AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[RFA accuses Big Oil of 'far from factual' E15 test results]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/12/rfa-accuses-big-oil-of-far-from-factual-e15-test-results/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/12/rfa-accuses-big-oil-of-far-from-factual-e15-test-results/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/12/rfa-accuses-big-oil-of-far-from-factual-e15-test-results/#commentsFiled under: ,



Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is adding to its campaign arsenal to block Big Oil from winning the E15 battle. This time it's going with debate tactics.

Kristy Moore, vice president of technical services at RFA, posted on the association's blog a detailed list the "far from factual" items in the Coordinating Research Council's engine durability study. The American Petroleum Institute (the leading Big Oil association) has used the CRC study to convince the public and courts that blended gasoline with 15 percent ethanol (E15) is very bad for engines.

Moore presented a chart from the study and referenced API/CRC press releases to throw out a couple of damaging statistics - 33 percent of the tested vehicles failed on gasoline with no ethanol; and 75 percent of the eight vehicle models tested passed on E20, yet somehow one of the duplicate models failed.

Moore said the US Department of Energy confirmed that the test protocol used by API was highly speculative. The RFA didn't participate in the API study because the protocals and pass/fail criteria were questionable, the vehicles in the study were geared to provoke engine failures, and the test fuels included weren't accurate. "In my assessment, the RFA and government agencies didn't want to participate simply because they didn't want to waste taxpayer money on political science," Moore wrote.

RFA accuses Big Oil of 'far from factual' E15 test results originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american petroleum institutebig oilblendede15ethanolrenewable fuels associationrfaWed, 12 Jun 2013 11:51:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20611065/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20611065/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/12/rfa-accuses-big-oil-of-far-from-factual-e15-test-results/20611065/article-detail.xml 20611065 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/e15-1370924846_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/e15-1370924846.jpg <![CDATA[Big Oil warns Supreme Court of 'broken-down cars and high repair bills' in E15 fight]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/07/big-oil-warns-supreme-court-of-broken-down-cars-in-e15-fight/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/07/big-oil-warns-supreme-court-of-broken-down-cars-in-e15-fight/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/07/big-oil-warns-supreme-court-of-broken-down-cars-in-e15-fight/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The battle lines on the ethanol in the national gasoline supply debate are getting more and more defined, or at least more legal. The fight between the ethanol industry and Big Oil (represented by the American Petroleum Institute, an association of 500 oil and natural gas companies) has bee winding through the courts, but now API is telling the Supreme Court just how bad E15 is bad for engines.

Here's the recap. The Environmental Protection Agency gave the okay to up the level from E10 (10 percent ethanol mixed with 90 percent gasoline) to E15 for 2007 and newer vehicles back in 2010. Quickly, nine food and farm groups, along with the API, sued the EPA over the decision. The first drops were sold to the public at Midwestern gas stations last summer and, last August, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia decided that the broad coalition could not challenge E15. So, the API appealed the case to the Supreme Court in February.

"E15 could leave millions of consumers with broken-down cars and high repair bills" - American Petroleum Institute.

Here's the latest. This week, the API filed a legal brief filed with the Supreme Court, describing how E15 can damage cars and trucks. Bob Greco, API's director of downstream and industry operations, told the Des Moines Register that, "E15 could leave millions of consumers with broken-down cars and high repair bills. It could also put motorists in harm's way when vehicles break down in the middle of a busy highway." Let's call it corn anxiety.

Ethanol, made most often from corn, can be contentious across the US, with both Maine and Florida taking legislative stands against the biofuel recently. The AFI fight over E15 is the biggest, though, and will likely have wide-ranging consequences for the biofuel's future in the US.

Big Oil warns Supreme Court of 'broken-down cars and high repair bills' in E15 fight originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american petroleum instituteapie15environmental protection agencyepaethanolFri, 07 Jun 2013 11:30:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20601684/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20601684/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/07/big-oil-warns-supreme-court-of-broken-down-cars-in-e15-fight/20601684/article-detail.xml 20601684 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/corn-cob-yellow_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/corn-cob-yellow.jpg <![CDATA[Florida repeals law requiring 10% ethanol blend in gasoline]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/florida-repeals-law-requiring-10-ethanol-blend-in-gasoline/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/florida-repeals-law-requiring-10-ethanol-blend-in-gasoline/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/05/florida-repeals-law-requiring-10-ethanol-blend-in-gasoline/#commentsFiled under: ,

e15 gasoline cap

It looks like ethanol - especially when blended into gasoline - is facing some pushback. Florida has decided to repeal its Renewable Fuel Standard, which had required all gasoline sold in the state to be blended with nine-to-10 percent ethanol or other alternative fuels.

Florida Governor Rick Scott just signed into law HB4001, which repeals the state's Renewable Fuel Standard as of July 1, 2013. The bill was passed by the Florida House and Senate in April. The Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act took effect December 31, 2011 and required all gasoline sold by terminal suppliers, importers, blenders or wholesalers (i.e., those up the supply chain) to be blended. These parties were also required to submit a monthly report to the Department of Revenue on the numbers of gallons of blended and unblended gasoline sold. Retail gas stations had not been expressly prohibited by state law from selling or offering unblended gasoline, Green Car Congress reports.

