Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman visited Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island Wednesday to proclaim September as Renewable Fuels Awareness Month in Nebraska. Joined by representatives of the Nebraska Corn and Soybean Boards, Gov. Heineman said that renewable fuels are a critical component of energy independence and energy security, while providing economic growth and vitality in the state. “Nebraska is one …
Ethanol Industry E15 Vehicle Study Detailed
A new study released this week makes a good case for allowing up to 15 percent ethanol in all vehicles, to avoid having different standards for older cars. The ethanol industry is hoping it will help the Environmental Protection Agency rule favorably on the request to grant a waiver allowing E15 that was requested nearly two years ago. “Indications are …
RFA Disputes EPA’s Inclusion of Biogenic Carbon Emissions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering equating biogenic carbon emissions with fossil fuel emissions under the Tailoring Rule, which requires the accounting and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2). Biogenic carbon emissions are those that are naturally created during the combustion and decay of woody biomass and up until now, have always been considered …
Study Finds 15 Percent Ethanol Safe for Older Vehicles
Landmark research by an internationally recognized engineering firm finds that E15 should be safe for older vehicles. According to the study, carried out by Ricardo, Inc. on behalf of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), moving from 10 percent ethanol in gasoline to 15 percent will mean little, if any, change on the performance of older cars and light trucks, those …
Ethanol – Right Here, Right Now
A new ad campaign by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) says ethanol is the answer to energy independence that’s “Right Here, Right Now.” The thirty second ad began airing this morning on MSNBC’s Morning Joe news program in the Washington, DC media market and will continue through October 12 with nine spots per week. The target audience is policy makers …
Ethanol Supporters Reflect on OPEC Anniversary
Ethanol supporters are not wishing OPEC a very happy 50th birthday this week. Growth Energy organized a press event in Washington today with more than 90 supporters and producers of domestic ethanol to mark the 50th anniversary of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries – better known as OPEC. “Since the inception of OPEC we have had conflict in …
Yeast Breakthrough Made for Cellulosic Ethanol
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have made a breakthrough that has some awfully big implications for cellulosic ethanol. They’ve been able to put genes from grass-eating fungi into yeast and created strains that produce alcohol from tough plant material: “By adding these genes to yeast, we have created strains that grow better on plant material than does wild …
Valero Corner Store Sells 85 Percent Ethanol
Valero Energy Corporation recently announced that one of its company-owned Valero Corner Stores in San Antonio has begun selling E-85, a blend of fuel consisting of up to 85 percent ethanol blended with unleaded gasoline for use in Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). Valero also announced plans to continue introducing sales of E-85 at new Valero Corner Stores as they’re built. …
Record Corn Crop and More Ethanol Production
Some weather issues over the past month caused USDA to slightly lower the forecast for this year’s corn crop, but it is still expected to be a record at 13.16 billion bushels. The average yield was lowered due to average 162.5 bushels per acre, down 2.5 bushels from the previous month and 2.2 bushels below last year’s record of 164.7 …