Bob Dinneen, President and CEO
Bob Dinneen
Bob Dinneen is the President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), the leading trade association for America’s ethanol industry.
Blog Posts by Bob Dinneen, President and CEO
Missing the Larger Point…Response to US Inches Toward Goal of Energy Independence
March 29, 2012
In a recent Letter to the Editor of the New York Times, I highlight the benefits the use of ethanol fuel and how increased use and production has dramatically reduced our foreign oil imports and dependence.
Posted in Ethanol, Renewable Fuels Standard
Dear President Obama
August 15, 2011
Your scheduled tour of rural communities through the Upper Midwest this week will no doubt provide you with firsthand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities present in rural communities all across the nation. Your scheduled travel will also bring you in close proximity to many of the most successful drivers of economic opportunity today: ethanol biorefineries.
RFA to President Obama: Take pride in U.S. ethanol industry
July 08, 2011
In a letter sent to President Obama today, the Renewable Fuels Association urged the President to take pride in the U.S. ethanol industry, as they detailed the dynamic state of the industry. The letter was prompted by remarks the President made during his Twitter town hall event earlier this week, in which the President seemed to question the commitment of ethanol producers and advocates to innovation.
Posted in Ethanol, Food, Jobs, Production, USDA
Senate Ethanol Debate: Peeling Away the Onion
June 17, 2011
For ethanol interests, the United States Senate was a cauldron of confusion this week. As is often the case in Washington, things are not as they appear. This week's ethanol debate had little to do with ethanol and even less to do with true energy policy. It was old fashioned political theater.
Posted in Agriculture, E15, Ethanol, Energy, Jobs, OPEC, Oil, Tariff , USDA, VEETC
EPA Details Legal Avenues for E15 Sales Today
March 29, 2011
In a letter to industry stakeholders, EPA has reconfirmed it is illegal to sell E15 to gasoline-only vehicles and engines until all regulatory issues have been resolved. However, EPA also reaffirmed the legality of offering properly labeled E15 and any other ethanol blend from E11 to E85 for use Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs).
Charges and Changing - Helping Feed and Fuel the World
March 25, 2011
This week, the chairman of Nestlé, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, attacked ethanol as an “immoral” policy. It is a charge backed by lots of emotion, but very little fact. Here I present the facts about ethanol, without emotion or misplaced sanctimony.
Posted in Ethanol, Food, Production
A Flock of Speculation: How paper bushels, not ethanol, are driving corn prices
March 16, 2011
Research into the commodity price spikes in 2008 have all shown that speculation was a major driver in the creation of that bubble and in its popping. Now, not three years later, are we seeing history repeat itself? Recent behavior in the corn market says yes.
Posted in Agriculture, Ethanol, Research
$100 Oil and Congress Asks for Seconds
February 24, 2011
As turmoil and violence rattle the Middle East and Northern Africa, the fragile American and worldwide economic recovery is being put into jeopardy as oil prices continue their climb over $100. Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress is voting on provisions that would limit use of the only widely available alternative to imported oil…Ethanol.
Posted in Congress, E15, Ethanol, Energy, Fuel, Oil, Production, Renewable Fuels Standard, USDA, VEETC
2011 State of the Industry Address
February 21, 2011
This morning at the 16th Annunal National Ethanol Conference, I will be giving the State of the Industry Address, dicussing the successes the ethanol industry has had and challenges that are in front of us.
Posted in Congress, E15, Ethanol, Energy, Environment, Exports, Fuel, Land Use, National Ethanol Conference, Production
Egypt, Ethanol and Armchair Punditry Part II- From the Suez to the Strait of Hormuz
February 09, 2011
While some of the most violent clashes in Egypt have calmed, the situation remains very volatile. A peaceful resolution and the institution of a truly democratic government are everyone’s hopes for the people of Egypt. But the unrest and the possibility that it could spread to other countries in the Middle East underscores the need for America to get serious about a domestic energy policy.
Egypt, Ethanol and Armchair Punditry – Part 1
February 03, 2011
As millions of Egyptians engage in a life and death struggle for the future of their country, pundits in the Western media are taking the opportunity to blame all of their favorite scapegoats for the insecurity. American ethanol production is not escaping their wrath. As has always been the case, the “facts” used by these pundits just don’t match the world reality.