In his signing statement, Scott called the state's Renewable Fuel Standard, "a state mandate on Florida businesses that is duplicative of the Federal Renewable Fuel Standard and inconsistent with the efforts to reduce the regulatory burdens that have helped Florida create over 330,000 new private sector jobs in the past two years."

The state of Maine is going in a similar anti-ethanol direction. Legislators are concerned about the damaging impact ethanol blend going up to 15 percent in gasoline (E15) could have on engines and the environment. They approved a bill by more than a 3-to-1 margin that would ban ethanol blends in Maine, as long as two other nearby states do the same. State leaders also supported a resoltion asking the government to ban E15 altogether.

On the federal level, support is still there for E15 from the US Environmental Protection Agency. States are being slow about supporting the transition from E10 to E15, but Kansas and a few other states have adopted it. Bob Dineen, president and CEO of Renewable Fuels Association, says it's Big Oil that's attacking E15 and fulfillment of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard's targets for biofuels - just to sell more gasoline.

Florida repeals law requiring 10% ethanol blend in gasoline originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelsblende10e15ethanolethanol blendfloridarenewable fuel standardWed, 05 Jun 2013 13:44:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20597176/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20597176/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/05/florida-repeals-law-requiring-10-ethanol-blend-in-gasoline/20597176/article-detail.xml 20597176 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/e15_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/e15.jpg <![CDATA[E85 plug-in hybrid Chevy Malibu powers Penn State to second year EcoCar 2 win [w/video]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/25/e85-plug-in-hybrid-chevy-malibu-powers-penn-state-second-year-win/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/25/e85-plug-in-hybrid-chevy-malibu-powers-penn-state-second-year-win/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/25/e85-plug-in-hybrid-chevy-malibu-powers-penn-state-second-year-win/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Decked out in enough stickers to make a NASCAR driver jealous, the cars in the EcoCar 2 competition finished year two of their three-year journey last week, with Penn State declared the winner.

Fifteen universities are taking part in EcoCar 2, which involves taking a 2013 Chevy Malibu and making it as green as possible. The final challenges of Year Two were to conduct drives at the GM Desert Proving Ground in Yuma, AZ and then undergo a round of judging in San Diego, CA. As you might suspect, this gives room for winners in a number of categories (see the list here), but it was Penn State that managed to win the overall title.

The teams are allowed (encouraged, actually) to modify the powertrain, which is why Penn State's Malibu is a E85 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Cal State Los Angles also uses ethanol in its second-place vehicle. Ohio State University turned its Malibu into a parallel hybrid electric vehicle, which was good enough for third place.

Over the next year, the final one before (we suspect) the third EcoCar gets rolling, the schools and teams will continue to work on the program's goals, which include building cars that, in the words of the organizers:
  • Reduce petroleum energy consumption on the basis of a total fuel cycle analysis;
  • Reduce fuel consumption;
  • Reduce well to wheel greenhouse gas emissions;
  • Reduce criteria tailpipe emissions;
  • Maintain consumer acceptability in the area of performance, utility, and safety.
EcoCar 2's main sponsors are General Motors and the US Department of Energy, but there are many more, which you can see in the press release below, where you'll also find a video. The overall winning student team will be named next year in Washington, DC.

Continue reading E85 plug-in hybrid Chevy Malibu powers Penn State to second year EcoCar 2 win [w/video]

E85 plug-in hybrid Chevy Malibu powers Penn State to second year EcoCar 2 win [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 25 May 2013 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevy malibudoeecocarecocar 2ethanolgeneral motorspenn stateSat, 25 May 2013 16:46:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20583118/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20583118/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/25/e85-plug-in-hybrid-chevy-malibu-powers-penn-state-second-year-win/20583118/article-detail.xml 20583118 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/ecocar-2-penn-state-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/ecocar-2-penn-state-628.jpg <![CDATA[Maine votes to ban ethanol in gasoline, takes stand against E15]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/maine-votes-to-ban-ethanol-in-gasoline-takes-stand-against-e15/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/maine-votes-to-ban-ethanol-in-gasoline-takes-stand-against-e15/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/maine-votes-to-ban-ethanol-in-gasoline-takes-stand-against-e15/#commentsFiled under: ,

Maine

If it can go in your gas tank, it's potentially controversial up in Maine. A few years ago, out-of-spec gas pumps were a problem. Today, the issue is the corn-based biofuel ethanol, which the state legislature is taking a strong stand against. Citing potential engine and environmental damages, Maine's state legislature has taken another step to potential rid itself of ethanol blends into its gasoline inventory.

Legislators have approved a bill by more than a 3-to-1 margin that would ban ethanol blends in Maine - as long as two other nearby states do the same, the Bangor Daily News reports. State leaders also supported a resolution urging the government to ban gasoline with a 15 percent ethanol blend (known as E15), altogether. Most gasoline in the US contains up to 10 percent ethanol blend.

Maine regulators started talking about a statewide E15 ban early this year. The state said at the time that at least two other New England states would have to go along so that Maine refiners wouldn't have to make a custom blend for the state only, which would cause the state's fuel prices to jump.

On the federal level, the word is that E15 is fine. Last June, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially allowed for public sales of E15 as part of an effort to cut foreign-oil dependency. Groups such as AAA have since been critical of the EPA's decision, saying that E15 would cause engine damage as well as food shortages. E15 has been sold in some states since the middle of 2012, starting in Kansas, and there have not been any widespread reports of problems with the biofuel but it's not being sold just like any other fuel.

