E85 can now be sold in the greater Phoenix area. Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano recently signed a bill into law that will allow the alternative fuel to be available throughout Maricopa County, according to a release from the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. “Our deep appreciation is extended to Representative Boone and his associates, as well as Weights and Measures, and …
Answering the Critics
During the “Truth about Ethanol” conference call last week (see previous post), I got to ask the guys to answer the critics who charge that ethanol and corn production rely too heavily on natural gas and nitrogen fertilizer. Bob Dinneen of Renewable Fuels Association, notes that the ethanol industry continues to evolve, “$11 natural gas is a great motivator to …
Slow Start For New Team Ethanol Driver
A crash during practice and another on lap 40 of the Indy Racing League Twin Ring Motegi gave new Team Ethanol driver Jeff Simmons an 18th place finish in the 20 car field over the weekend. Simmons was unhurt, but the No. 17 Ethanol car did sustain some damage. Needless to say, Simmons was disappointed with his Rahal Letterman Racing …
Biofuels Hearing
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry will be holding a hearing on the “State of the Biofuels Industry” Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 10:00 am. The witness list includes Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen, National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe, CHS Inc. Executive Vice President Jay Debertin and Iowa State University professor Robert C. Brown, Ph.D …
Summit Welcomes “Pro-Ethanol” President
President Bush will be headlining the 2006 Renewable Fuels Summit Tuesday in Washington. “Growing America’s Energy Security” is the theme of the summit, sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association, which is understandably “proud to welcome the most pro-ethanol President in history” to the invitation-only event. Other honored guests include Sen. Ken Salazar (R-CO); Reps. Jack Kingston (R-GA), Gil Gutknecht (R-MN), …
Prices Fueling Partisan Politics
Higher energy costs were the subject of dueling Earth Day radio addresses by President Bush and the Democratic Party. Here’s part of the president’s address, promoting the administration’s energy initiative: …hydrogen fuel cells, one of the exciting new technologies supported by my initiative. These fuel cells have the potential to revolutionize the way we power our cars by giving us …
Read Past the Headlines
Over 120 articles on a Google news search for ethanol are coming up with headlines blaming ethanol for gas shortages in Texas and on the East Coast. But if you read the whole article, there’s a little more to it than that. Take this AP report, for example. The lead sentence says stations are facing shortages as “the industry grapples …
Pricing Right at the Pump
This article in the Billings (MT) Gazette offers a refreshingly positive look at ethanol compared to many stories in the mainstream media this week. While acknowledging some of the concerns, such as negative publicity regarding the fuel’s energy balance and the lack of flex-fuel vehicles and E85 pumps, it notes that ethanol in Montana is being priced right. Sherrie Allyn, …
Clean Cities Congress Highlights
Have you registered for the Clean Cities Congress May 7-10 in Phoenix yet? If not, here are a few good reasons why you should. 1. John McCain, U.S. Senator from Arizona, will welcome attendees to his home state on Monday, May 8. 2. Dr. Robert Hirsch, Senior Energy Program Advisor at Science Applications International Corporation, will give the keynote address …
Toyota Moving Forward To Flex Fuel
Toyota apparently intends to follow the U.S. car manufacturers flex-fuel lead and start producing cars that can run on ethanol. According to business reports out this week which site “an unnamed company executive” and a Toyota spokesperson, Toyota “acknowledged that Japan’s top auto maker was developing flexible-fuel vehicles, mainly for the ethanol-smitten Brazilian market for starters, but declined to disclose …