Presentations from the 2007 Farm to Fuel Summit in Florida are now available on-line at floridafarmtofuel.com. Among them is “Today’s U.S. Ethanol Industry†- Matt Hartwig, Renewable Fuels Association.
All of the power point presentations from panels on Advancing the Science of Bioenergy, Business of Bioenergy, Biomass Resources/Feedstocks in Florida, and Renewable Energy Technology Grants Program are available, as well as the presentation on “25x’25 – America’s Energy Future” and more.
One speaker who did not have a power point was Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who talked about what ethanol can mean for the economy of Florida. “I am most concerned about the economic well-being of our state,” said Sink. “If we take advantage of these opportunities, then perhaps we have a chance that we all won’t be living in a state that is covered up with concrete and rooftops.” Sink says she will be working with the governor and his cabinet to find ways to support and provide incentives for biofuels development in Florida.
Listen to a portion of Sink’s address here: 
Alex Sink (10:00 MP3 file)
Click here to see a Flickr Photo Album of pictures from the Summit.
Mark Cooper, director of research at the Consumer Federation of America discussed his new report, “Big Oil v. Ethanol: The Consumer Stake in Expanding the Production of Liquid Fuels,” on the July 26 edition of OnPoint. An Environment & Energy Publishing (E&E) program, Â
Cooper describes why he believes the oil industry is waging a war against the ethanol industry in America. In addition, he discusses many issues related to E85 ethanol as well as oil refining capacity.
OnPoint is an Environment & Energy Publishing (E&E) program. The video from OnPoint can be viewed at: http://www.eenews.net/tv/2007/07/26/.
A video news report by General Motors discusses the recent rise in food prices and proves that ethanol is not the culprit.Â
The report found that processes like marketing and packaging have a large impact on consumer food prices.  In addition, the report states that the price of gasoline has more than twice the impact on consumer food prices than does the price of grain.
Bob Dinneen, President of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), is featured in the video and provides an informational statement concerning the myth of ethanol’s involvement in rising food prices.
The video is available online at: http://media.medialink.com/WebNR.aspx?story=33662
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is releasing Responding to Ethanol Incidents, an educational video detailing proper materials needed to combat potential ethanol incidents. The video is available to watch online at www.ethanolrfa.orgÂ
The video is a technical document that is directed primarily at ethanol plant operators and first responders such as fire marshals. It documents Ethanol Firefighting Foam test results and educates viewers on how to deal with ethanol-related spills and fires.Â
To provide the information behind the video, scientific tests were conducted at Ansul Fire Technology Center in Marinette, Wis. to evaluate the effectiveness of six different types of foam.  Tests were conducted on denatured ethanol (or E95) and E10 (gasohol), using the Underwriters Laboratory 162 (UL162) Standard for Safety, Foam Equipment and Liquid Concentrates. In addition, the film explores how ethanol-blended fuels are produced and distributed, in order to provide a comprehensive background for viewers.     Â
“A dedication to safety has always been the foremost concern of the U.S. ethanol industry,†said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “With the industry growing at such a rapid rate, it is imperative that our nations’ first responders have the proper education and training to assist in an emergency at a moment’s notice. By making the video available to view on our website, we hope to communicate this message to first responders who have ethanol plants in their communities. On behalf of the RFA, I am confident that the availability of this DVD will help to combat any ethanol-related emergencies in the future.â€
The video was funded by the RFA and produced in conjunction with International Fire Chiefs Association, General Motors, Independent Liquid Terminals Association (ALTA), ANSUL Innovative Fire Solutions, and Williams Fire & Hazard Control.Â
The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) published a July 2007 research study entitled Big Oil v. Ethanol: The Consumer Stake in Expanding the Production of Liquid Fuels. The research, compiled by CFA Director of Research, Mark Cooper, examines serious problems in the petroleum refining sector and some of the key aspects of expanding ethanol production.
