GoodFuels
Unbalanced Reporting
by Jackie Helling on Jul 30, 2009Andrew Sullivan Dishes Up a Brazilian Nut
The Renewable Fuels Association has a few things to say to serial ethanol critic Andrew Sullivan (of The Atlantic) in response to today’s Daily Dish column, “Captive to Corn“:
“In his continuing diatribe against American farmers and ethanol producers, Andrew Sullivan chose to highlight the views of an international consultant who has worked closely with Brazil. This consultant criticizes Senator Charles Grassley’s decision to delay consideration of a nominee to be Ambassador to Brazil who advocates eliminating a secondary tariff on imported ethanol. Without the tariff, US taxpayers would end up helping to subsidize the Brazilian ethanol industry.
“Senator Grassley is absolutely right when he explains that the tariff on a portion of imported ethanol (a great deal of ethanol is imported without any tariff) offsets the tax benefit provided to all blenders of ethanol. And this is President Obama’s policy as he stated in a letter to Senator Grassley yesterday, “The Obama Administration is committed to developing our domestic biofuels industry in order to reduce US dependence on oil imports and increase our use of renewable energy sources. There has been no change of policy with respect to the U.S. import surcharge of $0.54 a gallon on ethanol. The Administration has no plans to seek changes to the import surcharge.”
“Sullivan’s source, David Rothkopf, attacks the secondary tariff on ethanol by making the outrageous and totally unsupported claim that “There is not a single credible analyst of biofuels [...] who thinks that corn ethanol makes a hint of sense.”
“Well, in fact there are numerous credible analysts, academicians, and economists who think corn ethanol makes a whole lot of sense – from reducing US dependence on foreign oil, to helping keep the price of gasoline down for consumers to expanding economic opportunity in America’s heartland to providing a platform for the development and production of ethanol from wood chips, switch grass, municipal solid waste and other feedstocks.
“Finally, David Rothkopf and his online host Andrew Sullivan somehow believe (quite wrongly) that ethanol is only produced in Iowa when in fact it is produced in 25 states including New York, California, Texas and Louisiana to name a few not located in the Midwest.
“Some day, it might be of interest to hear why Sullivan, Rothkopf and others seem to think increasing reliance on oil imports is better than producing a cleaner burning, domestic renewable fuel like ethanol.”
Domestic Energy Production
by Jackie Helling on Jul 30, 2009E-fuel Microfueler debuts
The first installation of the new personal home ethanol system E-fuel Microfueler from GreenHouse has just been announced - and it was installed at Microfueler investor (and famed basketball player) Shaquille O’Neil’s house!
The Microfueler, which we told you about back in June when Governor Schwarzenegger was promoting the machine, converts organic waste (beer yeast) into 100% ethanol then pumps the ethanol directly into your car. Currently, however, the only cars that can run on pure ethanol are IndyCar racing cars.
Shaq is enthusiastic about the Microfueler, saying that “once (he) saw the GreenHouse business plan, (he) was committed to GreenHouse and the E-Fuel solution.”
But where are you supposed to get organic waste? The Microfueler has you covered. Gas 2.0 says that “the GreenHouse team delivers raw material and maintains the home-based unit as part of its service package.” In fact, they’ve partnered with several companies to provide liquid waste to be used in the ethanol production process.
The company is shooting for commercial distribution on Southern California and Arizona by the end of the year, and is already taking orders.
So now clean burning renewable ethanol is available to make yourself? What a victory! Congratulations Shaq on your new Microfueler!
Domestic Energy Production
by Jackie Helling on Jul 27, 2009RFA CEO in Argus Leader
Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, wrote an op-ed that appeared in Saturday’s edition of The Argus Leader out of Sioux Falls, SD.
The focus of this column was higher ethanol blends. Dinneen points out the benefits of E10:
E10 is everywhere - in the gas tanks of cars, trucks, delivery vans, motor boats, lawnmowers, weed whackers, chain saws and portable generators - providing the power and performance that owners expect.
Ethanol blends also can offer consumers savings at the pump. It is common across the nation, particularly in South Dakota and other Midwestern states, for E10 blends to provide significant savings of 10 cents or more per gallon compared to plain gasoline, further increasing the incentive to buy this clean, American-made fuel.
