ACE Conference 2026

Switzer Performance Reveals E85 Nissan

According to autoevolution.com, Switzer Performance has produced a Nissan GTR that runs on E85. The Switzer E900 is named so because it runs on ethanol fuel and produces no less than 900 horsepower.

Working in New Zealand, the group partnered with Dodson Motorsports to beef up the horsepower. The obious fuel to use was 85 percent ethanol which assists in boosting the car from 60 to 130 mph in under 6 seconds.

“E85 isn’t without its trade-offs. We had to modify the fuel system to handle the fuel and significantly increase the size of the injectors, also, but in the end we had a fuel that gave us everything we needed to crank up the boost on this car and deliver over 900 hp,” Tym Switzer said in a statement for the press.

Other vehicle traits include an Amuse carbon fiber aero package, 3-way adjustable suspension, and 20-inch BBS wheels that are an inch wider than stock at all four corners.

“With most high-horsepower cars, you can barely breathe after just a few dyno runs,” Switzer added. “With the E85, we were able to run pull after pull to dial in the tune without feeling any effects of the usual emissions. It’s hardly scientific, but there was a noticeable improvement in the air quality in the shop compared to race gas.”

E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

USDA Releasing Report on Biofuels

John Davis

The USDA is releasing a report on renewable transportation fuels and the role the agency will play in development of those biofuels.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the report comes as the federal Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) gets ready to kick in on July 1st and will require that 36 billion gallons of biofuel per year be in America’s fuel supply by 2022:

“The Obama Administration has made domestic production of renewable energy a national priority because it will create jobs, combat global warming, reduce fossil fuel dependence and lay a strong foundation for a strong 21st Century rural economy, and I am confident that we can meet the threshold of producing 36 billion gallons of biofuel annually by 2022,” Vilsack said. “As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, we must reaffirm our commitment to bring our country closer to complete energy independence and this report provides a roadmap to achieve that goal.”

Vilsack says the ag department’s role will be to identify numerous biomass feedstocks to be utilized in developing biofuels and to call for the funding of further investments in research and development of feedstocks, sustainable production and management systems, efficient conversion technologies & high-value bioproducts, and decision support and policy analysis tools.

“Our focus at USDA is primarily on how do you build biorefineries in all parts of the country, how do you take advantage of the most efficient and effective feedtsocks that are available in each region of the country, and how do you create enough blender pumps so there’s customer convenience to build greater demand on Detroit and other auto manufacturers to produce the kinds of cars to use more ethanol.” He adds the program needs to go national, on a governmental and private business level, for the biggest impact.

You can read the report at www.USDA.gov.

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News, USDA

USDA: Ethanol Plants Gain in Net Energy Output

John Davis

A new report shows that ethanol plants are becoming even more efficient in turning energy into more energy, showing great energy gains.

The USDA’s Agricultural Resource Management Survey of corn growers for the year 2005 and the 2008 survey of dry mill ethanol plants show that dry grind ethanol plants that produce and sell dry distiller’s grains and use conventional fossil fuel power for thermal energy and electricity produces nearly two times more energy in the form of ethanol delivered to customers than it uses for corn, processing, and transportation. The ratio is about 2.3 BTU of ethanol for 1 BTU of energy in inputs, when a more generous means of removing byproduct energy is employed.

Just back in 2004, the ratio was only 1.76 BTUs for every 1 BTU of energy inputs. And the report shows that some dry mills that use 50 percent biomass power have an energy output of 2.8 times the energy it takes to make one unit of energy. The news was welcomed by Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association:

“This study clearly demonstrates the technological advancements that have taken place in ethanol production in just a short period of time,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “The findings prove that ethanol production is becoming cleaner and more efficient at a time when oil production continues to become dirtier and more difficult to extract.”

