The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and the fifth anniversary of its eco-friendly, green headquarters building in Jefferson City, Mo. NBB CEO Joe Jobe says when they started in 1993, some of the first research was done in central Missouri at the University of Missouri, funded by the Missouri Soybean Council. They expected to …
RFA’s Cooper on Corn Crop and E15
This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features an interview from Farm Progress Show with Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Research and Development Geoff Cooper on several timely topics, including corn and ethanol production this year, cellulosic ethanol, the importance of the RFS, and sales of E15 ramping up again as summer volatility requirements end. Cooper talks about how despite …
Renewable Fuels Fall Preview
Congress is preparing to return to work and renewable fuels will be top of mind at their return with debate still ongoing around the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as well as the need to pass a bi-partisan FAARM bill before the end of September. Fuels America recently brought together several renewable fuel experts held a call to discuss the progress …
Vilsack Speaks to Growth Energy Members
There’s an old Chinese proverb that’s also considered a curse: “May you live in interesting times.” This morning, members of the Growth Energy Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. heard that from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, as he explained how it’s “interesting” that Congress seems to have its priorities turned around, with lawmakers working to change Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) …
Senate Leaders Support RFS
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) attended a press conference for the National Farmers Union in Washington on Monday to stress support for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “We’ve learned a lot about biofuels, we’ve done so much better in producing biofuels for things other than crops that we eat and that’s …
Argentinean Biofuels Production
Argentina ranks third behind the United States and Brazil in soybean production, but first in the export of soy products, including biodiesel. The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) held its annual Congress in Argentina last week and those who attended learned quite a bit about farming and biofuel production in this South American nation. Soybeans are the number one …
Neil Young Rocks for Ethanol
Rocker Neil Young showed he has a “heart of gold” for ethanol during a press event in Washington D.C. Monday with the National Farmers Union. “I love ethanol. I love how it smells, I love the way it makes my car go, everything about it is great, it’s clean,” said Young. “It’s a beautiful fuel.” But, Young told an audience …
IRFA: Big Oil’s Ethanol Lies Don’t Pass Sniff Test
SURPRISE! Big Oil is spreading lies about ethanol, trying to compare the fuel to Canadian tar sands! I know you could just die from a lack of surprise on that one. But no surprise, the folks at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association are not taking it lying down. “The truth must be that, for whatever weird reason, [oil companies] raise …
Illinois Governor Supports More Ethanol
During a stop at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois last week, Governor Pat Quinn was asked about his support of ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard. “I drive a car that believes in renewable fuels and I think it’s important for the governor to get the word out that we have to not be dependent on foreign potentates …
Offering Biodiesel Options to Ethanol Plants
Ethanol producers are always looking to find ways to get more value out of their operations. Well, one company is offering ways for those plants turn more profits by adding on biodiesel. At the recent American Coalition for Ethanol’s (ACE) “Unite and Ignite” conference in Des Moines, Iowa, Joanna caught up with Bernie Hoffman with WB Services, a renewable energy …