With 78 percent of the corn crop suffering from drought, livestock and poultry groups are renewing calls for changing the ethanol requirements in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2). During a press conference today sponsored by livestock and poultry interests, Cong. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) said he has introduced two bills – one to eliminate the RFS and one to reform it. …
RFA Continues Sturgis Sponsorship
The 72nd Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, SD is August 6-12 and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is continuing its partnership with the Legendary Buffalo Chip. This is an opportunity for the organization to promote the use of ethanol to motorcyclists around the country. Often ethanol is mischaracterized as a problem for motorcycle engines. During the event, RFA staff …
Ag Secretary Says RFS Okay with Ethanol Stocks
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack held a sobering press briefing Wednesday after meeting with President Obama about the impact of the nation’s drought on agricultural production. Vilsack says the drought is “most serious situation we’ve had in 25 years” with 61% of the land mass of the United States is currently characterized as being impacted. About one third of the counties …
Using Bacteria for Good
Researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) are using the power of microbes from agricultural waste to create ethanol and hydrogen for fuel cells. The technology was developed by MSU microbiologist Gemma Reguera, who created bioelectrochemical systems known as microbial electrolysis cells or MECs. The process uses bacteria to break down and ferment ag waste into ethanol. The process produces 20 …
Oil Industry Attacks on E15 Inappropriate
The ethanol industry is calling recent attacks by the oil industry regarding the use of E15 inappropriate and unreasonable. The latest in an ongoing battle between Big Oil and Little Ethanol occurred when the American Petroleum Institute (API) issued a “warning” to drivers in Kansas to not use E15 being sold at a Zarco 66 station in Lawrence, Kansas. In its first …
Can Ethanol Meet RFS Demand with Lower Corn Crop?
USDA already cut the corn crop forecast by 12% but as conditions continue to worsen, concerns are being raised about whether the ethanol industry will be able to meet demand under the Renewable Fuels Standard with a drastically reduced crop. Renewable Fuels Association VP of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper tackled that question in a white paper posted on the …
Ethanol Safety Seminar Comes to Iowa
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is partnering with the Canadian National Railway and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) to host two Ethanol Safety Seminars. The first will be held on July 30, 2012 in Sioux City, Iowa and the second on August 1, 2o12 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The seminars are FREE to attend and open to the public …
South Dakota to Award Blender Pump Grants
The South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) is now accepting applications for nearly $1 million in funding for the Ethanol Infrastructure Grant Program in the 2013 fiscal year. The program was created last year to help station owners defray the cost of installation of ethanol blender pumps, which offer consumers a greater variety of fuel choices, including non-ethanol …
Ethanol Output and Exports Drop
U.S. ethanol production is the lowest its been in nearly two years, and exports are continuing to drop. According to the latest Energy Information Administration data, ethanol production averaged 821,000 barrels, or just under 34.5 million gallons, per day the week ending July 6. That is down 36,000 barrels per day from the week before and is the lowest weekly …
Dyadic Unveils Biofuels Enzyme Product
Global biotech company Dyadic International today unveiled its latest biofuels enzyme advancement, AlternaFuel® CMAX3™, which the company says is a next generation product that enables the production of cellulosic biofuels and bio-based chemicals from a wide range of renewable non-food feedstocks under broad operating conditions. “The data supporting this product clearly demonstrates Dyadic’s scientific capabilities to leverage our C1 technology …