“If previous ethanol energy analyses have been nails in the coffin of the stale and distorted ‘negative energy balance’ myth, this report serves as the final burial,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “As better and more current data become available, there can be no doubt that ethanol offers tremendous energy benefits while greatly reducing consumption of crude oil. American ethanol producers continue to evolve, becoming more efficient and producing greater environmental benefit. This evolution stands in stark contrast to the worsening profile of oil production.”

The full report is available here.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Kansas City Clean Cities to Hold Ethanol Workshop

The Kansas City Regional Clean Cities will be hosting a workshop titled Exploring Ethanol on Friday, July 9. The workshop will be held at the Johnson County Community College at 12345 College Blvd. in Overland Park, Kansas.

The workshop will focus on best Practices on ethanol: distribution, handling and use, vehicles and fleet success stories, incentives and resources will be discussed during the workshop including:
 Fuel Properties and Production Processes

Speakers expected are:

Rich Cregar, Wake Tech Community College
Kelly Gilbert, Kansas City Regional Clean Cities
Cindy Dixon, State of Missouri
Don Gard, US General Services, Region VI
Bryan Fox, KCP&L
Scott Zaremba, Zarco 66, Inc.
Michelle Kautz, Growth Energy Market Development

RSVP is required prior to July 1 by emailing Sierra Mathis at sierra@kcenergy.org.

blends, Education, Ethanol, News

Optimizing Ethanol By-Product for Hog Production

Cindy Zimmerman

2010 world pork expoThe ethanol by-product known as dried distillers grains, or DDGs, is being fed more often these days to all types of livestock. At first, it was mainly beef and dairy cattle producers that utilized the product, which is rich in protein, fiber and oil. Now more hog producers are using the product, which serves to recapture about one third of the corn that goes into making ethanol for the livestock feed market. Each bushel of grain used in the ethanol-making process produces about 18 pounds of DDGS.

2010 world pork expoCompanies like Novus International are helping to increase the use of DDGs in pork production by researching how much DDGs can be included in hog rations at different ages for proper nutrition. “We’ve increased the inclusion rates of distillers from just a few years ago, somewhere around ten percent, now to 30-40 percent in some diets,” says Brad Lawrence, Technical Manager for the Novus pork business in North America.

During the recent World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Lawrence said that has fundamentally changed the nutritional content of the pig’s diet, so Novus did some modeling and research and found that including oxidative balance additives in the feed helped get optimum performance from the animals. “Ethanol is here to stay,” Lawrence said. “There’s some concerns about corn availability, but as we put corn into an ethanol plant, we’re getting distillers back out. As swine nutritionists, that means we have to learn what the optimum nutritional technologies are that we can implement to get the most value out of the distillers.”

Listen to an interview with Brad Lawrence from World Pork Expo here:

Audio, corn, Distillers Grains, livestock feed

Iowa Ethanol and Tony Kanaan Win Indy Style

Chuck Zimmerman

Tony Kanaan Iowa Corn Indy 250Iowa corn growers are big winners again on race day in Newton, IA. Actually the winner of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 is Tony Kanaan, #11 the 7-11 Car. He lifted the big gas pump trophy in joy since he’s had some tough luck here on this track in the past.

The Iowa Corn Growers and Pioneer Hi-Bred have got to be thrilled that the bad weather of late held off today so that racing fans got to enjoy a very good one. At the same time they got full value for their investment in the race as it was televised in its entirety. Ethanol and corn grower messages were aired frequently throughout the broadcast and the announcers really did a great job of thanking and pointing out all the green shirts in the crowd.

I’m just about to upload the last of my photos for the day before heading home to ZimmComm World Headquarters. I hope you’ve enjoyed the coverage. I’ve still got several interviews to post here and on Domestic Fuel in the next few days.

Tony Kanaan held a press conference following the race and all the picture taking and you can listen to it below.

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album.

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, IA Corn Indy, Indy Racing

Ethanol Burning The Track At Iowa Corn Indy 250

Chuck Zimmerman

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Green FlagThe Iowa Corn Indy 250 is underway in Newton, IA.

