In the great tradition of saving the best for last, the 2011 National Ethanol Conference concluded with a lively panel discussion featuring global ethanol leaders. Those on the panel were (LtoR) George Fitch, Director of the Caribbean Basic Ethanol Producers Association; Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association; Marcos Jank, president and CEO of Brazil’s UNICA; Robert …
70,000 Directly Involved in U.S. Ethanol Industry
According to an economic analysis from Cardno ENTRIX, unveiled during the 2011 National Ethanol Conference, John Urbanchuk 70,600 Americans are employed directly in the production of ethanol and in industries providing goods and services to ethanol producers. Today, there are ethanol plants either operational or in construction in 29 states, and as a result of the economic activity generated by …
Chief Ethanol Ships 1 Billionth Gallon
The state of Nebraska’s first ethanol plant, Chief Ethanol Fuels, shipped its one billionth gallon from its plant located in Hastings in Mid-February. One of the first biorefineries in the U.S., Chief Ethanol Fuels opened in 1984 with the capacity to produce ten million gallons per year. In 2011, they are expected to produced nearly 70 million gallons. Today, Chief …
Biofuel Industry Urges Senate to Pass Nat’l Security Legislation
At the close of business on Friday, the biofuel industry urged the Senate to pass legislation that would support energy independence and national security and not energy dependence and the status quo. Growth Energy, joined by the American Coalition for Ethanol, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union and National …
Clinton Strikes Nerve with Ethanol Comment
Former President Bill Clinton struck a raw nerve with ethanol supporters with his comments at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual Outlook Forum today. “We have to become energy independent but we don’t want to do it at the expense of food riots,” Clinton said, calling for a periodic reassessment of the industry “with 3-5 year time horizons based on …
GM Test Drive at Ethanol Conference
GM featured test drives in new Flex Fuel 2011 Buick Regal Turbos and GMC Terrains at the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) 2011 National Ethanol Conference and dozens of attendees took advantage of the opportunity. Pictured is RFA board member Ray Defenbaugh of Big River Resources West Burlington preparing to take a spin in a Regal Turbo. I took a drive …
National Ethanol Conference Wrap Up
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) celebrated 30 years of advocating for ethanol this week during the 16th annual National Ethanol Conference in Phoenix. This edition of “The Ethanol Report” podcast features an interview with RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen on the conference, the state of the ethanol industry, the new Advanced Ethanol Council and recent developments in Congress regarding …
National Ethanol Scholarship Winners
For the second year, the Renewable Fuels Association and the Renewable Fuels Foundation sponsored the National Ethanol Conference Scholarship program to help students pursuing advanced education in ethanol related careers to attend the conference. This year’s five winners hailed from all over the country and are interested in a variety of areas related to the ethanol industry. From left to …
DF Cast: Study Shows E15 OK in Older Vehicles
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given the green light for E15 ethanol to be used in vehicle years 2001-2007. But what about older cars and trucks? In this edition of the Domestic Fuel Cast, we listen in to part of the presentation by Ricardo, an internationally recognized automotive and engineering firm, at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, where the …
Corn Forecast Bright for Ethanol
Corn stocks may be a little tight right now, but National Corn Growers Association CEO Rick Tolman thinks that is probably a short term situation “Still our biggest challenge is that we can overproduce the market,” Tolman said during an interview after a presentation at the National Ethanol Conference on Monday. “Farmers respond to incentives, there’s an incentive right now …