Wednesday, October 31, 2007

It's Time to Thank Farmers

The National Corn Growers Association has created a website to thank farmers and help educate consumers about growers’ dedication for producing the safest, most abundant food and feed supply on Earth, while also supplying the demands for cleaner-burning, renewable ethanol.

The new site, http://www.farmersmatter.org, highlights interesting facts about agriculture and farming, offers an interactive timeline, videos, downloadable badges for placement on blogs or social networking sites, and a video contest designed to thank farmers for their efforts. The association will award prizes totaling $2,500 to a first and second place winner.

“Earlier this year the media was full of stories about a pending corn shortage and the impact higher corn prices were having on the consumer’s pocketbook. In the midst of the largest corn harvest in history, we wanted to take a moment to thank our nation’s corn growers for stepping up to meet demands for both our food and feed needs, as well as helping our nation become more energy independent,” says Ron Litterer, NCGA president.

Source: National Corn Growers Association

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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Jay Leno Goes Green With E85 Corvette

Jay Leno E85 Ethanol corvette food vs fuel ethanol energyUPDATE - GM now has a video of Jay's 'vette available HERE as well as on YouTube HERE.

“Tonight Show” host Jay Leno’s predilection for performance cars is no secret, but many fellow enthusiasts may not know that he is keenly interested in alternative fuels. To prove that red-blooded power mixes easily with a touch of green, Leno partnered with Pratt & Miller – the engineering company that builds and campaigns C6.R Corvettes – to develop a modified Corvette Z06 that is capable of running on E85 ethanol. It was unveiled at the 2007 SEMA Show.

“The C6RS is the result of an idea we hatched to prove that high-performance cars and alternative fuel technology weren’t diametrically opposed concepts,” said Leno. “I love the idea of having 600 horsepower at my disposal, but using a homegrown alternative to gasoline.”

The fuel system and engine control computer were modified to accommodate E85, and spent gases exit through a Corsa exhaust system. Supporting the 600-horse engine’s power is a blueprinted and strengthened T-56 six-speed transmission and a high-performance Centerforce dual-friction clutch.

While the exterior and drivetrain were inspired by the racetrack, the C6RS’s cabin exudes luxury, with premium touches and enhancements from Genuine Corvette Accessories that include a two-tone shift knob and boot; leather-covered console armrest, parking brake handle and boot; an interior trim kit, racing-style pedal covers and more.

With its 600 horses on tap and domestically produced E85 fuel in the tank, Jay Leno’s alternative-fueled C6RS is an all-American supercar that proves high performance and environmental consciousness go together like the Corvette and checkered flags.

Source: General Motors

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Monday, October 29, 2007

DOE Provides $30 Million to Jump Start Bioenergy Research Centers

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced it has invested nearly $30 million in end-of-fiscal-year (2007) funds to accelerate the start-up of its three new Bioenergy Research Centers, bringing total DOE Bioenergy Research Center investment to over $400 million.

The three DOE Bioenergy Research Centers—located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Madison, Wisconsin; and near Berkeley, California—selected by DOE this June, bring together multidisciplinary teams of leading scientists to advance research needed to make cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels commercially viable on a national scale, a key part of President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative Twenty in Ten Plan.

This Plan mandates the use of the equivalent of 35 billions gallons of alternative and renewable fuels by 2017, and biofuels produced from biomass, such as cellulosic ethanol and non-edible portions of crops, could help reach a major portion of this goal.

“For the sake of both our nation’s energy security and the health of our environment, we need major alternatives to imported oil and fossil fuels, and we need them soon,” said DOE Under Secretary for Science Raymond L. Orbach.

Source: US Dept of Energy

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Sunday, October 28, 2007

Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin Responds to Ethanol Critics

Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) said that critics of the biofuels industry were using "misguided and inaccurate" claims, according to a report in The Daily Republic.

