Biofuels groups from the US, Canada, Brazil and Europe put aside their differences this past week to present a united front to world leaders meeting in Japan. This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features an interview with Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen about the input the groups provided to the Group of Eight meeting of world leaders, …
World Ethanol Leaders Address G8
Officials from Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, the European Bioethanol Fuel Association, Brazil’s Sugar Cane Industry Association (UNICA), and the US Renewable Fuels Association have written a letter to the leaders of the G8 nations underscoring the critical importance biofuels play in reducing the growing demand for oil and the corresponding escalation in prices around the world. The letter reads in …
USDA Report Good News for Ethanol
The USDA Planted Acreage report out Monday was good news, although it does not yet reflect the damage from Midwest flooding. Corn planted area is reported to be 1.31 million acres more than was estimated in the March intentions report at 87.3 million acres, down just 7 percent from last year. That is the second highest since 1946, behind last …
Ethanol Groups Working Together
The three major ethanol producer groups are working together to combat negative publicity and keep ethanol moving forward. Ethanol Promotion and Information Council Executive Director Toni Nuernberg says the three groups – EPIC, the Renewable Fuels Association, and the American Coalition for Ethanol – complement each other. “All three of us have a roll to play in this industry,” Nuernberg …
Ethanol Industry Urged to Submit EPA Comments
Several thousand ethanol industry representatives were urged Tuesday to fight back against the attacks on ethanol in two ways. “One, would be to take pen to paper and write your own op-ed to your local paper and let them know what ethanol means to your company and your local community and begin to fight back,” said Renewable Fuels Association president …
Ethanol Industry Stands up for Farmers
The ethanol industry is mad and they’re not going to take it anymore. That’s how BBI International president Mike Bryan summed up his feelings about the attacks on ethanol during the opening general session of the 2008 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop on Tuesday in Nashville. “What bothers me most is the abuse that agriculture is taking,” Bryan said. “We cannot …
New Era for Ethanol Production
The ethanol plant of the future will produce both fuel and food with new technology from ICM, Inc. “ICM has been working on this technology for the last 3-5 years,” said ICM president Dave Vander Griend. “We felt that this was a good time to roll it out in light of the food and/or fuel controversy.” Vander Griend says their …
FEW Welcome
The 2008 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop is getting started in Nashville and is expected to attract some 4,000 visitors from around the globe. This is the 24th year for the event that started out with just a few dozen dreamers. The FEW this year will offer 23 technical workshops on topics such as cellulosic ethanol, non-food feedstocks, water utilization and …
FAO Agrees to Biofuels Study
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization High Level Conference on Food Security focused on solutions to fight global hunger and increase agricultural development this week, rather than place restrictions on biofuels production. The final declaration adopted by 180 countries calls for further study on the issue, an approach which world biofuels producers called “thoughtful.” In a statement, leaders from …
Ethanol Industy Urges Balance at UN Conference
As talks are beginning in Rome about the factors behind and solutions to world food price inflation, Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen called on world leaders attending the summit to consider the issue in its entirety. “Addressing issues of food security is a matter of great importance that cannot be taken lightly. As world leaders meet in Rome this …