The House Committee on Science and Technology Energy and Environment Subcommittee this week looked into the country’s readiness to meet the demands of alternative fuels.
The subcommittee heard testimony relating to H.R. 547, the Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), pictured here on the floor of the House. According to a committee release, the bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to initiate a research, development, and demonstration program to make alternative biobased fuels more compatible with present-day infrastructure. H.R. 547 also directs these agencies to develop technologies and methods to provide low-cost, portable, and accurate measurements of sulfur in fuels, and to develop a physical properties database and Standards Reference Materials for alternative fuels.
Among those who testified was Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen who discussed the technological advancements being made in the ethanol industry and the important role government can play in assisting private industry in developing new technologies and expanding ethanol infrastructure.
“The ethanol industry today is on the cutting edge of technology, pursuing new processes, new energy sources and new feedstocks that will make tomorrow’s ethanol industry unrecognizable from today’s,” said Dinneen. “Ethanol companies are already utilizing cold starch fermentation, corn fractionation, and corn oil extraction. Companies are pursuing more sustainable energy sources, including biomass gasification and methane digesters. And there is not an ethanol company represented by the RFA that does not have a cellulose-to-ethanol research program.”
As farmers start to make planting decisions for the coming year, many with an eye towards increased corn acreage to meet the demand for ethanol, seed companies are promoting varieties that have traits best suited for ethanol production.
The head of the 
Jobe went on to say that he was encouraged that in the Democrat response, the new leaders indicated they wanted to work with Bush on energy issues. He added that this plan differed than those in the past in that it was more of a comprehensive energy plan implementing alternative fuels with conservation measures. “There really is no single, silver bullet. It’s going to take more of a silver buckshot approach to resolve our energy issues.”
Once again this year I’ll be the biodiesel blogger at the National Biodiesel Conference which kicks off this weekend in San Antonio. I’ll be posting pictures, interviews and video clips during the conference. To get us started I interviewed 
Ethanol power was on display at the recent Big Boy Toy Show in Sioux Fall, SD. From planes to big trucks to race cars, it was all there for both big and little boys (and girls!) to enjoy.
Kids of all shapes and sizes enjoyed playing in the car, as well as getting to meet Jeff who posed for pictures and signed autographs.
Legendary explorer Will Steger kicked off his 
Team Ethanol IndyCar® Series driver Jeff Simmons was among those on hand to see the expedition off, since the 
Steger also introduced his team members, Abby Fenton, Elizabeth Andre, and John Stetson, as well as documentary filmmaker Jerry Stenger and photographer and webmaster Jim Paulson who will accompany him on the expedition. The team is pictured here with two of the expedition dogs, and the banner is being hoisted by EPIC Communications Director Joanna Schroeder and Simmons. Steger is the one in the middle.
During the 2007 State of the Union address, President Bush made it very clear that ethanol has a vital role to play in our nation’s long term energy independence goals and public education will play a key role in the continued adoption of renewable fuels. This edition of “Fill Up, Feel Good” discusses what consumers can do to help the country be more energy independent. Audio is with President George W. Bush and