GoodFuels

Uncertainty About Indirect Land Use Change

If there is one thing certain about indirect land use change (ILUC) it would be that it is uncertain.

In a letter this week to Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson used the word “uncertainty” four times in referring to using ILUC modeling for implementation of the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2).

Jackson said in her letter that it is “clear that there are significant uncertainties associated with these estimates and in particular, with the estimate of indirect land use change.”

“Therefore, I have asked my staff to quantify the uncertainty associated with specifically the international indirect land use change emissions. They are working closely with USDA as well as incorporating feedback from experts who are commenting on the rule. This analysis will allow us to quantify the impact of the uncertainty on the lifecycle emissions. We will present these estimates in the final rule, and I plan to incorporate those estimates of uncertainty in my regulatory decisions.”

After receiving the letter, Sen. Harkin withdrew an amendment to the Senate Interior and Environment Appropriations Act which would have prohibited the EPA from spending funds to include international ILUC emissions in the implementation of the RFS2 for a period of one year. “I think our amendment got EPA’s attention,” Harkin said.

The comment period on the implementation of the RFS2 will end tomorrow, September 25 and according to Jackson, the EPA has already received “thousands of comments, and expect to get many more by the closing deadline.” She is certain about that.

Possible Presidential Candidate Supports 15 Percent Blend

A man who is fueling speculation about a potential bid for the presidency in 2010 would like to see the EPA approve a higher blend of ethanol in gasoline.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty answered several questions about ethanol from reporters after helping celebrate the grand opening of the new Syngenta Seeds headquarters in Minnetonka, MN earlier this week.

I asked him about increasing the allowable ethanol blend to 15 percent. “That’s something we have pushed in Minnesota and there’s some good work that has been done at Minnesota State at Mankato showing you can use 15 percent or more without damaging the engines,” Pawlenty said. “We’ve tried to encourage EPA to look at that and they seem to be unwilling or unable to make a decision so far.”

The governor also said he is proud of the ethanol industry in Minnesota and looks forward to breakthroughs that will lead to the large scale commercialization of cellulosic ethanol. “We’re hopeful that we’ll see next generation biofuels in the not too distant future based on cellulosic ethanol,” he said. “So far in terms of being able to deploy it, it’s been somewhat small scale but we’re hoping there will be more breakthroughs on that.”

Gov. Pawlenty has announced he will not seek re-election as governor and his appearance at the Values Voter Summit over the weekend together with preparations to launch a national fundraising committee has increased speculation that he is considering a run for president in 2012.

Listen to Pawlenty’s ethanol comments here:

Twitter #FuelChat Scheduled

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is hosting a second open on-line Twitter #FuelChat to answer questions and offer information about all things ethanol on September 23 at 2:00 pm Eastern time.

The first #FuelChat was held in July during the evening hours but after some consultation and research, it was decided that a daytime chat might be better for those who want to engage in the conversation. Topics for the conversation are in development and suggestions should be sent to #FuelChat.

Participants can use the application TweetChat, using #FuelChat to see live comments and questions being posted and join in the chat. For those not currently using Twitter, the first step is would be to set up an account with Twitter. Those who have never taken part in a live on-line chat are welcome to just tune in to see how it works.

For more info, tweet Robert White at @fuelinggood.

Less Acres to Produce Bigger Corn Crop

In the September crop forecast out Friday morning, USDA is now calling for a near record corn crop for 2009 – at 13 billion bushels, just shy of the 2007 record – and a record soybean crop.

Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association notes that this bin buster is being produced on less acres. “What the report demonstrates is that we’re not needing additional land to produce the incremental amount of feedstock that we need as the ethanol industry grows,” Cooper said. “We’re producing a 13 billion bushel crop this year and we needed 6 1/2 million LESS acres to do it than in 2007. You are seeing acreage decrease each year as yields increase and total production increases.”

Cooper says this disputes the theory of indirect land use change and proves that U.S. farmers can very well produce food, feed and fuel. “The report drives another nail in the coffin of the food versus fuel argument,” said Cooper. “USDA is projecting increases in both the amount of corn we are feeding to livestock and the amount of corn going to export.”

In addition, RFA is pleased to congratulate Highwater Ethanol in Lamberton, Minnesota on its grand opening, held on the eighth anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks on American soil. “American farmers and ethanol producers are doing their part to enhance the security of this country and bolster our domestic food and fuel supplies,” said Cooper. “The opening of this plant on a day that has particular meaning to Americans is a good reminder of that.”

This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features an interview with Geoff Cooper about these topics and others related to the good news of increased corn and ethanol production and what that means for our nation.

You can listen to “The Ethanol Report” on-line here:

Or you can subscribe to this podcast by following this link.

RFA CEO Visits Farm Progress Show

Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen toured the 2009 Farm Progress Show last week in Decatur, Illinois and had the opportunity to visit many of the exhibits and talk with the farmers who produce the corn that makes ethanol.

“I wish that there were more policy makers, government officials, regulators here at this event to see how much progress has been made and see what modern agriculture is all about,” said Dinneen. “This is not your grandfather’s farm anymore!” He says with the second largest corn crop on record expected to be harvested this year, American farmers continue to prove that they can produce enough corn to make ethanol and feed the world as well.

This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features an interview with Dinneen during his visit to the Farm Progress Show, where he discusses various ethanol issues on the front burner and his admiration for U.S. agriculture.

You can listen to “The Ethanol Report” on-line here:

Or you can subscribe to this podcast by following this link.