Maine votes to ban ethanol in gasoline, takes stand against E15 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 10 May 2013 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bane15ethanolmainenew englandFri, 10 May 2013 19:14:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20565327/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20565327/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/10/maine-votes-to-ban-ethanol-in-gasoline-takes-stand-against-e15/20565327/article-detail.xml 20565327 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/maine_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/maine.jpg <![CDATA[E. coli used to create diesel-like biofuel in UK study]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/28/e-coli-used-to-create-diesel-like-biofuel-in-uk-study/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/28/e-coli-used-to-create-diesel-like-biofuel-in-uk-study/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/28/e-coli-used-to-create-diesel-like-biofuel-in-uk-study/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

UK university creates diesel-like biofuel using e. coli

Mention the term "e. coli" here in the US, and one gets visions of sick cows and poisonous burgers. Reference e. coli with some groundbreaking work performed by UK's University of Exeter, and things get a little more positive.

The university, with some funding from Shell, created a plant-based biofuel that's "almost identical" to conventional diesel. The fuel not only requires less of a blend with petroleum relative to biodiesels made from plants but may eliminate the corrosive effects other biofuels have on engines.

According to a more authoritative explanation from the News Scientists, the e. coli is combined with glucose to create the properly sized hydrocarbons that more or less mimic those compatible with engines. So far, the new fuel's being produced in "tiny" quantities but, hey, you have to start somewhere. Check out the article from the University below.

Continue reading E. coli used to create diesel-like biofuel in UK study

E. coli used to create diesel-like biofuel in UK study originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 28 Apr 2013 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biodieselbiofueldiesele. coliexeterukuniversity of exeterSun, 28 Apr 2013 08:57:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20549261/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20549261/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/28/e-coli-used-to-create-diesel-like-biofuel-in-uk-study/20549261/article-detail.xml 20549261 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/biodiesel_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/biodiesel.jpg <![CDATA[Neil Young fills up LincVolt, back from the dead, with cellulosic ethanol]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/neil-young-lincvolt-cellulosic-ethanol/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/neil-young-lincvolt-cellulosic-ethanol/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/25/neil-young-lincvolt-cellulosic-ethanol/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Neil Young and LincVolt

Long may you run, Neil. That's our take on reports of Rock n' Roll Hall of Famer Neil Young cruising around the country in his 1959 Lincoln Continental that's been converted to run on cellulosic ethanol, or biofuel made from wood, grass and non-edible parts of plants.

Young recently showed off the LincVolt in Sioux Falls, SD, where the artist filled up on the biofuel, Domestic Fuel reports. Young touts the LincVolt's ability to reduce emissions by 80 percent compared to a conventionally powered car. He said that the car is one way to draw attention to climate change. "It's just not a fast moving subject," he said. "It's a slow moving big story. But it's not going to be going away unless we do something."

Young and the car also stopped by Jack White's Third Man Records this past weekend for Record Store Day to record a song in the Third Man Records recording booth. Young was inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. The LincVolt project car was nearly destroyed in a warehouse fire in late 2010. You can see a three-minute video of Mr. Young and the LincVolt in Sioux Falls below.

Continue reading Neil Young fills up LincVolt, back from the dead, with cellulosic ethanol

Neil Young fills up LincVolt, back from the dead, with cellulosic ethanol originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellulosic ethanolethanollincolnlincvoltneil youngsouth dakotaThu, 25 Apr 2013 19:50:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20549155/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20549155/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/25/neil-young-lincvolt-cellulosic-ethanol/20549155/article-detail.xml 20549155 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/neil_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/neil.png <![CDATA[SAE Congress: Modified Chrysler Tigershark 2.0 engine previews E85-capable 2014 Dart]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/sae-congress-chrysler-tigershark-e85-dodge-dart/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/sae-congress-chrysler-tigershark-e85-dodge-dart/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/sae-congress-chrysler-tigershark-e85-dodge-dart/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2013 Dodge Dart

chrysler tigershark 2.0 e85 engine dodge dartOn the floor at the SAE World Congress at Cobo Hall this week sits a 2.0-liter Tigershark engine. Parts have been cut away and there are pretty colored lights inside, but the cool part - if you're interested in biofuels, anyway - is how the engine has been modified to turn the Dodge Dart into an E85-capable machine.

Despite being a Chrysler product, the engine was at the IAV Automotive Engineering booth, and IAV's business unit director for gasoline and alternative fuels, Chi Binh La, told AutoblogGreen that standard E85-capable engines use sensors to figure out how much ethanol is in the tank. The new Tigershark uses the engine management computer to determine the combustion characteristics "People throw in a sensor, sensors are expensive and if it fails, you're in trouble. What IAV has done here is we've taken a combined controls and calibration approach. It's amazing this wasn't thought of before," he said.

