chief marketing officer of ACE, presented the Paul Dana Marketing Vision Award to Glenn Badenhop prior to the retailer panel during the Aug. 25 general session of the conference. Badenhop owns American Freedom Energy in Liberty Center, Ohio, US, and received this award for his leadership in promoting the expansion of higher blends of ethanol to consumers, as well as overcoming many trials as a station owner.
Being one of the first stations in the United States to offer E15, while also being one of the most recent to offer E15, his story is important to share with prospective higher blends marketers. Badenhop spent the last 18 months battling his oil company supplier and clearing their red tape to sell E15, alongside the other gasoline grades under the canopy, which he couldn’t do when he initially began offering the product.
“I really appreciate ACE and everybody for nominating me,” Badenhop said. “It’s been a long road making the vision I had 12 years ago become a reality, but I kept working at it and this award makes it worthwhile. To me, this award symbolizes my effort and the need to take a risk knowing that in the end it benefits not just me, but the community and the ethanol industry. There is nobody else in my area offering higher blends, so I feel like I have a leg-up on the competition, and this award proves higher blends do work and are accepted by the consumer.”
