Ethanol. Right. Now.

ACE, RFA, Corn Growers announce national blender pump campaign

Today the American Coalition for Ethanol, the Renewable Fuels Association, and leading corn-producing states announced an innovative, unprecedented "Blend Your Own Ethanol" campaign uniting the resources and expertise of the groups in an effort to seed 5,000 blender pumps nationwide in three years.

 

In a press conference this afternoon, Ron Lamberty (ACE Vice President / Market Development), Robert White (RFA Market Development Director), and Darrin Ihnen (National Corn Growers Association First Vice President and farmer from Hurley, South Dakota) spoke on the importance of educating America’s petroleum marketers on the opportunities of retailing ethanol through blender pumps.

 

Lamberty emphasized that the “BYOethanol” campaign will provide petroleum marketers with the facts on how blender pumps are an excellent business strategy – station owners can be ready for future fuel blends while giving their customers more choices at the pump today.  White explained how the campaign will use an expanded Web presence and interactive features, a new and informative magazine, educational opportunities at petroleum marketer events, and more.

 

According to Ihnen, growing blender pump infrastructure benefits motorists, petroleum marketers, and corn growers as growing efficiencies in corn production provide for greater opportunities to supply a growing network of ethanol producers and consumers.  Ihnen said that the "corn growers are proud to be part of this campaign" that unites the "true expertise of ACE and RFA."

 

Read the full press release here: http://www.ethanol.org/pdf/contentmgmt/BYOethanol_final_press_release_8112009.pdf

Americans back to spending $1 billion a day on gasoline

One billion dollars a day is an astronomical figure -- and it's the amount Americans are spending every single day to gas up their vehicles.  Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service, told the New York Times recently ("High Gas Prices Could Slow Recovery") that in January, consumers were spending about $600 million per day on fuel for their vehicles, but now that figure is back up to around $1 billion per day.  The article says, "The national jump in prices, far larger than the normal seasonal increase, is pulling billions of dollars from the pockets of drivers. It threatens to curtail a modest recovery in consumer spending on items like apparel and electronics."

Oil and gasoline prices are on the way back up, and this underscores the importance of having a cost-effective alternative like ethanol.  For example, the Nebraska Ethanol Board recently did an analysis that showed Nebraska drivers have already saved more than $4.5 million this year by choosing E10 at the pump.  And, they say, if all the fuel sold in the state in the past five years was E85, Nebraskans would have saved $2.6 billion. 

Let's not spend $1 billion a day on a non-renewable, often imported fuel.  Ethanol is a cost-effective, homegrown alternative that can keep money circulating in our nation's economy and give it the boost that it needs.  The EPA allowing up to 15 percent ethanol per gallon would be a good start.

E15 petition gathers more than 5,500 signatures from all 50 states

The American Coalition for Ethanol is hosting a petition on its website, Ethanol.org, for those in favor of the EPA approving up to 15 percent ethanol per gallon of gasoline.  In just over a month's time, the petition has gathered more than 5,500 signatures, with all 50 states and 3 countries represented on the list. You can view or sign the petition at www.ethanol.org/petition. 

On March 6, the ethanol industry brought a formal waiver request to the Environmental Protection Agency, asking for an allowance for up to 15 percent ethanol per gallon of gas.  Since the 1970s, the amount of ethanol for standard (non-flex-fuel) vehicles has been capped at 10 percent.

President Obama issues a biofuels directive, starts interagency work group and calls for peer review of GHG data

President Obama today issued a directive to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack on the subject of biofuels and rural economic development, calling for a new Biofuels Interagency Working Group headed by the Ag and Energy Secretaries and the EPA Administrator.  Having the USDA, DOE, and EPA work together on biofuels issues makes a lot of sense.

