Arctic Mission Continues

Cindy Zimmerman

Steger TeamWill Steger is now half way through the Global Warming 101 Expedition across the Arctic. As Steger and his team continue their journey, they are seeing drastic changes in the landscape.

Recently, the team passed through the Pangnirtung Pass. This area has often been known as “the land where ice never melts,” but over the last 40 years the overhanging glaciers have been disappearing or becoming significantly smaller due to melting.

The area of Pangnirtung also relies on the sea ice for its livelihood, because the ice allows the people to hunt for seals and fish. Nearly 80 percent of their food comes from hunting and fishing. Due to the thinner and breaking sea ice, the people of Pangnirtung have had to change their lifestyle. This has greatly disrupted the culture that has been carried down through generations.

Steger notes that the ethanol industry, through the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, is an important sponsor of the expedition. “It is important to focus on the solutions that are currently available, and EPIC is helping with that solution by spreading the word about ethanol,” said Steger. “It’s essential to lower our carbon emissions to help save areas like Pangnirtung.”

EPIC, Ethanol, global warming, News

Indy Success Amazes EPIC

Cindy Zimmerman

KittrellThe 91st Indy 500 later this month will mark a huge milestone in the history of racing – the first Indy 500 to run on 100 percent fuel grade ethanol.

The effort to get ethanol on the track has largely been driven by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), which was really only started just over two years ago by ethanol industry companies Fagen, ICM, and Broin – the company now known as POET. The Indy Racing League connection was one of EPIC’s first ventures to show the performance value of ethanol and increase its visibility nationwide.

EPIC board member Walter Kittrell of Fagen says even they are amazed by the success of the program. “I don’t think anybody ever thought it would get this far with the 100 percent, that’s something we never expected,” he said in a recent interview at the Kansas Lottery Indy 300. “It’s a gift that we got that we very much appreciate.”

EPIC members now represent more than 2.45 billion gallons of ethanol, as well as a variety of industry partners and associations. “We think everybody that understands ethanol and that’s involved in it needs to come on board and help promote and sponsor this,” Kittrell said.

Listen to Chuck Zimmerman’s interview with Walter here: Listen to MP3 Walter Kittrell Interview (4 min MP3)

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

CBOT to Celebrate Green Racing

Cindy Zimmerman

CBOTThe Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) will host Team Ethanol Driver Jeff Simmons and his 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol car in a tribute to the “Greening of Racing” and and a salute to the IndyCar® Series on Monday May 14 in Chicago.

Simmons will open the event by driving up in an IndyCar vehicle on CBOT Plaza. Other dignitaries will include USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development Tom Dorr, and representatives from the CBOT, the Indy Racing League, and the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

Fillin’ Up and Feelin’ Good in KC

Cindy Zimmerman

e-podcast The ethanol industry has teamed up with the Indy Racing League and local retailers to help consumers really fill up and feel good by offering ethanol-enhanced fuel at a reduced price prior to most Indy races this season. This edition of Fill Up, Feel Good features the owner of Snappy Stores in Kansas City, Team Ethanol car driver Jeff Simmons and several customers who got a chance to fill up on E10 for $2.17 a gallon before the Kansas Lottery Indy 300 in April.

The “Fill up, Feel Good” podcast is available to download by subscription (see our sidebar link) or you can listen to it by clicking here. (5:30 MP3 File)

The Fill Up, Feel Good theme music is “Tribute to Joe Satriani” by Alan Renkl, thanks to the Podsafe Music Network.

“Fill up, Feel Good” is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Fill Up Feel Good, Indy Racing, Promotion

POET Indy 500 Winner

Cindy Zimmerman

PoetPOET is sending one lucky winner to the Indy 500 later this month.

Wes Bolsen of Illinois won the POET online Indy 500 Sweepstakes. As the winner, Bolsen will receive air travel for two to Indianapolis, three nights lodging, and a VIP pass to one of racing’s great events held this year on May 27. In addition to enjoying great hospitality, the VIP pass will enable Bolsen to enjoy a behind-the-scenes transporter tour and attend an exclusive meet and greet with Team Ethanol driver Jeff Simmons.

Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

1200 and Counting

Cindy Zimmerman

The number of E85 refueling locations across the United States has now topped 1,200.

