The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new regulations to cut harmful emissions from lawnmowers and other small engines. The new proposal would set strict standards for most lawn and garden equipment but would not go into effect until at least 2011.
In the meantime, lawn jockeys can do their part to help cut emissions by using 10 percent ethanol in their gas-powered lawn mowers, trimmers, edgers and blowers, according to the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC).
Small engines can efficiently burn E10, a blend of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol. The use of E10 reduces greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 30 percent.
EPIC also offers other tips for conserving fuel and helping the environment during lawn care, such as keeping equipment well-maintained. Tuning up a typical walk-behind lawn mower at the beginning of the season can eliminate the same amount of exhaust emissions produced by driving a car 26 miles, according to Briggs & Stratton research engineers. It will also conserve gasoline. They also suggest leaving grass clippings on the ground instead of picking them up. Grass cycling makes the mowing process much faster and the grass blades redistribute nitrogen to the lawn and soil.
Kansas City is drawing in racing fans for weekend action. I’m out at the Kansas Speedway track and just getting my bearings since I didn’t get to spend much time here last year.
I’m wondering how many times I’ve taken a picture of this car. Actually this is the new show car for Team Ethanol which was on hand at yesterday’s Snappy Mart pump promotion.
On hand at the pump promotion for ethanol in Kansas City yesterday was Amy Konrath (pictured to the right of two representatives of Rahal-Letterman Racing). Amy works in public relations for the 
Although it was a cool morning yesterday, Indy car driver Jeff Simmons was on location at a pump promotion filling up gas tanks with gasoline blended with ethanol.
Market information provider DTN has introduced a biodiesel trading platform. DTN ProphetX Biodiesel Edition provides biodiesel producers and investors with intelligence on agricultural and energy markets. 
A consumer watchdog group is questioning the credibility of a widely reported Stanford University study warning that ethanol use could be harmful. 
Purdue University researchers are opening the pores of corn to try and increase ethanol yield. 
It’s time for another Indy race. This time in Kansas City. It’ll be the Kansas Lottery Indy 300 this Sunday. This morning though the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council put on another pump promotion at the Snappy Store downtown. Pictured here are Snappy Stores owner, Ken Suter (left), and Jeff Simmons, Team Ethanol driver. They’re posing next to the new Team Ethanol show car which is looking pretty slick.