Basically, when you fill up at the gas station, the engine knows you've put fuel in. This triggers the first of two adaptive learning strategies - one coarse and one fine - that the engine goes through to figure out how much biofuel is in the fuel line. In the coarse check, it burns the new fuel for two seconds and looks at the O2 sensor (which modern gas engines have) and compares the air/fuel ratio from the new fuel to what it was before the fill-up to arrive at, roughly, the new blend. This is "good enough to meet emissions requirements and drivability," La said. Then, after the engine warms up to 80 degrees C, the fine adaptive learning happens. The computer again uses the O2 sensor to determine the balance, but it lasts longer and is more accurate the second time around. "It is using information from available sensors to calibration the flexfuel content," La said. Chrysler contracted IAV to work on the project, and IAV worked on the cold-start calibration, engine mapping and driveability and emissions work.

Chrysler hasn't officially said when the Dart will become flex-fuel capable (earlier reports suggested the middle of 2013), but Chrysler and IAV representatives on the show floor said the engine will be going into the 2014 Dart, which is due later this year.

SAE Congress: Modified Chrysler Tigershark 2.0 engine previews E85-capable 2014 Dart originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dodge darte85ethanolflex fuelsae world congressFri, 19 Apr 2013 07:52:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20544040/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20544040/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/19/sae-congress-chrysler-tigershark-e85-dodge-dart/20544040/article-detail.xml 20544040 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/2013-dodge-dart-review_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/2013-dodge-dart-review.jpg <![CDATA[Propel Fuels wants to reinvent gas stations as 'Clean Mobility Centers']]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/16/propel-fuels-reinvent-gas-stations-clean-mobility-centers/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/16/propel-fuels-reinvent-gas-stations-clean-mobility-centers/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/16/propel-fuels-reinvent-gas-stations-clean-mobility-centers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

propel fuels

Propel Fuels has opened up a refueling station in Fresno, CA, that's much more than just a gas station. It's a "Clean Mobility Center" that offers E85 and biodiesel from local producers along with conventional fuels, letting drivers make their own choices. Yet it's much than a fueling station - drivers can offset carbon from their fuel purchases, improve their vehicle's fuel economy, find public transport, tune their bicycles and do a bit of recycling.

Propel launched its Clean Mobility Center campaign last year, but this is the first fuel station of its type in the Fresno area. Located at 4994 E. Ashlan Ave., it's the first station in Fresno to offer E85 flex fuel and biodiesel, which are sourced from local California producers; biodiesel comes from Community Fuels in Stockton and ethanol from Calgren Renewable Fuel in Pixley.

For Propel Fuels, it's a way to reprogram the image and role of fuel stations in a community, and to promote consumption of renewable biofuels instead of consumers being stuck with conventional gasoline and diesel. In California, there are more than one million drivers behind the wheels of flex-fuel vehicles and most don't have access to E85, Propel Fuels says. Several cars and trucks from brands such as Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Mercedes are E85 compatible flex-fuel vehicles, and every diesel-engine vehicle can run on Propel biodiesel blends.

For Matt Horton, Propel Fuel's CEO, the Fresno station addresses the everyday pocketbook issues drivers face along with some of the broader economic and environmental issues. Rapid swings in fuel prices remind consumers about the need for choice and competition in the fuel market, he said. Along with that, "as more consumers embrace local, renewable fuels and seek cleaner means of transportation, Propel Clean Mobility Centers will help make progress toward our country's most pressing economic and environmental issues," Horton said in the press release, which you can read below.

Continue reading Propel Fuels wants to reinvent gas stations as 'Clean Mobility Centers'

Propel Fuels wants to reinvent gas stations as 'Clean Mobility Centers' originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biodieselbiofuelsethanolflex fuelgas stationspropel fuelsrenewableTue, 16 Apr 2013 16:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20542217/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20542217/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/16/propel-fuels-reinvent-gas-stations-clean-mobility-centers/20542217/article-detail.xml 20542217 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/propel-fuels-station_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/propel-fuels-station.jpg <![CDATA[Mascoma backs away from IPO plans]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/31/mascoma-backs-away-from-ipo-plans/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/31/mascoma-backs-away-from-ipo-plans/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/31/mascoma-backs-away-from-ipo-plans/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Mascoma, a cellulosic ethanol maker, has been working on gaining capital investment from just about every funding source out there. But now it looks like the attempts to go public and raise $100 million have been pulled off the market.

Gigaom's Katie Fehrenbacher had been puzzled that a company with weak financials - including 86 percent of its revenue coming from government grants - filed to launch an initial public offering. That happened about a year and a half ago but the effort never made it to the stock market.

The other 14 percent of Mascoma's revenue came from selling its next-generation yeast to corn ethanol makers to cut their costs. Mascoma has wanted to go in a different direction - producing next-generation cellulosic ethanol from plant waste and not corn, with the waste coming from wood waste in a Michigan factory.

The company said it was "market conditions" that made it withdraw the public offering.

The Mascoma stock market launch was waiting in the wings until this month, when the company quietly withdrew its IPO plan. The company said it was "market conditions" that made it withdraw the public offering, even though, as Fehrenbacher writes, macro IPO conditions seem a little bit better this year than in 2012.

Another confusing pre-IPO action was Mascoma raising a few million dollars in debt during two rounds over the past six months. That didn't make a lot of sense for a company preparing to go public. Government grants have taken a bigger slice of the pie since the initial filing a year and a half ago. Its latest revenue numbers, from a year ago, said that government grants and awards made 93 percent of its revenue - up seven percent since its initial filing six months earlier.

