Elliott Sadler Wins STP 300

Chuck Zimmerman

Ethanol had another victory on the NASCAR track today when Elliott Sadler won the Nationwide Series STP 300. The race came out of caution with two laps to go so it made for an exciting finish. Placing 4th today was master agvocate Kenny Wallace, spokesperson for the Illinois Corn Growers Family Farmers.

After the race I asked Elliott what he thinks about racing on a fuel that’s made in part by Illinois corn
growers. He says the initiative that NASCAR has taken to go green in the last couple years is a great one. Since the track is surrounded by corn and soybeans he says, “It’s neat to see something in the field growing. I’m a farmer at home too.”

Then Richard Childress, RCR Racing, chimed in. “In NASCAR we’ve put in almost 4 million miles or maybe a little over by now on E15, American Ethanol blend of fuel. That says a lot for what E15 can do for your car.”

Listen to Elliott and Richard’s remarks here: Elliott Sadler & Richard Childress on Ethanol

Illinois Corn Growers NASCAR Weekend Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, NASCAR

Green Flag for STP 300

Chuck Zimmerman

E15 is on display again today at the NASCAR Nationwide STP 300 race in Joliet, IL. We had a few raindrops just before the green flag but it dissipated and the race is on.

Prior to the race I spent time with the Illinois Corn Growers Family Farmers High Performance Team. Spokesperson, Kenny Wallace, driver of the 09 car today was on hand. I recorded a conversation he had with Glenn Fritz that I thought you might enjoy. Kenny calls Glenn Fritz “the ultimate farmer.” We were located at Greenfields Campground owned by Glenn.

Glenn has a grandson on the farm that is now the 5th generation of the family on the land. He’s got an interesting story to tell and I hope you’ll enjoy listening to it.

Listen to Kenny and Glenn here: Kenny Wallace and Glenn Fritz

Illinois Corn Growers NASCAR Weekend Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, NASCAR

Winner of American Ethanol 225

Chuck Zimmerman

The winner of the American Ethanol 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race is James Buescher. He’s pictured here in Victory Lane at Chicagoland Speedway. Presenting the trophy is Chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board Bill Christ and Tricia Braid, Communications Director.

During the post race press conference I asked James what he thought of racing on a blend of home grown fuel made by corn farmers. He says “It’s really cool to be able to be part of NASCAR going green. It’s only positive. We’re helping the environment.” By the way, he had to have his carburetor replaced during the race!

Listen to James comment on ethanol here: James Buescher Remarks

Illinois Corn Growers NASCAR Weekend Photo Album

American Ethanol, Audio, Ethanol, NASCAR

Farmer Waves Green Flag For American Ethanol 225

Chuck Zimmerman

Illinois corn farmer Donna Jeschke got to wave the green flag for the American Ethanol 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race tonight. Donna is ending her term on the board of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board.

She found the experience to be exciting and just a little scary. She says this type of promotion puts what she does as a farmer out in front of the public to help them better understand where their food comes from.

This is just the first race of an ethanol sponsored weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. You’ll be able to find more interviews over the next few days on the Illinois Corn Growers Corn Corps Blog.

Listen to my interview with Donna here: Interview with Donna Jeschke

Listen to the race invocation and national anthem here: Invocation/National Anthem

Listen to Mark Marquis, Marquis Energy, make the “Drivers, start your engines” call here: Start Your Engines

Illinois Corn Growers NASCAR Weekend Photo Album

American Ethanol, Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, NASCAR

Ethanol and Farmers on NASCAR Track

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s NASCAR race weekend in Joliet, IL at Chicagoland Speedway. My home today and tomorrow. I’m joining the Illinois Corn Growers and Family Farmers for two races. First up will be tonight’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series American Ethanol 225.

Then on Sunday we’ve got the second annual STP 300 which is part of the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The Sprint Cup Series has the weekend off.

Family Farmers cannot be missed at the event, with a 17,000 square foot exhibit area onsite to be complemented with both a Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series “Family Farmers” entry. This work is aimed at improving the trust between consumers and family farmers. In corn checkoff funded research, it was revealed that most influential people in the Chicago area think that corporations own most of the farms in Illinois. This erodes the base of support among that same group for issues that are important to farmers regarding regulations, food safety, transportation, and trade.

I’ll be hanging out with Kenny Wallace and Illinois Corn Growers this afternoon. Kenny will be driving the #99 Family Farmers car in the STP 300.

“Chicagoland Speedway is a great track for me. We finished seventh in this race last year with our Family Farmers Toyota Camry. Since they closed Gateway International Raceway in 2010, Chicago has become sort of like a home track for me since it is only about four hours away from my hometown of St. Louis. Not only that, but it is the home of Family Farmers and American Ethanol, so I want to run well for them and I feel confident that we will run well.”

So, look for photos and interviews later today and tomorrow from an Illinois NASCAR weekend. See you from the track.

American Ethanol, biofuels, corn, NASCAR

U.S. Court of Appeals Rules in Favor of RFS

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has rejected a petition by the Chicken Council challenging the rule making of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2). Upon filing of the petition, the ethanol industry took action. Today, Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis along with Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen issued a joint statement on behalf of the industry.

“Today’s decision is nothing short of a victory for American ethanol producers and renewable fuel advocates. This was the last of many challenges to the RFS2 rulemaking and each one was rejected. With the Court denying this latest challenge, they have vindicated the rulemaking process of the RFS2.  The RFS is arguably the nation’s most effective energy policy.  It has spurred the development of a domestic biofuels industry that is creating hundreds of thousands of jobs that cannot be outsourced.  In addition, it is helping to decrease the nation’s reliance on imported oil and thus reducing prices at the pump. 

