What Are Corn Growing Plans

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Would you be willing to donate the proceeds from one acre of your farm to help your local food bank?” Apparently we have some very generous farmers out there since 61% said Yes and 39% said No. Of course they may be many areas that don’t even have a local food bank too. I don’t know. But we sure appreciate everyone who participated!

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “With all of the discussion on projected corn acres this year, how many acres of corn do you expect to plant this year?” So how about it corn growers. I wonder how many will grow corn for the first time this year too. Should be interesting. Let your corn growing friends and neighbors to know we’d like to know what they plan and remember this is an anonymous poll! Use this link to share.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

ZimmPoll

Butamax & Fagen Cement Colloboration

Joanna Schroeder

Butamax has entered into a partnership with Fagen Inc. The pair will work together to introduce commercial scale biobutanol using Butamax technology.  Fagen, an engineering company, has designed and or built more than 85 ethanol plants totaling nearly 6 billion gallons of ethanol production per year.  The goal of the two companies is to ramp up production of biobutanol.

“We are delighted to partner with Fagen on our path to commercialize biobutanol,” said Paul Beckwith, Butamax CEO. “Fagen is simply the world leader when it comes to project execution in the biofuels industry, with leading standards for safety and quality. Our shared commitment to renewable energy makes Fagen a natural partner for Butamax and our shareholders.”

Last December Butamax announced the formation of an Early Adopters Group (EAG), a group of international production companies looking to become the first to adopt Butamax biobutanal technology.  The company has several pilot projects underway to convert various feedstocks including corn and sugarcane to biobutanol.

Aaron Fagen, CEO of Fagen, added,  “Butamax offers an exciting opportunity for ethanol facilities to leverage their existing assets to produce the next generation biofuel. We look forward to working with Butamax in the deployment of their commercial strategy and their first retrofit project starting in 2013.”

biobutanol, biofuels

UNICA Announces Interim CEO

Cindy Zimmerman

The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) today announced the appointment of an interim CEO to replace Marcos Jank, who announced his resignation on March 27th.

unicaUNICA’s Board of Directors has named the organization’s Technical Director, Antonio de Padua Rodrigues, to serve as interim CEO during the selection process, now underway, for a new chief executive.

A member of the executive team at UNICA since 1990, Rodrigues has been in the sugar-energy industry for more than 30 years and is the organization’s Technical Director since 2003. He is a former Administrative and Financial Coordinator of the Brazilian government’s National Program for the Improvement of Sugarcane, known as Planalsucar, and was also Administrative and Financial Supervisor for projects backed by Industry and Technology Secretariat at the Federal Industry, Trade and Technology Ministry. In 1983, he played a leading role in the introduction of SPCTS, the Sugarcane Payment System by Saccarosis Content, where he remained as a Consultant until 1990.

unicaMarcos Jank became Board Chairman and CEO at UNICA in July of 2007 and has since spearheaded a period of significant achievements for the sugar-energy industry.

Accomplishments include a much more intense dialogue with all levels of government; progress in various areas relating to labor, the environment, social concerns and the regulatory framework; and the establishment of a strong international presence with offices launched in Washington, D.C. and Brussels. These were crucial steps for the non-renewal at the end of 2011 of the steep tariff imposed by the United States on imported ethanol.

“It has been a great honor to serve an industry that is so important to national life and is increasingly vital for the planet, given the growing range of low carbon solutions that sugarcane offers; the sector has a very promising future and I’m sure that the work done so far will provide a solid base for the progress that we will witness in the future,” said Jank, who brought forward his departure from UNICA because of national and international commitments linked to future activities in his professional life.

Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, UNICA

Florida Ag Commissioner Pleased with Energy Law

Cindy Zimmerman

adam putnamFlorida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is pleased with the new energy bill for the state that was allowed to become law last week when Governor Rick Scott declined to either sign or veto it.

“Rooted in common sense, this bill was developed to expand energy production in Florida and create much-needed jobs for Floridians. It garnered bipartisan support from an overwhelming 156 members of the Florida Legislature,” Putnam said in a statement. “The bill offers technology-agnostic tax credits to businesses that demonstrate investment in energy production and create jobs in Florida. Any form of renewable energy is eligible; the market will determine how investments are made.”

Governor Scott was pressured by conservative interests to veto the bill because of tax breaks included for renewable energy production, but allowed the bill to become law without his signature in “deference” to Putnam’s support for the credits, at the same time warning that he would analyze the results of the tax incentives and could push for a future repeal.

Putnam’s office issued an independent economic analysis of the Energy Bill that found the law would “generate $143.5 million in new tax revenue and create more than 3,000 jobs for Floridians.”