Congress gave biofuels breathing room for constructive debate on future policies
January 05, 2011
In a recent post on The Hill's Congress Blog, I talk about the one year extension of the incentives for producing and using ethanol. With this extension, we need not worry about our short-term survival, and the American biofuels industry can take the long view and craft a comprehensive proposal that reflects fiscal realities as well as our nation’s energy needs. We hope our critics will respond in a similar spirit.
Posted in Congress, Ethanol, Production
NPR: Lop-sided and Outdated. Where’s Big Oil?
December 22, 2010
As NPR is still reeling from the November congressional and public outcry to bar local public radio stations from using taxpayer dollars to purchase NPR programing as a result of perceived bias in “reporting”, it is very surprising that NPR would then turn around and run a lop-sided and at times miserably outdated series on ethanol as produced by Harvest Public Media. After listening and reading the past two days’ “reports”, a number of items need to be addressed.
Posted in Agriculture, Ethanol, Environment, Jobs, Oil, Production
Answering Ethanol Attacks That ‘Just Ain’t So’
December 09, 2010
Predictably, as the debate over extending ethanol's tax credit comes to a head, opponents of America's ethanol industry are tripping over themselves to make wild claims and accusations about ethanol. Some even challenge the very character of the RFA and its staff. But as Will Rogers might say, it "just ain't so!"
Posted in
Response to the New York Times
December 09, 2010
When it comes to the future of renewable energy in the United States, The New York Times editorializes (12/9/10 Good Energy Subsidies, and Bad) that it wants to do what “makes sense for the environment, the economy, and for American taxpayers.” It also notes “the nation desperately needs new investment in clean energy and the jobs that go with it.” The New York Times then turns its back on those very goals by attacking ethanol.
Posted in Ethanol
No Examples in Washington Post Criticism
December 09, 2010
While criticizing ethanol, the Post states that there are better alternatives to reduce oil use yet offer no examples. Nor does the Post deem it necessary to highlight the estimated $100-$200 taxpayers fork over to the oil industry each year, and that is before any consideration of military expenditures is included.
Posted in Ethanol
Getting the Facts Straight on Ethanol, Letters to the Editor
November 30, 2010
The following letters are to the Editors of two publications which have published editorials, denouncing the ethanol industry, skipping over important details and facts.
Posted in
RFA President Speaks at Cellulosic Biofuels Summit
November 16, 2010
Today I will be speaking at the Cellulosic Biofuels & Biorefineries Summit this morning in Washington, DC. I plan to talk about key issues within the cellulosic community including the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Loan Guarantee program, investment into cellulosic ethanol and indirect land use and carbon accounting. Read my full remarks by clicking the link above.
Posted in Ethanol, Environment, Fuel, Land Use, Production, Renewable Fuels Standard, USDA
Republicans take back the House….what does it mean for the U.S. Ethanol Industry?
November 03, 2010
As the Republicans made tremendous gains last night, it is anticipated that this town will become more Republican in January. However, with this change, there will be no meaningful impact on the U.S. ethanol industry. Ethanol is not now, nor has it ever been a partisan issue. As the Republicans made tremendous gains last night, it is anticipated that this town will become more Republican in January. However, with this change, there will be no meaningful impact on the U.S. ethanol industry. Ethanol is not now, nor has it ever been a partisan issue.
Posted in Ethanol, Energy, Jobs, Renewable Fuels Standard, VEETC
Letter to the Editor: Wall Street Journal
October 20, 2010
Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal posted “The Ethanol Bailout”, in response to the U.S. EPA grant of the E15 waiver for MY2007 and newer cars and light trucks, claiming ethanol is highly corrosive and will damage to engines and exhaust systems. Yet, test after test has shown that ethanol blends up to E15 are safe and effective for all vehicles. The following is my Letter to the Editor: “Given the nature of the your editorial "The Ethanol Bailout" (Oct. 18), it may come a surprise that I agree with the Journal that the EPA's decision to allow more ethanol use in gasoline is not based on all the science. If it were, the EPA would have allowed the use of up to 15% ethanol in a gallon of gasoline for every vehicle on the road".......
