Group Tells Iowa Campaigners to Stop Picking Oil

John Davis

A group backing biofuels is telling 2016 candidates coming to Iowa to quit picking oil as the winner in energy policy. America’s Renewable Future (ARF) has taken out radio advertisements and full-page ad in the Des Moines Register, Dubuque Telegraph Herald, and Sioux City Journal warning candidates that oil in U.S. energy policy is a government-subsidized stranglehold supporting foreign oil. …

politics

Growth Energy Points to Cruz Record on Biofuels

John Davis

As Texas Sen. Ted Cruz announces his candidacy for president, Growth Energy is reminding voters of what the ethanol group calls his “pro-fossil fuel, pro-drilling legislation attempts to kill the homegrown renewable fuels industry.” This news release points to Cruz’s American Energy Renaissance Act, which Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, says will promotes Big Oil and deny consumer choice. …

biofuels, Government, Growth Energy, Legislation, politics

Biofuel Advocates Invite Candidates to Learn RFS

John Davis

It won’t be long until presidential candidates invade Iowa once again (and some already have). So, Iowa-based America’s Renewable Future (ARF) has publically invited Sen. Ted Cruz and all potential 2016 presidential candidates to tour Iowa renewable fuel facilities across the state to learn more about the success of the industry. “The goal of our organization is to educate candidates …

Ag group, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, politics, RFS

RFS in Spotlight at Iowa Ag Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

Nine potential Republican presidential were asked to address their opinions on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) at the Iowa Ag Summit in Des Moines on Saturday. The final score was six in favor, three opposed. On the plus side were former Florida governor Jeb Bush, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, …

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, politics, RFS

SEIA Launches Campaign to Extend Solar Tax Credits

Joanna Schroeder

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has launched a national campaign designed to get Congress to extend the 30 percent solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) beyond 2016. The campaign focuses on ‘tax fairness’. SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch announced the campaign during the opening session of Solar Power International (SPI). The campaign will begin in full stream in 2015, …

Electricity, politics, Renewable Energy, Solar

Iowa GOP Makes Biodiesel Campaign Stop

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa biodiesel producers and soybean farmers hosted Governor Terry Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst at the REG Newton biodiesel plant last week. Industry representatives also had a private meeting with Ernst where Iowa Biodiesel Board executive director Grant Kimberley said they discussed the pending federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) decision from EPA. “Our industry …

Biodiesel, politics

Enviro Groups React to Prez Obama’s Climate Speech

Joanna Schroeder

“Yes this is hard, but there should be no question that the United States of America is stepping up to the plate. We recognize our role in creating this problem, we embrace our responsibility to combat it. We will do our part,” said U.S. President Barack Obama during the 2014 United Nations Climate Summit that is taking place this week …

Clean Energy, Climate Change, Environment, politics

Bridge to Clean Energy Future Act Unveiled

Joanna Schroeder

Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) and Dave Loebsack (IA-02), along with 16 other members of Congress, have introduced HR 5559, the Bridge to a Clean Energy Future Act of 2014. If passed, the bill would extend incentives to provide market certainty and to strengthen investment in clean energy such as extending the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind energy through 2016, …

politics, Solar, Wind

Stanford Releases State Clean Energy Cookbook

Joanna Schroeder

States are implementing renewable energy and energy efficiency program that could be adopted by their neighbors to improve their economies and reduce emissions cost-effectively according to a joint study by Stanford University’s Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance and Hoover Institution’s Shultz-Stephenson Task Force on Energy Policy. These policies could be particularly valuable as states develop plans to meet …

Clean Energy, Legislation, politics

Iowans Want More Biodiesel and Candidates’ Support for It

John Davis

As one of the nation’s leaders in biodiesel production, it comes as no surprise that Iowans are supportive of the green fuel. But a new survey shows that support is practically through the roof! The Iowa Biodiesel Board says a new survey of registered voters shows that more than three-fourths of those asked not only support biodiesel, but they want …

Biodiesel, politics