She went on to describe opponents further: "They are using misguided and inaccurate arguments in an attempt to derail aggressive provisions for the future of home-grown renewable fuels like ethanol”

Representative Herseth Sandlin is a strong backer of renewable fuels and supports raising the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The senate has a passed a bill with that amount while the house's bill does not.

Unlike some politicians who have suddenly discovered ethanol, she has authored several opinions pieces over the past few years that are worth reading:
She identifies the real cost to imported oil and those who want to keep the status quo.
"We know that our addiction to oil costs us a great deal - both at the pump and in terms of our national security. Renewable biofuels present us with a tremendous opportunity to address that problem - the opportunity to end our reliance on foreign oil; the opportunity to create thousands of good jobs in rural America; the opportunity to strengthen national security; and the opportunity to get a handle on out of control gas prices.

Unfortunately, for the last six years, we've been fighting a tough battle against big oil companies, who have fought us tooth and nail in our efforts develop a vibrant, sustainable ethanol industry. The good news is that the tide is turning. I believe that people of all political parties - especially those in rural America - just aren't going to stand by and be held hostage any longer."
She advocates renewable fuels as vital to national security.
"development of homegrown, renewable energy sources, such as ethanol and biodiesel, is a fundamental form of homeland and energy security. It puts our energy needs in our hands, and reduces the power of OPEC over our economic stability. As gas prices skyrocket, investing in renewable energy sources is a powerful way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and develop homegrown sources that are clean, efficient and environmentally friendly. And in many rural states like South Dakota, renewable energy development, especially ethanol, has become a proven economic driver, creating new and high-paying jobs."
And most interestingly, she comments on statements made by leader of oil group:
In a May 23, 2007 Roll Call article titled, “Big Energy Decries Democratic Policy Reversals,” Red Cavaney, President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute derided Congressional efforts to promote biofuels like ethanol, calling such efforts “a joke that is being played on the American people.” With respect to E-85, Cavaney said, “The demand is not there.” He also criticized and dismissed the value of anti-price gouging legislation that passed the House of Representatives today, which would give the Federal Trade Commission the authority to investigate and punish companies that artificially inflate the price of gas.
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Saturday, October 27, 2007

Oil Prices Expected to Ripple Through Economy

Oil hit $92 a barrel this week and most people expect it to reach $100.

We've already seen the impact that higher oil prices have played on food costs during the past year. So it's no surprise that many are becoming even more concerned as the price of oil continues to climb.

NBC Nightly News reported last night on the impact of rising oil prices on the economy. View the NBC Report HERE.

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"Corn: Powering the World" Exhibit Announced

The Indiana State Museum announced an upcoming exhibition with a strong agricultural story. Developed by the Indiana State Museum, “Corn: Powering the World” will open at the museum in August of 2009 and continue through January 2010 before traveling to other venues nationwide. The announcement was made to participants in Indianapolis at the national Future Farmers of America (FFA) convention.

According the museum:

From the food we eat to the cars we drive, energy from corn powers our world. Like the ancient civilizations that first cultivated it and revered it as a god, we too have come to depend on corn. Because this plant is so efficient at capturing sunlight and turning it into biomass, it can be used as a raw material to make an enormous variety of food and industrial products, including chewing gum, peanut butter, ethanol fuel, penicillin, soaps, adhesives and batteries.

In the exhibit, guests will see archaeological artifacts, discover how popcorn pops and determine how much corn it takes to power an Indy race car. A modern lab built into the exhibit will allow visitors to experience genetic engineering firsthand. “Corn: Powering the World” will shape how the public thinks about critical issues and help visitors understand how corn is rapidly becoming the most important plant ­breeding achievement of all time.

Source: FFA.org

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BP will Plead Guilty in Deadly Plant Blast

British Petroleum (BP) will plead guilty next month to violating the Clean Air Act and will pay a $50 million fine for lax safety that contributed to the deaths of 15 workers in the March 2005 explosion at its Texas City refinery, U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle said today.

