Convoy Closing Ceremony

Chuck Zimmerman

Interstate Convoy Closing CeremonyAt the end of the cross country convoy adventure, we had one last press conference as our closing ceremony for the historic trip.

It was supposed to be held on the Elipse at the zero mile marker but weather concerns put us indoors at the Reagan Center. Outgoing Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta was on hand just as he was at our start in San Francisco. Since our whole trip really honored the vision of one man, President Eisenhower, who signed the law creating the interstate highway system we also had a special guest on hand.

Mary EisenhowerShe is Mary Eisenhower, granddaughter to President Eisenhower. Like her son Merrill, who travelled with us, she is very well spoken.

Mary spoke on a very personal level and said of President Eisenhower that if she had one wish, it would be to say one last thing to him. She says she wishes he was here to see the progress that’s been made on his vision.

You can hear Mary’s remarks here: Listen to MP3 Mary Eisenhower Remarks (5 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

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Badger State Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Badger State Ethanol Board members of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council are meeting in Kansas City this weekend and going to the Indy race Sunday at the Kansas Speedway. One of those members is John Malchine, CEO of Badger State Ethanol in Monroe, WI. We got a call this morning from Wisconsin radio station KFAW-AM to talk about ethanol and we had them speak to John from the board meeting.

Chuck interviewed John at the Indy 500 last month and you can listen to that interview here: Listen to MP3 Malchine (3:25 min MP3)

Audio, Ethanol, Facilities

Ethanol Corridor Opens

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol Corridor VeraSun Energy Corporation and Ford Motor Company have officially opened a new Midwest Ethanol Corridor. According to a VeraSun release, the corridor will increase the availability of VE85″, VeraSun’s branded E85, with the addition of 14 new retail locations along I-55 in Illinois. VeraSun’s branded E85 fuel, VE85″, is now available at more than 70 retail locations across the Midwest, including nearly 40 in Illinois.

Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles

Pumping Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

KC Pump Tour 1 IndyCar® Series drivers Jeff Simmons (Team Ethanol) and Vitor Meira (Panther Racing), were pumping gas in Kansas City Thursday to promote ethanol. The racers are in town for Sunday’s Kansas Lottery 300 race at Kansas Speedway but they took time out from practice to meet with fans and the media.

Casey’s General Store near the Speedway filled over 200 cars with a record 2969 gallons of E-10 during the promotion sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, or EPIC.KC Pump Tour 2

In the top picture, Kansas Speedway President Jeff Boerger poses for a picture as Vitor pumps gas for Jeff Simmons.

The two drivers and Boerger also took part in a press conference with EPIC Executive Director Tom Slunecka.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing

RW Stands For Road Warrior

Chuck Zimmerman

Road Warrior & BloggerIt’s the end of the convoy! Almost 3,300 miles in the Ethanol Truck.

I have a number of additional posts to do and will get them done over the coming days. Right now, it’s time to relax and get ready to fly home in the morning.

We ended the trip with a nice closing ceremony and I’ve got pics and audio from it. So stay tuned to Domestic Fuel.

Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

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50th License Tags

Chuck Zimmerman

50th License TagsI don’t know if every state will make a commemorative 50th anniversary of the interstate license tag but 28 of them have so far.

These were presented to our convoy group at different stops along the way and put on display today in Washington, DC for our closing ceremony.

Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

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House Ag Committee Hearing

Cindy Zimmerman

A four hour hearing of the House Agriculture Committee Thursday covered the waterfront on mainly ethanol, even though it was supposed to be on renewable fuels in general. After USDA’s Tom Dorr, the second panel offered some really interesting testimony on lots of new developments in the field.

Easy Automation First up was Mark Gaalswyk, president of Easy Automation in Welcome, Minnesota who talked about self-contained, miniature ethanol plants that can make 750,000 gallons of ethanol a year. “This enables the value-added to be moved much closer to the producer themselves.” He also talked about ways they are trying to improve the production technology. “It’s looking like we can drive the conversion ratio from 2.8 gallons per bushel to 3.2 gallons per bushel and about 70 cents per gallon produced, compared to the current $1.00.” They are also working on reducing the water and natural gas usage to produce the fuel.
You can listen Gaalswyk’s full remarks to the committee here: Listen to MP3 Gaalswyk (3:25 min MP3)

Audio, Ethanol, Government

Dorr Pays Tribute to Paul Dana

Cindy Zimmerman

Tom DorrDana In testimony before the House Agriculture Committee Thursday, USDA Undersecretary Tom Dorr paid tribute to Indy race car driver and ethanol advocate Paul Dana for his contributions to the ethanol industry.
“Last month I was in Indianapolis for an ethanol event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Dorr said. “While I was there I met Tanya Dana, the wife of Paul Dana. Paul is the young driver who was killed back in March during practice for another race. Paul was also the young man who had the idea and then persuaded Tony George, the president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to switch to ethanol.”
Dorr noted the grassroots nature of Dana’s effort to bring ethanol to the Indy Racing League. “Paul and Tanya Dana were a couple of farm kids with an idea, and Tony George runs a family business. Most people don’t think of the Indy 500 that way, but it’s a third generation family business.”
You can listen Dorr’s full remarks to the committee here: Listen to MP3 Tom Dorr (4:25 min MP3)

Audio, Ethanol, Government, Indy Racing

Convoy Group

Chuck Zimmerman

Convoy GroupGroup shots from the convoy have been difficult to arrange. Here we are in Emmitsburg, MD, getting ready to roll on into Washington, DC and the final ceremony this afternoon.

This has truly been a historic trip and what a great group of people. I think ABC should have videotaped it for a mini reality series called, “Convoy.” Over two weeks of travelling with people you’ve never met before and we’ve bonded into one big happy family!

You can see a larger picture here.

Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

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Local Radio Interview

Chuck Zimmerman

KWOSAt numerous times along the highway over the last couple weeks we’ve had media interview opportunities.

I am real happy with this one I got to do with my local AM radio station, KWOS. Thank you John Marsh for your phone call.

You can listen to the program here: Listen to MP3 KWOS Coffee Break (4 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

Audio, Ethanol