Domestic Fuel

The three major ethanol producer groups are working together to combat negative publicity and keep ethanol moving forward.

Ethanol Promotion and Information Council Executive Director Toni Nuernberg says the three groups – EPIC, the Renewable Fuels Association, and the American Coalition for Ethanol – complement each other.

“All three of us have a roll to play in this industry,” Nuernberg says. “We are looking at all the initiatives under way by the different organizations, how we can work together, and make sure we’re not duplicating effort.”

EPIC’s main focus is to drive demand with consumers, while RFA’s role is to protect and promote policy in Washington DC, and ACE is the grassroots organization dedicated to expansion of ethanol production.

Because of the three different roles, Nuernberg says all three groups should be supported by the industry. “It’s all equally important and will benefit plants long-term,” she says.

EPIC has just started a major national advertising campaign, which also includes three syndicated radio programs – The Wall Street Journal, NPR Car Talk and Bill O’Reilly. Nuernberg says they are very pleased to have the support of O’Reilly in the effort.

Listen to an interview with Toni Nuernberg from the 2008 FEW here about the ethanol industry’s promotional efforts:
few08-toni.mp3

2008 Fuel Ethanol Workshop Photo Album

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.2MB)

The availability of ethanol is currently reducing the cost of gasoline by between 6 and 9 cents per gallon, according to data collected by the American Coalition for Ethanol.

“The growing availability of ethanol across the United States is reducing the cost of gasoline by up to nine cents a gallon,” said Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of ACE. “While gas prices are still causing pain at the pump, ethanol is alleviating some of the pressure of hundred-dollar oil. Without ethanol, gas prices would likely be even higher.”

According to today’s AAA fuel price report, the national average price of diesel reached $4.029 a gallon, while the national average price of gasoline remains at $3.26 for regular and $3.587 for premium.

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) also voiced concern about oil reaching $100 a barrel for the first time this week.

ACE Executive Vice President Brian Jennings said, “For the sake of the nation’s economic health, our New Year’s resolution must be to put the brakes on this costly and risky reliance on oil and accelerate our use of domestically produced ethanol.”

“The more we can increase consumer access to ethanol-blended fuel, the better off our economy will be. Increasing the number of flexible fuel vehicles and the availability of E85, as well as approving the use of mid-range ethanol blends such as E20 and E30 for standard autos, will further insulate consumers against the pinch of $100 oil,” he added.

Concerns about a languishing energy bill in Congress are motivating Senators to take action that would increase the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) even without it.

U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) have introduced legislation called the Renewable Fuels Strategy Act of 2007 that contains several provisions including a larger Renewable Fuels Standard of 36 billion gallons of annual renewable fuel use by 2022.

The 20th annual American Coalition for Ethanol praised the act, according to Executive Vice President Brian Jennings, “A comprehensive approach to the production, distribution, and consumption of ethanol is absolutely crucial to advancing this country’s energy situation from its current state to a more positive, diversified future.”

The bill also calls for increased production of Flexible Fuel Vehicles and expanded renewable fuels infrastructure, including an increase in the tax credit from 30% to 50%. The infrastructure provisions apply to E85 pumps, but also to Blender Pumps, which dispense mid-level ethanol blends between 10% and 85%.

The Renewable Fuels Strategy Act is co-sponsored by Senators Lugar (R-IN), Cantwell (D-WA), Craig (R-ID), Johnson (D-SD), McCaskill (D-MO), and Klobuchar (D-MN).

In addition, Senators Domenici (R-NM), Nelson (D-NE), Grassley (R-IA) and Thune (R-SD), introduced a Renewable Fuels Standard amendment to the 2007 Farm Bill that specifically calls for the production of 21 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol by the year 2022.

A new coalition that supports increased use of domestically produced renewable fuels says nearly three out of four Americans want renewable fuels.

According to a new national poll released today by the Renewable Fuels Now Coalition, 74 percent of Americans believe we should increase our use of domestically produced renewable fuels like ethanol.

In addition, 87 percent of Americans maintain the federal government should actively support the development of a renewable fuels industry in this country, and 77 percent think Congress should encourage oil refiners to blend more ethanol into their gasoline products.

