The importance of biofuels to rural development was a focus of the first Farm Bill hearing by the Senate Committee on Agriculture this week. “In the last Farm Bill, this Committee wisely focused on energy policy,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told the panel. “Renewable energy – including biofuels, biomass, wind and solar – are an important source of jobs and …
EPA Approval Moves E15 Closer to the Market
Fifteen percent ethanol blended motor fuel has gotten one step closer to commercial availability with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval of health effects testing submitted by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy. EPA concluded, “Our evaluation therefore concludes that RFA/Growth Energy has submitted data and analysis that would satisfy the Tier 1 and Tier 2 testing requirements for …
Higher Blends of Ethanol Would Reduce Prices at Pump
Oil prices have reached a new six-month high as Iran’s reduction of oil shipments to Europe is forcing American motorists to pay more for gasoline. In reaction, the American ethanol industry is telling consumers that higher blends of ethanol in motor fuel would reduce prices at the pump and reduce OPEC’s influence over our nation’s economy. “American motorists are looking …
Brazil Ethanol Sales Down
A lower percentage of ethanol required to be blended with gasoline in Brazil is resulting in lower ethanol sales, according to the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA). UNICA reports that ethanol sales by mills in the South-Central region totaled 1.29 billion liters in January, a drop of 32.32% compared to the 1.90 billion liters sold during the same period in …
ACE says E15 Could Help Ease Rising Gas Prices
Could E15 ethanol (a blend of 85% gasoline and 15% ethanol) be the economical answer to the nation’s higher fuel costs? The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) believes so. National surveys indicate that gasoline prices are up about 45 cents a gallon compared to a year ago, while ethanol prices have dropped more than 30 cents. Current ethanol wholesale prices …
Advanced Ethanol Group Asks for Tax Extensions
The Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) this week urged Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R-KS) to include two key tax extensions for advanced and cellulosic ethanol producers in the next farm bill. In a letter to the committee leaders, AEC Executive Director Brooke Coleman wrote, “The Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit (PTC) — created …
BIO Congress to Feature Advanced Biofuels Sessions
Biofuel and renewable chemical company executives, scientists and government officials from around the globe will speak in breakout sessions at BIO’s 9th annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, April 29 – May 2 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando. BIO’s World Congress will feature six breakout session tracks over three days, including tracks on …
Coalition for E85 Issues Call to Action
The Coalition for E85 is calling on members and other supporters to urge Congress to give E85 credit for being an alternative fuel. The coalition is asking members of Congress to support the inclusion of E85 in the Alternative Fuel Credit in the tax extenders package currently under review. In coordination with this effort, members of the Coalition for E85 …
Ethanol Report on RFS Challenge
The Renewable Fuels Association is pleased with the action taken by environmental groups in withdrawing from a lawsuit brought by the National Chicken Council, National Meat Association, and National Turkey Federation challenging EPA’s Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). In this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen talks about what this means for the challenge …
Environmental Groups Back Out of RFS Challenge
Environmental organizations have withdrawn their support of a challenge to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) brought by the National Chicken Council, National Meat Association, and National Turkey Federation. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard oral arguments today in the lawsuit that challenges RFS regulations issued on March 26, 2010. The challenge is focused on …