Missouri Governor Matt Blunt is serious about making the Show Me State a renewable fuels leader. As of January 1, the state became only the third in the nation to implement a statewide 10 percent ethanol standard. Now the governor has proposed several initiatives targeted at promoting the use of and expanding access to E85 in Missouri. At the Missouri …
Missouri Governor Unveils Incentives for E-85 Pumps
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt has unveiled a plan to provide $2 million in tax incentives to fuel retailers who install E-85 ethanol pumps. According to a press release from the governor’s office, there are only 92 gas stations capable of pumping E-85 out of the more than 4,300 stations in the state. These tax credits would help offset the cost …
Indy Vettes
History will be made at the 2008 Indianapolis 500 when not one, but two distinctive vehicles will serve as the official pace cars. Chevrolet and Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials gathered at the Indianapolis Auto Show Thursday to make the announcement. One of the pace cars is a customized Corvette Z06 E85 concept that runs on E85 ethanol fuel that will …
Ethanol on Ice
A new message accompanies the ice resurfacing machine at University of Minnesota hockey games. The new “E85 Zamboni” debuted this month during a game between the Gopher Men and the University of Alaska-Anchorage. “The message is as “black and white” as we can make it. We hope you agree,” said Tim Gerlach of the Minnesota E85 Team. “This consumer education …
Educating NC about FFVs
The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, along with General Motors, CleanFUEL Distribution and Clean Fuel Advanced Technology, traveled the state of North Carolina this month in an effort to educate retailers and marketers regarding the potential of E85 and flexible fuel vehicles. “The event allowed North Carolina gasoline marketers the chance to learn more about E85 and the use of alternative …
Author Outlines “Energy Victory”
An aerospace engineer and author thinks the country needs a new direction in energy policy to “break the economic stranglehold that the OPEC oil cartel has on our country.” Robert Zubrin is president of Pioneer Astronautics, a private company that does research and development on innovative aerospace technologies, and author of several books including his most recent, “Energy Victory,” in …
Biofuel Producer Honored as “Great Oregonian”
SeQuential Biofuels, maker and seller of biodiesel and ethanol, has been honored as one of five recipients of Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski’s Gold Awards, recognizing “greatness in Oregonians.” This story from the Portland (OR) News says the award was handed out recently at the Oregon Convention Center: SeQuential, which opened the nation’s first biofuels station in 2006 on McVay Highway …
Swedish Bio-Fuel Sports Car
“The Future of Things” has a feature on a future bio-fueled sports car called CCXR. The elite Swedish sports car manufacturer Koenigsegg has created a new bio-fuel powered sports car named CCXR. This Limited Edition CCXR is the first homologated car currently in production to reach over 1,000 Brake horsepower, and a top speed of over 400 km/h (250+ mph). …
GM Disputes E85 Report
General Motors issued a statement in response to a USA Today report this week on a cost-benefit analysis of E85 ethanol, saying the report failed to take into account several positive factors. “We believe ethanol as a renewable fuel is the best near-term alternative to oil as a transportation fuel and replacing gasoline with ethanol positively contributes to lowering greenhouse …
Illinois Corn Growers Honor Ethanol Promoters
Tom Slunecka, former executive director of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) is the recipient of the Illinois Corn Growers Association’s 2007 Ethanol Innovation Award. “It is no secret ethanol production is growing at a record pace, but equally important is the significant increase in public use and acceptance of e10 and e85. Part of what is driving this …