In the memorandum, the President had a lot of good things to say about ethanol, including a citation of the 600,000 barrels of biofuels produced each day in the U.S. last year, as well as the jobs and tax revenues that are an important boost to the U.S. economy.  The President instructed USDA to, within 30 days, get Farm Bill programs moving that will help biofuels facilities reduce fossil fuel use and transition to advanced biofuels production.  This immediate assistance will be a positive for America's biofuel producers which have been struggling in today's tough economy as other industries have as well.

The discussion of the Presidential directive came in the same media conference call as the announcement of the proposed rulemaking for the Renewable Fuels Standard, which suggests that indirect greenhouse gas emissions be counted in biofuels' carbon tally.  Though ethanol supporters aren't happy to see that methodology in the proposed RFS rule, there was a ray of hope -- the Presidential directive calls for a peer review of the assumptions surrounding the carbon intensity of biofuels and of fossil fuels. 

Let's put this discussion back into the realm of science where it belongs so that fossil fuels can be subjected to the same scrutiny that biofuels have undergone.  If biofuels' indirect GHG emissions are to be counted, then so should those of fossil fuels.  The bottom line is that future sources of oil -- tar sands, oil shales, etc. -- are going to have serious consequences for the environment while future sources of biofuels are going to be even more environmentally friendly than they are today.

The American Coalition for Ethanol issued a full statement today which can be read here: http://www.ethanol.org/pdf/contentmgmt/ACE_praises_Presidents_biofuels_directive_5_5_09.pdf

Posted by KB, 5/5/09

Petition drive underway to gather signatures in favor of E15

The American Coalition for Ethanol launched an online petition this week to gather signatures in favor of the move to E15.  ACE contacted its membership on Wednesday morning encouraging people to sign, and in less than 48 hours, more than 2,800 names have been added.

ACE hopes to gather as many signatures as possible to demonstrate ethanol's widespread grassroots support.  The U.S. EPA is currently considering a waiver that would allow up to 15 percent ethanol per gallon of gasoline, moving beyond the current limit of 10 percent per gallon set in the 1970s.

The petition is found at www.ethanol.org/petition or by visiting the E15 Action Center on www.ethanol.org.

Minnesota releases fuel pump tests, more evidence supporting higher blends

The State of Minnesota has released results of tests on vehicle fuel pumps using E20, the fourth in a series of tests on the impact of the 20 percent blend on standard auto components.  The Minnesota Center for Automotive Research at Minnesota State University in Mankato conducted the testing on the endurance, wear, and performance of automotive fuel pumps and sending units.

The results -- the fuel pumps showed significantly less wear when tested with E20 than when tested with gasoline.  Overall, E20 did not have any greater negative effects than gasoline or E10 on the pumps tested.  There were no substantial differences in performance.  The study examined eight models of fuel pumps, running three identical versions for 4,000 hours on one of the three fuels tested - gasoline, E10, and E20.

The research study can be viewed here: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/news/publications/renewable/ethanol/e20endurance.pdf

Posted by KB, 4/6/09

Prove those statements about mid-range ethanol blends

I’m not sure everyone plays “H-O-R-S-E” the way we played it when I was a kid, but at the end of our games, the person who got the “E” had the option of taking a second chance on the last shot or making the other player “prove it” by making the shot again.  The latter option was preferred when your “E” came by your opponent tossing up a running half-court hook shot, or something equally un-re-make-able.  “Prove it!” you’d say.

In the current debate over using higher blends of ethanol, our opponents have been allowed to say things like “I guarantee E20 will destroy our engines,” E15 will “increase auto emissions, ” and “E15 will shred engines” – without so much as a shred of evidence.

I’m getting tired of the naysayers just being allowed to say “nay.”  Go ahead and throw out those wild shots at ethanol, but it’s time for all of those ethanol haters to “prove it.”  The truth is the only reason they haven’t done it before now is that proof doesn’t exist.

Posted by Ron Lamberty (3/23/09)

USDA Secretary and Speaker Pelosi express support for moving to E15

On Monday, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi both appeared at the annual convention of the National Farmers Union where the recently filed E15 waiver was discussed. 

