Most Clicked RFA SmartBrief Stories
1. Senate Democrats slam anti-biofuel provisions in defense bill
RFA SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee are vowing to undo a pair of provisions in a House-passed defense spending bill that would limit the Department of Defense's ability to buy biofuels. The provisions would further the department's dependence on costly fossil fuels and compromise the military's effectiveness, according to a letter written by Sens. Mark Udall, D-Colo., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, to U.S. Navy Admiral Jonathan Greenert. Colorado Independent, The (05/22)
2. Dinneen: Lawmaker ignored scientific evidence on E15's safety
RFA SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
An anti-E15 op-ed piece penned by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., ignored "overwhelming scientific evidence" attesting to the fuel's safety, "while shining a light on one deeply flawed, petroleum funded study," according to Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. The Department of Energy has questioned the methodology and findings of the study cited by Sensenbrenner, Dinneen notes. Extensive testing by the agency has confirmed that E15 has no adverse impact on the drivability, greenhouse-gas emissions and engine durability of approved vehicles, Dinneen writes. EthanolRFA.org/The E-Xchange blog (05/25)
3. Goldman Sachs to invest $40B in renewable-energy ventures
RFA SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
Goldman Sachs Group is planning to invest $40 billion in renewable-energy projects globally over the next 10 years. The bank expects demand for clean energy to rise amid increased overall demand for energy worldwide and efforts by countries such as China and Brazil to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Reuters (05/23)
4. Bumper U.S. crop to lift global corn output by 5.4%, group says
RFA SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
A "huge" U.S. corn harvest this year will push up global corn production to an estimated 913 million metric tons in the 2012-2013 marketing year, up 5.4% from 866.1 million metric tons the year before, according to the International Grains Council. "Early seeding has reinforced expectations for a huge U.S. harvest," the IGC said. "World stocks are projected to increase to their highest in three years, almost entirely attributable to the U.S.," the group added. Bloomberg Businessweek (05/24)
5. Analyst: Next few months may be tough for some ethanol producers
RFA SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
The next several months could be a challenging period for some ethanol producers because of tightening corn supplies, high corn prices and wild swings in the gasoline market, according to Rick Kment, an analyst for DTN. Some ethanol plants may have to cut back production "in order to maximize the margins and stretch that corn that they do have access to," Kment added. Brownfield (05/24)
6. ASTM adjusts E85 specification for FFVs
RFA SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
ASTM International has lowered the allowable ethanol volume in E85 specification for flex-fuel vehicles to 51%. The change was necessary to ensure that ethanol blends for flex-fuel vehicles are in compliance with the various vapor pressure requirements across the country, said Kristy Moore, ASTM committee member and vice president of technical services for the Renewable Fuels Association. EthanolProducer.com (05/25)
7. Gevo begins isobutanol production at Minn. plant
RFA SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
Gevo has begun making isobutanol at its biorefinery in Luverne, Minn., which the company converted from corn-ethanol production. Gevo plans to produce about 1 million gallons of isobutanol per month from the facility by the end of the year. The plant has the capacity to produce 18 million gallons of the fuel per year, Gevo said. Denver Post, The (05/24)
8. Analysis: Ethanol plants may have to cut output if corn prices go up
RFA SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
Ethanol producers may be forced to cut back production if corn prices this summer reach $6.75 per bushel, which is just above current prices, according to Scott Irwin, an agricultural economist at the University of Illinois. "While weekly ethanol production figures have recently shown little if any declines versus last year, corn prices have reached a high enough level where less efficient plants may begin to throttle back," Irwin writes. Farmdoc Daily (University of Illinois) (05/23)
9. Global biofuels market is at a "tipping point," experts say
RFA SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
The global biofuels market is approaching a "tipping point," according to experts at the International Finance Corporation's annual clean-technology workshop. Efforts to commercialize biofuels are now moving from the U.S. and Europe to emerging markets in Asia and South America, "where the feedstocks and customers are," said Roger Wyse, managing director for Burrill & Co. AOL Energy (05/22)
10. Novozymes completes enzymes plant in Nebraska
RFA SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
Novozymes announced the completion of its enzymes-production facility near Blair, Neb. The $200 million facility is expected to employ about 100 people. Omaha World-Herald (Neb.) (05/27)
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