Navigating the regulatory compliance path of the Renewable Fuels Standard and the associated Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) can be a daunting task for ethanol, biodiesel and other renewable fuel producers. During the recent Iowa Renewable Fuels Associaton’s conference, Joanna caught up with Jim Ramm (pictured in the middle of the group) with EcoEngineers, a Des Moines-based firm that offers technical …
Ethanol Opponents Appealing to Supreme Court
Oil companies and food manufacturers are taking their lawsuit seeking to ban 15% ethanol (E15) fuel to the U.S. Supreme Court. Lower courts have already rejected the attempt by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) to reverse the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision allowing E15 in the marketplace as a consumer choice for vehicles newer …
Former Congressman at Iowa RFA
Eight term Iowa congressman Leonard Boswell is continuing to support renewable fuels in his state despite losing his re-election bid in re-districting last year to Tom Latham. Boswell attended the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit last month because it is something he says he cares deeply about. “I am so wound up in things like renewable fuels, it’s just one of …
Industry Responds to Wicker-Vitter Anti-E15 Bill
The ethanol industry is responding to legislation proposed by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss) and David Vitter (R-La) to block the continued roll-out of E15. The Senators claim the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acted irresponsibly with its approval of the ethanol blend and claim that E15 will cause a negative impact on families and businesses should E15 be allowed in …
If You’re Not Extracting Corn Oil, Why Not?
Ethanol producers need to squeeze every penny out of their operations. But one expert in the field of corn oil wonders why some refiners aren’t trying to capture the corn oil produced when they make ethanol. “It seems to be a fundamental piece of ethanol plant profitability,” Joe Riley, General Manager with FEC Solutions told Joanna during the recent Iowa …
Urban Air Initiative Worried About Stocks, Not Ethanol
Ethanol is good for taking harmful particles out of automobile emissions, but a group committed to cleaner air is worried that gasoline makers might just end up putting more particulates in the blendstock. “The [ultra-fine particulates] profile of the ethanol is very, very consistent,” but Greg Krissek, Director of Government Affairs for ICM, part of the Urban Air Initiative, told …
Chrysler’s Super Bowl Ad Garners Huge Response
People are still talking about Chrysler Group’s Super Bowl ad that highlighted the importance of America’s farmers, and today more than 100 Iowans have signed a letter urging Chrysler to recommend the use of E15 in its new vehicles. According to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), higher blends of ethanol, such as E15, are necessary to maintain the farm …
U.S. Needs to Open Cars to Fuel Competition
Anne Korin, co-author of “Turning Oil into Salt,” and the new book “Petropoly,” gave a thought provoking presentation during the 7th Annual Renewable Fuels Summit hosted by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). Korin is the co-director for the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, a think tank focused on energy and security, that she says takes no money …
We Will Fight For Biofuels
We will fight for biofuels was the key message delivered by both Iowa Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad during the opening session of the 7th Annual Renewable Fuels Summit, hosted by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). As IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw said during his remarks, 2013 will be a pivotal year for biofuels. Both …
USDA Undersecretary Optimistic About Biofuels
USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager is optimistic about the future of biofuels. “When faced with an economic challenge, rural Americans came up with an economic solution and developed a biofuels industry,” Tonsager said in an interview after speaking to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit. “My belief is, as time goes along and we’re faced with challenging circumstances again, …