With the use of ethanol growing, ethanol blends above 10 percent are rapidly becoming needed. Higher blends, such as E85 (85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline), are readily available in many parts of South Dakota and increasingly available across the country.
Dinneen goes on to discuss the merits of a higher ethanol blend, including the fact that they are safe for use in current vehicles:
The ethanol industry wants to increase the amount of ethanol (currently capped at 10 percent) blended in gasoline. Preliminary data and further scientific research demonstrate that higher levels, perhaps 15 percent or 20 percent, are effective and safe for use in standard vehicle engines.
The column wraps up with encouragement to all drivers - ethanol definitely trumps reliance on foreign oil.
Well said.
Unjust Fingerpointing
by Cindy Zimmerman on Jul 27, 2009Usual Suspects Keep Bashing Ethanol
The usual suspects are at it again.
A coalition of groups sent letters to the Senate Environment and Public Works and Appropriations Committees last week advocating “scientific integrity in federal ethanol policy.” Seems they don’t like the five year delay in implementation of the land-use analysis for biofuels that was adopted in the House-passed climate bill. The groups include the same folks who have been attacking ethanol for the past several years, including the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association, Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, Grocery Manufacturers Association, Snack Food Manufacturers, etc.
According to a press release, “the letters to Senate committee leadership urged them to oppose legislation that would prohibit the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions from market-induced deforestation in the lifecycle account for biofuels. Similar attempts were successful in the House’s recently passed climate bill. Biofuels that cause these types of greenhouse gas emissions are also the same biofuels that contribute to increased food prices around the world.”
Big food and big oil continue to make claims that are NOT backed by science and urging Congress to rush into using unproven methodology to measure environmental effects.
The usual suspects are guilty once again of spreading misinformation and continuing attacks on ethanol for their own self interest.
Clean Energy
by Jackie Helling on Jul 23, 2009Report: Airlines should use 80% biofuels by 2050
According to a Gas 2.0 post today, a British think tank recommends that airlines drastically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and up their biofuel use.
The study, called ‘Green Skies Thinking‘, was published today by right wing think-tank Policy Exchange, and advocates the phase-in of an EU Sustainable Bio-Jet Fuel Blending Mandate by 2020, which would force aviation companies to commit to a rising proportion of jet fuel from sustainable bio-jet fuels.
The study also mentions that advanced biofuels should be the focus of development.
Gas 2.0 summarized the report with these key recommendations:
- The introduction of a EU Sustainable Bio-Fuel Jet Mandate, starting from 20% of aviation fuel in Europe being sourced from or blended with bio-fuel in 2020 and rising to 80% in 2050. The report claims this could reduce EU aviation sector carbon emissions by 60% by 2050 and save the UK £37.41 billion between 2020 and 2050.
- Minimising the cost of supplying sustainable bio-jet fuels to ensure its production cost drops to around $80 a barrel by 2030, and $70 by 2050, which the report says compared well with the average jet fuel price between 2000 and 2008 of $62.29.
- An increase in UK support for companies conducting research and development (R&D) into producing sustainable biofuels; in particular increasing the current R&D tax credit regime to include companies researching bio-jet fuels. Along with further tax support for the sector, it claims the support would cost less than £5 million a year.
- Charging the Renewable Fuels Agency, which administrates the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, with the task of drawing up and enforcing standards to ensure bio-jet are produced sustainably and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Ethanol News- Oil prices, weak dollar caused food price rally: study | Reuters.com
- Pennsylvania Bets on Biofuels
- AgWeb Blogs - Biofuel Chaos is Good Chaos
- VOA News - UN Reports Rising Energy Prices Spurs Green Gold Rush
- E85 Sales on the Rise
- Perry's airfare paid for by Poultry leader | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
- Unleashing the power of corncobs - BostonHerald.com
- The Canadian Press: Harper says biofuels likely a small factor in rising cost of food
- Alabama Economist: Corn Is Not the Primary Cause Of Food Price Spikes
- Perry requested ethanol waiver after $100,000 gift to GOP group | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle