Corn Utilization Conference to Feature Ethanol Issues

Cindy Zimmerman

Indirect land use change and DDGs quality are just two of the ethanol-related topics that will be featured at the 2010 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference scheduled for June 7-9 in Atlanta. Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association is chair of the “Maximizing DDG Quality” technical session. “We are coming off of a very late, wet harvest that presented …

corn, CUTC, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Indirect Land Use, NCGA

Farm Bureau Supports Extending Biofuel Tax Incentives

Cindy Zimmerman

Tax incentives play a key role in the development and production of renewable energy, and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is urging Congress to pass two bills that would extend renewable fuel tax credits for five years. In a statement presented for the record to a House Ways and Means Committee hearing this week on energy tax incentives, AFBF …

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Farm Bureau, Farming, Government

Developing Specialized Sorghum for Energy

Cindy Zimmerman

An Illinois biotech company is working on the development of sorghum varieties specifically suited for energy production. Chromatin, Inc. CEO Daphne Preuss told the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. this week that the company is expanding its technology development portfolio to produce fit-for-purpose sorghum as a renewable feedstock for the biofuels, green power and renewable chemicals sectors. “Feedstock …

sorghum

Meat Producers Oppose Ethanol Tax Incentives

Cindy Zimmerman

Major livestock and poultry trade associations sent a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee this week asking that they allow the blenders’ tax credit and associated tariff for ethanol to expire at the end of this year. The request was made in a letter signed by industry trade associations, including the American Meat Institute, the National Turkey Federation, …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, livestock feed, RFA

Purdue Report Disputes Indirect Land Use Findings

Cindy Zimmerman

A recently completed state-of-the-art analysis from Purdue University concludes that the California Air Resources Board (ARB) overestimated the indirect land use change (ILUC) impact of grain-based ethanol by a factor of two in developing its Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS) one year ago. The Renewable Fuels Association sent a letter sent this week to ARB Chair Mary Nichols pointing out …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Indirect Land Use, RFA

POET Meets the Press

Cindy Zimmerman

POET CEO Jeff Broin was surrounded by the media Wednesday after President Obama made a visit to a POET ethanol plant in Macon, Missouri. It gave him an opportunity to address some of the criticism of ethanol regarding its impact on the environment. “Today ethanol is 59 percent lower in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline and so it is …

Ethanol, POET

President’s Ethanol Speech Lacks Substance

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol producers and corn farmers who were hoping for President Obama to make a strong show of support for the ethanol industry when he appeared at a POET plant in Missouri on Wednesday were probably a little disappointed. Yes, he made the appearance and said that “renewable, homegrown fuels are a key part of our strategy for a clean energy …

Commentary, corn, Ethanol, POET

Live Audio of President Speech at Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

We are going to try and bring you live audio of President Obama’s speech at the POET ethanol plant in Macon, Missouri via cell phone and Ustream since there is no good internet access at the site and aircards don’t work well for live broadcasts. Speech is scheduled to begin at 12:55 central time. Audio is not clear at all …

Audio, Ethanol, POET

RFA CEO Takes Case for Ethanol Incentives to The Hill

Cindy Zimmerman

Federal incentives for the U.S. ethanol industry are good public policy by every measure of “economic growth, energy security and environmental responsibility,” according to Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, in an opinion column penned for The Hill. Dinneen makes the case that biofuels offer hope for three major challenges facing the nation – the economy, …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Sunny Day for Presidential Visit to Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

Chuck Zimmerman with Domestic Fuel is set up in Macon, Missouri at the POET ethanol plant in advance of President Obama’s visit this afternoon. The press has to set up way early for the visit, which will take place at about 1:00 pm central time. Chuck reports that the weather is gorgeous and there are lots of media on site …

Ethanol, POET