The report summarizes that record gas prices at the pump are ultimately due to a shortage of refinery capacity, not the price of crude oil. In addition, recent ethanol policy is said to be posing a challenge to the market power of oil companies.
According to the report, “The oil industry threats to offset increases in ethanol production with cutbacks in refinery expansion plans and policies to restrict ethanol distribution are serious and demonstrate their unchallenged market power and their ability to limit competition which could help consumers obtain lower prices for gasoline and diesel fuel.”
The report sites several newspaper articles, such as a Wall Street Journal piece entitled, “Fill Up With Ethanol? One Big Obstacle is Big Oil.”
According to the Wall Street Journal article, “Oil companies lose sales every time a driver chooses E85, and they employ a variety of tactics that keep the fuel out of stations that bear the company name.”
The report utilizes charts and information published by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).
The full research report can be read on the Internet at: http://www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/Ethanol.pdf
There were about 500 people in attendance at the second annual Farm to Fuel Summit in St. Petersburg, Florida July 18-20. That’s double last year’s attendance and Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Charles Bronson says he expects it to just keep growing because the interest is very high.
“We knew last year this event was going to get bigger,” said Bronson. “This is a value-added issue for us. We grow a lot of food supply in the state of Florida, we can turn right around and grow a fuel supply right behind it and keep the food supply going and add a second or even a third crop for fuel.”
The future for Florida is in cellulosic ethanol and Bronson believes that will happen sooner than most people think. “I fully believe that you’re going to see some small operational plants within a year to year and a half. I think you’re going to see some medium sized plants in operation within the next 2-3 years.” Within five years, he thinks a few hundred million gallons of cellulosic ethanol will be produced.
Listen to interview with Bronson here: Bronson Interview (MP3 file)
Florida stands ready to become a leader in both the production and consumption of biofuels, including ethanol.
At the second annual Florida Farm to Fuel Summit in St. Petersburg, it was evident that major government leaders, including Governor Charlie Crist, are excited about the potential for ethanol in the Sunshine State.
“This has become a movement,†Crist told the conference on Thursday. “It’s finally registered with everybody that this is something that is not only good for our environment, it’s good for our country, it’s a national security issue, it gets us off foreign oil – it is simply the right thing to do for America.â€
“As governor of Florida, I think we have a wonderful opportunity to lead in this regard, more than anyone else,†Crist continued. “I love corn, it’s great. But we’ve got sugarcane and citrus waste and one of the most amazing agricultural industries in the world.â€
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Charles Bronson is the driving force behind the state’s Farm to Fuel program, which is part of the nationwide 25x’25 initiative that calls for the country to obtain 25 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources by the year 2025. Bronson’s ambition is even greater for Florida.
“My goal is that we produce 30 percent of our total fuel supply,†said Bronson. “Thirty percent is somewhere around 2.5 billion gallons of fuel.â€
Bronson expects to import another 30 percent of Florida’s fuel supply from outside the state, making it 60 percent renewable.
The state of Florida is making a significant investment in research and development of biofuels, especially cellulosic ethanol, and Matt Hartwig with the Renewable Fuels Association told the Farm to Fuel Summit that this is the future for ethanol.
“We are talking about cellulose and wood chips and citrus waste, we’re going to need it all,†said Hartwig. “The research and development needs to be done by the federal government, the state and by our industry itself. By working together we can all make sure that these technologies come to the marketplace much sooner than most people think is possible.â€
Hartwig also noted that legislation passed by the Senate recently calls for an expansion of the Renewable Fuels Standard to 36 billion gallons by 2022 and requiring that 21 billion gallons of that must come from feedstocks other than corn.
Listen to the Governor’s remarks here: Governor Crist Remarks (MP3 file)
Recently, the ethanol industry has been blamed for rising popcorn prices. In an editorial piece writen by the McCook Nebraska Daily Gazette, basic economics explains the snack food’s higher prices.Â
A combination of more and more corn acreage being converted to alcohol production, dry field conditions, higher packaging rates, distribution and transportation costs contribute to a higher cost for popcorn. Â
According to the editorial, transportation costs caused by a higher cost of fuel is a problem the ethanol industry is currently trying to solve.
