Ethanol has been scapegoated for just about every blip in food markets in recent years, but the question of whether that is fact or fabrication was taken on during the recent 17th annual National Ethanol Conference. In keeping with the NEC’s tradition of generating constructive debate by exposing members to opposition viewpoints, the Food Versus Fuel panel included Dr. Steve …
RFS May Top Farm Bill in Importance to Corn Growers
Maintaining the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) may be more important to corn growers than a new farm bill. “If you took a poll of our members, and we may well do that at our Commodity Classic next week, I would say that they view the RFS as more important than the farm bill,” said National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Vice …
Ethanol Report Wraps Up NEC
The The 17th annual National Ethanol Conference (NEC) of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) was one of the best ever, with a good crowd and headline speakers. Over 1200 ethanol industry leaders from around the country and the world attended the conference in Orlando and were treated to yet another first class event that provided the most up-to-date information on …
RFA CEO Pleased with Ethanol Conference
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen was very happy with the 17th annual National Ethanol Conference held last week in Orlando, Florida. “I actually think this was our best conference ever,” Dinneen said at the conclusion of the event on Friday which drew 1200 attendees and headline speakers. “I just thought the vibe in the room was very, …
Views from the Political Right and Left at NEC
Positioned on opposite sides of the stage to their political leanings, two former presidential advisors took on a range of questions related to the 2012 election year and important policy issues in front of 1200 attendees at the 17th annual National Ethanol Conference (NEC) last week. On the left, was senior advisor to President George W. Bush, Karl Rove, while …
State of the Advanced Ethanol Industry
A panel of advanced ethanol company executives at the National Ethanol Conference was at the same time optimistic and sobering about the future of next generation biofuel production. “We openly acknowledged the ‘elephant in the room’ and that is that some of the numbers that people were talking about are bigger than we can expect in the immediate term,” said …
RFA Working Hard to Get E15 to Market
When people call Kristy Moore and ask her what she’s doing, she usually answers, “I’m just sitting around changing the nation’s fuel, and I might take a nap after lunch.” Moore is the Renewable Fuels Association‘s Vice President for Technical Services and she is totally focused on helping the ethanol industry, fuel retailers and consumers make the move to 15% …
Vander Griend Honored With RFA Award
The founder and president of a world leader in ethanol plant engineering and construction is the recipient of the 2012 Renewable Fuels Association Membership Award. Dave Vander Griend founded ICM, Inc. of Colwich, Kansas in 1995 and developed it into the industry leader for the design, construction, and support of ethanol plants. Presenting the award, RFA chairman Chuck Woodside of …
Ag Secretary at National Ethanol Conference
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack expressed his personal strong support and gratitude for the ethanol industry during an address at the National Ethanol Conference on Friday. “We owe ethanol producers in this country a debt of gratitude because we’re paying less at the pump because of what you do,” Vilsack said, noting that prices are about $1 less than they would …
Ethanol Conference Panel Includes Opposition
Scott Faber has never been known for his love of ethanol. In fact, Faber could be called the “architect of the food versus fuel campaign,” as he engineered much of the opposition to ethanol as lobbyist for the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Now he has joined the Environmental Working Group, an organization which also tends to position itself on the opposite …