California’s efforts to reduce the carbon intensity of the state’s transportation fuels are admirable, but the state’s goals, as outlined in the proposed Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS), are unlikely to be achieved because of the policy’s inherent bias against low-carbon biofuels, says the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). In written comments to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in advance …
Biofuels at Earth Day Indiana
Visitors to this year’s Earth Day Indiana celebration have the chance to “Live Green & Prosper” as they learn about the benefits of “going green” with biofuels. The focus of this year’s Earth Day Indiana event is “how to do cool environmental stuff” and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) and Indiana Soybean Alliance will have their Biofuels Mobile Learning …
New Study Rates Ethanol Water Usage by State
Water usage for ethanol production varies dramatically depending on the state, according to a new University of Minnesota study. The study, published in this week’s edition of the journal Environmental Science and Technology, is the first to compare water use in corn-ethanol production on a state-by-state basis. The authors used agricultural and geologic data from 2006-2008 to develop a ratio …
Ethanol Report on Global Biofuels Policy
The need for renewable fuels to replace fossil fuels is becoming more and more of a global necessity. This edition of the “Ethanol Report” features information about the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) and the organization’s goals for providing scientific information about life cycle assessment and greenhouse gas reduction, as well as the importance of expanding biofuels production for developing …
Missouri Ethanol Group Reaches Out to Consumers
Missouri’s ethanol producers are reaching out to consumers with a new website and print ad campaign. The Missouri Renewable Fuels Association (MoRFA) website contains research and information about ethanol, links to other renewable fuel articles and an overview of the state’s farmer-owned biorefineries. Also featured on the new site are three print ads currently running in many Missouri newspapers that …
USDA Sees No Change in Corn Use for Ethanol
The April World Supply and Demand report out today from USDA lowers ending stocks for corn, but keeps corn use for ethanol the same. Corn ending stocks were cut by 40 million bushels “as higher expected feed and residual use more than offsets a reduction in food, seed and industrial use.” Food, seed, and industrial use was lowered 10 million …
CBO Report Not All Bad for Ethanol
A new Congressional Budget Office report shows other factors actually had a bigger impact on food prices last year than ethanol did and that ethanol is reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Most media reports have focused on the findings in the report, “The Impact of Ethanol Use on Food Prices and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions,” that from April 2007 to April 2008, the …
Bioenergy Could Provide Benefits for Rural Poor
A new international study indicates that small-scale bioenergy plants can play a significant role in rural development for poorer nations. The new report, “Small Scale Bioenergy Initiatives: Brief Description and Preliminary Lessons on Livelihood Impacts from Case Studies in Latin America, Asia and Africa,” was published jointly by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UK’s Department …
Ethanol is Second Place for Valero
Valero may be in the ethanol business now with its purchase of eight former VeraSun plants, but oil is still the company’s first priority. That’s why they are not backing the ethanol industry’s request for an increase in the ethanol blend level to 15 percent. According to an article in Ethanol Producer Magazine, Valero maintains its membership in the National …
Silver Anniversary for Ethanol Workshop
The ethanol industry has grown tremendously in the last 25 years – and so has the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo (FEW). “The first event in 1985 had four tabletop exhibits and 36 people,” according to Mike Bryan, CEO of BBI International, which organizes the FEW. Last year, FEW 2008 featured over 4,000 attendees and nearly 1,000 exhibits. It …