“The combination of these incentives are projected to generate an annual average of $28.7 million in new tax revenue over the fiscal year 2012-2016 and support as many as 3,350 new jobs in all sectors of the Florida economy by 2017,” said study author John Urbanchuk, Technical Director – Environmental Economics of Cardno ENTRIX.

The bill, which will take effect July 1, includes a sales tax exemption for biofuels distribution equipment, including ethanol, biodiesel and other renewable fuels with $1 million per fiscal tax year cap; an investment tax credit against the corporate income tax for renewable energy technologies; and a provision to permit algae as a feedstock for renewable fuels.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Energy, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Setback in Ethanol Case Against California LCFS

Cindy Zimmerman

The ethanol industry has been handed a setback in its case against the California Air Resources Board Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) that was ruled unconstitutional by a judge in December.

From a Growth Energy statement: Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit issued an order expediting briefing in the California Air Resources Board’s appeal of a Federal District Court decision invalidating the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). On December 29, 2011, the District Court issued an injunction to prevent CARB’s enforcement of the LCFS, having found the LCFS unconstitutional in its regulation of commerce outside the state and discrimination against fuel produced outside California.

The Court of Appeals also stayed the District Court’s decision and the injunction until the Court of Appeals can fully review the District Court’s December 2011 decision. Briefing will be completed by early summer. The ethanol industry plaintiffs look forward to fully briefing the issues before the Court of Appeals on the expedited schedule that the Court has issued.

While environmental interests, like the Natural Resources Defense Council, are happy about the decision, the ethanol industry is confident the original court ruling will ultimately be upheld.

“The ruling made by Federal District Court Judge Lawrence O’Neill finding the LCFS unconstitutional was based on sound legal precedent and should stand,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “At its core, we believe the LCFS to be unlawfully written and decidedly punitive against ethanol produced in United States but outside the borders of the state of California. We will vigorously defend our position and support the ruling of Judge O’Neill.”

The oil industry is united with corn-ethanol producers on this issue because they believe the mandate is unfairly punitive to out-of-state fuel suppliers.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Governors Want E85 Called Alternative Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

Governors Biofuels CoalitionThe Governors’ Biofuels Coalition is urging the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees to include E85 in the definition of the Alternative Fuel Tax Credit and recommending that the provision be extended as part of the pending “Extenders Bill.”

In a letter sent to the leadership of both committees last week, the governors noted that E85 was considered an alternative fuel for federal energy policy purposes under the Energy Policy Act of 1992, but Congress wrote E85 out of the alternative fuels credit in order to avoid a double tax benefit with both the ethanol tax credit and the alternative fuels tax credit in effect. “Now that Congress has ended the ethanol credit, E85 could continue to benefit from the alternative fuels incentive,” they said.

The coalition, which is made up of the governors of 33 states, say that if E85 is not included in the alternative fuel tax credit, flex fuel vehicle drivers will pay as much as 38 cents more per gallon, significantly reducing the demand for the fuel. “On the other hand, extending the credit with E85 would only cost the Treasury approximately 0.8% of the full, expired ethanol subsidy. We believe this small, short-­‐term investment will make a significant difference in the success of petroleum fuel alternatives,” they added.

Defining E85 as an alternative fuel in the tax code is one of the main goals of the Coalition for E85, a group of retailers, producers, equipment manufacturers, automobile manufacturers and other supporters of E85 fuel.

E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

E15 Fuel Survey Satisfies Final EPA Requirement

Cindy Zimmerman

The final federal hurdle to getting 15% ethanol at the pump has officially been satisfied with the funding of a nationwide fuel survey required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The ethanol industry reports that a total of 99 ethanol producers are funding the survey to meet the requirement under the partial waiver approved by EPA.

“Despite owning just a handful of the nation’s 160,000 gas stations that will be the actual participants in the survey, ethanol producers are providing the lion’s share of funding for this survey in order to bring a higher performing, lower cost fuel to the market in E15,” said the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Growth Energy, and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) in joint announcement praising the industry for stepping up to the plate to help bring E15 to the market.

Efforts to bring E15 to pumps across the nation will now focus on states where regulatory issues must be addressed. Some states, like Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas are prepared for E15 and sales of E15 could commence as soon as all parties are registered with EPA and are implementing the Misfueling Mitigation Plan approved by EPA. However, challenges such as pending litigation and anti-ethanol posturing by some in Congress, make it difficult to predict an exact time frame for the growth of E15 sales volumes nationwide.

The fuel survey is required annually and will be conducted by RFGSA. The survey will be collecting more than 7500 samples each year of all gasolines available nationwide and will begin on May 1, 2012.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA

Energy Coalition Disappointed in Farm Bill Draft

Cindy Zimmerman

A coalition of trade groups and organizations representing renewable energy, energy efficiency, farm and environmental interests is disappointed in a 2012 Farm Bill draft out of the Senate Agriculture Committee that they say provides “no real funding for energy programs.”

