Kroger Opens E85 Fueling in Newport

Northern Kentucky residents now have a third location to fill their Flex Fuel Vehicles with E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) - the Kroger at 130 Pavilion Parkway in Newport. E85Prices.com reports that they were selling E85 last week for $2.68, 21% less than gasoline.

Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Planned in Kansas

Abengoa Bioenergy is following through on its commitment to commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol production, having secured a conditional approval for a $133.9 million loan guarantee from the DOE to build a plant in Kansas. The Abengoa Bioenergy project, which will be located in Hugoton, about 90 miles southwest of Dodge City, is expected to convert approximately 300,000 tons of corn stover into 23 million gallons of ethanol per year, using what the company calls an "innovative enzymatic hydrolysis process." The project maximizes the use of agricultural crop residues that would otherwise not be utilized and uses feedstock that does not compete with feed grains. Annually, the project is expected to displace more than 15.5 million gallons of gasoline, avoiding more than 139,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The facility will be closed-loop, using unconverted biomass to generate 20 megawatts of electricity to power the cellulosic ethanol plant. Abengoa has entered into an ethanol offtake agreement to sell ethanol produced by the facility and expects more than 90% of the project‘s sourced components to be produced in the United States. Company officials say the project will create approximately 300 construction jobs and 65 permanent jobs. The Abengoa announcement follows June plans from DuPont Danisco to build a cellulosic ethanol plant near Nevada, Iowa, and POET's announcement last year to build a 25-million-gallon-per-year facility near Emmitsburg, Iowa.

Kentucky Corn Growers Celebrate Use of American Ethanol and Hometown Track

One-hundred thousand NASCAR fans were able to see the performance benefits of Sunoco Green E15, the racing fuel with 15% ethanol, as cars raced round the Kentucky Speedway track this past weekend. Kentucky's corn farmers attended to celebrate and help spread the good word about the domestic, farm-raised fuel. NASCAR announced they would use E15 in all of the race cars last fall. A partnership between NASCAR, Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association - called American Ethanol - works to promote the fuel's benefits. Drivers and racing teams are pleased with the fuel so far, as they are seeing increased horsepower. NASCAR is pleased with the environmental benefits.

Photos from Kentucky Speedway | Kentucky Corn Growers Press Release

E15 Rolls into Kentucky Next Week with NASCAR

NASCAR fans will get a little more familiar with American-made ethanol fuel blends next week as three series races are being held at the Kentucky Speedway track in Sparta, July 7-9. Late last year, NASCAR announced they would be using E15 (blend of 15% ethanol) in their Sunoco racing gasoline in all cars and all races throughout the 2011 racing season. Through a partnership with Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association, the fuel is being promoted very well by drivers and promotions. The Kentucky Corn Growers Association will be making an appearance at the race track to celebrate the use of the corn-based fuel. A combine (machinery that harvests corn) will be set up in the display area to remind fans of the fuel's connection to rural America.

For more information, visit http://www.kycorn.org/aboutkycga/americanethanol.htm

Senate Votes to Keep Ethanol Subsidy on Tuesday, Repeals it on Thursday

On Tuesday June 13th the U.S. Senate voted 40-59 in favor of allowing the $5 billion annual subsidy on ethanol to expire at the end of this year. On Thursday, however, they voted to immediately repeal the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit.

Opponents of the subsidy expressed concern about the deficit and suggested that the subsidy be either eliminated immediately or phased out over several years. Advocates of the subsidy emphasize the need to reduce foreign oil dependency.

White House spokesman Clark Stevens said President Barack Obama opposed the elimination of the subsidy but was “open to new approaches that meet today’s challenges and save taxpayers money.”

The Kentucky Corn Growers Association, a KCFC member, posted this statement from the National Corn Growers Association:

The National Corn Growers Association expressed severe disappointment today that the Senate allowed petty politics to trump prudent policy in the fight for the future of the ethanol industry. The passage of Sen. Dianne Feinstein's amendment to immediately repeal the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit represents a tax increase on fuel that will kill jobs in rural America and hit all consumers in the pocketbook, NCGA said.

The ethanol industry supports more than 400,000 U.S. jobs, contributing more than $56 billion each year to the nation's economy and $11 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue.

Also Thursday, the Senate rejected a proposed amendment by Sen. John McCain that would have prevented the U.S. Department of Agriculture from providing grants for blender pumps.This is good news because blender pumps provide options for those with flex-fuel vehicles and can help the ethanol industry grow in the years to come.