The catastrophic explosion at the refinery occurred when hydrocarbon vapor and liquid released from a blowdown stack and reached an ignition source, believed to be a pickup truck with its engine running. The 15 contract employees killed at the BP Texas City refinery were located in temporary trailers approximately 150 feet from the blowdown stack. The deceased were Glenn Bolton, Lorena Cruz-Alexander, Rafael Herrera, Daniel Hogan, Jimmy Hunnings, Morris King, Larry Linsenbardt, Arthur Ramos, Ryan Rodriguez, James Rowe, Linda Rowe, Kimberly Smith, Susan Taylor, Larry Thomas and Eugene White. The explosion also caused the injuries of more than 170 other workers at the Texas City refinery.

“This case demonstrates one of the pillars of environmental enforcement: protecting human lives and health,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Ronald J. Tenpas for the Environment and Natural Resources Division. “BP cut corners with disastrous consequences and is being held to account.”

“BP's failure to comply with environmental laws led to the death of 15 people,” said Granta Nakayama, EPA’s [Environmental Protection Agency] Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "This portion of the Clean Air Act is essential to protect workers such as those in the petro-chemical industry, and EPA will continue to vigilantly prosecute any violations of these laws.”

BP agreed to plead guilty to a felony violation of Section 112(r)(7) of the Clean Air Act, which is the first criminal prosecution of that provision. Section 112r was passed in 1990, in response to the explosion occurring at the Union Carbide chemical plant in Bhopal, India, where thousands were killed or injured. Regulations under Section 112(r)(7) require facilities such as the BP Texas City refinery to ensure “release prevention, detection and correction requirements” are followed to prevent catastrophic explosions such as what occurred March 23, 2005.

Source: United States Attorney's Office, Souther District of Texas

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Friday, October 26, 2007

How Ethanol is Made Video Airs on Weather Channel

Forecast Earth Weather Channel Food vs Fuel Ethanol EnergyThe weather channel recently aired a segment as part of their Forecast Earth series regarding the positive impact that an ethanol production facility plays in its community.

Although the full video is not available online, they've posted a segment of Martha Stout, Lab Manager at the POET Coon Rapids, Iowa facility, explaining how ethanol is made.

Here's a shoutout to POET's Rhapsody in Green blog!

Source: The Weather Channel.com

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Thursday, October 25, 2007

Florida Launches Alternative Fuel Web Site

Farm to Fuel Food vs FuelMotorists using ethanol and biodiesel fuel have more reasons to celebrate using clean burning renewable fuels. Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that more facilities throughout the state are making these products available.

To help consumers locate stations offering alternative fuels in Florida, Bronson unveiled a new web site that provides locations statewide where E85, E10, biodiesel and biodiesel-blended fuels can be purchased. The web site is available HERE.

"This tool will enable motorists to locate renewable, cleaner burning fuels around the state," Bronson said in a news release. "I am very pleased that a number of facilities are now making these fuels available to the public, and we expect the number to continue growing."

E85, an alternative fuel comprised of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, requires a flex-fuel vehicle. E10, gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol, and biodiesel-blended fuels can be used in virtually any modern gasoline or diesel engine.

The Web site is the latest effort in Bronson's "Farm to Fuel Initiative," which is designed to ease both Florida and the nation's dependency on foreign oil and promote cleaner, renewable fuels by having Florida farmers grow fuel crops to support this production.

"Florida is well positioned to be a leader in this effort because of our available farmland and our mild climate," Bronson said. "The goal is to reduce the country's dependency on foreign oil, and at the same time to provide alternative crops that our farmers can grow to keep our agriculture industry viable."

Source: Florida Dept. of Agriculture

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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Fat is Beautiful

Fat is Beautiful. And now it's also profitable. At least according to this USAToday article.

As America looks to a bright future of biofuels, researchers and industry are looking at multiple ways to create these fuels to run our cars and trucks in the future. And a variety of fats---animal and vegetable--- will be part of the solution.
"At least two biodiesel plants in Iowa have begun to make biodiesel from animal fat, along with at least five plants in other states, according to the National Biodiesel Board and plant operators."
Interestingly, Tyson, which has been a vocal critic against grain-based biofuels like ethanol, has seemingly endorsed such efforts:
"Bob Ames, senior director of commercialization for Tyson, the nationwide meat-processing company based in Springdale, Ark., says using animal fats to produce diesel helps clean the air while profiting farmers. "It's a pretty awesome recycling story." Ames and others say using fat for fuel lets livestock producers in on the biofuels boom."

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

New King Corn Movie: Two Ears Down

King Corn Movie Two Ears Down Dumb and DumberA fact of the movie business is that October rarely has any good movies playing at the local movie theater. The studios usually dump the bad ones out hoping that movie goers will forget all about them by the time the big holiday blockbusters are rolling out. This October seems to be the same.

So it was with some excitement that we got some popcorn and went to see the new movie King Corn. Yes. A movie about watching corn grow. Or at least about two big city guys who moved to Iowa for a year to grow corn on 1 acre of land. Oh, the excitement of it all.

Our take? They should have stayed home. But at least the popcorn was delicious.

Now we enjoy a good poke "at the man" as much as anyone else does. But this movie, which ironically was heavily subsidized by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, seems to take great delight in portraying rural American farmers as welfare recipients who sit around with little to do between checks from Uncle Sam growing an evil seed that is responsible for all of the health problems in America.

Oh Please. America's farmers produce the most abundant supply of nutritious and affordable food for America and the world. Blaming obesity on farmers is just plain stupid. And this movie, filmed in 2004, looks quaint and out of date regarding subsidies given the increased demand for corn-based ethanol.

They wanted to be like Michael Moore. Don't think "Roger and Me". Think too long, too boring, too bad, rather like Ishtar.

Surprisingly, the bastion of liberal media, the New York Times, had little good to say about the film and its makers:
"But Mr. Cheney and Mr. Ellis are so pleasantly nondescript that they make no particular impression. As a result, all the time spent on autobiographical detail and personal banter hampers the film’s urgency, and plays like an awkward attempt to justify a format that the filmmakers are too self-effacing to exploit."
So with that, we give it two "ears" down for this clunky yawner of a documentary.

PS: The movie industry won't really have to worry about piracy with this one.

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Monday, October 22, 2007

Barack Obama Supports Biofuels

Barack Obama Food vs Fuel Ethanol EnergyThe US presidential campaign season is heating up faster than the price of a barrel of oil. We continue to highlight the leading presidential candidates' position on renewable energy.

Two points from Obama's official website are interesting to note:

"Develop the Next Generation of Biofuels
Barack Obama will work to ensure that advanced biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol, are developed and incorporated into our national supply as soon as possible. Corn ethanol is the most successful alternative fuel commercially available in the U.S. today, and we should fight the efforts of big oil and big agri-business to undermine this emerging industry

Expand Locally-Owned Biofuel Refineries
Less than 10 percent of new ethanol production today is from farmer owned refineries. New ethanol refineries help jumpstart rural economies....Barack Obama believes we must ensure that local investment continues to play a significant role as the biofuels industry continues to expand and evolve."
Finally, Senator Obama recently appeared at an ethanol plant opening/tour in Iowa. Dr. Zeiger from the Fields to Fuel Institute has a video of his remarks made that day, available HERE.

And as always, FoodandFuelAmerica.com does not support or endorse any candidate for any office. But we'll sure tell you what they're saying about renewable fuels!

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Sunday, October 21, 2007

Websites Offer Info on Dried Distillers Grains

Dried Distillers Grains DDGS Food vs FuelThe ethanol industry is one of the fastest-growing segments of U.S. agriculture and it produces a valuable co-product, dried distillers grains, which is used as feed for livestock and meat industry. Roughly 1/3 of corn used for ethanol is returned to the feed industry. And it's just one of the reasons why the recent criticisms of ethanol is unfounded.

