Ag Secretary Slams Food Industry for Ethanol Attack

Cindy Zimmerman

Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer spoke to the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit Wednesday in Florida and outlined all the advancements being made in biofuels and the potential for the industry in the future. “Nobody is talking about us going backward,” Schafer said, then quickly corrected himself, saying “almost nobody,” noting that the Grocery Manufacturers Association and some others would like to …

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Government, News

Ethanol Industry Fights Back

Cindy Zimmerman

The ethanol industry wasted no time fighting back today against another attack by the food industry to blame higher prices on ethanol production. The newly-formed Growth Energy called on the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) to “discontinue its deceptive attacks on the government’s investment in ethanol and other renewable fuels.” Growth Energy held a press conference shortly after the group “Food …

Ethanol, Food prices, News

Florida Wants to Lead Cellulosic Ethanol Production

Cindy Zimmerman

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson believes that Florida can be a leader in the production of cellulosic ethanol. “Because of the amount of sunshine, water and year-round growth that we have for cellulose potential, I think Florida can lead the nation in this process,” Bronson said during the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit on Tuesday. Bronson was the keynote speaker at …

Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

Cellulosic Ethanol Summit in the Sunshine State

Cindy Zimmerman

The third annual Cellulosic Ethanol Summit is underway in Coral Gables, Florida this week. Summit chairman and Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen kicked off the event on Tuesday morning. It is the first time the summit has been held outside of Washington DC and one of the reasons Florida was picked is because the state has become a leading …

Cellulosic, Ethanol, News, RFA

Ethanol Report on Land Use

Cindy Zimmerman

In this “Ethanol Report” podcast, Geoff Cooper of the Renewable Fuels Association talks about a new land use report just released. The report systematically refutes claims that ethanol production will divert land from agricultural use, stressing that agricultural land can expand without “jeopardizing forest or other sensitive lands.” The report also gives historical context to global agricultural land use as …

Audio, Ethanol, RFA

New Ethanol Group Wants to Be Aggressive

Cindy Zimmerman

The newly formed ethanol advocacy group, Growth Energy, has aggressive plans for attacking some of the major issues impacting the growth of biofuels. During an interview at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting, Growth Energy board member Greg Krissek of ICM said they want to “especially focus on the federal work being done on mid-level and higher level …

Audio, blends, EPIC, Ethanol, food and fuel, Growth Energy

Report Indicates Little Land Use Impact for Ethanol Production

Cindy Zimmerman

The amount of agricultural land required to produce 15 billion gallons of grain ethanol in the United States by 2015, as required by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), is likely to be less than 1 percent of total world cropland, according to a new report released today by the Renewable Fuels Association. According to the report, “Understanding …

Ethanol, News, RFA

Consumers Support Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Biofuels top the list as the most acceptable avenue to long term energy security in the nation, according to a national consumer survey commissioned by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC). EPIC Executive Director Toni Nuernberg said they interviewed over 1,000 consumers nationwide for the survey. “About 73 percent of them responded that they want to see domestically produced …

EPIC, Ethanol, News

RFA Welcomes New Ethanol Group

Cindy Zimmerman

The nation’s oldest ethanol advocacy organization is welcoming the formation of Growth Energy, a new group announced Tuesday in Washington DC. In a statement, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) said it “welcomes Growth Energy’s support in tackling challenges and seizing upon the opportunities before America’s ethanol producers. On behalf of ethanol producers across America and in conjunction with our international …

Ethanol, POET, RFA

New Ethanol Organization Announced

Cindy Zimmerman

POET and other leading ethanol producers from around the country announced the launch of a new organization, Growth Energy, at a press conference at the National Press Club today. “The organization will be dedicated to promoting clean, green ethanol as America’s best renewable fuel that is high-tech and homegrown, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the nation’s dependence on foreign oil,” …

Ethanol, News, POET