Slow Start For New Team Ethanol Driver

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Biofuels Hearing

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government

Summit Welcomes “Pro-Ethanol” President

Cindy Zimmerman

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), …

Ethanol

Prices Fueling Partisan Politics

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Ethanol, Government

Read Past the Headlines

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Ethanol

Pricing Right at the Pump

Cindy Zimmerman

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, …

Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles

Clean Cities Congress Highlights

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Biodiesel, Clean Cities Congress, Ethanol

Toyota Moving Forward To Flex Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles, Miscellaneous

More Michigan E85 Pumps

Cindy Zimmerman

General Motors is partnering with the state of Michigan, Cleanfuel USA And Meijer gas stations to add about 20 new E85 ethanol fueling sites in the southeast Michigan area. According to a GM press release, the announcement was made Tuesday during an event at the State Capitol presided over by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles

Questions About Ethanol Imports and Tariffs

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol imports and the Brazilian tariff made up the majority of questions from the media during the “Truth About Ethanol” press conference Tuesday. Why do we need to import any ethanol if the industry can meet the demand? How much ethanol will we import this year? What about a temporary waiver of the Brazilian import tariff? What are the secondary …

Audio, Ethanol