Two recently updated sites offer valuable information regarding this important product.

University of Minnesota - DDGS
The latest information on feeding distillers grains by-products to dairy and beef cattle, swine and poultry is available. Corn is the grain most widely used in ethanol production due to its high fermentable starch content, so the majority of information on the Web site involves corn distillers by-products as livestock and poultry feed.

Ethanol Co-Products - NCGA
This site explains Dried Distillers Grains as well as offers information on feeding recommendations and nutritional characteristics.

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Oregon on the Move with Biofuels

In the three months since we shared that Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed legislation aimed at increasing the production and use of alternative fuels in the state, things are on the move in Oregon.

The new law also required E10 gasoline, a mixture of gasoline and 10% ethanol, after production of ethanol reaches 40 million gallons per year within the state.

Just this month, Pacific Ethanol opened its new $100 million plant at the Port of Morrow. In this news article from the Eastern Oregonian, the governor praised the facility and the role it plays in the local economy:

"The Democratic governor said the plant makes Oregon a national leader in biofuels production and it boosted Oregon's economy with 200 construction jobs and 40 full-time plant jobs."

The governor went on to say that the new plant represents a step toward "weaning our state from oil addiction" and a step forward in Oregon's effort to combat global warming.

Finally, the state of Oregon has a good informational webpage on alternative transportation fuels and its biomass efforts. Although some points are specific to Oregon's efforts, there is also good general information usable by everyone on both sites.

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Saturday, October 20, 2007

A Look Back at "Give Ethanol a Chance"

Three months ago, we posted a review and reaction to an essay by David Morris, co-founder and vice-president of the Institute for Local Self Reliance, entitled, Give Ethanol a Chance: A Case for Corn Based Fuel.

In it, he asks "How did the use of ethanol end up alongside tyranny and torture as an evil to be conquered?". He noted how this clean burning renewable fuel has become the target of environmentalists, even though it solves many of the problems that have been identified as a problem. He then lays out the many reasons why ethanol should be embraced as a step towards a better future for our nation's energy independence.

We were reminded of David's essay while reading noted environmental blogger Nathanael Green's "The Time is Right to Work Together".

While we don't always agree with every environmental point, there so many common areas that there has to be a way to move us from the real dangers of dependence upon a limited fuel like oil, bought with our money from hostile countries planning to do us harm.

So while some in the environmental movement wring their hands over how evil they see America's move towards biofuels, they're succeeding in ensure that we really do energy "the wrong way".

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Don't Blame Ethanol for Higher Food Prices

Tom Buis, president of National Farmers Union, wrote an op-ed "Don’t blame ethanol for higher food prices" which ran this week in The Hill newspaper in Washington DC.

Tom's opinion piece responded to several concerns that critics of ethanol have used to confuse the public and policymakers. The following are a few sections with a bit of explanation.

