Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani says he can lead America to energy independence, and of course, tells Iowans during a campaign stop in the Hawkeye State that ethanol is one of the keys.
This story in Forbes points out that Iowa leads the nation in ethanol production. And right now, it leads in presidential campaign promises:
Presidents going back to Richard Nixon have promised energy independence, “and we haven’t made much of a real dent in getting there,” Giuliani told a gathering Wednesday at restaurant in Le Mars.
“But we’ve got Brazil way ahead of us on ethanol,” the former New York mayor said. “It doesn’t make sense that Brazil, per capita, would be ahead of us on ethanol.
Giuliani claims to support the current 51-cent-a-gallon tax credit to help the ethanol industry grow. It’s set to expire in 2010.
As an Iowan who has seen many a candidate come through and go through… and usually forget… Iowa after the January caucus, let’s just hope that New Yorker still means it, if he ends up in charge.
Green Power Generators is helping the entertainment industry lessen its carbon footprint. GPG is already known for its biodiesel-fueled power generators. According to 
The Iowa Soybean Association will be using some of its checkoff dolars to form the Iowa Biodiesel Board… with the obvious mission of promoting Iowa’s biodiesel industry. 
Daniel Oh, the CEO of Renewable Energy Group, will chair the new board. 
Government and industry leaders addressed a sold-out crowd at the second annual 
Rahal Letterman Racing announced today that Ryan Hunter-Reay will be taking over driving duties with the team’s #17 Team Ethanol car effective immediately. I look forward to meeting him soon and I’m sad to see Jeff Simmons replaced. As Bobby Rahal explains in the announcement which I’ve posted below, Jeff stepped into a difficult situation last season. I think Jeff is a class act and was doing a great job as a spokesperson for the team and Team Ethanol. We’ll miss him and wish him and his fiance, Stephanie, all the best.
A new USDA report says that about half of the cattle and hog operations in a 12-state Midwest region either fed ethanol co-products or considered feeding them to their livestock last year. 
The second annual Virgin Festival sponsored by Virgin Mobile will try to be as environmentally conscious as possible during the two-day concert, August 4-5th at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
A report from Global Industry Analysts, Inc. says rising crude oil prices, and much of the world’s desire to find alternatives to fossil-based fuels, will push world biodiesel sales to 4.7 billion gallons a year by 2010.
Tomorrow morning, Wednesday, July 18th between 8 and noon, Kum & Go gas stations in 17 locations in Iowa will hold “Biodiesel Appreciation Day”… offering B2 biodiesel for 10 cents a gallon off the regular price.
“While ethanol makes a lot of headlines, especially here in Iowa, biodiesel has become the sleeping giant of biofuels,” said Jessica Zopf, environmental health coordinator for the American Lung Association of Iowa. “Iowa produces 225 million gallons of cleaner-burning biodiesel a year, which can significantly reduce harmful tailpipe emissions when used in higher concentrations. Buying a two percent blend biodiesel may be a small step, but it is a vital beginning on a path toward cleaner air, greener fuels and less dependence on petroleum.”