The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is holding two public workshops regarding the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) this week – one to discuss general updates to the LCFS regulation, and the second to discuss updates to the indirect land use change (iLUC) values. Stakeholder feedback is being solicited for both workshops. The board will discuss a proposal to update …
Ethanol’s Voice Heard at Commodity Classic
It might not be a biofuels convention per se, but the recently completed Commodity Classic in San Antonio attracted lots of producers and advocates for the green fuels. Previously, I talked to Joe Jobe from the National Biodiesel Board about his group’s participation in the annual meeting of corn, wheat, soybean and sorghum growers. At the booth next door was …
EPA Releases Tier 3 Emission Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its Tier 3 Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standard Program rules. The purpose of the program is to reduce impacts of motor vehicles on air quality and public health. In addition to lower the gasoline sulfur standard, the program is supposed to reduce both tailpipe and evaporative emissions from passenger cars, light-duty truck, medium-duty …
Arming for a Fact-Based Fight Over Ethanol
It’s not always fact-based arguments proponents of ethanol are up against when battling Big Oil. But that’s why it’s all more important to make sure you have good facts on your side in the fight. Farmers who attended the recent Commodity Classic in San Antonio were able to sit in on a session titled, “Biofuels and the Renewable Fuels Standard, …
Documentary: How Ethanol Fuels America
Syngenta has released a new documentary video entitled “Ethanol: Fueling Rural America’s Future – One Community at a Time.” According to the company, the video provides a platform for farmers, ethanol producers and industry advocates to share their passion for an industry critical to the future of agriculture and rural America. Syngenta developed the video to reinforce the ethanol industry’s …
It Pays to Shop for Ethanol
An informal survey of gasoline retail locations in greater Des Moines, Iowa, revealed that while 87-octane gasoline prices remain relatively uniform across several retail brands, the price a consumer pays for premium gasoline varies greatly depending on whether the retailer blends its premium gasoline with ethanol. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) reports that using premium gasoline blended with E10 …
Growth Energy’s ‘State of the Industry’
Ethanol industry leaders met in Phoenix, Arizona this week to discuss the state of the renewable fuels industry. The event was kicked off by Jeff Broin, co-chair of Growth Energy’s Board of Directors with a “state of the industry” address. Broin noted the resilience of the industry and outlined how Congress made a promise to America to reduce its dependence …
Growth Unveils No. 3 American Ethanol Chevy
Growth Energy is hosting its fifth annual Executive Leadership Conference and during the event, the No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet SS was unveiled by Jeff Broin, Growth Energy co-chair and Tom Buis, CEO. Also on hand was Richard Childress (who sits on the Growth Energy Board) and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion, Austin Dillon. …
Idea Leads to Cellulosic Ethanol, Scholarship
An idea that started back when he was just an elementary school student has led a Tennessee high schooler to picking up a substantial scholarship that he says will help him further his own energy business. Caleb Brannon of Puryear, Tenn. was selected as the recipient of the 2014-2015 ASA Secure Optimal Yield (SOY) Scholarship, a $5,000 award presented to …
Camp Releases 2014 Tax Reform Draft
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) has released draft of the “Tax Reform Act of 2014,” which he says will spur stronger economic growth, greater job creation and put more money in the pockets of taxpaying Americans. Camp’s goal is to fix America’s broken tax code by lowering tax rates and making tax policy simpler and fairer for …