GoodFuels
Clean Energy
by Jackie Helling on Jul 22, 2009Ethanol to power planes for SD airshow
One team performing at this weekend’s Sioux Falls airshow will have a little something extra powering their
planes - ethanol!
The “Vanguard Squadron” has been flying on ethanol since 1993.
“It’s just a hoot and you get to show off….” Left wing pilot Steve Thompson has 21-thousand hours flight time. He says their ethanol powered planes are more than good marketing. Thompson says ethanol allows the plane’s engines to run cooler. “Because it runs cooler it allows you to pull more power out of the engine.”
Even though they’re doing stunts flying at high speeds in the air, the team has complete faith in each other.
And as for getting scared in the air, Steve Thompson says it’s not an issue for him. “I can’t remember the last time I got scared in an airplane.”
Ethanol can power more than just cars. Congratulations to the Vanguard Squadron team for utilizing home-grown, renewable fuel. Good luck this weekend!
Unbalanced Reporting
by Cindy Zimmerman on Jul 19, 2009Real Money Lobbyists
Definitely file this one under the category of “unbalanced reporting.” It just really made me wonder what the agenda is for some news media.
When I saw a story on CNBC that the Renewable Fuels Association spent $166,000 “in the first quarter to lobby on energy and fuel standards legislation,” I thought, “Why is this news?”
Seriously. First of all, the lobbying report for the first quarter came out in April. Second, there are lots of other organizations that spent WAY more than that on fuel standards and/or ethanol-related lobbying.
According to the Lobbying Disclosure Act Database, if you query for “fuel standards” as an issues search, you will find the American Petroleum Institute spent $1.8 million, Chevron spent $6.8 million and Exxon spent $9.3 million.
Query for ethanol and you will find that the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association spent at least $720,000 and Tyson spent almost $500,000.
Why even do a story on what RFA spent in the first quarter of this year on lobbying? It seems like a pretty small amount compared to companies and organizations lobbying against ethanol. Guess that depends on one’s agenda.
Quick Shot
by Jackie Helling on Jul 15, 2009ACE’s online game
If you’re looking for a way to beat the heat this summer, stay inside and log-on to your computer to play Barrel Blaster, a great online game from the folks at the American Coalition for Ethanol.
The premise of the game is simple - “Greentown is being overrun by marauding hordes of oil” - and it’s up to you to save the city by shooting down oil barrels when they come on-screen with your weapons - “ethanol zappers.”
You get to choose between a motor scooter, a VW bug, and a Hummer, all of which come with different strengths. The scooter will provide more agility, but the Hummer comes with more strength. Choose wisely, those barrels come at you fast!
You can gain more points and bonuses to boost your health or fuel by finding flowers and butterflies, and you lose points if you shoot any of the wildlife.
This is an awesome game and a great tool to send to your friends to get the discussion started about alternative fuel. Plus it’s really fun to play!
Quick Shot
by Jackie Helling on Jul 14, 2009New RFA/Sturgis partnership
This just in from the Renewable Fuels Association:
The RFA and the Buffalo Chip Campground are partnering to encourage the use of homegrown ethanol at Sturgis, the annual motorcycle ride through South Dakota this summer.
“It is a natural pairing – America’s love affair with the motorcycle and the open road and its premiere renewable fuel,” said Renewable Fuels Association Director of Market Development Robert White says in the RFA’s press release. “At nearly 10% of the nation’s fuel supply, ethanol can be found in nearly every gallon of gasoline sold. It is providing a growing renewable alternative to petroleum that is safe and effective for use in all engine types, including motorcycles.”
RFA’s also providing merchandise for the ride, including t-shirts for staff, volunteers, and riders.
Click here to see what the t-shirts look like.
There’s been some misinformation lately about ethanol and small engines like those in motorcycles, so getting information directly to that crowd about the virtues of ethanol should be great.
To learn more about the Stugis Motorcycle Rally, click here.
Domestic Energy Production
by Jackie Helling on Jul 13, 2009Thune supports biofuels
Senator John Thune of South Dakota has written an op-ed for the inside-the-beltway publication The Politico
entitled “Biofuels are a long-term renewable solution” that appeared today in the print edition of the paper.
Sen. Thune talks about ethanol and biofuels, and how they are an alternative to foreign oil available now:
As Congress, the administration and the private sector look for ways to reduce our consumption of imported oil, we should not overlook the most readily available domestic alternative to imported oil: biofuels. The development of the biofuels industry has created jobs across the nation and given agricultural producers new, reliable crop markets, while decreasing our demand for fossil fuels.
After discussing how important biofuels are, Sen. Thune talks about barriers that may slow the industry’s development:
I find it unacceptable that after several years of crafting a national energy policy that promotes renewable fuels, the greatest threats to the renewable fuels industry are arbitrary and misguided government regulations. The United States will not achieve energy independence if Congress both promotes renewable fuels and enacts laws that limit the future growth of our biofuels industry.
Sen. Thune has been a biofuels supporter for quite some time and makes some interesting points. Click here to read this op-ed.
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