Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has received a response from the Environmental Protection Agency explaining the decision to include indirect land use change in calculating estimates of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for biofuels, but the senator still believes it should not be a factor in the Renewable Fuels Standard. According to the letter from EPA acting assistant administrator Elizabeth Craig, the …
More MN State Vehicles Fueled With Ethanol
Minnesota state fleet vehicles are using more E85 than ever, according to a new quarterly report from the Minnesota SmartFleet Committee, a group tasked with helping to reduce the state’s use of petroleum fuels in favor of cleaner-burning fuels such as E85 and biodiesel. In the first quarter of 2009, more than 12 percent of the total fuel used by …
Petition Shows Support for Increasing Ethanol Blend
An on-line petition drive sponsored by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has gathered more than 5,000 signatures in the past month from people in all 50 states who are in favor of the government increasing the amount of ethanol allowed per gallon of gasoline to 15 percent. “People want more ethanol, and the number of names signed to this …
More Corn for Ethanol and Exports
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expecting more corn to be made into ethanol and exported overseas this year, but less to be fed to livestock. According to the May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates released on Tuesday morning, total U.S. corn use for 2009/10 is projected to be three percent higher than the current year with higher expected …
Corn Ethanol Done Right
Corn growers and ethanol producers have joined forces for a new ad campaign stressing how corn-based ethanol gets biofuels right. The campaign includes a full-page ad running in Politico, a Capitol Hill newspaper. The print ad stresses important facts about corn and ethanol, such as the increase in yields over the last 20 years, the decrease in the amount of …
New Company Buys Former VeraSun Ethanol Plant
AgStar Financial Services has agreed to sell one of the six former VeraSun ethanol plants it purchased to the newly-formed Carbon Green BioEnergy of Chicago. According to a news release, the 40-million gallon plant in Woodbury, Michigan will be the first direct ownership of ethanol production for Carbon Green BioEnergy when the sale closes in the next 30 days. “This …
Corn Growers Adding Value to Ethanol
Iowa corn growers are investing in a corn oil and animal feed processor plant to add value to corn ethanol. The investment in Merrill, IA-based Plymouth Oil Company is being made through Iowa Corn Opportunities, an equity fund established by the Iowa Corn Growers Association for investment and business development. “Plymouth Oil Company represents an important step forward for the …
Wind Energy Web Conference
More than 25 North American experts will discuss opportunities, trends and challenges related to community wind energy projects during an online web conference May 26 and 27 offered by Green Energy Web Conferences. Presenters at the web conference include experts from organizations ranging from the American Wind Energy Association, Windustry and the World Wind Energy Association to the U.S. Departments …
Company to Produce Synthetic Diesel
A California company has announced plans to build a plant in Rialto, California for the production of ultra-clean synthetic fuels and electric power from renewable waste biomass feedstocks. Rentech, Inc. is working on what they are calling the Rialto Renewable Energy Center, or Rialto Project, which is designed to produce approximately 600 barrels per day of pure renewable synthetic fuels …
Ethanol Industry Chief Featured in NY Times
The president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association had a chat with the New York Times this week about the whole issue of indirect land use changes and ethanol. Bob Dinneen is featured in a post today on the NY Times “Green Inc.” blog in a post by reporter Kate Galbraith. Mr. Dinneen emphasized that his group was perfectly …