Ethanol will be on the table when Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meets with President Bush in Washington this weekend. The meeting will be a follow-up to Bush’s visit to Brazil earlier this month and, according to an Associated Press report, Silva “hopes to advance a biofuels alliance and help break a deadlock in world trade talks.” Silva …
Montreal Latest City to Fuel Buses with Biodiesel
Montreal, Canada will run its entire bus fleet on biodiesel by 2008 and will buy eight hybrid buses to test in the city’s cold climate. According to this story posted on the CBC’s web site, it should be an affordable proposition for the city: All Société de transport de Montréal (STM) buses will run on biodiesel fuel by 2008, and …
Rome Going Green
The City of Rome, Italy could convert all of its 2800 buses to biodiesel by the end of 2008. According to this article on Checkbiotech.org, a test of 200 buses will start the program: Importantly, the accord covers not just the purchasing of the biodesel end-product but other stages of the supply chain including the growing of oilseed crops from …
“Hood Up, Head Down and Alone with Thoughts”
Those are the words of Will Steger, famed Arctic explorer, now on a four-month-long, 1200-mile expedition across the Canadian Arctic’s Baffin Island. So what is Steger trying to prove as today he and his sleddog team approach Iqaluit, Canada through -50 degree wind chills? Ironically enough, global warming. Listen here to his audio dispatch from Day 5 that might be …
Feedback on Bush’s Brazil Biofuels Business Trip
Lawmakers and special interests have been chiming in with reaction to the US-Brazil biofuels agreement announced last week. In a press statement, Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana praised the agreement. “Working with Brazil will help turn ethanol into a global commodity and reduce our dependence on oil. It also demonstrates to our friends in the Hemisphere that we are ready …
Presidents Talk Biofuels
During a press conference Friday with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President Bush said, “I hope the citizens of Brazil, like the citizens of the United States, are as optimistic about the future as these two Presidents are. And one reason we’re optimistic is because we see the bright and real potential for our citizens being able to …
Senators Defend Ethanol Tariff
Two Republican senators voiced concerns Wednesday about a potential U.S.-Brazil ethanol accord. Iowa Senator Charles Grassley says he welcomes the President’s efforts to increase ethanol consumption through a partnership with Brazil because “God only made so much oil.” However, he said “We want to welcome it from a standpoint that United States taxpayers are not subsidizing competition,” which he says …
Yes and No to Brazil Deal
The Renewable Fuels Association says yes to promoting a global ethanol market, but no to allowing Brazil to benefit from the U.S. tax credit for ethanol. RFA President Bob Dinneen issued the following statement regarding President Bush’s upcoming meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva concerning a hemispheric partnership to expand ethanol production. “Expanding the marketplace for ethanol …
SD Ethanol Leaders to Present at World Biofuels Congress
Two senior executives from South Dakota-based Broin Companies… the largest dry mill ethanol producer in the U.S…. will be presenting at the upcoming World Biofuels Markets Congress and Expo in Brussels, Belgium, March 6-9th. According to a Broin press release, Mike Muston, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development will talk about cellulosic ethanol and Jeff Laut, Executive Vice President of …
US-Brazil Could Become OPEC of Ethanol
The news sites are all abuzz today about a pending deal that could turn the United States and Brazil into what the AP calls the “OPEC of ethanol.” President Bush is traveling to Brazil late this week and is expected to ink the deal with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva: The deal is still being negotiated, but the …