The first points focused on consumer's concerns over rising prices:
It’s only natural that consumers want to know why prices are increasing at their neighborhood grocery. The big oil lobby and a host of special interest groups have begun promulgating the myth that increased ethanol production, and its demand for corn crops, is responsible for increased food costs. It’s a gross oversimplification, and in fact, it’s plain wrong.
Tom showed an easy example of how little impact corn price increases really play in the final retail price of food:
According the U.S. Department of Agriculture, non-farm costs including marketing, processing, wholesaling, distribution and retailing account for 80 cents of every food dollar spent in the United States. An 18-ounce box of corn flakes is priced at $3.70 in Washington, D.C. grocery stores. The farmer’s net share of that total? Five cents. There is a lot more at play than corn prices. Furthermore, Americans spend less on food than anywhere else in the world. Of every dollar Americans spend, just 9.9 cents is spent on food.
We've explained here many times that grain prices play a no or only a limited role in food cost increases. Tom shares that other factors are also causing rising food prices, specifically labor costs.
Beyond rising energy costs, inflation also leads to increases in food prices. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 25-year average annual food inflation rests at about 2.9 percent. Over two years, from June 2005 to June 2007, American consumers saw prices increase 3.4 percent. Food prices have always and will continue to increase. Government statistics confirm that the increase consumers face is standard.
He goes on to explain that ethanol is not a "food or fuel" issue at all but rather "food and fuel" by sharing the value co-products that are derived from the ethanol production process:
Further, it is a false premise to say that corn used for ethanol means less feed options for livestock producers. Ethanol plants make two products — ethanol and high-quality distiller grains that are an excellent feed source for livestock. Only the starch from a corn kernel is used to produce ethanol. The remaining two-thirds of each kernel contain significant proteins that are highly valued in the world’s food and feed market. It’s also important to note that corn is one of many components in livestock feed, and only a small portion of the overall livestock cultivation input costs.
Finally, he concludes with these final thoughts concerning the benefits to promoting American-grown ethanol:
  • America’s family farmers and ranchers have been feeding the world for more than 200 years.
  • Increasingly, we are helping our nation become less dependent on foreign oil from some of the most unstable regions of the world by producing home-grown renewable energy.
  • Ethanol production is a lifeline for many struggling rural communities. Ever-increasing ethanol plants are the reason you see the boards coming off the windows of once-struggling rural Main Street businesses.
  • Increased ethanol production is creating economic opportunities for rural communities, restoring profitability to family farmers and ranchers, and providing a clean, safe renewable fuel for our nation’s future.
Read the full article HERE

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Friday, October 19, 2007

Students and Teachers Learn About Energy From New Weekly Reader Curriculum

General Motors and Weekly Reader are releasing a new classroom curriculum, "The Energy Highway - Solutions Ahead," that teachers can use to help students understand the energy challenges facing society today, as well as some of the existing and future alternatives that may help alleviate these issues. It is available online at http://www.gm.com/education


"It's nearly impossible to pick up a newspaper today without reading an article on the environment or alternative energy," said Terry Bromberg, president, Weekly Reader Custom Publishing. "We are able to teach students about these relevant topics with current statistics and information that are years from making it into science textbooks. It's great to provide such needed resources to the educational community."

Curricular objectives include:
  • Help students consider the current issues surrounding energy today, including increasing global energy demand and environmental and economic impacts
  • Explore ways to help reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by using diverse and renewable energy resources
  • Explore ways to conserve energy and become more energy efficient
  • Demonstrate the benefits of using renewable energy resources to produce electricity and hydrogen as energy carriers that offer the greatest diversity and lowest environmental impact
Source: General Motors and Weekly Reader

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corn ethanol fuel fuels E85 E10

Thursday, October 18, 2007

When Oil Prices Rise, So Does Just About Everything Else

The Dallas Morning News reports it simply for consumers: Higher oil prices are affecting the things we buy.
"When oil gets expensive, everything gets expensive. Everything.
Think about it: Almost everything we consume must be transported in boats, planes, trains or trucks that run on petroleum-based fuel. And a lot of consumer goods – and their packaging – are made of petroleum-based plastics or chemicals."
Maybe tomorrow they'll report the sky is blue, the grass is green and the ocean is big.

But it's unusual that deep in oil country, a Texas paper is reporting such an easy-to-understand concept that the rest of America already understands. From the recent remarks by the US Ag Secretary to economic analysis, higher energy costs will continue to cause trouble for our economy. And its not just our food prices that are climbing due to higher energy costs.

So perhaps the ominous warning from the former CIA director that foreign oil poses our greatest threat to our security will help policymakers move us towards renewable fuels grown here in the USA.

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Wednesday, October 17, 2007

ADM Honored for Innovative Environmental Efforts

GE Water & Process Technologies, a unit of General Electric Company awarded Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) with the 2007 global ecomagination Leadership Award for its innovative environmental efforts.