Secretary Vilsack expressed support for moving beyond E10, saying "We can, we believe, move fairly quickly to move the blend rate to 12 or 13 percent in the interim," adding that it could eventually be boosted to 15 percent of 20 percent.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was asked at the event about raising the current blend level, and she replied, "It seems to me we should be able to do that."

Read more:  Brownfield Ag News story and Associated Press article

Ethanol formally petitions EPA to allow up to 15% in gasoline

The official waiver petition has been made.  The American Coalition for Ethanol has joined Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, and several cellulosic ethanol companies is making formal petition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow the use of up to 15 percent ethanol in a gallon of gasoline.

Allowing the use of mid-level blends of ethanol in America’s existing fleet of vehicles would bring an array of benefits, including the creation of good jobs, ensuring a market for next-generation biofuels, and providing more cost-effective choices at the pump for consumers.  The current arbitrary cap of 10 percent ethanol per gallon of gasoline is stalling growth in America’s green energy sector and unnecessarily limiting progress toward energy independence.  It's time for the E10 cap to be lifted.

UL stands behind certification of gas pumps for up to E15

Underwriters Laboratories today issued a statement that they would support local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (fire marshals, etc.) who decide to permit gas dispensers -- currently installed and listed to standard UL 87 -- to be used with ethanol blends up to 15 percent.

John Dengenberg, UL Consumer Affairs Manager, stated in the press release: "UL determined that there is no significant incremental risk of damage between E10 and fuels with a maximum of 15 percent ethanol."

You can read UL's entire press release here:http://www.ul.com/newsroom/newsrel/nr021909.html.

The American Coalition for Ethanol's full response is available here.

Look for yourself UL links

When Underwriters Laboratories (UL) “suspended” listings on pumps that were being used to sell E85, they pointed out that those pumps were not suitable for blends of “greater than 15% alcohol” – which might make a person believe that they were suitable for blends of less than 15% ethanol.  Maybe we’re just reading too much in to that statement.  But, don’t take our word for it, check it out yourself. 

Also, you might notice some bullet points in the middle of the article, right under the bold section heading “No reported safety incidents for UL Listed or Recognized subassemblies with E85”, which we have assumed to mean no reported safety incidents for UL Listed or Recognized subassemblies with E85.

UL followed this up with a survey that showed that there were, well, no reported safety incidents for UL Listed or Recognized subassemblies with E85.  Actually, the study said more than that – no corrosion, no maintenance concerns, and if you look on page 8, you’ll see that 96% of the pumps UL looked at were either in the same or better condition than the standard gas pumps… and that was with E85!

So now, after years of talking about pumps that can use 15% ethanol (UL 25 – Meters approved for 15% ethanol, UL 79 – Pumps approved for 15% ethanol, UL 330 – Hoses approved for 15% ethanol), UL has decided that when they said 15%, they actually meant 10%.  We were perplexed.  Still are.  In fairness, the standard they are talking about, UL 87 Standard for gas dispensers, doesn’t actually mention 15% ethanol – but several of the subsections below it (the ones in the links above) sure do.

And one last thing.  Here is a list of all of the pumps in the United States and Brazil that have reported safety issues due to use of more than 10% ethanol:

 

 

I don’t know. Maybe we’re overreacting.  Read for yourself, and tell us what you think.

Posted by RL, 2/17/09

Why did UL change its mind on standard gas pumps and E15?

The American Coalition for Ethanol is asking Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to explain why they’ve arbitrarily changed their position on the ability of gas pumps to handle ethanol blends up to 15 percent.