NASCAR, Ethanol and Kentucky's Corn Farmers

 

Kentucky Corn Grower staff Jennifer Elwell and Laura Knoth attend the Daytona 500 to see how the American Ethanol partnership works to promote the clean, domestic fuel to NASCAR's 75 million fans. NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer, No. 33, is sponsored by American Ethanol and will serve as a spokesman for the fuel. In addition, all race cars will feature "American Ethanol" around the fuel doors. The car, top right, belongs to NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace, who also is sponsored by American Ethanol and state corn grower associations, has been very vocal about the benefits of E15.  

The Kentucky Corn Growers Association took part in the first race of the NASCAR season, the Daytona 500, to celebrate the racing league giant's move to E15 (15% ethanol) in all its race cars. American Ethanol is a promotional partnership between the National Corn Growers Assn and Growth Energy.

E15 Decision Opens Blend to 2 Out of 3 Vehicles; More Work Yet to be Done

On January 21, the  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced E15 blends (15% ethanol/85% gasoline) to be safe for use in all cars and pickups built in 2001 and later. This decisions builds upon an October 2010 EPA decision that limited E15 use to just 2007 and newer vehicles. With 2001 and newer cars and pickups included, EPA has approved the use of E15 for 62% of vehicles on the road today according to car industry data. If E15 were used in all vehicles covered by this decision, the theoretical blend wall for ethanol use would be approximately 17.5 billion gallons.

Read more of the story at http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/e15-decision-opens-blend-to-2-out-of-3-vehicles-more-work-yet-to-be-done/

Clean Fuel Tax Credits Passed and Signed by President

Tax legislation approved late Thursday, December 16, represents significant continued investments in alternate fuels and for domestic biofuel production.   

The legislation includeed several provisions to reduce oil dependence by encouraging biofuel production, including one that extends the current 45 cent per gallon tax credit for ethanol through 2011. The bill also extends, through 2011, $1 dollar per gallon tax credits for biodiesel production and diesel fuel created from biomass, as well as a 10 cent per gallon tax credit for agri-biodiesel producers.

It is a great success that the tax credit for alternate fuels, such as Natural Gas and Propane of .$50/gallon also came through, retroactive to January 1. 2010.

The bill also included investments in alternative vehicle refueling infrastructure. The bill extends through 2011 the 30% investment tax credit for infrastructure that supports alternative fuels like ethanol, hydrogen, biodiesel and natural gas.

These reinstated tax credits should lower the cost of alternative fuels throughout Kentucky and serve as a helpful incentive for cleaner domestic fuels.

The President signed the legislation today among many alternative and biofuels supporters.

Kentucky’s Corn Farmers Support American Ethanol Partnership with NASCAR

More than 50 million NASCAR fans will soon be introduced to the benefits of American corn-based ethanol. Not only will the popular racing organization fuel all 2011 races with E15, a 15 percent corn ethanol blend, but will highlight the renewable fuel as part of a promotional partnership with corn farmers and ethanol supporters.

NASCAR announced yesterday in Las Vegas that it has joined forces with American Ethanol, an ethanol initiative backed by Growth Energy, the National Corn Growers Association and its state affiliate associations, including the Kentucky Corn Growers Association (KyCGA). 

“We are proud to be part of this exciting new venture with NASCAR,” says Jim Barton, chairman of KyCGA’s Promotion Council and corn farmer in Lexington, Ky. “The partnership will allow us to show NASCAR’s fan base that ethanol is not only ‘green’ but can be used in high-performance engines. We also hope to bring more information to the public about how family corn farmers are growing, and will continue to grow enough corn for food, livestock feed and fuel.” 

As part of the multi-year agreement, America Ethanol will be highlighted on every vehicle running in a NASCAR race and be prominent on NASCAR’s Green Flag. In addition, American Ethanol will sponsor a new award for every race, be featured on-site race day events and more. American Ethanol will support drivers, teams and tracks with marketing, promotional activities and advertising. 

“NASCAR and American Ethanol are ideal partners,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “NASCAR is a great American sport in its third generation of family ownership, and ethanol is produced from the harvest of family-owned farms across our country’s heartland.”  

“American Ethanol’s new partnership with NASCAR is much larger and more ambitious than a typical sports sponsorship,” France added. “Here we have an entire industry looking to NASCAR to communicate its message that America is capable of producing its own renewable, greener fuel. The entire NASCAR industry will benefit from American Ethanol’s multi-faceted support of NASCAR, as well as from thousands of farmers and members of the ethanol supply chain now serving as new ambassadors for the sport.” 

Led by Growth Energy, nearly 100 different entities – from individual ethanol plants to Corn Grower Associations to biotech companies – are rallying around NASCAR to communicate their ethanol message. 

“E15 is an enormous opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create U.S. jobs, and strengthen national energy security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “There is nothing more American than NASCAR, and there is no fuel more American than ethanol. We are so proud that the bounty of American farming will be used in NASCAR racing.” 

For more information, visit www.americanethanolracing.com