ADM’s Decatur, Illinois corn plant, which processes corn for food, feed, industrial products, and biofuel, implemented over a decade ago a sustainable water management program, conserving 150 million gallons of water each year and realizing $1 million in annual operational savings.

According to Jeff Garwood, presidents and CEO, GE Water & Process Technologies, “Healthy water sources are essential for healthy communities, industries and agriculture production. ADM is an excellent example of how small changes can result in big wins for both the environment and business.”

ADM’s Decatur corn plant manager, Bill Manley noted, "At ADM, we know that taking a sustainable business approach doesn’t just benefit our environment and communities, it benefits our company as well. Our Decatur site has been reusing wastewater for more than a decade. And this year alone we’ve reused and captured over 150 million gallons of wastewater. Our innovative water conservation and treatment strategy brought a million dollars in operational savings, as well."

Source: GE Ecomagination Leadership Award (pdf)

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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Poll: Americans Support Renewable Energy

Americans support renewable energy like ethanol in a new poll conducted by Harris Interactive®. The poll shows overwhelming American support for expanding renewable fuel options with nine in 10 U.S. adults (88 percent) agreeing the U.S. should pursue renewable energy sources.

Commissioned by the Clean Fuels Development Coalition, the poll concludes that 72 percent of adults believe that higher oil prices have had a substantial impact on the rising cost of food in recent months, compared to only 35 percent who believe ethanol production has had a significant impact on rising food prices.

Conducted online between Sept. 21 and Sept. 25, 2007, it asked 2,199 U.S. adults about their attitudes regarding ethanol. Other results indicate that nearly eight in 10 adults (78 percent) believe usage of ethanol would lessen the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

Energy policy is at the forefront of national debate with pending energy legislation expected to hit congressional calendars this fall. The Senate-approved version of the energy bill contains a provision mandating the use of 36 billion gallons of ethanol by 2022.

Source: Clean Fuels Development Coalition (PDF)

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Monday, October 15, 2007

Ethanol is Good for Illinois Beef Producers

Apparently, the Illinois Beef Association's got a beef with critics of expanded ethanol usage. The executive director of the Illinois Beef Association disagrees with an article in a recent Wall Street Journal that quoted a meat trade official as saying the meat industry's top legislative goal is to block future increases in renewable fuel standards.

The WSJ article claimed that the ethanol industry is losing clout in Congress as food prices have risen this year.

Maralee Johnson said IBA supports expanding the ethanol industry in Illinois as a means to grow the state's livestock industry.

Johnson says she has spoken with associates this year over their fears of short corn supplies.

"Just give us a minute, and we'll produce you a lot of corn," she said.

Last June, the U.S. Senate approved a bill increasing the renewable fuel standard to 36 billion gallons by 2022, with 15 billion gallons coming from corn-based ethanol.

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Sunday, October 14, 2007

Al Gore Saved The Ethanol

Nobel Prize Food vs Fuel Food versus Fuel Al Gore Inconvenient Truth EnvironmentWith this week's announcement that former Vice-President Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will share the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for "their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change", we're reminded of the Vice-President's long time support for ethanol. In fact, he even saved it.

Al Gore Vice President United States of America Inconvenient Truth Food vs Fuel Corn Ethanol E85 E10 Corn FarmersVice-President Al Gore
Third Annual Farm Journal Conference, December 1, 1998
http://clinton3.nara.gov/WH/EOP/OVP/speeches/farmj.html

"I was also proud to stand up for the ethanol tax exemption when it was under attack in the Congress -- at one point, supplying a tie-breaking vote in the Senate to save it. The more we can make this home-grown fuel a successful, widely-used product, the better-off our farmers and our environment will be."

Indeed, Mr. Vice-President, the better-off our environment will be. Ethanol remains a viable solution for our energy security and for our environment. And that's not an Inconvenient Truth!

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