A Reuters report out of Athens today on former Vice President Al Gore’s comments about corn ethanol has generated responses from the U.S. ethanol industry. According to the article, Gore said, “It is not a good policy to have these massive subsidies for (U.S.) first generation ethanol,” while speaking at a green energy business conference in Athens. He blamed his …
Ethanol Report on California LCFS
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has decided to use the latest research on indirect land use change (ILUC) for implementing the state’s Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS), meaning the current ILUC penalty for corn ethanol likely will be cut by at least half by the spring of 2011. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) says the resolution is good news …
EPA Decision on E15 for Later Models Delayed
The Environmental Protection Agency says it will now be the end of the year before testing of 15 percent ethanol blended fuel in vehicles older than 2007 model year is complete. According to a very brief statement issued by the EPA, the Department of Energy has informed EPA that “lab testing of E15 in model year 2001-2006 vehicles will now …
California to Update Land Use for Ethanol
The California Air Resources Board yesterday agreed to update the land use change and other indirect effects of biofuels production under their Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS). The board is asking for updates to the land use values for corn ethanol, sugarcane ethanol, and soy biodiesel, and other feedstocks by spring of 2011 to implement the LCFS, which currently penalizes …
Guardian Energy Invests in Ohio Ethanol Plant
Guardian Energy Holdings of Minnesota now has a majority stake in an ethanol production facility located in Lima, Ohio. The 54-million gallon per year plant will operate under the name Guardian Lima, LLC. The facility originally began operations in 2008 as Greater Ohio Ethanol, but filed for bankruptcy protection later that year due to numerous operational challenges and adverse financial …
Ethanol Report From NAFB
There were lots of ethanol issues to discuss at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual Trade Talk event in Kansas City last week. The topics included the lame duck session of Congress, importance of renewing biofuels tax incentives, doing more to invest in cellulosic ethanol, labeling for E15 at the pump, just to name a few. Renewable Fuels Association …
EPA Hearing Today on E15 Ethanol Proposal
The Environmental Protection Agency is holding a public hearing today at the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago, starting at 10 am central and continuing “until everyone present has had a chance to speak” on the agency’s proposed rule governing how pumps carrying E15 will be labeled. Among those scheduled to testify are representatives of the ethanol organization Growth Energy, including …
RFA Urges White House to Support Cellulosic Ethanol
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is urging the White House to “stay the course” on advance biofuels. In a letter hand to President Obama this week, RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen urged the Obama Administration to maintain its commitment to the commercialization of cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels. The RFA letter is in response to a White House …
More Cellulosic Ethanol Investment Needed
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has lowered its projection for cellulosic ethanol production in 2011, which means investment in next generation biofuels is more important than ever. In a recent letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Lisa Jackson, EIA administrator Richard Newell noted that they are now projecting cellulosic ethanol production will be just 3.94 million gallons next year, …
What Election Means for Ethanol
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen held a conference call with reporters this morning to discuss what yesterday’s historic election results may mean for ethanol policy, both for the rest of this year and in the next Congress. “Washington will be a more Republican town in January,” Dinneen said. “Will that have a meaningful impact on the U.S. …