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

Merrill On The Bridge

Chuck Zimmerman

Merrill AtwaterOne of the speakers at our Emmitsburg press conference was Merrill Eisenhower Atwater. Merrill gave a great talk.

Actually, I was impressed with how he handled the heat in that suit. Merrill started out thanking all our military for their service. I’m sure his great grandfather would be proud of him.

You can hear Merrill’s remarks here: Listen to MP3 Merrill Eisenhower Atwater Remarks (2 min MP3)

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

Audio

Emmitsburg Press Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Emmitsburg Press ConferenceWe stopped in Emmitsburg, MD for a press conference on a bridge today. Actually they had a section of covered bridge for a back drop.

You can get a feel for the convoy and what it takes to get us parked by watching it happen here: Watch wmv file Emmitsburg Visit (2 min WMV)

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

Video

Highway Stop

Chuck Zimmerman

Highway StopOnly on an official semi-governmental convoy can you stop highway traffic and just wander around on it.

This is part of our group on the way to Emmitsburg, MD this morning. We had to take a time out for some reason before heading on in.

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

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Gettysburg Eisenhower Farm

Chuck Zimmerman

Gettysburg Press ConferenceI’ll add audio to this post later but it’s getting too late to spend much more time on the computer here at our last stop.

After we took off from Carlisle, PA this morning we went to Gettysburg and toured the Eisenhower farm. We had a press conference mid morning. I learned a lot about our Interstate President that I didn’t know. Like how he raised purebred black angus cattle.

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

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Capped With Ethanol

Chuck Zimmerman

Convoy GroupHere’s the convoy group on our next to last day in Pennsylvania. I got in a shipment of EPIC, ethanol caps which have been in high demand.

To get one they had to agree to pose with them on.

After spending a couple weeks with these folks I can say that they know about ethanol and some of them are fervent supporters.

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

Ethanol

Penford to Produce Ethanol in Iowa

Cindy Zimmerman

Penford Colorado-based Penford Corporation has announced plans to invest $42 million for approximately 40 million gallons of ethanol production capacity at its Cedar Rapids, Iowa facility. According to a news release, the facility is expected to be producing ethanol by the end of 2007.

“Penford’s entry into ethanol will create value for our shareholders from more complete utilization of existing facilities and resources,” said Tom Malkoski, Penford Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer. “We will be able to process more corn by utilizing existing assets more intensively and plan to convert a portion of our current production to ethanol use. This initiative also provides an attractive entry into this growing market through a lower capital investment and shorter time to market compared with many ethanol projects.”

Ethanol