The Ethanol Report

Senate Energy Committee Passes Renewable Fuels Legislation

Filed under: General

The Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee today approved energy legislation that calls for 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel use by 2022 by a vote of 20-3. 

RFA President Bob Dinneen praised the committee for its common sense approach, stating:

“This bill is to cellulosic ethanol what the 2005 energy bill was to grain ethanol.  Combining all the sound provisions of previous renewable energy proposals, this legislation will provide the kind of incentive and opportunity for wide scale investment in the development of ethanol production from materials in addition to grain.  Whether it’s the fiber in the kernel of corn, the corn stalks left on the field, switchgrass, wood chips or any other agricultural biproducts, we will need ethanol production from all these sources to achieve a more secure and stable energy and environmental future.”

1 Comment Posted by Matt • May, 2, 2007 • 3:48 pm

Energy Department to award $200 million for cellulosic ethanol facilities

Filed under: General

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced that it will be offering $200 million over 5 years to support the development of small-scale cellulosic biorefineries in the United States.  The goal is make cellulosic ethanol production cost-competitive by the year 2012.

“This research will provide the next necessary step toward developing cellulosic biorefineries that can transform our transportation sector in a clean and cost-effective manner,â€? [Energy] Secretary [Sam] Bodman said.  “As world demand for energy continues to grow, so too must our supply of clean, domestic sources of energy – and cellulosic biofuels provide a promising way to meet President Bush’s goal of displacing twenty percent of gasoline usage within the decade.â€?

More on this opportunity can be found at www.energy.gov/news/5031.htm.

Post a Comment Posted by Matt • May, 2, 2007 • 3:46 pm