A paper critical of world ethanol production, written by the chair of the Round Table on Sustainable Development at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)… but not officially the view of the OECD… has been blasted by the leaders of the European Bioethanol Fuel Association (eBio) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). Those biofuels leaders are asking the …
RFA Refutes Claims Against Ethanol
The Renewable Fuels Association is fighting back against the latest report put out by the nation’s livestock and food and meat processing industries that tries to blame ethanol for the rise in corn prices and the harm to consumers. Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen has issued the following statement to respond to the latest smokescreen from meat and poultry …
OECD and FAO Not Friends of Ours
If you’re not familiar with the Organization for Economic Co-operation (OECD) you probably will soon since they’ve released their “OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook – 2007-2016” report and it’s already being quoted and used by the people who want to bash the development of biofuels, most especially ethanol. The report devotes quite a bit of misguided text to the subject of biofuels. …
Sleeping Biofuels Giant
The National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance recently conducted its first Renewable Fuels Summit, “Bioenergy Systems: Alfalfa the Sleeping Giant,” in Washington D.C. The August 8 event, which had more than 80 registered attendees, included presentations on cellulosic ethanol, alfalfa as a green biomass alternative, the role of corn-alfalfa rotation in bioenergy systems, and more. Speakers also focused on United States …
Producing Food AND Fuel
The newest ethanol facility to mark its grand opening is uniquely designed to maximize efficiency and produce both food and fuel from the same corn kernel. LifeLine Foods of St. Joseph, Missouri held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for the public on Friday with about 1,000 people attending. Actual ethanol production is expected to begin at the facility next …
NBB, RFA Chiefs Named Friends of GROWMARK
National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe (left) and Bob Dinneen (right), CEO & President of the Renewable Fuels Association have been recognized as “Friends of GROWMARK” – an agricultural cooperative and petroleum distributor. This story on Grainnet.com says the award came during the group’s annual meeting today in Chicago, Illinois: The company gives the award to individuals and organizations for …
VeraSun’s Charles City Biorefinery Opening
VeraSun Energy will hold a grand opening ceremony for its 110 million-gallon-a-year ethanol plant at Charles City, Iowa on August 17th, 2007. A company press release says Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama will be the keynote speaker at the event… which still has its exact time to be determined. The grand opening actually comes several months after the plant …
Meet the American Biofuels Council
There’s a new player on the block in the alternative energy group sector: The American Biofuels Council. Sean O’Hanlon is the executive director for the new group that he says has gotten a better-than-expected response in their first few months of existence. In an interview with energy.agwired.com, he explains that his council is different than other groups such as the …
Iowa Summer of E85
As summer officially begins, events in Iowa to promote and expand the use of E85 are shifting into high gear. The American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest reports that Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge will address a workshop at Wallace Auditorium in Des Moines for 100 managers and directors of state-owned vehicle fleets on Thursday, …
Thune Warns of Ethanol Fight
South Dakota Senator John Thune says Senate leaders want to pass an energy bill by the Fourth of July… but warned a group of about 100 people this week at the Ethanol Public Policy Summit in Sioux Falls that conflict looms on the horizon. This story in the Argus (SD) Leader says some powerful opponents are against some key provisions …