Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) is pushing a BOLD new energy initiative – BOLD, as in Breaking Our Long-term Dependence. Sen. Conrad introduced the legislation just before the spring recess and he talked about the details during this morning’s Senate Agricutlure Committee hearing on the future of biofuels. The BOLD act calls for “extending biodiesel and ethanol tax credits through 2013. …
If Talk were Fuel…
It would be cheap in our nation’s capitol. I just spent the past two hours and 15 minutes listening to the Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on Biofuels. The first hour was taken up with comments from 13 of the senators in attendance – thanking everyone for holding the meeting, saying how much they looked forward to hearing testimony from the …
President Promotes Renewable Fuels
President Bush announced steps he is taking to address high gas prices during a speech today to the Renewable Fuels Association in Washington. Bush announced the government would “stop making purchases or deposits to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve” for the summer, that EPA would be allowed to waive local fuel requirements regarding the switch from MTBE to ethanol, and called …
Woody Biomass Grants
Reducing the risk of wildfires could help increase production of domestic fuels. Agriculture Under Secretary Thomas Dorr today announced nearly $4.2 million in grants to 18 small enterprises to develop innovative uses for woody biomass in national forests as sources of renewable energy and new products. According to a USDA press release, “This grant program helps to reduce the risk …
“I can’t believe somebody’s saying that”
Believe it, Mr. Secretary. The headline was Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns in Colorado on Earth Day reacting to a reporter’s question about ethanol being responsible for high gas prices. Johanns response was, “The price of a barrel of oil went over $72 this week – and I rest my case.” Listen to the USDA newsline report here.
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 …
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 …
IL Gov Blagojevich Mentions Renewable Fuels
It wasn’t real easy but I was able to ask llinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich, a quick question after he cut the ribbon prior to the trade show here at BIO 2006. I asked him about agriculture since I only had one question and in his answer he mentions renewable energy and corn and soybeans.
Energy Secretary Promotes Energy Initiative
U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman made lots of friends in the hydrogen fuel cell business yesterday when he announced plans to award $50 million over the next three years in research grants to advance the technology. AP reports that universities, national laboratories and private companies will compete for the grants starting later this month. They are part of the …
JW Writes: EPA on Why Diesel is not Green
I was searching a cool website by the EPA that categorizes various vehicles by their green factor, or by how efficient and clean burning their emissions are. I noticed that no diesel engines were listed among the vehicles and sent a note to ask why. This is the reply I got from the EPA. The reason why you are having …