New Study: Corn Ethanol Reduces GHG Emissions

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new study, that compared the greenhouse gas emission reductions of corn ethanol and those of crude oil production and fracking, corn ethanol’s carbon intensity is declining while the carbon intensity of petroleum is increasing. The study was conducted by Life Cycle Associates and found that the carbon impacts associated with crude oil production continue to worsen as …

biofuels, Environment, Ethanol, Oil, Research, RFA

Radio Disney Dumps Dirty Energy Road Show

Joanna Schroeder

Climate Parents has announced that after more than 100,000 people signed petitions the organization began, Radio Disney announced it will withdraw from a controversial program that promotes fossil fuel extraction to school-age children in Ohio. Climate Parents is a national organization comprised of parents taking action on climate change. “We are pleased that Disney responded to our request to stop …

Climate Change, Environment, Oil

API’s State of American Energy Same Old, Same Old

Joanna Schroeder

Yesterday American Petroleum Institute (API) President and CEO Jack Gerard outlined “The State of American Energy” and the role the oil and natural gas industry in economic growth, job creation and energy security. During his speech, Gerard stressed the role that oil and natural gas would play in the country’s energy policy but he cautioned that the country must “get …

biofuels, Ethanol, Growth Energy, Natural Gas, Oil, RFS

RINS Had No Impact on 2013 Gas Prices

Cindy Zimmerman

Despite all the “RINsanity” caused in early 2013 when gas prices spiked and the oil industry pointed fingers at volatile Renewable Identification Numbers, a report out today exonerates RINS from blame. The detailed statistical analysis conducted by Informa Economics and released today by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) finds that retail gasoline prices were “unaffected by the erratic surge in …

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Oil, Research, RFA, RFS, RINS

Fossil Fuel Subsidies Reach $544B

Joanna Schroeder

According to the World Energy Outlook fossil fuel consumption subsidies have reached $544 billion in 2012, up from $523 billion in 2011. This news has caused the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) to criticize leaders of the most developed nations for failing to reduce fossil fuel subsidies despite their commitment to eliminate them four years ago. This weekend marked the …

biofuels, International, Oil

Book Review – Ruminations on the Distortion of Oil

Joanna Schroeder

I recently finished reading the book, “Ruminations on the Distortion of Oil Prices & Crony Capitalism,” by Raymond J. Learsy. The book was a historical review of his writings dealing with Big Oil and why oil prices are so high. In other words, “an overview of…our enslavement to oil and the money inextricably tied to it.” A former commodity trader, …

Audio, book reviews, Oil, Opinion

Big Oil Reaps $23 Billion In One Day

Joanna Schroeder

Americans United for Change said that the oil industry scored a big victory on Friday, November 15, 2013 when the U.S. EPA released a draft rule that – if allowed to stand – rolls back the highly successful Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). Following the announcement that calls for gasoline to include more oil and less biofuel next year, stock values …

biofuels, Oil, RFS

November 2013 Short-Term Energy Outlook

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released its November 2013 Short-Term Energy Outlook and Winter Fuels Outlook. The report comes at the same time the 2013 World Energy Outlook was released by the International Energy Agency. Here are some highlights from the report: The weekly U.S. average regular gasoline retail price has fallen by more than 40 cents per …

biofuels, Electricity, Energy, Natural Gas, Oil, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

Fossil Fuels Still Dominate Energy Consumption

Joanna Schroeder

According to new Vital Signs Online trend report released by Worldwatch Institute, coal, natural gas, and oil accounted for 87 percent of global primary energy consumption in 2012. This occurred as the growth of worldwide energy use continued to slow due to the economic downturn. The analysis shows the relative weight of these energy sources keeps shifting, although only slightly. …

Energy, Natural Gas, Oil, Research

Busting Big Oil’s Bogus Claim with Real Ethanol Test

John Davis

Members of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) made a 1,000-mile trip from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. to use a real world situation to bust a bogus claim by Big Oil. In an effort to scare consumers away from ethanol in general and E15 in particular, the oil companies put together a report that showed vehicles using ethanol had …

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA, Oil