The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published an announcement that they would begin preliminary research into the lifecycle impacts of EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The work will be conducted within the Office of Air and Radiation and the Office of Research and Development. The OIG’s objectives of the study are to …
Growth Energy Says RFS Resounding Success
On Friday, October 16, 2015, the Brookings Institute held an online panel discussion on 10 years of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The panel included two well-known ethanol critics, Timothy Searchinger and Chris Knittel, who have been directly linked to oil-funded research. In response to the panel. Tom Buis, co-chairman of Growth Energy said: “I have said it before, and …
Al-Corn Featured on Bobby Likis Car Clinic
Al-Corn Clean Fuel CEO Randy Doyal, who also serves as Chairman of the Board of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), was a guest on Bobby Likis Car Clinic over the weekend. The ethanol plant is located in Claremont, Minnesota and Doyal spoke about how the ethanol market is evolving and how Minnesota’s initiative in the industry is serving as a …
DuPont & Quad County Sign Enzyme Contract
DuPont Industrial Biosciences will continue to supply the enzymes that enable Quad County Corn Processors’ (QCCP) Cellerate process in the production of cellulosic biofuel from corn kernel fiber. The ethanol plant developed the process and was the first in the country to produce cellulosic ethanol gallons from the corn kernel fiber. QCCP uses DuPont OPTIMASH suite of enzymes from the …
NFU Adds Voice to Displeasure Over RFS Report
The National Farmers Union (NFU) is the latest to voice its displeasure over a new report critical of the Renewable Fuel Standard. This news release from the group says the recommendations made in the “10-Year Review of the Renewable Fuels Standard: Impacts to the Environment, The Economy, and Advanced Biofuels Development,” by the University of Tennessee that calls for dismantling …
Brookings Institute Hosts RFS Panel
The Brookings Institute hosted a panel discussion today entitled, “Ten years of the Renewable Fuel Standard: What’s been the impact on energy and the environment?“. Two of the featured speakers were Chris Knittel and Tim Searchinger and prior to the event, Americans United for Change called on them to fully disclose their past work against the biofuels industry. Back in …
NEB Debuts Biofuel Education Videos
The Nebraska Ethanol Board has debut several biofuel education videos that focus on the economic and environmental benefits of using renewable fuels. The ‘white board-style’ biofuel videos starring gruff military man Colonel Korn and modern couple Andy & Sandy. “The educational messages embodied in the new videos are an excellent means of communicating the benefits of ethanol to students as …
Ethanol Industry ‘Displeased’ With New RFS Report
The ethanol industry is displeased with a recent report on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that is not favorable to corn-based ethanol. The report, “10-Year Review of the Renewable Fuels Standard: Impacts to the Environment, The Economy, and Advanced Biofuels Development,” was published by the Agricultural & Resources Economics Department at the University of Tennessee. The report was commissioned by …
NEC to Participate in Int’l Buyer Program
The National Ethanol Conference (NEC) has been selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Buyer Program (IBF). This marks the first time the NEC has been selected, an annual ethanol conference hosted by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The NEC will take place Feb. 15–17, 2016 in New Orleans. The IBF program recruits pre-screened foreign buyer delegations …
Illinois Teen’s Cellulosic Ethanol Wins Science Prize
An Illinois teen is being recognized for his efforts to make cellulosic ethanol. This article from the Chicago-area Daily Herald says 17-year-old Tavis Reed, a senior at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora, won the 2015 gold medal in the chemistry/biochemistry division of the National Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics competition, besting more than 700 students from …