From AgWeek
An Iowa State University agricultural economist who is famous for criticizing the ethanol fuel industry recently made his third appearance in a row at the annual North Dakota Grain Dealers convention. The entertaining economist, Dave Swenson, says he has no idea whether ethanol will be around in another 10 years, but technological feasibility doesn’t necessarily mean economic feasibility, and economic feasibility doesn’t necessarily mean environmental, political or social feasibility. “Politics often leads to sub-optimal programs and policies,” Swenson says.…
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From Keith Good’s farm policy blog, …
“The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index fell by a seasonally adjusted 0.7 percent in December, its third consecutive monthly decline, after sliding 1.7 percent in November. The so-called core rate, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, was unchanged.
“For all of 2008, consumer prices grew just 0.1 percent while the core rate rose 1.8 percent, the Labor Department reported.”
The Times article added that, “Economists have warned that prices will probably…
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by GasMan
January 08, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
Leaves Little For Solar, Wind and Geothermal Energy
WASHINGTON, January 8, 2009 - As Congress and the incoming Obama administration plan the nation’s next major investments in green energy, they need to take a hard, clear-eyed look at Department of Energy data documenting corn-based ethanol’s stranglehold on federal renewable energy tax credits and subsidies.
An Environmental Working Group (EWG) report released today uses data from a little noticed analysis buried in an April 2008 report from the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA).…
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This is proof that biofuels have reached the level of mania. Like coals to New Castle, we’re now importing vegetable oil to the Middle East to make biodiesel
United Arab Emirates to Host Region’s First Biodiesel Plant
Dubai: The first UAE-based biodiesel plant in the GCC region will produce 3 million gallons annually of environmentally-friendlier diesel to power vehicles, drastically reducing greenhouse gas emission due to its less toxic content, by next year.
Biodiesel is made from a variety of organic sources…
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One thing about the ethanol sector, … it never stops pushing for more, more, more.
Like right now, the industry is pushing EPA to sign off on higher blends of ethanol into gasoline. Currently the cap is 10 percent.
Why do they want higher blends approved? Simple. Ethanol is more expensive than gasoline right now.
According to the America Coalition for Ethanol, for December 3, 2008, the average rack price - or wholesale price - of ethanol in Nebraska is $1.81 per gallon.…
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VeraSun Energy Statement
Sioux Falls, S.D., November 21, 2008 - VeraSun Energy Corporation (VSUNQ) (the “Company”) released the following statement.
“VeraSun Energy values the relationships with our corn suppliers and recognizes their vital role to our business. We continue to work with suppliers while we pursue long-term financing.
The Company has paid or will pay for substantially all pre-petition corn delivered after Oct. 11, 2008, and post-petition corn delivered after Oct. 31, 2008. The U.S. Bankruptcy Code precludes payment for goods delivered before…
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by GasMan
November 21, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
Wow! The ethanol lobby’s rhetoric has outdone itself on this connection to Memorial Day, … read the box below:
RFA ASKS INDY RACING LEAGUE TO RECONSIDER BRAZIL ETHANOL MARKETING AGREEMENT
Earlier this week, the Indy Racing League (IRL) announced it was partnering with Brazilian trade promotion agency APEX-Brazil, making the agency the official ethanol supplier to the IndyCar Series. The news appeared to be met with little fanfare, but now, the U.S.’ largest ethanol trade group is urging IRL to reconsider…
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by GasMan
November 11, 2008 @ 9:05 am
Press Release — CHAMPAIGN, IL — November 10, 2008 — Ethanol helped drive two years of record profits for grain farmers, but also will hold income down during a looming recession that has already sliced crop prices in half, a University of Illinois economist says.
Scott Irwin says agriculture’s fortunes are now tethered more to ethanol than food, making crop growers vulnerable to sharp price swings at filling stations rather than the typically slower cost shifts at grocery stores.
“We’re just experiencing…
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by GasMan
October 17, 2008 @ 10:44 pm
BY CHRIS BLANK Associated Press AND CHRIS KILLIAN Special to the Gazette LILBOURN, Mo. –
It’s one of the newest buildings in this small agricultural town. Aligned between two city water towers, the 120-foot long biodiesel plant gleams in the sun. The paint on its sign hasn’t even chipped.
But weeds have begun to encroach on the Great River Soy biodiesel plant, which produced just 94,000 gallons over two weeks before it ran out of money and was shuttered.
It’s a scene that…
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by GasMan
October 07, 2008 @ 10:06 pm
Markets melt down, $700 bln going to bail out Wall Street because banks threw good money after bad in crazy mortgages, … and now the Fed’s want to throw more good money after bad in chasing a crazy ethanol scheme.
Notice below - Secretary Bodman announces 1) we’ll invest in cellulose, 2) cellulosic ethanol is good, 3) but just wait for the study to come out next week that gives the details …..
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)–Research and investment are the key…
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