Ethanol production was up in February compared to the previous month and a year ago. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), American ethanol facilities produced 647,000 barrels per day in February. That’s up 25 percent from February 2008 and 17,000 barrels per day more compared to the previous month. Ethanol demand, as calculated by the Renewable Fuels Association, also …
Valero Honors Portion of Corn Contracts for Ethanol
Corn farmers who had contracts to provide corn for ethanol plants owned by bankrupt VeraSun are being offered a deal by Valero Energy, which purchased some of the company’s assets. Valero officials say they are offering farmers with forward contracts a bonus of 40 percent of the difference between the cash price for corn and the futures price on the …
Senate Bill Would Curb Unproven Indirect Land Use Measures
U.S. Senator John Thune has introduced a bill designed to strengthen the Renewable Fuels Standard and prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from using inaccurate indirect land use models to discredit the positive environmental impacts of ethanol. “Following California’s recent decision to use flawed models to estimate ethanol’s environmental impact, I am concerned that the EPA could soon apply similar standards …
New Iowa Ethanol Plant Begins Production
In a time when many plants are shutting down, a new ethanol plant near New Hampton, Iowa has started production. The Homeland Energy Solutions will produce 100 million gallons of ethanol annually, according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), which congratulated the company for its accomplisment this week. “It’s been a difficult time for the ethanol industry, but Homeland …
Sign Petition for 15 Percent Ethanol Blend
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has launched a petition drive calling on EPA to allow blends of up to 15 percent ethanol in regular gasoline. According to ACE organizers, the on-line petition has gathered over 4500 signatures from nearly every state. “ACE wants to gather as many signatures as possible to demonstrate to Congress, the White House, EPA, and …
Ethanol Petition Comment Period Extension Requested
More than 30 organizations are requesting an extension of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) comment period for a petition that would increase the permitted amount of ethanol in gasoline from its current 10 percent level to 15 percent. The organizations signing on to the request range from livestock and meat associations to food processors, environmental groups and representatives of boats …
Corn Farmers Provides Facts About Land Use
Last week’s ruling by the California Air Resources Board on a low carbon fuel standard that penalizes corn ethanol on the basis of indirect land use has mobilized corn growers to get the facts out about the environmental impact of the nation’s largest crop. “It’s a little known fact that we are growing five times as much corn as our …
African Nations Join Global Renewable Fuels Group
Fourteen southern African nations are now members of the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance. The Southern African Biofuels Alliance has joined forces alliance to help “promote biofuels friendly policies throughout the world.” Andrew Makenete, President of the Southern African Biofuels Association (SABA) called on other nations to speak out in favour of policies that would promote investment in biofuels particularly in …
Renewable Energy in First 100 Days Progress Report
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack counted progress toward energy independence among the Obama administration’s first 100 days accomplishments. During a meeting in Washington DC with agricultural journalists this week, Vilsack said implementing the 2008 Farm Bill was his number one priority when he took the office of secretary. “The president gave me an instruction when he hired me to continue …
Farm Bureau Supports Increasing Ethanol Blend Level
The American Farm Bureau Federation believes the federal government should increase the ethanol blend level up to 15 percent to help protect the environment, create jobs and reduce dependence on foreign oil. In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Lisa Jackson, AFBF president Bob Stallman said increasing the ethanol blend level up to 15 percent from the current level of …