Automakers will need higher octane fuels to meet the coming increases in fuel economy and reductions in emissions called for by 2025 and ethanol is positioned to help fill that need. According to a new study by auto engineering firm Ricardo, Inc., the increase in average fleet fuel economy to 54.5 mile per by 2025 will have to be met …
Ethanol Report on Ethanol’s Role in Gas Prices
It was the main topic of the president’s press conference today and Congress will be holding hearings on it this week. From the president to the people at the pump, everyone is talking about higher gasoline prices these days, but ethanol is actually helping to keep them lower than they could be. In a new RFA Issue Brief, the Renewable …
Lawmakers Urge Administration to Support Biodiesel
Dozens of lawmakers have sent letters to the White House calling for an increase in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2013. A bipartisan group of 60 members of Congress on both the Senate side and the House signed letters urging the Obama Administration to follow through with the EPA’s proposal to increase the biodiesel volume requirement under the RFS …
New Holland Stresses Support for Ethanol
New Holland Agriculture announced a major new national “blue is back” advertising campaign at the 2012 Commodity Classic last week and stressed the blue tractor company’s support for homegrown fuel. New Holland North American VP Abe Hughes says they believe that more acreage will be planted this year than anytime in recent history and part of the reason is ethanol. …
HCL CleanTech Changes Name, Announces Financing
HCL CleanTech has changed its name to Virdia and announced new funding for the development of cellulosic sugars for biofuels and other uses. Virdia today officially announced the closing of $30 million in private financing and a $75 million loan package from the Mississippi Development Authority to build manufacturing plants in the state. Founded in 2007 as HCL CleanTech, Virdia …
NEC Food Vs Fuel Panel Includes Fact and Fabrication
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 …
Ethanol Groups Order Injunction on California LCFS
A coalition of ethanol and agriculture groups, including the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy, have filed a brief urging the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a court-ordered injunction on the low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS). At issue is California’s request for a stay of the injunction issued by District Court Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill when he …
Analyst Expects New Biofuels Policy in 2013
A global economic analyst expects that Washington may be taking another look at biofuels policy in 2013. “I think more of that will happen when we know more about who controls the Senate and the House, and who’s the president and where the EPA is on all this after November,” said Bill Lapp of Advanced Economic Solutions during an Ag …
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 …
Brazil to Invest $38 Billion in Pumping Up Ethanol
Brazil is reportedly planning to pump $38 billion into its ethanol sector to help increase production. A statement from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture said the purpose of the government plan is to “meet growing national demand and the potential of the foreign market for ethanol” by stimulating private sector investments in the production of ethanol, which have declined due to …