Numerous biofuels representatives testified at a day-long hearing Tuesday in Washington DC on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rulemaking for the Renewable Fuels Standard. National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) testified that corn growers have serious concerns about assumptions in the proposed rule regarding indirect land use changes. Ethanol Committee Chairman Steve Ruh says EPA has failed to take into account …
Lean, Mean AND Green Marines
While I’ve always admired U.S. Marines for their ability to go anywhere, anytime, under any conditions – and kick some serious butt!!! – you have to admire the way they are also looking out for the environment. This article from the San Diego News Network says Marines at nearby Camp Pendelton are adopting lots of alternative energy choices, including some …
USDA Meets Obama Biofuels Objective
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says USDA has met President Obama’s 30-day directive to expedite and increase the production of biofuels. “Further developing the biofuels industry helps create jobs and stimulates rural economies, an important part of getting our economy back on track,” Vilsack announced. “President Obama and I are committed to advancing clean and renewable energy as it creates jobs …
Ethanol Industry Looking Forward to RFS Hearing
The ethanol industry is looking forward to a public hearing and workshops this week in Washington, DC to address the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rulemaking for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2). Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen will be testifying at the public hearing on Tuesday. “While we generally applaud EPA’s efforts to get the rule out, we …
Wind Energy Industry Lobbies for Higher Mandate
Last year was a big year for growth in the American wind energy field, as the U.S. added more than 8,300 megawatts of capacity in 2008… a record year! This article in the Des Moines (IA) Register says officials with the industry, along with a governor from a state that is really making headways in wind energy, were on Capitol …
Harkin: Indirect Land Use Rule Not Good Science
The chair of the U.S. Senate’s Ag Committee says the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Indirect Land Use Rule, which would make biodiesel ineligible for mandates and federal subsidies, is not good science… and he believes there are enough votes in Congress to keep it from going into effect. Agriculture Online reports that the EPA’s proposal would use the concept of …
Interior Funds Efforts to Turn Fallen Trees into Biofuels
Burning deadfalls and brush in your stove or in your car might be a better option than having that same forest waste burn down your home. One of the issues that the national forests and park lands run into each year is what to do with the fallen trees and underbrush that contribute to forest fires that threaten surrounding communities …
Obama Stresses Support for Corn Ethanol
President Barack Obama sent a letter this week to the Governor’s Biofuels Coalition supporting corn-based ethanol as the foundation for the next generation of biofuels. “My administration is committed to moving as quickly as possible to commercialize an array of emerging cellulosic technologies so that tomorrow’s biofuels will be produced from sustainable biomass feedstocks and waste materials rather than corn,” …
Obama Tours Nellis AFB Solar Array
President Obama was talking about the power of the sun today at the nation’s largest solar array. This story from Wired.com says the president visited Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada to highlight the base’s king-sized solar array as part of the military’s green efforts, which has included biodiesel generators in Baghdad, thousands of electric vehicles and wind farms at …