Moreover, the RFS is the nation’s first effort at meaningfully reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.  As the Court ruling demonstrates, the charges that anti-biofuel lobbies are leveling against ethanol simply do not hold up under scrutiny.  We look forward to working with EPA, the Department of Agriculture, and Congress to ensure the integrity of the RFS is maintained and the ambitious goals set within are achieved.”

biofuels, Ethanol, Growth Energy, RFA

Ball State Begins Final Phase of Geothermal System

Joanna Schroeder

Ball State is the home of the country’s largest geothermal system. This week the university began the second and final phase of converting to a geothermal ground-source heat pump system. The project began in 2009 and the first phase was completed earlier this year and now provides heating and cooling to nearly half the campus. Upon completion, the conversion should save Ball State $2 million a year.

The geothermal system is a vertical, closed-loop district system that uses only fresh water. It works by using the heat stored in ground water and thermal masses. A geothermal heat pump uses the Earth as either a heat source, when operating in heating mode, or a heat sink, when operating in cooling mode.

“When costs began to escalate for the installation of a new fossil fuel burning boiler, the university began to evaluate other renewable energy options,” said Jim Lowe, director of engineering, construction and operations. “This led to the decision to convert the campus to a more efficient geothermal-based heating and cooling system.”

Phase 2 includes installation of 780 of the remaining 1,800 boreholes in a field on the south area of campus. Construction will continue throughout 2013-2014 and will include a new District Energy Station South containing two 2,500-ton heat pump chillers and a hot water loop around the south portion of campus. The system will then connect to all buildings on campus — eventually providing heating and cooling to 5.5 million square feet.

Electricity, Energy, Geothermal

Wind O&M Market Forecast to Double

Joanna Schroeder

The wind operations and maintenance services (O&M) market is forecast to nearly double by 2025 from approximately $3 billion in 2012 to nearly $6 billion in 2025. Also according to a recent report from IHS Emerging Energy Research on U.S. Wind O&M Strategies, O&M is expected to account for over one-third of total capital expenditures over the next decade.

In March, the U.S. Senate voted against extending the wind Production Tax Credit (PTC) beyond 2012. This has caused uncertainty in the market and prospects for new wind farms are uncertain. This also has an impact on operational wind farms and owners are now putting more focus on increasing revenue.

The study focuses on four O&M areas: market player profiles; market environment; service segmentation and costs analysis; and market forecasts.

These areas, along with other key issues in the wind industry, will be addressed during the 4th Annual Optimizing Wind Power O&M conference slated for September 25-26, 2012 in Chicago. The event has been updated based on attendee feedback and this year there will be case studies and interactive roundtable discussions.

Electricity, Energy, Wind

Consumers in Kansas Embrace E15

Joanna Schroeder

Consumers in Kansas have embraced E15. The Zarco 66 “Oasis” station in Lawrence became the first retail gas station in the country to offer E15 under the waiver granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and consumers are buying the renewable fuel blend.

On July 18, 2012, Zarco 66 Station owner Scott Zaremba held a pump promotion for two hours where E15 was sold for $1.15 per gallon. During the promotion, 3,000 gallons of E15 were sold. The ethanol blend can be used in vehicles and light duty trucks beginning with the manufacturer year of 2001. In the U.S., nearly 60 percent of the cars and trucks on the road can use E15.

Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of RFA noted that E15 represents a new choice at the pump introducing additional competition in the fuel market. “As a result of increased ethanol use, drivers are paying less at the pump, rural America is seeing better economic opportunities, and the nation is weakening its dependence on imported oil.”

Given current market conditions, E15 will sell less than E10 and gasoline not containing ethanol. The Zarco 66 “Oasis” is selling E15 for two cents less than E10.

Dinneen added, “Anti-biofuel critics can scream until they are blue in the face, but as the drivers in Lawrence are learning, E15 is safe and viable fuel choice.

blends, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Ethanol Detractors Call for End of RFS

Joanna Schroeder

A coalition of livestock and poultry groups continue to attack the veracity of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) that mandates the amount of renewable fuels that must be used each year in the transportation fuel supply. The new campaign has been launched in tandem with a new economic study conducted by Farm Econ LLC focusing on the impact of corn ethanol production on food prices as well as the commodity price volatility.

Ironically, the study was released at the same time that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (UDSA) released a new corn harvest report estimating that at least 75 percent of the corn crop is growing in drought conditions.

“While the groups paying for this study feel entitled to cheap corn forever and are shamelessly exploiting the drought as an excuse to roll back the RFS, there is no credible evidence to justify reducing or waiving it,” said Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE).

“The fact is the RFS is helping reduce dependence on foreign oil, moderating gas prices, and securing jobs in rural America. Both USDA Secretary Vilsack and U.S. Senator Stabenow, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee have indicated the drought is not an excuse to waive or repeal the RFS,” added Jennings.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a press conference earlier this week that what really drives food prices are energy costs. He also stressed the importance of ethanol production and the need to continue to focus on the “all of the above” approach to producing more energy.

Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy noted that ethanol detractors are “conveniently ignoring that in 2011 ethanol used only 3 percent of the global grain supply.” He added, “…the cost of energy plays a substantial role in food prices. Factors related to energy, and in particular, oil prices, such as the transportation, storage, processing and packaging of goods are the true culprits of rising food costs. Additionally, marketing expenses add to the rising costs of food. For every dollar spent at the grocery store, $.84 cents can be attributed to marketing, with a mere $.03 cents representing the corn value.

Despite the lobbying against the RFS, ethanol industry supporters maintain that they can both feed the world and fuel America.

ACE, biofuels, Ethanol, Growth Energy