Waving the green flag is Iowa Corn Growers Association President, Don Elsbernd. I’m just guessing what his pulse rate is!

The weather is cooperating and I’ll be updating with our winner later this afternoon. Right now it’s time to load some race photos to the photo album

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, IA Corn Indy, Indy Racing

Iowa Corn Promotion Continues At Indy

Chuck Zimmerman

Bill Northey and Dick GallagherThe Chairman-Elect for the Iowa Corn Promotion Board is Dick Gallagher, pictured (right) with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. They’re attending all the activities of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 which is scheduled for later today.

I spoke with Dick earlier this week at an E-85 pump promotion at a Des Moines Kum & Go. Dick says the corn crop got planted just fine in his area near Washington, IA but since then they’ve had too much rain. Hopefully the sun will shine in that area soon! Dick says that the Iowa Corn Indy 250 has provided an opportunity for a lot of racing fans to go to an Indy race for the first time. It has shown that the fuel can perform at the highest level.

You can listen to my interview with Dick below.

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album.

Audio, corn, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, IA Corn Indy, Indy Racing

More Senate Inaction on Biodiesel Bill Draws IRFA Ire

John Davis

Another procedural vote failure in the U.S. Senate has put up yet another roadblock to renewal of the federal $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax incentive. And that isn’t sitting well with the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. Past President and Western Iowa Energy Board Member Denny Mauser blasted the Senate and the Obama administration for having plenty of time to help doctors but can’t seem to be bothered to help the 23,000 people in the biodioesel industry who either have lost their jobs or soon will because of the loss of the credit:

“As the U.S. Senate continues to tinker with the tax extenders package, biodiesel plants in Iowa and around the country remain idle and continue to lay-off workers. The President stated on Tuesday that he would not settle for inaction on tackling America’s addiction to fossil fuels, but that is exactly what happened. The Senate failed once again to jumpstart the proven petroleum-displacing ability of America’s first advanced biofuel. By restoring the biodiesel tax incentive, one billion gallons of renewable fuel can begin displacing crude oil immediately.”

Further complicating the process, the Senate today passed legislation by unanimous consent to prevent Medicare doctors from receiving a 21 percent pay cut starting next week. This “doc fix” provision was cherry-picked out of the tax extenders bill.

“It took one hundred senators to agree to the doc fix,” Mauser continued. “While I understand that is important, how can the biodiesel industry be left in the lurch as a million or more gallons of crude oil continue to spew into the Gulf waters each day? Any one senator could have stood up and said, ‘Let’s end the pay cuts and job losses for workers in the biodiesel industry at the same time as we pass the doctor pay-cut fix.’ After six months of devastating inaction, it’s past time for that type of Senate leadership.”

The IRFA recently has been quite vocal in its criticism of the lack action on the biodiesel credit. Just a few days ago, the group challenged Obama to put up a little less talk and a lot more action to promote biofuels after the President put such a high priority on renewable energy during this week’s address on the Gulf oil spill.

Biodiesel

Ethanol Qualifies For Iowa Corn Indy 250

Chuck Zimmerman

Ryan Hunter-ReayAt least for the Iowa Corn Indy 250 there will be a car with the word “Ethanol” prominently displayed. Driving the #37 Ethanol USA Team Izod Indy car will be Ryan Hunter-Reay who qualified 12th today for the race. His qualifying speed was 179.666 mph.

Our pole winner was Will Power, #12, Verizon Team Penske car with a speed of 181.337 mph. It was a competitive session with Milka Duno crashing in turn 2 on her laps. She’s okay.

Mindy Larson Poldberg, Director of Government Relations for the Iowa Corn Growers Association sang the National Anthem tonight before the races taking place. I caught it on my phone.

I’ll be on the track all day tomorrow collecting more photos and interviews as American made ethanol is once again featured in the heartland.

Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album.

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, IA Corn Indy, Indy Racing