RFA Seeks Answers in 2012 RFS Delay

Today, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) wrote to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson seeking an explanation for the delay in releasing the 2012 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requirements. According to statute, volume requirements for the coming compliance year were due by November 30th. The entire letter from RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen to Administrator Jackson is as …

Ethanol, RFA

Poll Shows Agriculture Support for Ethanol

Chuck Zimmerman

A significant majority believe that ethanol production is a good thing. In answer to this past week’s ZimmPoll question, “Is Ethanol production good for ALL of Agriculture?” 64% said yes and 36% said no. That still shows a large group who aren’t on board the ethanol bandwagon. If you’re in the “no” group let us know why by posting a …

corn, Ethanol, Farming, ZimmPoll

Nebraska Ethanol Producer to Buy Grain Elevator

Cindy Zimmerman

The grain business subsidiary of Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE) is acquiring the grain elevator assets of a company in St. Edward, Nebraska. JW Grain holds 1.9 million bushels of state-licensed grain storage and is located approximately 40 miles from the GPRE’s Central City, Nebraska ethanol production facility. “We continue to seek out opportunities to expand our agribusiness segment that …

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Grains Council Promotes DDGS in China

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Grains Council recently held workshops in Guangzhou and Qingdao to promote the ethanol co-product distillers grains (DDGS) in China. “The day-long sessions were designed to provide an exchange of comprehensive DDGS market information, including discussions and analysis of the value of U.S. DDGS,” said Alvaro Cordero, USGC manager of DDGS. Cordero says they had 200 to 250 people, …

corn, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, USGC

New Ethanol Blender Pumps in Illinois

Cindy Zimmerman

Three new pumps that can dispense a range of ethanol blended fuel were officially opened in Princeton, Illinois last week. Growth Energy, Horizon Fuels, the American Lung Association and Marquis Energy partnered to help with the promotions and labeling for the three new Flex Fuel pumps at the Princeton Fast Stop. “It was time to upgrade our gasoline pumps, so …

blends, Ethanol, Ethanol News, GROWMARK, Growth Energy

USDA Helps Install Ethanol Blender Pumps

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) has used more funds to install 54 ethanol blender pumps in twelve different locations. The REAP program funded a total of 266 ethanol blender pumps in 30 states at a total cost of $4.2 million dollars in Fiscal Year 2011. “The REAP Blender Pump program is a …

blends, Ethanol

Researchers Find More Pollution from Sugarcane Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

University researchers from California, Iowa and Chile have found that sugarcane ethanol production creates up to seven times more air pollutants than previously estimated, according to news from the University of Iowa. The research team used agricultural survey data from Brazil to calculate emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases from the entire production, distribution, and lifecycle of sugarcane ethanol …

Brazil, Environment, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Research

Ethanol and the Corn Supply-Demand Picture

Cindy Zimmerman

According to USDA, global corn production for 2011/12 is projected at a new record high of 867.5 million tons, despite a smaller crop here in the U.S. The latest World Agricultural Supply Demand report estimates the U.S. crop was down 3.5 million tons this year compared to last year, but foreign corn production is expected to be 43.4 million tons …

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

Doing the Ethanol Shuffle

Cindy Zimmerman

There’s a hot new craze called the “Ethanol Shuffle” that’s sweeping seaports from Sao Paulo to Los Angeles. No, it’s not a new dance, this shuffle is all about the “confounded realignment of the global ethanol trade.” Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Vice President of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper wrote about the “Ethanol Shuffle” this week on the RFA E-xchange …

Audio, Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Exports, RFA