Latest news

A summary of the latest news

RFA Response to the Time magazine on climate change

A recent Time magazine article attached ethanol's role in addressing global climate change. attached is a response by the Renewable Fuels Association which addresses the issues raised

(18/03/08) Minnesota Support for E20

On 5th March 2008 the Minnesota Department of Agriculture released research results indicating that E20 Blend gasoline (20% ethanol, 80% gasoline) offers similar power and performance as lower grade blends.     

(19/12/07) US Energy Bill Expanding Renewable Fuels Signed into Law

 

President George W. Bush signed into law the second energy bill of his term, containing the second increase to national biofuels requirements in three years.

(22/06/07) U.S. Senate Bill Lifts Car- Fuel Standards, Boosts Ethanol Use    

 

The U.S. Senate passed legislation that would overhaul car fuel economy standards for the first time in more than two decades and quadruple the use of alternative fuels.

 

(13/06/07) Next-Generation Hybrid Vehicle Released

A hot topic as gasoline prices rise is the use of hybrid vehicles to save money. Companies offering hybrid technology are seeing sales rise, but none of those vehicles offered flexible fuel capability - until now.

(09/06/07) Senators to Begin Work on Energy Measure

it was reported in the Houston Chronicle that With consumers continuing to grumble about high gasoline prices, the Senate plans to take up an energy conservation package next week that would force automakers to churn out more fuel-efficient cars and require motorists to use more renewable fuels.

(30/05/07) Indy Car Drivers More and More Impressed with Ethanol

It has been reported that Jeff Simmons, driver of the number 17 Team Ethanol car in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 told those attending the Ethanol Summit on Thursday, May 24, that the fuels performance continues to impress him and the other Indy car drivers.

(21/05/07) Proposal Regarding Renewable Energy Resources

The House Ag Committee has passed a non binding resolution proposing that 25% of the nation's energy be produced by by renewable sources by 2005.

(18/05/07) Ethanol Pipeline want congress to ease risks

Some of the nation’s biggest oil pipeline builders are looking into laying new pipelines dedicated exclusively to ethanol. The ambitious, costly projects would come with a hefty economic risk — but many lawmakers say the pipelines could provide an essential key to reducing U.S. oil dependence.

(18/05/07) IRL leads energy revolution with switch to ethanol         

It has been reported the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are fomenting a quiet revolution away from gasoline and methanol and toward ethanol.

(18/05/07) Proposals to support tax credits for biofuels

It has been reported that Michigan's Democratic members of Congress and Gov. Jennifer Granholm unveiled several proposals Thursday aimed at providing more federal help for manufacturers, including a few ideas aimed to defuse calls for higher fuel economy standards from automakers.

(12/03/07) No Reduction on 54-Cent A Gallon Ethanol Import Duty

On Friday Dow Jones reported that U.S. President George W. Bush that the U.S. won't relent to pressure to cut or eliminate its $0.54-a-gallon tariff on ethanol imports, and said deadlines shouldn't be placed on long-stalled Doha trade talks.

(01/03/07) USDA Corn Forecast

Early numbers out of the USDA's Ag Outlook conference put 07/08 corn acreage at 87.0 mil acres, up 8.7 million acres from last year.

(28/02/07) EIA Forecasts Slow Cellulosic Build-up

The EIA sees U.S. ethanol production falling short of President Bush's 35 billion gallon goal by 2017

(23/02/07)Marubeni Invests in Brazil

Marubeni Corp. is looking to invest $40 million in the construction of three biodiesel plants in Brazil.

(23/02/07) RFA put 2006 ethanol production at 4.9 billion gallons.

RFA reported final ethanol production fro 2006 at 4.9 billion gallons with 73 plants under construction and 8 under expansion for another 6.0 billion gallons by 2009.

(23/02/07) Corn Acreage Survey up 11.5 million acres

A plantings intention survey done by Doane Advisory services has 2007 corn acreage increasing by 11.5 million acres.

(15/02/07) USDA Corn Acerage Projections Up

In their 10-yr baseline projections, USDA put U.S. corn acerage at 86.0 million acres an increase of 7.7 million acres from the previous marketing year.

(09/02/07) Ethanol Import tariff

In their latest Oxygentate Report for November data, EIA estimated average daily ethanol production at 343,000 bbls. up 10,000 bbl/d from October.

(01/02/07) Ethanol demand drives profit increase

ADM posted higher than expected second-quarter profits due to strong demand for their corn based ethanol production.

(01/02/07) RFS Volume Standards to Rise?

The first day of the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee's biofuel conference commenced today with discussions focused heavily on cellulosic ethanol production.

(31/01/07) Cotton Acres to Convert to Corn?

Rising corn prices have gained the attention of Texas based cotton growers who are beginning to trade of some cotton acres for corn.

(19/01/07) Illinois Boosts Ethanol Support Again

Last week, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed into law new state requirements to boost support and consumption of ethanol. From mid-2007, all state agencies will buy only Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV’s) capable of burning E85. Under the new legislation, a rebate program worth up to $4,000 per vehicle, originally intended to support only those purchased within the state, will now apply to larger vehicles acquired out of state. The present state fleet is made up of about 16% FFV’s, but this new program will serve to make dramatic increases. Already, the number of service stations offering E85 in Illinois has grown from just 25 locations in 2004 to over 140 today. Details on this rebate program can be found at www.illinoisgreenfleets.org.

(15/01/07) Ethanol Legislation

A number of new ethanol bills have been introduced (summary below). 

Permanent Ethanol Tax — Congressmen Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) and Kenny Hulshof (R-MO) have introduced the “Renewable Fuels and Energy Independence Promotion Act” which would make permanent the biodiesel and ethanol tax incentive and the small agri-biodiesel producer and small ethanol producer credits. 

The Bio Fuels Security Act by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Dick Lugar (R-IN) Barack Obama (D-IL), Joe Biden (D-DE), and Byron Dorgan (D-ND). This legislation would increase the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) to 60 billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel by 2030. The current RFS is 7.5 billion gallons by 2012. The bill would require large oil companies to install E85 pumps at their stations resulting in approximately 50% of all major brand gasoline stations nationwide having E85 pumps available within a decade. 

The American Fuels Act by Senators Barack Obama (D-IL), Dick Lugar (R-IN), and Tom Harkin (D-IA) would increase the production of cellulosic biomass ethanol to 250 million gallons by 2012; require 2 billion gallons of alternative diesels to be mixed into the 40 billion gallon annual national diesel pool by 2015; provide automakers with tax incentives to produce additional Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs); and a short term 35 cents per gallon tax credit for E-85 fuel. 

Historical Information

(10/01/07) Governors' Ethanol Coalition Recommendations

Governors from 37 different states make up the Governor's Ethanol Coalition (GEC), and the group has recently delivered a letter to President Bush detailing a number of biofuels recommendations.