Concerns about a languishing energy bill in Congress are motivating Senators to take action that would increase the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) even without it. U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) have introduced legislation called the Renewable Fuels Strategy Act of 2007 that contains several provisions including a larger Renewable Fuels Standard of 36 billion gallons of …
Georgia Cellulosic Plant Groundbreaking
A cellulosic ethanol company funded by California-based Khosla Ventures is holding a groundbreaking this week for its first planned facility in Georgia. The Tuesday event at Range Fuels in Soperton, Georgia will include remarks from Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, Range Fuels CEO Mitch Mandich and Khosla Ventures founder Vinod Khosla. The facility has a goal of producing 100 million gallons …
Pacer Named Georgia Biofuels Pioneer
Pacer Fuels of Austell, GA., has been named a “Pioneer in Biofuels” by Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin. Pacer Fuels, the sole provider of alternative fuels to the fleet of vehicles operated by Peachtree City (PC), was honored for its development and marketing of biofuels. Here, in a ceremonial fueling of a PC Fire Truck, are; Charise Stephens, Georgia Clean …
Senators Urge Consideration of Higher Ethanol Blends
Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) led a bi-partisan group of Senators in writing a letter to the President last week urging him to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to approve higher blends of ethanol in commercial gasoline. The current maximum blend for non-flex fuel vehicles is 10% ethanol. “The current 10% standard, or blend wall, will …
Consumer Group Urges Energy Action
A new report from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) shows just how much energy costs have skyrocketed in recent years. According to the report, household energy expenditures (home heating and gasoline) have nearly doubled in just the last five years, and are now 50 percent more than health care expenditures and 23 percent more than spending on food. CFA …
Georgia Considers Ethanol Blend Changes
Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin is holding a couple of town hall meetings later this month to listen to comments regarding updating Georgia’s fuel standards for ethanol blends. A recent article in Florida Today noted that state officials in Georgia and other Southeastern states, including Florida, are moving to alter fuel-quality standards that have discouraged refiners from adding ethanol …
Ag Secretary Nominee Has Biofuels Credentials
In his nomination of former North Dakota governor Ed Schafer as Secretary of Agriculture on Wednesday, President Bush noted his support of domestic fuel. “Ed Schafer is the right choice to fill this post. He was a leader on agricultural issues during his eight years as the governor of North Dakota,” Bush said. “He oversaw the development of the state’s …
Combining Corn Cobs
Ethanol producer POET is working with several leading agricultural equipment manufactures to refine methods for harvesting, storing and transporting corn cobs for commercial cellulosic ethanol production. Among them is John Deere, according to public relations manager Barry Nelson, pictured here with POET CEO Jeff Broin. “On behalf of John Deere, we’re very interested in the new technologies that will be …
Dinneen Discusses New Poll and New Coalition
Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen is pleased with new poll results that show Americans want renewable fuels and he’s excited about a new coalition that is working to make that happen. Dinneen says the poll affirms what many in the industry have known for a long time “that Americans absolutely believe we need to be maximizing the use of …
Ethanol Demand Continues to Exceed Production
Ethanol production continued to grow in July, averaging 434,000 barrels per day according to the Energy Information Administration. Ethanol demand, as calculated by the Renewable Fuels Association, also increased to 464,000 barrels per day. To date, RFA says the U.S. is averaging 402,000 barrels per day production with average demand exceeding production at nearly 429,000 barrels per day.