The Energy Information Administration gasoline supply and production information released Nov. 7 indicates a new record for ethanol blended with conventional gasoline. The Weekly Supply Estimates Report shows that conventional gasoline blending with ethanol reached an all-time high of 2.119 million barrels per day as of the week ending Friday, Nov. 2. Such so-called discretionary blending is not required under …
Georgia Groundbreaking Marks Cellulosic Milestone
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue welcomed a new phase in ethanol production to his state with Range Fuels’ groundbreaking of the nation’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant this week. “Georgia is proud to partner with Range Fuels to lead the nation in delivering cellulosic ethanol as a solution to America’s dependence on foreign and fossil fuels,” said Governor Perdue. “Our abundance …
Could Biobutanol Beat Cellulosic to Market?
DuPont and BP are working to bring a next generation biofuel to market on a commercial scale and officials are optimistic that it might get there before cellulosic ethanol. In an interview with Ethanol Statistics, Philip New, President of BP Biofuels, said “he wants to avoid setting expectations that are inappropriate on the basis of cutting edge biotech. We (BP) …
Legislation Would Increase RFS Without Energy Bill
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 …