The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is calling results of yet another American Petroleum Institute (API) push poll released today “skewed” and based on misleading questions. API claims its poll results show a majority of Americans are “concerned about the government requiring increased amounts of ethanol in gasoline” under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). RFA notes that API historically frames its …
Syngenta Touts Potential for Cellulosic Ethanol
Developments in cellulosic ethanol technology are creating opportunities for American ethanol producers. Miloud Araba, head of Enogen® technical services at Syngenta, says cellulosic innovation could enable dry grind ethanol producers to meet the increasing Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements for cellulosic biofuels, which are up 35 percent for 2017. “Approximately 10 percent of the corn kernel dry weight is …
Coalition Formed to Protect Point of Obligation
A coalition made up largely of fuel retailers has been formed to oppose efforts to change the point of obligation requirement under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Main Street Energy Alliance (MSEA) includes the National Association of Convenience Stores, NATSO (representing truck stops and travel plazas), the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America, as well as Shell and …
RFA Disputes NWF Study with USDA County Data
It is undisputed that the amount of land dedicated to crop production overall in the United States has been on the decline for decades, dropping 12 percent just between 1997 and 2012, according to USDA census data. At the same time, corn acreage and ethanol production have increased significantly, which is also undisputed. What is disputed is whether increased ethanol …
Crappie Masters is Big Target for Ethanol Message
The ethanol industry is casting a wide net to hook anglers with the facts about using ten percent ethanol (E10) in boat engines by sponsoring the Crappie Masters All American Tournament Trail. “There are over 18 million panfishing anglers in the United States and that’s just a base of what we touch,” says Crappie Masters owner Mike Vallentine, who bought …
Ethanol Workforce Big on Military Vets
A new Department of Energy (DOE) study shows that military veterans make up a significant share of America’s ethanol industry workforce which is not only larger than any other energy sector but more than twice the national average. Nearly one in five ethanol industry employees is a veteran (18.9%), compared to a national average of 7% across all sectors of …
Butamax Acquires Kansas Ethanol Facility
Butamax Advanced Biofuels, a 50/50 joint venture between BP and DuPont, today announced the acquisition of Nesika Energy in Scandia, Kansas as the next step in the commercialization of bio-isobutanol. “The Nesika facility will serve to demonstrate our technology at scale as well as validate process and biocatalyst improvements,” said Stuart Thomas, Butamax CEO. “Our plan is to broadly license …
Ag Secretary Closer to Confirmation
The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Thursday moved the Trump Administration one step closer to a full cabinet by voting to favorably report nominee Sonny Perdue to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, which means he will now be considered by the full Senate for confirmation. Committee chairman Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) is pleased Perdue’s nomination is …
Ethanol Helping Crappie Masters Grow
Grenada Lake, Mississippi was host last weekend for the Mississippi State Championship, one stop on the 2017 Crappie Masters All American Tournament Trail. The Renewable Fuels Association is a title sponsor of the tournament, along with Bass Pro Shops, and it has the support of Missouri Corn Growers and American Ethanol as well. Brian Sowers is co-host of Crappie Masters …
RFA, TRANSCAER Hosting Second Ethanol Safety Webinar
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and TRANSCAER® are jointly hosting this year’s second ethanol safety webinar for ethanol emergency response teams on Tuesday, April 11. The “Train the Trainer” webinars are funded through a Federal Railroad Administration/ TRANSCAER® grant and are designed to provide entire communities with the knowledge to respond to any potential ethanol-related emergency. The program is based …