Mascoma was founded in 2005 by Dartmouth professor Lee Rybeck Lynd. Since that time, company management has secured government funds and at least over $100 million from private capital firms and corporations including Khosla Ventures, SunOpta, GM and Marathon Oil (General Motors took an equity stake in Mascoma in 2008). The US Department of Energy awarded it $80 million, though its not clear if all the funds came through. The state of Michigan offered the company a $20-million grant to build its factory in Michigan.

Advanced biofuels has been a very tough business to break into, and other companies have failed in taking cellulosic ethanol to scale.

Mascoma backs away from IPO plans originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 31 Mar 2013 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelscellulosic ethanolgovernment grantsinitial public offeringipomascomastock marketingstock offeringSun, 31 Mar 2013 08:46:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20522626/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20522626/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/31/mascoma-backs-away-from-ipo-plans/20522626/article-detail.xml 20522626 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/waste-wood_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/waste-wood.jpg <![CDATA[Renewable Fuels Association president makes ethanol case to environmentalists]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/renewable-fuels-association-president-ethanol-environmentalists/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/renewable-fuels-association-president-ethanol-environmentalists/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/renewable-fuels-association-president-ethanol-environmentalists/#commentsFiled under: , ,

corn being unloaded into a pile

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has made its case against Big Oil getting its way, stopping E15 and fulfilling the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Now, Bob Dineen, president and CEO of RFA, is pleading with environmentalists to stay away from Big Oil and to support biofuels.

With fossil fuel the major source of greenhouse gas emissions from powering vehicles, ethanol is the logical substitute, Dineen writes in a guest column for The Hill. There's no other alternative fuel "at scale today that matches ethanol's ability to improve overall environmental quality," Dineen wrote.

No other alternative fuel "matches ethanol's ability to improve overall environmental quality."

So how could some environmentalists "gang up on American ethanol" and side with Big Oil against the biofuel, when ethanol is both renewable and much cleaner than gasoline? Dineen is particularly perturbed with Scott Faber, vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, for lambasting biofuels in his own recent blog post on The Hill.

Faber would like to see changes made to the federal RFS biofuels mandate, and criticized RFS along with efforts to increase gasoline to 15 percent ethanol (E15). Dineen found Faber's arguments confusing and contradictory - for backing up Big Oil's grain ethanol attack; for stating that RFS is failing to bring cellulosic ethanol to market; and that there's a costly infrastructure investment needed for fuel pumps and flex-fuel vehicles.

While Faber represents an environmental group, there's more to the story behind the scenes, according to Dineen. Prior to the Environmental Working Group, Faber was vice president for federal affairs at the Grocery Manufacturers Association. That trade association has been working with the American Petroleum Institute to repeal RFS.

Dineen thinks that there is hope for environmentalists who aren't being duped by these powerful lobbying groups. "For the great majority of rank-and-file environmentalists who aren't beholden to Big Oil or Big Food, ethanol's environmental advantages over gasoline are clear and compelling," he writes. Do his words strike a chord?

Renewable Fuels Association president makes ethanol case to environmentalists originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big oilbiofuelsbob dineencellulosice15envrionmentalistsethanolrenewable fuel standardrenewable fuels associationrfaMon, 25 Mar 2013 19:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20517065/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20517065/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/25/renewable-fuels-association-president-ethanol-environmentalists/20517065/article-detail.xml 20517065 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/food-farm-ethanol_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/food-farm-ethanol.jpg <![CDATA[Lawmakers ask EPA to look into gas price increase as ethanol credits rise]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/23/vitter-murkowski-ethanol-credit-price-epa/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/23/vitter-murkowski-ethanol-credit-price-epa/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/23/vitter-murkowski-ethanol-credit-price-epa/#commentsFiled under: , ,

e85 ethanol station

A pair of US lawmakers told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that ethanol credits are leading to some deficits. Attempting to stem what they say could be an additional boost in gas prices prior to the busy summer-driving months, David Vitter (R-LA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are raising questions, Reuters reports.

In a letter to the EPA, the two senators say fuel suppliers are having a progressively harder time buying enough credits, or RINs (Renewable Identification Number), from renewable fuel producers to keep up with federal mandates.

Central to the issue is the fact that prices for RINs have jumped higher than Superman on his best day. They are now worth more than a dollar a gallon, up from one cent a gallon (!) in December. With ethanol accounting for about 10 percent of gasoline, the RIN price jump translates to a 10-cent-a gallon increase in gas prices. Average fuel prices are up about 40 cents a gallon compared to December, to about $3.70 a gallon, according to AAA.

Other senators from ethanol producing states say the jump in RIN prices has less to do with demand or stiffening biofuel mandates and may have more to do with speculators playing the RIN market. Recently, a 12-year-sentence was handed down to a fraudster misrepresenting biodiesel RIN credits.

Lawmakers ask EPA to look into gas price increase as ethanol credits rise originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 23 Mar 2013 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelsdavid vitterenvironmental protection agencyepaethanollisa murkowskirinsenateSat, 23 Mar 2013 09:04:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20514294/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20514294/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/23/vitter-murkowski-ethanol-credit-price-epa/20514294/article-detail.xml 20514294 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/e85-station-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/e85-station-628.jpg <![CDATA[First E15 gas station gets warning from ConocoPhillips, might have to stop ethanol sales]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/first-e15-gas-station-warning-conocophillips-ethanol/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/first-e15-gas-station-warning-conocophillips-ethanol/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/first-e15-gas-station-warning-conocophillips-ethanol/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Ethanol advocates are continuing to throw down the gauntlet with Big Oil. Jabs have been thrown through satire and blogging - now the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is throwing a hook by going after ConocoPhillips, one of Big Oil's top five conglomerates.

