This morning the Florida Farm to Fuel Summit got underway. I think this is the third one. We missed our old friend Charlie Bronson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, although he’ll be here later this afternoon. We did see him on video though. Right now our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, is speaking. I’ll add a link to some audio …
USDA: Food and Fuel Crops Not Hurting As Much As Feared
Last month’s floods in the Midwest might not have put the corn and soybean crops, which are vital to ethanol and biodiesel production, in as much peril as originally feared. In a news conference in Washington, DC today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief said that the Midwest corn and soybean crops have not been hurt as badly as first …
Highlights of Renewable Energy Conference Posted
U.S. government officials are following up on the success of last March’s Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) with a report of that three-day conference. This press release from the USDA announces the launch of the WIREC Conference Report at www.WIREC2008.gov, as well as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s release of a preliminary impact assessment of the pledges submitted …
RFS Restrictions Could Delay Cellulosic Ethanol
Members of a House Agriculture subcommittee are expressing concerns that restrictions under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act could be detrimental to the development of second generation ethanol using biomass. The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research held a hearing to review the RFS implementation and agriculture producer eligibility. Chairman …
CO Ranked High in Using Less Oil
Colorado is ranked high in the states becoming less dependent on oil, according to a study released by the Natural Resources Defense Council. In fact, it ranks ninth out of all fifty states; California ranks first and Mississippi ranks last. A primary reason is the addition of their alternative fuels infrastructure and promotion of such fuels.
Montana Senator Tester Supports EPAC
Montana’s Senator Jon Tester is in support of domestic fuel and Ethanol Producers and Consumers (EPAC). The U.S. Senator is a third generation Montana farmer who understands the value of agriculture to Montana’s economy and way of life. His Field Director Tracy Stone-Manning presented a letter at the recent EPAC conference in Kalispell, Montana: Thank you all for your hard …
Open Fuel Standard Act Introduced
U.S. Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) today introduced the Open Fuel Standard Act. The legislation would require that half of all new automobiles starting in 2012 be flex-fuel vehicles warranted to operate on gasoline, ethanol, and methanol, or be warranted to operate on biodiesel. The requirement would be increased to 80 percent by 2015. …
EPA Delays Ethanol Waiver Decision
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson announced today that the agency will not meet its July 24 deadline to issue a decision on the renewable fuels standard (RFS) waiver request submitted by Texas Governor Rick Perry. Johnson said in a statement, “Given the amount of work that remains to sufficiently answer the Texas request for a waiver from the …