There may be some issues with the Renewable Fuel Standard that need to be addressed, but they could be done at the administrative level, rather than repealing the entire law or having Congress make changes. That according to a Senior Scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists Clean Vehicles Program. Dr. Jeremy Martin testified at a House Energy subcommittee hearing …
Lawmakers Seek Compromise on RFS
Some lawmakers during a House Energy subcommittee hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) attempted to work toward getting some compromise between the two sides of the debate. One side, represented by the oil industry, wants to see the RFS completely repealed. The other side, represented by the biofuels industry, would prefer no change to the law. Congressman John Shimkus …
Vilsack Says Congress Only Works During Crisis
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Ames, Iowa this week and while there gave remarks during the Iowa Farm Bureau’s (#IFBF13) 2013 Economic Summit. The standing room only crowd wanted to hear what Vilsack would say regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the Farm Bill. Vilsack was not complementary of the current Congress saying that they …
DuPont Gets Win in Court
The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C. has issued a ruling affirming the May 2012 decision of Judge Barbara Crabb of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin that the Novozymes patent on an alpha-amylase enzyme used in the ethanol industry is invalid for lack of an adequate written description. Ms. Soonhee Jang, …
Jam the Stands
The “Jam the Stands” racing series continues on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at the Granite City Speedway in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. During the event, fans will enjoy a free evening of high octane stock car racing and learn about biofuels. Gates open at 2:00 pm and racing begins at 5:30 pm. The Biofuel Mobile Education Center will be at the …
Genscape Issues Cautionary Alert to Corn Buyers
Genscape has recreated the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) corn yield projections for the 2013 season and is issuing a cautionary alert to corn buyers, traders and other market participants. Genscape tapped into its LandViewer model that uses a methodological tripod of high resolution satellite imagery, extensive on-the-ground surveillance, and proprietary algorithms to pinpoint corn yields at the farmland …
RSC Hearing One-Sided
The Republican Study Committee’s Energy Task Force held an informational hearing discussing the impact of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on July 17, 2013. Speakers included representatives from the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, National Council of Chain Restaurants, the Turkey Federation, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association. The event happened to occur two days after the American Petroleum Institute …
AAA Sets Record Straight on E15
This week the American Petroleum Institute (API) kicked off an new anti-ethanol and anti-biofuels TV and print campaign and in a commercial being aired in South Dakota, criticized the increased use of ethanol and E15 as a motor fuel. The 30-second commercials mention Triple A (AAA) and the organization has come out publicly and said the ads misrepresent their position …
Vital Signs: Volume 20 Released
The Worldwatch Institute has released Vital Signs: Volume 20, the latest compilation from the Vital Signs project. The report finds that in 2012, global oil consumption reached an all-time high and physical water scarcity affected nearly 1.2 billion people. The Vital Signs report provides insight on many of the most critical global concern and provides data and analysis on significant …
Gas Prices Predicted to Spike
Summer driving season is nearing its peak and as events continue to unfold in Egypt, gas prices are again expected to spike. To learn more about the reasons behind rising fuel prices, Fuels America hosted a media briefing with several energy experts to provide a panoramic view of the real drivers behind volatile gas prices. Speakers discussed how renewable fuel …