The latest USDA supply/demand forecast out this week says that corn use for ethanol will outpace livestock feed use for the first time, but some are questioning those figures and that interpretation. The July 12 World Agricultural Supply Demand report increased corn beginning stocks by 150 million bushels, while total U.S. corn use for 2010/11 was lowered by 145 million …
Report Finds “No Strict Food Versus Fuel Tradeoff”
A new report from Informa Economics released today concludes that ethanol production is not causing a “strict food-versus-fuel tradeoff” that automatically drives consumer food prices higher. The report, which was prepared for the Renewable Fuels Foundation, is an historical analysis of corn, commodity and consumer prices from 1985-2010. One of the key findings of the study was that no single …
Ethanol Report on Senate Compromise
An agreement was announced Thursday by U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) that would end the existing 45 cent per gallon Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit and associated import tariff at the end of this month, reducing the nation’s deficit by $1.3 billion while still providing $668 million for renewable fuel incentives such …
Senate Compromise Reached on Ethanol Tax Credit
A deal has been reached in the Senate that would eliminate the ethanol blenders tax credit but still provide incentives for infrastructure development. U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) announced the agreement “that allows for a transition to a more sustainable model of incentives for domestic renewable fuel production while reducing the nation’s deficit by $1.3 billion.” …
Industry Questions Ethanol Hearing Witness List
The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment is holding a hearing today on “examining the science” of 15% ethanol in fuel, but the corn ethanol industry is questioning the list of witnesses, which appears to be somewhat lopsided. “The Environmental Protection Agency has been thorough in its work on the E15 waiver request and …
Loan Guarentee Offered for Cellulosic Ethanol Plant
The government is paving the way for the nation’s first commercial cellulosic ethanol plant in Iowa. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement today of a $105 million loan guarantee to support the development of Project LIBERTY, sponsored by POET and located in Emmetsburg, Iowa. “This project will help decrease our dependence on oil, …
SDSU Helping to Improve Ethanol Plant Efficiency
South Dakota State University (SDSU) is helping to improve the efficiency of ethanol plants. The SDSU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department recently invested in small scale, corn milling and ethanol processing equipment to let ethanol plant mangers test process adjustments in order to optimize efficiency. “This small equipment allows them to test small adjustments and see how they work without …
Ethanol Report on Energy Independence for Boaters
The Independence Day holiday is one of the biggest boating days of the year so it’s a good time to remind boaters that ethanol is helping to make our nation more energy independent. This edition of “The Ethanol Report” is about how ethanol producers and boat racers have teamed up to show that 10 percent ethanol runs perfectly well in …
Iowa 15% Ethanol Incentive Takes Effect
Iowa could become the first state in the nation with fuel pumps sporting the new 15% ethanol (E15) labels approved this week by the Environmental Protection Agency along with final rules allowing E15 to be used in all 2001 and newer passenger vehicles later this summer. Effective July 1, Iowa retailers are eligible for a three cent per gallon tax …
USDA Finds More Corn Acres Than Expected
The new planted acreage report from USDA shows more corn than most anyone expected, given the wet spring weather that delayed planting in many areas. According to USDA, corn planted area for this year is now estimated at 92.3 million acres, up 5 percent from last year. That’s more than growers expected to plant back in March and the second …