As the Senate and House Agriculture Committees begin to mark up a new farm bill this week, big changes are expected in the next farm bill when it comes to farm programs and ethanol is helping to make that happen. At the annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting Washington Watch issues forum on Monday, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO …
Biodiesel Ups Bean Prices Without Raising Food Prices
Soybean growers are getting more for their beans because of biodiesel, but consumers aren’t being pinched by higher food prices at the grocery stores. According to the United Soybean Board, a new study done for soybean checkoffs in Minnesota, Nebraska and the Dakotas show that biodiesel production has pushed U.S. soy oil prices higher than they were before the green …
U of Wyoming Inks Deal to Get Into Algae Biz
The University of Wyoming has signed a deal that gets it into the algal biomass industry. The school agreed to give PlanktOMICS Algae Bioservices, run by a pair of university researchers, space and support to research how to develop patent-pending processes in exchange for a cut of the profits down the road: PlanktOMICS principal partners Stephen Herbert, a UW professor …
DOE Student Clean Energy Winners Announced
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced six regional winners of its National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition. The competition is for university teams across the country to create new businesses and commercialize promising energy technologies developed at U.S. universities and the National Laboratories. Regional finalists include: Northwestern University, North Carolina A&T University, Purdue University, Brigham Young University, University of …
Florida Governor Urged to Veto Anti-Ethanol Bill
In the wake of a bill passed by the Florida Legislation to repeal a law calling for the use of 10% ethanol blends in the state, automotive technician and talk show host Bobby Likis had an op-ed in the Pensacola News Journal over the weekend calling on the governor to veto the bill. “What could be more devastating than ditching …
Ethanol Policy Update to Kick Off Discussions at FEW
Looks like the discussions are going to kick off right at the upcoming International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW), June 10-13, 2013, in St. Louis, Mo. One of the first sessions will be the Association Roundtable: Mid-Year U.S. Ethanol Policy Update, featuring moderator Tom Bryan, President, BBI International; Bob Dinneen, President & CEO, Renewable Fuels Association; Tom Buis, CEO, …
RFA Announces New Communications Director
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today announced that Dawn Schueller Moore has joined the staff as Communications Director. Moore served as Press Secretary to U.S. Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin for nearly three years and has publicized issues and events ranging from agriculture, rural development, Supreme Court Justices Sotomayor and Kagan’s nomination hearings and Senator Kohl’s “No Oil Producing & …
Farm Broadcasters in Nation’s Capitol
It’s time for National Association of Farm Broadcasting members to gather in Washington, DC for their annual Washington Watch program. Activities this afternoon with the Issues Forum, sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association. Among the topics sure to be discussed will be what a new farm bill may hold for renewable energy and the latest on attacks to the Renewable …
RINs Could Be Key to Aviation Biofuels Viability
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision that makes aviation biofuel, better known as biojet, eligible for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) could make those green fuels viable for the aviation industry. This piece from Platts says the aviation industry could qualify for D4 biodiesel, D5 advanced biofuel or D7 cellulosic diesel RINs, despite jet fuel being exempt from RINs obligations. “The …
Idled Louisiana Renewable Diesel Plant Could Be Re-Opened
The Dynamic Fuels renewable diesel plant in Geismar, La., idled late last year, soon could be reopened. Biomass Magazine reports that Syntroleum, which has the animal fat and yellow grease renewable diesel plant as a joint venture with Tyson Foods, expects to start up operations once again this summer: During the call, Gary Roth, president and CEO of Syntroleum, said …