At today’s Kum & Go pump promotion I got a chance to interview IndyCar driver Jeff Simmons once again. Jeff was on hand to pump ethanol enriched gas for customers during this midday promotion. Jeff says this would be a great weekend for his first win and I and thousands of corn growers couldn’t agree more. You can listen to …
Volunteering To Promote Ethanol
Here’s the fine looking group of volunteers who worked on a hot day to pump and promote ethanol to consumers out here at the West Des Moines Kum & Go. They’re employees of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and Pioneer Hi-Bred. I’ve got a number of interviews with representatives of these groups which I’ll post …
Iowa Ethanol Promotions in Progress
Since Cindy mentioned that Kum & Go is selling E85 around Iowa for $1.85 today I just happened to be at a pump promotion in West Des Moines in advance of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 where they’re doing just that. In fact, this is an EPIC sponsored promotion out here today that also involves selling regular gas with a …
Iowa Summer of E85
As summer officially begins, events in Iowa to promote and expand the use of E85 are shifting into high gear. The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest reports that Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge will address a workshop at Wallace Auditorium in Des Moines for 100 managers and directors of state-owned vehicle fleets on Thursday, …
Ethanol Weathers Tariff Repeal Attempt
An attempt to end the 54-cent-a-gallon tariff on foreign ethanol has been turned away in the U.S. Senate. This story in the Des Moines Register says that Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire had made the argument that it was costing motorists on the East Coast: “I would rather buy ethanol from Brazil than oil from Venezuela. It just makes …
Ethanol Education Bill Pending
A bill pending in Congress would provide grants to community colleges to implement renewable energy education and training programs. This press release from the Renewable Fuels Association says the New Era Act, introduced by Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley, is before a congressional committee and would promote an educated and skilled workforce to meet the demands of an expanding renewable fuels …
Pioneer Revs Up for Iowa Indy
Team Ethanol partner Pioneer Hi-Bred International sponsored an appearance of ‘Discover Ethanol,’ complete with the Team Ethanol IndyCar simulator, at the Downtown Farmers’ Market in Des Moines this past weekend to promote the upcoming Iowa Corn Indy 250, the inaugural IndyCar Series race in Iowa. Iowa-based Pioneer, a subsidiary of DuPont, teamed up with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council …
Thune Warns of Ethanol Fight
South Dakota Senator John Thune says Senate leaders want to pass an energy bill by the Fourth of July… but warned a group of about 100 people this week at the Ethanol Public Policy Summit in Sioux Falls that conflict looms on the horizon. This story in the Argus (SD) Leader says some powerful opponents are against some key provisions …
Electronics Retailer to Make Ethanol Investment
REX Stores, usually known for selling televisions, stereos, and appliances is buying into ethanol. According to this story posted on BizJournals.com, REX will invest between $35 million and $62 million in ethanol-producer One Earth Energy, which plans to start to build a 100-million-gallon-a-year plant this year in Gibson City, Illinois: This purchase will allow Rex to secure a majority ownership …
Bahrain Poised for Major Alternative Energy Investment
Something is brewing with the oil-rich nation of Bahrain and alternative fuels. This story posted on Grainnet.com says the CEO of Chicago-based Consolidated Biofuels has been invited to a private reception at the Bahrain Embassy in Washington, DC tomorrow (June 20th). Daniel Honeycutt’s visit to the embassy comes after his late-May trip to the Middle Eastern kingdom: This invitation follows …