After offering E15, "ConocoPhillips quickly threatened to terminate Zarco 66's franchise agreement unless Zarco 66 started offering 'premium' gasoline."

RFA says that ConocoPhillips has threatened the franchise agreement with fuel station retailer Zarco 66 unless it offers premium gasoline. This gasoline would have to replace the ethanol stored in one of Zarco 66's two fueling tanks; these tanks have stored ethanol that's been used for years in the blend of 85-percent ethanol (E85) at Zarco 66 fuel stations. ConocoPhillips put the pressure on to sell premium gasoline not long after Zarco 66 became the nation's first retail chain to offer gasoline with 15 percent ethanol (E15) last summer. "ConocoPhillips quickly threatened to terminate Zarco 66's franchise agreement and charge Zarco 66 hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties unless Zarco 66 started offering 'premium' gasoline," said RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen. If ConocoPhillips gets its way, it would mean "far fewer [ethanol] sales than the ethanol blends that would be available if Zarco 66 maintained the current ethanol contents," Dineen said.

"I am a true believer in energy independence, alternatives [and] domestic fuels, and I will continue to fight for that."

RFA is also asking for a federal investigation into the matter. The ethanol advocacy association sent a three-page letter to the US Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Trade Commission, US Department of Energy and US Department of Agriculture. RFA is requesting the agencies to investigate and put an end to the "oil industry's highly discriminatory and unlawful conduct - conduct that is impeding the delivery of renewable fuels to the American marketplace," the letter stated. Zarco 66 could become the "first casualty" in the oil industry's war against renewable fuels.

Zarco 66 has yet to cave in to Big Oil. "I am a true believer in energy independence, alternatives [and] domestic fuels, and I will continue to fight for that, because I believe that is what is in the best interest of our country," Zarco 66 owner Scott Zaremba told Ethanol Producer Magazine.

First E15 gas station gets warning from ConocoPhillips, might have to stop ethanol sales originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big oile15ethanolgas stationsoil companiesrenewable fuelThu, 21 Mar 2013 15:51:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20513195/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20513195/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/21/first-e15-gas-station-warning-conocophillips-ethanol/20513195/article-detail.xml 20513195 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/zarco-66-e15-fuel_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/zarco-66-e15-fuel.png <![CDATA[Ethanol advocates poke fun at Big Oil with "Century of Subsidies" party]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/12/ethanol-advocates-poke-fun-at-big-oil-with-century-of-subsidies/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/12/ethanol-advocates-poke-fun-at-big-oil-with-century-of-subsidies/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/12/ethanol-advocates-poke-fun-at-big-oil-with-century-of-subsidies/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Charm City Cakes

No one would mistake a bunch of ethanol advocates for the folks at Second City, but we give the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) credit for injecting a little humor into their political statements.

In this case, the two groups are using the annual Biofuels Beltway March in Washington, DC, to throw what's being billed as a 100th birthday party for oil subsidies, according to DomesticFuel. The groups will take pains to point out that, while the three-decade ethanol subsidy was cut off at the end of 2011, oil subsidies have been enacted continuously since 1913. Monte Shaw, executive director of IRFA, told Domestic Fuel, "So little old ethanol somehow manages to get by without it but the 100 year old oil industry, the most profitable industry in the history of the world, still needs that taxpayer crush [sic] to get by at least that's the way they tell it." Plug-in vehicle advocates, that's your window to make a point about imbalance as well.

The "Century of Subsidies" party will take place Thursday afternoon and will even feature a birthday cake from Baltimore's Charm City Cakes, of "Ace of Cakes" fame. Yes, that's one of their designs above.

Ethanol advocates poke fun at Big Oil with "Century of Subsidies" party originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american coalition for ethanolbig oilbiofuels beltway marchbirthdaydcethanoliowa renewable fuels associationsubsidiessubsidywashingtonTue, 12 Mar 2013 19:27:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20499108/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20499108/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/12/ethanol-advocates-poke-fun-at-big-oil-with-century-of-subsidies/20499108/article-detail.xml 20499108 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/bdaycake_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/bdaycake.jpg <![CDATA[How Big Oil gets bigger: over $620 Billion spent on subsidies for fossil fuel in 2011]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/04/how-big-oil-gets-bigger-over-620-billion-spent-subsidies-2011/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/04/how-big-oil-gets-bigger-over-620-billion-spent-subsidies-2011/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/04/how-big-oil-gets-bigger-over-620-billion-spent-subsidies-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



We're being duped by Big Oil. The worse part is that governments around the world are working tirelessly to make sure the game is rigged in their favor. That's what Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, is saying, and he has the numbers to back the statement up.

Estimates from the Global Subsidies Initiative and International Energy Agency say more than $620 billion was spent by governments to subsidize fossil fuel energy in 2011. About $100 million of that went into production and about $523 billion was used to subsidize consumption. Higher world oil prices drove those numbers up 20 percent over the previous year.

About $100 million went into production subsidies and about $523 billion was used to subsidize consumption.

