Appeals Court Denies Challenge to 15% Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today denied petitions for rehearing in the case of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, et al. v. EPA, which challenges the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to allowing commercial sales of 15% ethanol (E15). “Today’s order leaves in place an earlier decision by the Court denying challenges to the …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA

AFPM Updates RFS Cellulosic Waiver Petition

Joanna Schroeder

The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) kicked off the year with a petition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to waive the 2012 cellulosic biofuel mandate. The organization says the biofuel industry has repeatedly failed to produce the cellulosic biofuel needed to meet the government mandate under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). On January 9, 2012, EPA announced the …

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, RFS

API’s Crusade Against Ethanol Continues

Joanna Schroeder

Yesterday the American Petroleum Industry (API) released its annual “State of American Energy” report. The release of the report was part of an event where API President and CEO Jack Gerard gave an energy highlight speech. Following the event, Tom Buis, CEO of ethanol industry organization Growth Energy, said that Gerard’s speech brought nothing new to table. Buis said that …

biofuels, Ethanol, Growth Energy, Renewable Energy, RFS

Two Solar Projects Kick Off in South Africa

Joanna Schroeder

Two ground-mounted solar power projects totaling 33 megawatts are underway in South Africa, a joint venture between AE-AMD Renewable Energy and Tenesol, a subsidiary of SunPower. Tenesol will construct both projects, located near Douglas, South Africa in the Northern Cape Province. The ground-mounted solar systems will feature 138,000 Tenesol TE 240 photovoltaic solar panels on single-axis trackers. The solar panels are …

Alternative energy, Electricity, International, Solar

Free Biodiesel Chemistry Kits for Teachers

Joanna Schroeder

The Indiana Soybean Alliance is offering high school teachers free Soy Biodiesel Chemistry Kits. The kits were developed by Purdue University researchers in partnership with education professionals with funding from ISA and the Indiana soybean checkoff organization. Indiana science teachers can receive the kit free as part of ISA’s program. The kit was first released in 2005 and is now …

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Education, Renewable Energy

European Committee Proposes US Ethanol Tax

Joanna Schroeder

The Antidumping Advisory Committee, composed of representatives from member states of the European Union, has reportedly endorsed a 9.6 percent penalty on U.S. ethanol exports to Europe. In response to the announcement, a joint statement was released by Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association. “This is simply one step in an ongoing process. While the Antidumping Advisory Committee has …

biofuels, Ethanol, Exports, Growth Energy, RFA

eStorage Wins Wind Integration to Grid Grant

Joanna Schroeder

The European Commission has awarded a €13.3 million grant to eStorage, a group of European stakeholders representing the electric power value chain. The grant is to help develop a solution for cost-effective integration of renewable energy generation, such as wind or solar, to the electrical grid. One challenge with renewable energy is that is can be intermittent – if the …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Solar, Wind

Driving Forward Speakers Announced

Joanna Schroeder

Speakers for the National Ethanol Conference (NEC): Driving Forward being held Feburary 5-7, 2013 in Las Vegas have been announced. The conference will kick off with the Chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Neill McKinstray, who is the president, Ethanol Group, The Andersons. The line-up will then feature the much anticipated State of the Industry Address from RFA President …

E15, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Teaching Biofuels in School

Joanna Schroeder

Shane Robinson, associate professor in the Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership wants to teach students math and science through green energy and biofuels. He is partnering with the OSU Biobased Products and Energy Center (BioPEC), who has an objective to provide education about biobased products and energy through secondary education. “A focus of ours is …

Alternative energy, biofuels, Education, Environment, Renewable Energy, Wind

The Business Case for E15

Joanna Schroeder

While the roll-out of E15 has been a bit slow out of the gate, the ethanol blend is now being legally sold in four states: Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. “While progress has been slow, it is progress,” said Robert White, director of market development for the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) during an interview with Cindy Zimmerman on site …

Alternative energy, Audio, E15, Ethanol, Renewable Energy, RFA