According to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition the Renew E85, LLC station in Maryville, Wisconsin became the 1,200th station to offer E85.NEVC

Jay Stoflet of Renew E85, LLC said, “It’s great to reach a milestone like this, but we know there is still a long way to go to for Americans to have the type of convenient access across the US needed to make E85 a viable option for the masses. Being the 1,200th facility to offer E85, our hope is that it illustrates to others there is a waiting market in this country for E85 and that it inspires them to join the cause, helping to fill the demand US consumers have for alternative fuels.”

Last year at this time, the number of E85 sites across the U.S was less than 750 facilities. During the past year, more than 450 new sites have been established including E85 locations opening for the first time in Alabama and Arkansas.

NEVC provides an up-to-date listing of E85 stations nationwide at www.E85Refueling.com.

E85, Ethanol, News

GM Urges NASCAR to use Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Nascar General Motors is reportedly getting more serious about encouraging NASCAR to switch to ethanol.

According to press reports, GM plans to file a formal petition asking that it join other racing leagues and start using ethanol to power its racecars.

GM sponsors 22 NASCAR vehicles under its Chevrolet nameplate, about half the vehicles that start any given race. It’s been promoting more environmentally friendly fuel for months, and now it plans to proceed with an official presentation to NASCAR ownership.

“We do have the technical know-how,” said Brent Dewar, the vice president of GM North America sales, service and marketing. “It’s something we would have to work in conjunction with NASCAR on. NASCAR would have to encourage other manufacturers to do it as well.”

Ethanol, News, Racing

Largest Eastern Corn Belt Plant Begins Production

Cindy Zimmerman

AndersonsThe Andersons, Inc. announces production has begun at the 110-million gallon ethanol plant in Clymers, Indiana. According to the company, the facility is the largest, dry-mill ethanol plant east of the Mississippi.

“We are pleased to have our second ethanol plant operational,” says Mike Anderson, President and CEO of The Andersons, Inc. “We are especially happy to bring this operation to Cass County where we have a generous supply of corn as well as long-standing relationships with local growers. Additionally, we are glad to have the opportunity to support Indiana’s commitment to be a major producer of alternative fuel.”

Ethanol, Facilities, News

AAAS Building Banner

Chuck Zimmerman

AAAS Building BannerOn a walk around my hotel last night here in Washington, DC I saw this building banner for that promoted the AAAS Annual Meeting. The American Association for the Advancement of Science had a news blog for the conference, something that we’re seeing more and more organizations doing these days. In fact, that’s a specialty of our company, ZimmComm New Media.

Hopefully the AAAS looks at ethanol as part of the solution to our energy needs here in America since they do want to advance real science and not the sensationalist pap we still see in some mainstream media outlets like last night’s ABC 2020 farce by John Stossel. I guess he needed a ratings boost and wanted to trash an industry quoting flawed science and relying on emotionalism. Unfortunately for him I think the only appeal he had was to a very small minority of people who are clueless on this issue.

conferences, Ethanol

New Niche Selling Biodiesel Cars

John Davis

As the demand for greener fuels grows, so has the demand for vehicles that burn the green fuels. And according to this story posted on C|Net.com, a niche for salesman offering biodiesel-powered cars has grown as well:

“In 2003, I came out of the closet and became a full-blown car dealer,” said Steve Ahl, a former recycled-lumber salesman who is outfitting his used diesel car lot in Ukiah, Calif., with solar panels. “This isn’t the typical suede shoe used car lot operation.”

Ahl Motors TDI Cars has sold some 700 Volkswagen Turbo Direct Injection (TDI) diesels as well as Ford and Honda trucks, and currently stocks 25 models priced between $10,000 and $35,000. Ahl said most customers tell him they want to kick the fossil-fuel habit by using biodiesel.

And the biodiesel bandwagon isn’t limited to just the utilitarian vehicles for middle-classers. The article goes on to say Hollywood is getting in on the act:

BioBlingIn Los Angeles, publicist Colette Brooks has built a business gussying up vintage diesel cars.

“I have a 1984, rare Lincoln Continental Bill Blass edition that is gold on gold, baby,” she said. “This thing is so pimp; I feel like Barry White when I’m driving. There’s an old-English-meets-gang typeface on the back that says ‘ecology,’ and tinted windows.”

Brooks’ company, BioBling, acquires rare Cadillac, Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen models from around the country, modifies each one for biodiesel and offers customizations such as fake fur interiors, glittery paint jobs and flat-screen televisions.

In fact, she’s looking at having biodiesel-fueled limos deliver participants to next year’s Oscars.

Biodiesel