The latest edition of the Ethanol Fact Book came out today, and highlights include ethanol’s contribution of thousands of jobs over the last two and a half decades, as well as the green fuel’s environmental performance. The Clean Fuels Development Coalition publishes the book, and it is available through the Ethanol Across America campaign.
According to this story on Earthtoys.com, the book takes on issues such as tax incentives, energy security and oil import reductions, economic impacts and benefits to the income tax base, greenhouse gas reduction and environmental benefits, and advancements in cellulose conversion technologies.
This latest version was unveiled during a joint news conference between Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Indiana) in Washington, D.C. today:
U.S. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) Co-Chair of the Ethanol Across America campaign said, “This year, with the Farm Bill and the Energy Bill, Congress has two major opportunities to drastically expand and enhance our nation’s use of renewable fuels. Ethanol is a common thread with these important bills.” said Nelson. “This information will help us in our efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, protect our environment and promote economic growth through ethanol and other renewable fuels.”
U.S. Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), co-chair of the Ethanol Across America campaign, said, “America’s insatiable appetite for oil places our country in a precarious situation of reliability on regions of the world that have become increasingly hostile to us. Increasing the development and production of renewable fuels such as ethanol will help ensure national and economic security. As the Ethanol Fact Book illustrates, with high oil prices ethanol production becomes even more important and farmers growing corn, and other energy crops, will add to our nation’s energy security while helping our communities prosper.”
In addition, developments in flexible fuel vehicle production and current issues such as food versus fuel and net energy balance are addressed.
Thousands of jobs, increased farm income, and tax receipts in the hundreds of millions of dollars flow from the ethanol industry while costly petroleum imports are replaced by American made fuel.
Looks like Team Ethanol Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay found a little bit of that grip he said his crew was looking for yesterday. Ryan finished 7th after starting the race from the 12th position. Not a bad finish for a rookie driver who joined the races mid-season. In fact, Ryan’s driving impressed the racing officials enough for them to award him the title of Bombardier Learjet Rookie-of-the-Year. This award means Ryan set a new IndyCar Series record, winning the award with the fewest number of starts – just six.
IndyCar Team Penske Driver Helio Castroneves will be appearing in the fifth season of ABC’s 
It’s about getting ethanol fuel on the ground with more plants and more pumps for Ethanol Promotion and Information Council advising board member Troy Prescott. Troy is the President of the Cardinal Ethanol Plant in Winchester, Indiana. I spoke with Troy about the development of the ethanol industry at the Chicagoland race track a few hours before Sunday’s PEAK Antifreeze Indy 300 race got underway.
Garage tours, autographs from Team Ethanol Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay and meeting Bobby Rahal of Rahal-Letterman Racing was just the beginning of the elite access for Race to Go Green Sweepstakes winners Jeffrey and Bud Carter. The brothers witnessed the finale of Canadian Club Driver Dario Franchitti’s winningest season, claiming the championship in four Indy Racing League races, including the Indy 500 and claiming the IndyCar Series Championship Title. Not to mention a rendezvous with Gene Simmons and “hot lap” ride around the track in an official Indy pace car. To top it all off, it was Bud’s birthday. What more could two guys from southern Illinois ask for? I grabbed a few comments from the brothers about their VIP experience with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.
The final race of the season brings reflection and reverence. The Team Ethanol pit crew paused for prayer one final time for the 2007 Indy Racing season. Just hours before, I spoke with Ethanol Promotion and Information Council Executive Director Tom Slunecka and we reflected on ethanol’s big year; the year the Indy Racing League switched to a 98% ethanol fuel-blend.
The 2007 Indy Car Series will go down in the racing history books as the first year a major motorsport embraced a renewable and environmentally-responsible fuel source, setting the standard
Just one word is fitting for Canadian Club Driver Dario Franchitti: Champion. Dario cinched the the 2007 Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 after Scott Dixon fell behind the Scottish driver in the last few hundred feet of the race after racing with Dario neck and neck. The win also secured Dario the 2007 IndyCar Series Title. The Andretti Green Racing teammate also won the Indy 500, the Iowa Indy 250 and the Richmond Indy Challenge, where he set both a track record and an IRL record. Rumor has it Dario will be switching to stock cars next season. A report on 
Motorsports and ethanol are a good fit for Ethanol Promotion and Information Council member Rob Herbon. Rob is the sales director for Fremont Industries in Shakopee, MN. I spoke with him about ethanol’s role in motorsports, what that role has done for the consumer market and what that role has done for his company.