The nation’s corn growers called comments made Wednesday by a coalition of radical environmental groups “just another attempt to prevent the ethanol industry from decreasing the United States’ dependence on foreign oil.”
“These environmental groups are stirring up fear for the American public at a time when Americans are already struggling due to the faltering world economy, job losses and high costs of food brought on by some food companies’ record profits and greed,” said National Corn Growers Association President Bob Dickey, a producer from Nebraska.
Several environmental organizations held a press conference urging the federal government to stop promoting renewable fuels like ethanol and saying they would rather increase the use of imported oil. During the conference, Clean Air Task Force spokesman Jonathan Lewis told a reporter that “burning gasoline is better than increasing the production of corn ethanol.”
Listen to that soundbite here [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/audio/ewp-bite.mp3]
The group representatives made claims that they were unable to back up with any specific facts when questioned and they offered no ideas for moving toward a renewable energy future, although they claim that is their ultimate goal. They simply want the production of corn ethanol halted because they question whether biofuels are capable of making a major contribution to reducing fossil fuel use.
“The fact remains that ‘made in the U.S.’ corn ethanol is here — and available today — to strengthen the U.S. economy, create new, U.S.-based jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Wind and solar power are good options for energy; however, these will take years to have the same impact that ethanol is having now,” Dickey said.
Two biodiesel projects have garnered $150,000 worth of state grants from the Colorado Agricultural Value Added Development Board… a branch of the state’s Department of Agriculture.
In the wake of Air New Zealand, Continental Airlines and Japan Airlines successfully testing biodiesel in their airliners, discount flyer JetBlue has announced it will try biofuels in its Airbus A320-200 by the spring of 2010.
According to Motor Trend, the E85 compatible Saab 9-3X will appear at the Geneva Auto Show. The wagon is similar to the Audi Allroad. It is to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts looking for an alternative to large SUVs. 
Two bills aimed at helping the renewable energy business in Virginia have advanced in the State Legislature.
This year’s Green Grand Prix is taking a dual-track in the nation’s premier event featuring alternatively-fueled vehicles.
Toyota Motor Corporation along with other Japanese companies announced they would be setting up a research company to develop a next-generation cellulose-derived biofuel — at low-cost. Contrary to feedstock crops, cellulosic ethanol uses inedible plant matter. Recently in the U.S., feedstock based ethanol has been blamed for raising food prices however, next-generation alternatives have proven more expensive than gasoline.
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This edition of “The Ethanol Report” podcast features comments from