Florida stands ready to fill up and feel good as it endeavors to become a leader in both the production and consumption of biofuels, including ethanol. This edition of “Fill up, Feel Good” discusses the “Florida Needs Ethanol” campaign being conducted by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and features comments made by Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Florida Commissioner of …
May Ethanol Numbers
According to the Renewable Fuels Association, both ethanol production and demand moved higher in May, reflecting the growth in the ethanol industry and the increased gasoline demand at the beginning of the summer driving season. As oil refiners struggled to keep their facilities operating, ethanol production grew to an average of 406,000 barrels per day (b/d), according to information released …
Corn Prices Down
Recent rain in the Midwest has helped the corn crop rebound and led to lower corn prices, according to a Forbes article. After as much as 6 inches of rain in eastern Iowa and western Illinois, much of corn crop received relief after a dry June. In mid-June, a little more than half of Illinois’ corn crop was in good …
Down at the Circle K
At the recent Farm to Fuel Summit in Florida, the state’s chief financial officer told the crowd that biofuels have made it into the mainstream. CFO Alex Sink related a story of how she had gone into her local Circle K convenience store that morning for coffee and newspapers on the way to the conference and the clerk at the …
Good Fortune, Great Ethanol
Kirin Brewery Company of Japan reportedly plans to begin experimental production of ethanol using the residue of malt used to make beer as feedstock. According to an Autochannel.com story, an estimated 300 million yen ($2.5 million) will be invested to construct a pilot plant which will have the capacity to produce 15 kilolitres of ethanol a year. Production is expected …
POETic Tribute
The nation’s largest dry mill ethanol producer was recently honored by U.S. troops serving in Iraq. The American flag in the photo being handed to POET CEO Jeff Broin by Major Andrew Chontos, MD was flown over the Sather Air Base at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM on Sunday, June 24, 2007. The flag was flown “in …
Energy Title of House Farm Bill
The US House passed its version of the 2007 Farm Bill Friday by a vote of 231 to 191 – a vote largely along party lines on a bill that came out of the House agriculture committee as a bipartisan piece of legislation. Republican members of the committee withdrew their support for the bill when a tax increase on foreign …
Pizza and Ethanol
The ethanol industry is starting to get fed up with being blamed for higher food prices. “The ethanol industry has become a convenient scapegoat for corporate America to justify price increases to maintain profits,” said Tom Slunecka, executive director of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC). “The debate over rising food prices has bordered on the ludicrous; the facts …
RFA Supports House Ag Farm Bill
The Renewable Fuels Association is pleased with support for biofuels in the 2007 Farm Bill passed by the House Agriculture Committee last week. RFA President Bob Dinneen says the programs included in the Energy Title of H.R. 2419 will greatly contribute to ensuring America’s future energy security. “The programs included in the Energy Title will promote Federal procurement of biobased …
The Future of Biofuels
A middle school student from Merritt Island was in the spotlight at the 2007 Florida Farm to Fuel Summit last week in St. Petersburg for her work in making biofuels. Yep, you read that right. Erin McCaskey, 12, attends Thomas Jefferson Middle School and her seventh grade science project last year was making biodiesel from a variety of sources. “I …