“The Committee draft bill moves the process forward, thankfully, and we support getting a bill done this year,” said Ag Energy Coalition Co-director Lloyd Ritter in a statement. “However, the core energy title programs that are necessary to move the country toward greater energy security, increase jobs, revitalize manufacturing, and improve environmental quality require mandatory funding. REAP, BCAP, Biorefinery Assistance and BioPreferred, among others, have produced results across the country, especially in rural America where jobs are dwindling.”

Coalition member Brent Erickson of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) noted that the Farm Bill’s energy programs have helped revitalize rural America, allow new agricultural markets emerge, and reduce the need for direct payments to farmers. “These programs have unlocked private capital for construction of biorefineries, put more than 150,000 acres of underutilized farmland into production of next-generation energy crops, and ignited an explosion of biomanufacturing innovation, demonstration and early commercialization,” said Erickson. “In the short time that these programs have operated, they’ve achieved a high rate of return in supporting the start up of renewable chemical, advanced biofuel and biomanufacturing companies, as a timeline of the programs demonstrates.”

The Senate Agriculture Committee is scheduled to begin markup on the Farm Bill this week and the House Ag Committee will also be working on the legislation.

BIO, biofuels, biomass, Energy, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

America Can Achieve Energy Victory

Joanna Schroeder

If the United States puts its mind to it, energy victory can be achieved. How? Energy expert Dr. Robert Zubrin, author of Energy Victory has the formula for success.  Zubrin recently spoke at the Indiana Ethanol Forum, and fellow journalist Meghan Grebner of Brownfield Ag News interviewed him after his presentation asking him what the most important thing people should take away from his presentation.

“The most vital threat to America right now is its energy insecurity,” answered Zubrin. “The number one responsibility of the federal government is national defense. That means defending us from being looted by the foreign oil cartel; defending us from being brought to our knees for lack of fuel. In order to weaken the power of the cartel, and as well as lower the price of oil, and benefit our economy, we need other options.”

Zubrin said we need to have fuel choice both as a nation and as individuals.  He also explained that we need to put our domestic resources, such as the agricultural sector, to work solving the problem, but right now we’re being blocked from using what we have.  “We are not addicted to oil, our cars our addicted to oil,” said Zubrin.

The solution? Enabling our cars to use other fuels that are not controlled by the oil cartel.

Listen to Dr. Robert Zubrin’s entire interview to learn more about how America can achieve energy victory. Robert Zubrin

Thanks to Brownfield Ag News for sharing this interview with Domestic Fuel.

Audio, biofuels, Energy, Ethanol, Ethanol News, transportation

Dinneen Asks For Support of Biofuels During Hearing

Joanna Schroeder

The key to continued growth, says Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen, is the availability of higher level ethanol blends such as E15 and other renewable fuels. Dinneen submitted written testimony to the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Environment and Economy on April 19. Dinneen testified in support of the Domestic Fuels Protection Act, aimed at easing the regulatory burden for fuel retailers to offer consumers additional renewable fuels at the pump, including E15.

“[T]he current regulatory structure provides no pathway to certify existing equipment for anything other than fossil fuels, even when test data demonstrates its safety,” Dinneen testified. “The Domestic Fuels Protection Act allows EPA to create such a process, thereby providing new fuels access to the marketplace without having to expend time and resources on new infrastructure unnecessarily.”

The goal of the Domestic Fuels Protection Act is to protect retailers. If equipment used by retailers to dispense EPA approved fuels meets fuel specifications, and a retailer properly informs customers about the approved use of the fuel, then they will be protected from any meritless lawsuits. It is important to understand that this Bill does not in any way effect the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) nor current approvals for the sale and use of E15.

“I can say without hyperbole or reservation that the RFS has been the most successful energy policy this nation has ever implemented,” continued Dinneen. “It should be vigorously defended and maintained, and allowed to reach its full potential of 36 billion gallons of clean burning, renewable fuel.” But to achieve this, market access for ethanol and other renewable fuels must be expanded.

Dinneen concluded, “The RFS is entering a critical period, however. The volumes of renewable fuel refiners are required to meet can no longer be met by just 10% ethanol. Greater volumes of ethanol and a greater diversity of biofuels and feedstocks will be necessary to meet the increasing volumes required by the RFS. Critically, these fuels will be attempting to enter the marketplace amidst a complicated regulatory structure that favors incumbent technologies and discourages market access. Gasoline marketers deserve the certainty that they will not be penalized for utilizing a new fuel or fuel blend that has been approved for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”

biofuels, Ethanol, RFA