The Renewable Fuels Association today released comments to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding proposed regulations to implement the expanded renewable fuel standard (RFS) program enacted by Congress in the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) in 2007. “Reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil was part of the Energy Security Act, providing economic opportunity and job creation and …
EPA Admits Uncertainty in Indirect Land Use
A group of Midwest senators led by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) dropped an amendment to appropriations legislation that would have prohibited the EPA from spending funds to include international indirect land use change (ILUC) emissions in the implementation of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). Sen. Harkin withdrew his amendment after receiving a letter from EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson that promised …
Proposed EPA Regs Would Cost Corn Growers
A study commissioned by the National Corn Growers Association finds that proposed regulations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard would cost the ethanol industry as much as $420 million a year. The study found that the up-front cost to the ethanol industry for compliance with the new regulations could total $30 million, with …
Minnesota Governor Talks Ethanol
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty supports an increase in the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline to at least 15 percent and is hopeful about the future of next generation biofuels. The governor who might run for president in 2012 answered several questions about ethanol from reporters after helping celebrate the grand opening of the new
Midwest Senators Sponsor Ethanol Amendments
Iowa’s two senators and others from the Midwest are co-sponsoring amendments to legislation that funds the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which would address two important issues facing the ethanol industry. Iowa Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), along with Ben Nelson (D-NE) introduced an amendment to the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations bill that would prevent the EPA from going …
#FuelChat Twitter Session Today
This is a reminder that today at 2:00pm Eastern time the Renewable Fuels Association will be hosting another 1 hour online Twitter chat session. It’s FuelChat and you will have the chance to ask questions and interact with others on the subject of ethanol. There are a number of mechanisms you can use to follow along and participate. We recommend …
Ethanol Plant on the Auction Block
A partially completed 110 million gallon per year ethanol plant in Nebraska will go up for auction next month. Altra Nebraska, LLC began construction of this facility in 2006 and work halted in November of 2007 when additional financing could not be obtained due to economic challenges. The plant was expected to be one of Nebraska’s largest ethanol plants employing …
Pacific Ethanol Facing Stock Delisting
Pacific Ethanol will be booted from the NASDAQ unless its stock goes up soon. NASDAQ sent a letter last week notifying Pacific Ethanol that “it does not comply with the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement for continued listing on The NASDAQ Global Market set forth in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5450(a)(1).” The company has been given 180 calendar days, or until …
Studying Sorghum for Ethanol in Maryland
Researchers at Salisbury University in Maryland are studying the potential for growing sweet sorghum for cellulosic ethanol in the state. Since May, eight sweet sorghum varieties have been growing on a Wicomico County farm for evaluation as potential stock for ethanol production on the Delmarva peninsula. Dr. Samuel Geleta of Salisbury Univerisity’s Biological Sciences Department says about half of the …
Hops Could Solve Ethanol Bacteria Issue
An AP wire story out last week highlights the use of hops in ethanol production to combat bacteria. DomesticFuel did a feature on BetaTec, the company referenced in the article, about two years ago after their debut at the 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop. They market a product called IsoStabTM , which is derived from natural acids found in hops and …