Posted in E15, Ethanol, EPA, Fuel, Production
Making a Silk Purse
October 18, 2010
Based upon Clean Air Act requirements, EPA is to consider all scientific evidence when evaluating new fuels. In the case of the E15 waiver, however, EPA completely ignored credible data submitted by RFA that demonstrated the efficacy of E15 in older vehicles. Ricardo, Inc., an internationally recognized automotive engineering firm used EPA’s own methodology to evaluate the likely effects of using E15 in vehicles model year (MY) 2000 and older. It is previously unheard of for EPA to deny a waiver request for vehicles that are beyond their EPA-determined useful life, as all MY2000 and older vehicles will be on January 1, 2011. Alas, c’est la vie. It is now up to the industry to make a silk purse out of this sow’s ear. We have introduced new fuels in this country before and the pathway to doing so is clear. It is a complicated process and one that will not happen overnight. Fortunately, the RFA has already begun this process.
Posted in E15, Ethanol, EPA, Fuel, Renewable Fuels, Research
EPA is “Missing an Opportunity” with E15 Market Bifurcation
October 13, 2010
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency granted the E15 waiver for model year (MY) 2007 and new vehicles. By doing this, the EPA is missing an opportunity to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and create new economic opportunity. This scientifically unjustified bifurcation of the U.S. car market will do little to move the needle and expand ethanol use today. Limiting E15 use to MY2007 and newer vehicles only creates confusion for retailers and consumers alike. America’s ethanol producers are hitting an artificial blend wall today. The goals of Congress to reduce our addiction to oil captured in the Renewable Fuels Standard cannot be met with this decision.
Posted in E15, Ethanol, EPA, Fuel, Renewable Fuels, U.S Dept. of Energy
3 Questions DOE and Congress Must Answer About the Renewable Energy Loan Guarantee Program
September 21, 2010
Since its creation, the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Loan Guarantee Program (as established by the 2005 energy bill) has been defined by inaction and obstruction and is largely seen as a complete failure to date in terms of bringing next generation biofuel technologies to the marketplace. Additionally, the loan guarantee program has been raided time and again to pay for other federal programs with little if anything to do with renewable energy. Despite repeated promises to restore funding, money stolen from the program is still MIA. At the Senate hearing this Thursday, DOE officials and members of Congress have some explaining to do.
Posted in Ethanol, Energy, Environment, Fuel, Renewable Fuels, U.S Dept. of Energy
New Study Concludes No Need for EPA’s Proposed Bifurcation of E15
September 16, 2010
It’s a mystery. For what reason does the EPA suggest it needs to bifurcate the introduction of E15 for cars 2001 and newer? Since an answer hasn’t been provided to date despite a significant amount of testing having already occurred to assess the safety higher level ethanol blends, RFA and Ricardo, Inc. decided to prove once and for all that E15 is safe for use in older cars.
Posted in
DDGs Feed Livestock and Our Economy- Export Exchange 2010
August 20, 2010
The United States is producing more dried distillers grains than ever. The ethanol co-product, commonly used in livestock feed for its high levels of protein and fiber is unfortunately hitting a domestic “feed wall” here in the U.S. and exports are becoming more important. Along with the U.S. Grains Council, the RFA will be co-sponsoring the Export Exchange 2010 to focus on educating and connecting international buyers of DDGs and coarse grains. Now it is more vital than ever to keep these relationships strong so we do not hit an international “feed wall” as well.
Letter to the Editor: Wall Street Journal
July 26, 2010
Seeking even-handedness from the editors of The Wall Street Journal is like expecting a mama grizzly to forsake her cubs.
Posted in Ethanol
Response to San Francisco Chronicle article “Dead Zone in Gulf Linked to Ethanol Production”
July 07, 2010
On July 6, 2010, the San Francisco Chronicle printed an article, “Dead Zone in Gulf Linked to Ethanol Production” attempting to portray a fictitious notion that ethanol is to blame for Gulf hypoxia. This article seems to be a dead zone of its own where facts die and science is buried. While quoting sources to support the theme of this article, the Chronicle failed to share valuable information from the ethanol industry on this issue.
