Representatives from ethanol organizations and companies testified before the House Agriculture Committee this morning on proposed low carbon fuel standards. The heads of three ethanol trade associations all presented basically the same message when it comes to using indirect land use changes (ILUC) to evaluate the greenhouse gas emissions of renewable fuels – it is unproven theory that should not …
World Ag Congress Discusses Biofuels
Biofuels from the perspective of India and East Africa, as well as Europe and the United States, were part of the discussion at the World Ag Congress in St. Louis on Tuesday. Henk Joos with London-based D1 Oils moderated the panel focusing on an integrated approach to biofuels. He stressed that the purpose of the panel was to find solutions. …
Alltech Ethanol Project On Hold
A cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Kentucky has been put on hold due to funding concerns. A little more than a year ago, Alltech of Lexington, KY announced plans for a $70 million plant to be partially funded with state and federal grants. “We’ve basically looked at where ethanol is today and decided to put that project on hold,” says project …
More Time for Higher Ethanol Blend Comments
The Environmental Protection Agency is allowing another 60 days for comments on the proposal to allow an increase in the amount of ethanol that can be blended into regular gasoline. The original public comment period was to end on May 21 and will now end on July 20. Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis said, “We are aware of over 10,000 …
House Bill Seeks to Improve Renewable Fuels Standard
The House Agriculture Committee last week introduced a bill to change provisions in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that are “limiting the potential for clean, homegrown renewable biofuels to meet our nation’s energy needs.” The Renewable Fuel Standard Improvement Act (H.R. 2409) was introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) along with …
Fourth Florida Farm to Fuel
Plans for the fourth Florida Farm to Fuel® Summit are progressing well and organizers expect the event on July 29-31 to be bigger and better than ever. This year’s summit will once again include leaders from the agricultural, government, academic, technology, and financial communities who will share their progress in reaching the commercial production of biofuels and renewable energy in …
EPA Responds to Indirect Land Use for Ethanol Issue
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 …