Looking into the consumption front, $285 billion went to oil, $104 billion to natural gas, $3 billion to coal and the remaining $131 was basically evenly divided among these three energy sources for electricity consumption. One major side effect of governments spending these subsidies has been cutting the prices people paid for fossil energy by about 25 percent. That has encouraged consumption and waste, and hindered efforts to stabilize the climate.

The countries spending the most on fossil fuel subsidies have a few recurring themes. These are generally developing, unstable nations where oil plays a big role in their economies, and their traffic congestion and air quality can be atrocious. They're exporting a lot of oil to first-world countries like the US, and their economies depend heavily on fossil fuels. Middle Eastern countries topped the list on a per person basis spending basis, and also ranked high on the world's top carbon emitters per capita. Quality of life can be a serious problem in these markets, and their governments are subsidizing the problem.

One of the ironies is the much smaller level of subsidy support that governments spend on clean, renewable energy.

One of the ironies is the much smaller level of subsidy support that governments spend on clean, renewable energy. In 2011, about 14 percent of the amount spent on global fossil subsidies - about $88 billion - was almost equally divided and paid to solar, wind, biomass electricity and biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel).

"Clearly, the deck is stacked against renewables," Brown wrote. Upstart renewable energy companies need government investment to invent new markets, while Big Oil has been highly profitable. In 2012, the Big Five oil companies - Royal Dutch Shell , ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron and ConocoPhillips - collectively took in $137 billion in profits.

How Big Oil gets bigger: over $620 Billion spent on subsidies for fossil fuel in 2011 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Environmental Protection Agency continues to give the green light to E15, but the biofuel doesn't have to come from corn ethanol. The exact source of the ethanol in gasoline - whether its 10 percent ethanol (E10) or 15 percent (E15) - isn't impacting the E15 debate, it does in the "food vs. fuel" debate, and that's why a potential solution coming out of Colorado caught our eye.

Ethanol producer Front Range Energy, based in Windsor, CO, has successfully tested a new process to make ethanol from waste wood. The company has a patented technology for making fuel from woody biomass instead of corn, and is the second major US ethanol producer to do so. Front Range will begin commercial production next year and plans to covert seven percent of its ethanol production from corn to woody biomass during that time. Switching over to that much biomass will reduce corn consumption by about 1.2 million bushels a year.

The Colorado ethanol producer has signed a 15-year, $100-million deal with Rochester, NY-based Sweetwater Energy to use Sweetwater's process for converting biomass to sugars, which are then distilled into ethanol. If that conversion process works well, Fort Range will increase its use of biomass. Sweetwater plans to acquire waste wood primarily from lumber mills. Some of it may come from beetle-killed pine (pictured), a source that's plentiful in Colorado.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory bioenergy engineer Jim McMillan said several firms nationwide are testing cellulosic ethanol processes and are moving toward commercial production. Freedom from corn ethanol may be in sight.

Colorado ethanol producer Front Range Energy moves from corn to woody biomass originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative fuelbiomasscoloradocorn ethanole10e15ethanolwaste woodTue, 26 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20463280/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20463280/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/26/colorado-ethanol-producer-front-range-energy-woody-biomass/20463280/article-detail.xml 20463280 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/beetle-killed-pine_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/beetle-killed-pine.jpg <![CDATA[Big Oil to take EPA's ethanol blend law to Supreme Court]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/22/big-oil-to-take-epas-ethanol-blend-law-to-supreme-court/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/22/big-oil-to-take-epas-ethanol-blend-law-to-supreme-court/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/22/big-oil-to-take-epas-ethanol-blend-law-to-supreme-court/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Big Oil's flagship trade association - the American Petroleum Institute - and eight other industry groups have filed with the US Supreme Court to stop higher blends of ethanol (specifically, 15 percent, or E15) from entering the US gasoline supply. They're asking the Supreme Court to overturn a federal appeals court's ruling that they lack standing to legally challenge the US Environmental Protection Agency's waivers that gasoline with 15 percent ethanol can be sold in the US.

Last month, the US Circuit Court of Appeals Court for the District of Columbia upheld that none of the 17 petitioners - including API, engine manufacturers and food producers - had legal standing to challenge E15 partial waivers that the EPA had issued in 2012.

"Had EPA stayed within its statutory authority and followed proper procedures, it would have waited until ongoing E15 testing on engines and fuel systems was completed before allowing the use of E15," API downstream group director Bob Greco told reporters. "Then it would have discovered that E15 is not safe for millions of vehicles now on the road."

API is being joined in the lawsuit by the food industry, including groups like the Grocery Manufacturers Association, American Meat Institute and the Snack Food Council. The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, the other large US oil and gas association, will file their own petition to the Supreme Court before an April 15 deadline.

Big Oil to take EPA's ethanol blend law to Supreme Court originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you know what renewable identification numbers (RIN) fraud is, and want to avoid it you a.) are most likely involved in biofuel production or an oil company and b.) might want to hire an auditor. That's the advice from RINAlliance, which has made a strategic partnership with EcoEngineers to make sure RIN fraud stops happening.

Oil companies like Sunoco buy RINs from biofuel producers to earn credits to meet the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). RINs are used to track each gallon of a biofuel as part of the federal rule. There's been so much fraud in these deals that The US Environmental Protection Agency recently released proposed rules to deal with potential RIN fraud as part of the 2013 RFS.

