Valero may be in the ethanol business now with its purchase of eight former VeraSun plants, but oil is still the company’s first priority. That’s why they are not backing the ethanol industry’s request for an increase in the ethanol blend level to 15 percent.
According to an article in Ethanol Producer Magazine, Valero maintains its membership in the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) and stands behind the organization’s position against raising the ethanol blend level. They have not yet joined any of the ethanol organizations as a producer member, even though they now rank as the nation’s third largest ethanol producer.
Bill Day, director of media relations for Valero, told the magazine that “what we said about ethanol before we were an ethanol producer remains true: ethanol is an industry that is relying on government subsidies, a government renewable fuel mandate, and tariffs on imported ethanol.” However, he says that they recognize that ethanol is going to be an important part of the fuel mix in the country “and so as long as we’re required to buy ethanol, we might as well make it.”
Valero has also made some corn farmers unhappy by announcing it will not honor the high-priced corn contracts entered into by bankrupt Verasun. The Argus Leader reports that farmers in South Dakota were not surprised, but were disappointed by the decision. Still, they are happy that Valero is getting the plants back on line and fully operational.
“The first event in 1985 had four tabletop exhibits and 36 people,” according to Mike Bryan, CEO of 
“We must seize control of our energy future and take major steps towards the use of clean, renewable home-grown sources of energy,” said Harkin. “Promoting the planning and development of projects that transport renewable fuels efficiently and inexpensively helps enlarge the market for biofuels like ethanol, reduces our dependence on foreign fuels and will provide good construction jobs.”
“Pipelines are the safest, most reliable, and cost effective way to move biofuels from the areas they are produced to the markets where they are consumed,” said Thune. “These pipelines will reduce energy costs across the country as well as create an estimated 25 jobs for every $1 million of construction. Access to ethanol-dedicated pipelines will benefit both consumers and the ethanol industry for years to come.”
“Many experts believe that a pipeline network to transport biofuels is necessary to achieve the aggressive renewable fuel requirements. But limited transportation options of truck, rail and barge will only get us so far. Pipelines are necessary to get this fuel moving to where the people are. These loan guarantees will spur pipeline development and help create new jobs and lower our dependence on foreign sources of energy,” said Johnson.
A senior agency official with the U.S. EPA says they may need another year to determine how blending ethanol in gasoline over the current 10 percent limit would affect vehicles and nonroad equipment. 
According to 
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, along with his Cabinet and members of his staff will be visiting a biodiesel plant Thursday as part of the first “Cabinet Community Day” of 2009. The Governor holds four such events each year, visiting eight regions of the state twice over the course of the administration.
The governor will visit 
This summer, General Motors (GM) will begin testing prototypes of their electric flexible fuel Chevrolet Volt. The company is in discussions on its outreach efforts for the 2011 vehicle on how it will be attractive to buyers.
A new certification for commercial labs will help ensure the most reputable biodiesel quality program will be verifying the green fuel. 
It’s named for the Greek phrase for wingless flight and practically slips through air nearly as effortlessly as Lance Armstrong bicycling through France (half the drag of a Toyota Prius). The beauty you see on the left is the battery-powered Aptera 2E… a three-wheeled, two-seater due out this fall.
Wilbur didn’t let me drive the car—it was New York, I guess—but I rode shotgun for enough miles to form an opinion. Like most EVs, it was fairly quiet, though noisier than most, and the potholes and cobblestones set off some rattles. The car was comfortable and felt stable on its three wheels, but a few minutes behind the wheel would have allowed more of a diagnosis.
Growing biodiesel oilseed feedstocks along the nation’s highways… capturing the power of the sun by growing algae for biodiesel production… finding multiple uses for the by-products of biodiesel refining… the U.S. is just scratching the surface of the potential biodiesel holds for this country. Those are just some of the findings of a new report.