Reported from the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, the Detroit 3 automakers (Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors) submitted plans to the Congress which seek bridge loan funds in order to sustain business operations during a period of unprecedented decline in demand for new motor vehicles. As part of each of their business plans, the Detroit 3 restated their previous commitments to the production of 50% of their fleet as Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) by 2012. The following statements are part of the plans submitted to the Congress.
Ford Motor Company Business Plan (complete plan can be found here): Support bio-fuels such as ethanol as an important long term solution to our energy needs, especially as second generation fuels become available. Ford has committed to doubling the production of flexible fuel vehicles by 2010 and to producing 50% of our products capable of running on E85 by 2012. In addition, we are operating demonstration fleets of hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles capable of running on E85.
General Motors Restructuring Plan for Long-Term Viability (complete plan can be found here): The Plan includes further increases in flex-fuel and hybrid-equipped vehicles. In 2012, over 50% of GM‘s new vehicle sales will be flex-fuel capable.
Chrysler’s Plan for Short-Term and Long-Term Viability (complete plan can be found here): The company has more than 1.7 million Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV) on the road capable of running on 85% ethanol and is on target to meet our commitment of 50% of our fleet being flex fuel capable by 2012.
For the second year in a row, 
GAM team member and driver Steve Zadig says, “For two years in a row, Iogen has been the only firm actively producing cellulosic ethanol and able to reach into its inventory to provide us with the volume we need – enabling us to ‘go green’ again.”
The 2008 Phase II of Renewable Energy in America National Policy Forum featured Policy recommendations on renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable development, the environment and green jobs.
Rural America’s infrastructure challenges cut to the heart of the six challenges outlined during this morning’s session of the Farm Foundation’s Food and Agriculture Policy Summit being held in Washington, D.C. 
“The engineers will tell you [the pavements] look OK on the surface, but underneath it is starting to crumble.” Griffin says by the time the damage is clearly noticeable, it costs two to three times as opposed to normal maintenance and repair.
The world’s population will grow by 33 percent by the year 2040, but the amount of farmland to feed and fuel that growing demand won’t have to grow by that same one-third… that’s what attendees at the Farm Foundation’s Food and Agriculture Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. heard this morning.
“Agriculture’s role is not one of conflict between food or fuel. It is one that is quite compatible. Producing more food results in more fuel being produced as well.”
General Motors’ Rick Wagoner (left) made the trip in a black hybrid Chevrolet Malibu, accompanied by a flex fuel Buick Lucerne, which runs on fuel that is 85 percent ethanol, and the high mileage Chevy Cobalt XFE. “Part of this is being done to showcase fuel-efficient and environment-friendly vehicles,” said GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson.
Ford’s Chief Executive Alan Mulally (center) traveled to the nation’s capital in a Ford Escape hybrid, which also runs on up to 85 percent ethanol. No word in the news reports what Robert Nardelli, chairman and chief executive of Chrysler, was driving.
The National Biodiesel Board is taking exception with a report that seems to equate unsustainable practices to produce biodiesel in some parts of the world with what American biodiesel producers are doing
It was a pretty amazing event today at the Farm Foundation’s Food and Agriculture Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. today.
A big part of this historic, bipartisan conversation was the role of biodiesel and ethanol, as well as other sources of renewable fuels.