There is a need for audits and accountability in the marketplace. The biodiesel industry saw several distressing - and mysterious - episodes last year. Jeffrey David Gunselman, former CEO of Absolut Fuels, was arrested for pilfering more than $50 million in fake RIN credits without producing any of the biodiesel. Rodney Hailey, who headed Clean Green Fuel LLC, alledgedly made $9.1 million selling renewable fuel credits that were not delivered.

The strangest one of all involved biodiesel train shipments between Canada and the US by CN Rail that were never unloaded. The shipping company appeared to have made $2.6 million in Canadian dollars for the effort. Two US biodiesel companies were listed as customers - HeroBX and Northern Biodiesel - and neither responded to media inquiries. A Canadian company, Bioversal Trading Inc., is being investigated by the Canada Border Services Agency on allegations of false statements to avoid duties in shipping biodiesel to Romania and Italy.

Biofuel RIN fraud not a problem, says RINAlliance originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biodieselbiofuelsrenewable fuel standardrfsRIN fraudTue, 19 Feb 2013 12:11:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20466130/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20466130/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/19/biofuel-rin-fraud-not-a-problem-says-rinalliance/20466130/article-detail.xml 20466130 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/maze-of-rins_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/maze-of-rins.png <![CDATA[Biofuel group Fuels America gives snarky Valentine to Big Oil]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/biofuel-group-fuels-america-gives-snarky-valentine-to-big-oil/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/biofuel-group-fuels-america-gives-snarky-valentine-to-big-oil/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/biofuel-group-fuels-america-gives-snarky-valentine-to-big-oil/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

fuels america valentine to big oil

What's this? A yoga woman in seated pose praising oil companies and the billions in profits and huge government subsidies they get saying, with a radiant smile, "That's awesome!"

Two oil-drenched birds standing together. One of them chirps, "I love what this oil does to my feathers. They're so shiny!"

Two little girls just love how "oil crazy" grownups are. One of them says, "You're going to leave us with nothing but scary weather, no clean energy and no oil left. Good thinking!"

What the?!?

It's a snarky video ad called "We Love Oil!" (watch it below) that was released right before Valentine's Day by Fuels America. The group is a coalition of organizations committed to protecting the US Renewable Fuel Standard and praising the benefits of biofuels. Fuels America slings arrows at just about anything you can think of to take down Big Oil. That's because, the ad says, Big Oil will go just as far to stop any alternative - including the biofuels provided by the small and struggling biofuels industry (if you take Fuels America's side).

The yoga lady finishes the video with a plea for renewable fuels: "I mean, who wants renewable fuel sources anyway. Just because they create jobs that can't be outsourced. They protect the environment when we could stay dependent on a dirty, finite, climate warming, expensive fuel like oil. I hope we're stuck on oil forever. And ever. And ever." Her smile goes away and a message pops out of a broken heart: "Over Oil Yet?"

That line about biofuel jobs being impossible to outsource is pretty easy to prove false, but there's been no official response or scathing counter campaign yet from Big Oil.

Continue reading Biofuel group Fuels America gives snarky Valentine to Big Oil

Biofuel group Fuels America gives snarky Valentine to Big Oil originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative fuelbiig oilbiofuelsclimate changeethanolfuels americaoil industryrenewable fuelvalentines dayFri, 15 Feb 2013 16:10:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20463458/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20463458/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/15/biofuel-group-fuels-america-gives-snarky-valentine-to-big-oil/20463458/article-detail.xml 20463458 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/oil-covered-birds_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/oil-covered-birds.jpg <![CDATA[EPA approves new blender pump for E15 fuel stations, 4-gallon rule still in effect]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/11/epa-approves-new-blender-pump-for-e15-fuel-stations/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/11/epa-approves-new-blender-pump-for-e15-fuel-stations/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/11/epa-approves-new-blender-pump-for-e15-fuel-stations/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Standard fuel cap

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week outlined the conditions gas station operators need to meet to sell higher-ethanol gasoline from so-called "blender pumps" that may dispense gasoline with both 10 percent and 15 percent ethanol (E10 and E15, respectively).

Among other requirements, stations need to have at least one pump that distributes solely E10, and to label to its blender pumps with a notice that says "Passenger Vehicles Only. Use in Other Vehicles, Engines and Equipment May Violate Federal Law." Additionally, as we heard earlier, anyone buying fuel from a blender pump has to be required to purchase at least four gallons of fuel. That way, any residual amount of E15 in the pump will be diluted enough to not pose harm for vehicles not designed to accommodate higher-ethanol gasoline.

Last June, the EPA officially legalized public sales of E15 in a move federal regulators believe could cut foreign oil dependency, help US farmers and possibly cut emissions. Last month, a US federal appeals court upheld that decision and turned down a request from oil and food trade organizations to consider reversing the decision. Meanwhile, the American Petroleum Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers Association and AAA are among groups that have publicly challenged the EPA decision, with AAA late last year requesting for the government to suspend E15 sales.

Check out the EPA's press release below, and read about some of the conditions gas stations need to meet to operate such blender pumps here.

Continue reading EPA approves new blender pump for E15 fuel stations, 4-gallon rule still in effect

EPA approves new blender pump for E15 fuel stations, 4-gallon rule still in effect originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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