In addition, a story by the Associated Press revealed that U.S. farmers harvested about 890 million pounds of popcorn from 214,243 acres in the cornbelt.Â
The Popcorn Board reported that Americans eat 17 billion quarts of popcorn per year, and about 70 percent of this popcorn is eaten in the home. The fall and winter months are the most popular times for popcorn consumption.
For perspective, the Associated Press story cited that a pair of Ohio brothers expect to receive at least 13 cents a pound for this year’s crop, compared to 9 cents a pound for last year.
Read the full story at http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1233113.html.Â
Today the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) sent a letter to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and Ranking Member Bob Goodlatte thanking the Committee for its commitment to bring bipartisan legislation before the U.S. House of Representatives in the “Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007†(H.R. 2419). The Act recognizes the important role of agriculture in the continued research and development, education and investment in our nation’s biofuels industry.
RFA President Bob Dinneen sent the following letter:Â
“The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) thanks the House Agriculture Committee for its commitment to bring bipartisan legislation, the “Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007†(H.R. 2419), before the U.S. House of Representatives that recognizes the important role of agriculture in the continued research and development, education and investment in our nation’s biofuels industry. Much of the growth of the U.S. ethanol industry to date has been supported by farmers and rural
America investing their hard-earned dollars in local biorefineries. For the American farmer, the ethanol industry provides the opportunity to enjoy some of the value added to their commodity by further processing. The programs included in the Energy Title of H.R. 2419 will greatly contribute to ensuring
America’s future energy security.Â
Congress has a significant opportunity to advance the development and deployment of bioenergy, renewable energy and cellulosic ethanol technologies in the Farm Bill. The House Agriculture Committee has crafted an Energy Title in H.R. 2419 focused on revitalizing rural communities, creating economic opportunity and good paying jobs for American workers, and expanding the role of U.S. agriculture in our movement to greater energy self-reliance. The programs included in the Energy Title will promote Federal procurement of biobased products, provide loan guarantees for biorefineries and biofuels production facilities, expand research to better utilize ethanol co-products such as distillers grains, study the feasibility of a dedicated ethanol pipeline, and continue the Bioenergy Program to incentivize cellulosic and biomass feedstocks for ethanol production and energy production of ethanol plants.Â
The RFA thanks the Committee for recognizing the potential of biofuels and providing the agriculture community, through H.R. 2419’s Energy Title, a pathway that will provide a more stable and sustainable energy future for all Americans. The RFA applauds the Committee for their work on this carefully balanced legislation, and we look forward to working with you as H.R. 2419 comes to the floor of the House of Representatives later this week.
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) both had a presence at the Florida Farm to Fuel Summit this week in St. Petersburg.
Matt Hartwig with RFA (pictured at the podium) drove home the growth of the ethanol industry, the economic importance and what RFA has been doing in Washington to help the industry expand. “It’s important to appreciate the scope of the industry,” said Hartwig. “There are 123 biorefineries in 23 states, not just corn producing states, they states like Arizona and California.” In the next 24-36 months, he said, production will exceed 12 billion gallons.
He noted that federal and state legislative policy and regulations remain the number one driver for increasing ethanol demand and use across the country.
Listen to Matt’s remarks here: Matt Hartwig Remarks (MP3 file)
EPIC’s Robert White (seated) talked about his organization’s marketing and promotion efforts in Florida with the “Florida Needs Ethanol” campaign that kicked off earlier this year, one he says will be ramping up in the next few months. “Obviously our objective is to educate Floridians on ethanol as it starts to flow,” said White. “I can tell you that there is a contract being negotiated right now to clean 1180 underground storage tanks to bring in E10 before the end of the year. So, congratulations, you are about to become a very welcomed ethanol state.”
Listen to Robert’s remarks here: Robert White’s Remarks (MP3 file)
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