A freshman Republican representative from Kansas today blasted higher ethanol blends during a House subcommittee hearing that focused on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “Why don’t I hear my constituents screaming for E15 and E85 if it’s such a good thing to lower consumer prices?” Congressman Mike Pompeo asked Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen during the hearing. …
Farm Group Opposes Bill that Would Weaken RFS
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is opposed to a bill introduced by Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ) that they claim would weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by requiring fuel companies to blend only the amount of cellulosic ethanol currently being produced into gasoline. “Basically any weakening of the RFS is not a good thing for the country going forward. …
RFA Refutes RFS Rumors
In an effort to shut down the rumor mill, the Renewable Fuels Association is setting the record straight on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). There have been rumors that EPA might attempt to scale back the RFS by 20% due to the deteriorating condition of the U.S. corn crop, but RFA officials say the statutory process relating to RFS waiver …
Iowa Fuel Retailers Hit Roadblock to E15 Sales
The independent Linn Co-op Oil Company in Marion, Iowa is all set to be the first in the nation to sell 15% ethanol blended gasoline to customers, except for one little detail. They can’t get the fuel to sell it. The problem is that petroleum refiners servicing the Cedar Rapids area refuse to make the proper gasoline for blending with …
Ethanol Report Visits Bobby Likis
This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features comments from Bobby Likis of the Bobby Likis Car Clinic Network, a radio, television and internet distributed automotive talk show that recently partnered with the Renewable Fuels Association to help educate both consumers and automotive technicians about ethanol. Likis recently visited Argonne National Labs and the Detroit Technical Campus of Ricardo Engines to …
Biofuels Defense Investments Announced
The Obama administration today announced new investments in the biofuels industry as part of the Defense Production Act (DPA). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Navy and Department of Energy jointly announced $30 million in federal funding to match private investments in commercial-scale advanced drop-in biofuels. The Energy Department is also announcing a total of $32 million in new investments …
Edeniq Producing Cellulosic Ethanol in California
A California-based biofuels company officially launched its Corn to Cellulosic Migration (CCM) pilot biorefinery this week. The CCM biorefinery is located at the headquarters of Edeniq in Visalia, California. According to the company, the pilot plant’s technologies can be used as bolt-on technology to existing facilities to allow the use of other feedstocks such as corn stover, switchgrass, sugarcane bagasse, …
Likis Learns About Ethanol and Engines at Argonne
Automotive expert Bobby Likis is learning more this week about the latest research into ethanol and car engines to bring to his audience on the Car Clinic Network. “I’m amazed at all the research and development going on with new fuel technology with all sorts of engines to include hydrogen, ethanol, ethanol blends, diesel and dual fuels,” he said during …
GROWMARK Celebrating History Built on Energy
GROWMARK has two reasons to celebrate this year – the International Year of the Cooperative and GROWMARK’s 85th anniversary. “The cooperative obviously has evolved a lot over those 85 years,” says Dan Kelley, Illinois farmer and president of the GROWMARK Board of Directors. “Energy is still a main part of GROWMARK’s product distribution. Nearly half of our sales continue to …
USDA Funds Rural Energy Projects
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA has selected for funding 450 projects focused on helping agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy consumption and costs; use renewable energy technologies in their operation; and/or conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy projects. Funding is made available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) under the 2008 Farm Bill. …