2008 could be an even better year than 2007 for the ethanol industry. That’s the outlook of Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen. In the first “Ethanol Report” podcast for 2008, Dinneen gazes into his crystal ball and sees blue skies and big challenges for the ethanol industry this year. “I think we will continue to see dramatic growth in …
Happy ReNEWable Fuels Year
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will get the new year underway with a burst of renewable fuels. The bill, signed by President Bush on December 19, includes an expanded Renewable Fuels Standard that requires significant development of other feedstocks to produce ethanol. This edition of “Fill up, Feel Good” features comments by President George W. Bush, EPIC …
Biofuels Conferences in the Sunshine State
As the Midwest (where I’m at) thaws out of a major ice storm that shut down the power (my home for a little while last night) and prepares for ANOTHER round this weekend, some time in Florida this winter sounds mighty inviting. Well if the escape from the Midwest ice and snow is not enough for you (or if you’re …
Podcast on Informa Report
The latest “Ethanol Report” podcast from the Renewable Fuels Association features comments from Informa Economics CEO Bruce Scherr and Renewable Fuels Foundation chairman Bill Lee on the report that “puts to bed” the food versus fuel debate. Here’s a link to the post on the RFA blog. The study was commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Foundation, the education and research …
New Report Puts Food vs Fuel “to Bed”
The price of corn has less to do with the price of food than many other factors, according to an extensive new study by Informa Economics based on 20 years of price data. The Informa report identifies the so-called “marketing bill”—the portion of final food costs that excludes grains or other raw materials—as a key driver of the consumer price …
FTC Reports on Ethanol Market Concentration
A new report from the Federal Trade Commission says U.S. ethanol industry become more competitive in 2007. According to the report, “The ethanol production industry is not concentrated, and has become even more unconcentrated over the last year.” The FTC utilizes the Herfindahl-Hirschman Indices (HHIs) to determine concentration. As outlined by the FTC and the Justice Department, HHIs with values …
Renewable Fuels Now Fights for Alternative Energies
The first “official” action of the Renewable Fuels Now coalition was to determine where Americans stand on developing and using alternative energies. The coalition is a new umbrella organization of different associations that are working to provide accurate information about renewable fuels. Greg Krissek with ICM says opponents of alternative energies have swamped the public with misinformation about renewable fuels, …
Ethanol Statistics Interviews RFA President
Ethanol Statistics, a Netherlands-based market research and business information publisher, recently went to the expert on ethanol to do a feature about the future of the industry. Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, is much more positive about ethanol in the United States because he knows why consumption has been lagging behind, because he knows what are and …
Give Thanks for Ethanol
With oil just pennies away from $100 a barrel, Americans are looking at higher costs for both their Thanksgiving travel and the turkey on the table. But, the good news is that ethanol is saving drivers about 15 cents a gallon this holiday season. According to an analysis by John Urbanchuk, a director at the economic consulting firm LECG, LLC, …
Ethanol Trade Talk
Ethanol was again was the main topic of discussion at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual Trade Talk in Kansas City. At the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council booth, Greg Krissek of ICM talked with reporters about the newly formed Renewable Fuels Now coalition. EPIC’s acting executive director Robert White discussed the progress of the ethanol “e” branding program …