 

The letter, written February 5 to August Schaefer, UL’s Senior VP & COO, said:  “I am writing to express ACE’s concern that Underwriters Laboratories has recently made what appears to be an arbitrary change to the ‘UL 87’ standard.  That standard, which has been relied upon by the ethanol industry, pump manufacturers, and many petroleum marketers, has consistently been interpreted as allowing the use of up to 15 percent ethanol in standard gasoline dispensing equipment.  Recent statements by UL that have changed the meaning of the standard without any accompanying change in data, coupled with similar action by UL two-and-a-half years ago regarding E85, have caused many within the ethanol industry to question whether UL – an organization built on a reputation of precision and impartiality – has at very least treated ethanol issues with carelessness and at times appears to have an anti-ethanol bias.”

 

The letter points out that, even though the UL 87 standard does not specifically mention E10 or E15, it refers to underlying standards that employ such clear phrases as “ethanol does not exceed 15 percent” and “approved for gasoline/ethanol blends up to 15 percent ethanol” and “gasoline with up to 15 percent ethanol.” 

 

The letter concludes:  “If there is existing data that suggests this is not the case, it should have been presented in UL’s joint statement with the U.S. Department of Energy in December 2008.  Barring that, UL should stand by its clear, consistent statements that pumps with the UL label are approved for blends up to 15 percent ethanol.”

 

Read ACE's letter here: http://www.ethanol.org/pdf/contentmgmt/ACE_e15_letter_to_UL_2409-1.pdf

 

Posted by RL, 2/10/09

Senator Thune questions Vilsack on higher blends, land use change

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlbbRtZ_GXQ

Follow this link to a video on YouTube showing U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) questioning incoming Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack during a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee.  Senator Thune asks key questions relating to higher blends of ethanol, food prices, and land use change metrics.

An action plan for automakers: higher blends, FFVs

Rep. Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) wrote a letter to Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Barney Frank this week, asking the House to consider federal assistance to the U.S. auto industry - including "serious and bold steps" in support of biofuels, which will help meet the twin challenges of energy independence and climate change.

The letter states that in order to access federal financing, U.S. automakers should:

• Redouble their commitment to meet or exceed fuel economy standards set for them by Congress;
• Agree not to place unfounded warranty objections in the way of the widespread adoption of mid-range ethanol blends like E15 for use in standard vehicles;
• Transform their aspirational goal for the production of flex-fuel vehicles -- 50% of production by 2012 -- to a hard and enforceable goal of reaching that level by 2012 or sooner.

It's time to move on to blends of ethanol beyond 10 percent, and these action steps would set the wheels in motion today.

Posted by KB, 11/20/08

Savings at the pump from ethanol will top $1 billion this year -- billion with a "b"

With a gallon of ethanol selling for about a dollar less than a gallon of gasoline today, the savings for American consumers are really going to add up this year - to more than $1 billion, to be exact. 

About 70% of America's gasoline contains some ethanol right now.  If every gallon of America's gasoline contained 10% ethanol, the national savings would increase to around $1.6 billion annually.  If every gallon was E15, the national savings would grow to $2.2 billion.

These numbers reflect the positive blending economics of ethanol at the pump, not to mention all the dollars staying in America instead of being shipped overseas to purchase oil or gas.  For family budgets and for America's budget, ethanol is a win-win.

Posted by KB, 10/16/08

Ethanol blender pump locations now number 84

Some new sites have been posted to the American Coalition for Ethanol's national blender pump map, bringing the total now to 84. Pumps in Wooster and in Columbiana, Ohio and in Greenville, Michigan are now on the map. States with blender pumps today are South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.  Chuck Beck of the ACE staff should be notified of any new locations: [email protected].

 

Gas stations that install blender pumps can offer their customers new choices at the pump - like E20, E30, E40, or E50 - made possible by two underground tanks that mix gasoline and E85 into varying percentages chosen by the motorist.  These fuels above 10% ethanol are still only for Flexible Fuel Vehicles, though the data is mounting to show that fuels beyond E10 can be used in standard vehicles.

Check out the Google blender pump map here: http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=114795702092705781866.0004506e7cf3ae206a7c0&ll=38.959409,-97.119141&spn=29.323509,54.140625&z=4