Renewable Fuels Now is a coalition representing the ethanol, biodiesel, agriculture and other industries that support increased use of domestically produced renewable fuels as part of a balanced energy policy for America. The Coalition’s members include the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), 20/20 Vision, Wisconsin BioIndustry Alliance, Ethanol Producers and Consumers (EPAC), Kansas Association of Ethanol, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, IndyCar Series, Buckeye Renewable Fuels Association, Ohio Corn Growers Association, Clean Fuels Development Coalition, and Northwest Renewable Fuels Association.

While at the ACE Convention I got to meet fellow biofuels blogger Nathan Schock. Nathan is the public relations director for POET and you’ll find him at Rhapsody in Green.

Nathan is in the middle of this group of people who were visiting the POET booth at the ACE trade show.

You can see some of Nathan’s pictures from the convention on his POETPics photo album.

One of the relatively newer members of the staff of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is Todd Larson. Todd is pictured here to the right. He’s in their booth at the ACE Convention talking with members and prospective members of EPIC.

That’s what Todd does – membership development. I thought it would be good to get a perspective on what he does for the organization so I interviewed him just prior to the closing of the trade show here this morning.

Todd says the members of EPIC are the best sales people for the organization because they tell others out there why they’re involved and encourage them to become involved as well. Todd says he wants prospective members to know what EPIC spends its resources on. That includes promoting ethanol to the consuming public and getting the truth out and helping members improve their bottom line.

You can listen to my interview with Todd here: ace-07-larson.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (2.3MB)

The executive vice president of the American Coalition for Ethanol is Brian Jennings. He gave the state of the industry and organization speech.

I interviewed Brian this morning to find out what he thinks about how things are going in the ethanol industry and especially from the ACE perspective. He says the industry has reached a "pivotal point" in its development. He says that although significant growth has been achieved there are still some road blocks out there that have to be recognized and dealt with. One of those involves getting the truth about ethanol out to the public and combating the naysayers. He says the industry is about to launch a major public relations offensive and that ACE will be involved in that effort.

You can listen to my interview with Brian here: ace-07-jennings.mp3

Attendance at the ACE Convention is a record with nearly 2,000 people here over the course of the event. Today is the final day and we’ll have a keynote address from South Dakota Senator John Thune soon.

One of the big values to attendees here is the opportunity to network and talk with industry partners. This is the President’s Reception last night and it provided a great opportunity to do just that.

The event was sponsored by EPIC so I wanted to make sure I mentioned that since they’re also our sponsor.

The Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee is Collin Peterson who represents Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District. He took the stage here today at the ACE Convention.

During his remarks he mentioned that the House farm bill had less money allocated for renewable fuels research than some wanted, including the USDA. I got to speak with him afterward and asked him about this very subject.

Peterson says that they didn’t want to overdo it and that he feels that there is adequate funding in his bill. One thing he says they want to make sure of is that there aren’t overlapping projects and he has a concern that if they had put more money in the bill for this type of research it would have been taken away by appropriators later. He says they can always address an increase in funding for research later if the need arises and that the public would be very supportive of it since he believes the topic of renewable fuels is one in which agriculture has the most support from the urban population.

I also asked him about the whole food vs. fuel issue. He thinks that has died down and as he put it was “ginned up” by people who had other interests.

You can listen to my interview with Congressman Peterson here: ace-07-peterson.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (1.6MB)

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty just finished speaking here at the ACE Convention.

He outlined his vision for the future of ethanol in his state. First he applauds ACE on its 20 years as an organization promoting ethanol started by farmers and producers who had courage and vision. He then talks about his plan to have all the gas sold in the state contain at least 20% ethanol by 2012. He wants MN to be the benchmark state for the rest of the country on the development, use and availability of ethanol.

Gov. Pawlenty also received the ACE President’s Award which was presented to him by ACE Board President Bob Scott who introduced him. You can listen to the complete speech given by Gov. Pawlenty here (21 min): ace-07-pawlenty-speech.mp3

I was able to catch up to the Governor on his way out and asked him about his vision for ethanol in Minnesota. You can listen to my interview with him here (1 min): ace-07-pawlenty.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (19.3MB)

Breakfast was in the trade show here at the ACE convention.

Here’s the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (our sponsor) booth.

EPIC’s got Paul Dana replica toy cars available at their booth which you can get by leaving a donation for the Paul Dana Memorial Fund.