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.