AutoblogGreen

Chevron facing fines, possible ban after oil sheen in Brazil waters found to be from leak, not seepage

Domenick Yoney — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:54:00 EST

Around the 7th of November, when a sheen of oil first appeared on the sea in the vicinity of a Chevron appraisal well in the deep-water Frade field of the coast of Brazil about 230 miles from Rio de Janeiro's famous beaches, the company claimed the occurrence was due to natural seepage. Now, the company is admitting that actually, it isn't natural, and that the company is indeed the one to blame.

Chevron says that the oil leakage, which is coming from around seven cracks in the sea floor near the wellhead, resulted from underestimating the pressure in the reservoir and injecting an incorrect amount of the mud meant to prevent oil from coming out. While Chevron originally said the amounts of leaked crude involved were in the 400 to 650 barrel range, more recent reports put that figure at 5,000 to 8,000 barrels.

Brazilian authorities appear to be taking the situation quite seriously and Chevron has been fined $28 million so far and may be face a possible ban from drilling in Brazil for downplaying the situation, withholding information and possibly exceeding the drill depths it had been permitted for.

While the Brazil spill doesn't come close to last year's disaster at BP's Deepwater Horizon - the well has been plugged and the oil is staying away from shore - we can't help but wonder how much environmental damage has to occur before the world moves on to a more clean and sustainable source of energy. Hit the jump for a short video showing seepage from one of the cracks in the sea floor.

Continue reading Chevron facing fines, possible ban after oil sheen in Brazil waters found to be from leak, not seepage

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BRIC consumers ready to go with electric vehicles

Mark Sumner — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, South/Latin America, China, India

The BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are rapidly moving from stars of the emerging market to major players in any market you want to name. With that transition, automobile ownership in these nations is increasing rapidly, but will BRIC become the rising tide that lifts the electric vehicle boat?

Potential owners of automobiles in these countries are flexible when it comes to considering their options. The same Deloitte survey that showed that only a small number of Americans are willing to put up with the limitations of today's electric vehicles also showed that over 85 percent of consumers in Brazil, India and China are willing to consider electric vehicles for their next purchase. Consumers in these markets were also more satisfied with the capabilities of today's batteries and vehicles, and 50 percent considered a range of 100 miles acceptable. Considering the size of each market, electric vehicles could easily find millions of new homes.

However, the price of electric vehicles was much less acceptable to these potential owners. Even with subsidies, high battery prices put EVs out of reach for most of those interested. Without sharp reductions in costs, EVs could find themselves priced out of a large market willing to deal with current limitations.

BRIC consumers ready to go with electric vehicles originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BP expands ethanol output with acquisition of Brazil's Tropical BioEnergia

Eric Loveday — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:05:00 EST

Filed under: Ethanol, South/Latin America, USA

British Petroleum (BP) is set to expand its Brazilian ethanol output with its full acquisition of biofuel firm Tropical BioEnergia S.A. Set to take effect immediately, BP will acquire the remaining 50 percent of Tropical BionEnergia from existing joint venture partners for $71 million.

Those current joint venture partners in Tropical BioEnergia include Maeda S.A. Agroindustrial and LDC-SEV Bioenergia S.A. (each which owned 25 percent). After the deal is approved, BP will assume 100-percent ownership of Tropical BioEnergia and become the sole operator of the firm's two ethanol production sites.

In the near future, BP intends to double operations at Tropical BioEnergia, reaching a capacity of five million tons of crushed sugarcane - 119 million gallons of ethanol - annually. This acquisition will ALSO take the number of sites in BP's Brazilian ethanol portfolio to three, all of which are located in the nation's Center-South region.

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BP expands ethanol output with acquisition of Brazil's Tropical BioEnergia originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brazil to reduce mandatory ethanol blend in gas by 5%

Eric Loveday — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:07:00 EST

Filed under: Ethanol, South/Latin America

With Brazil's ethanol prices soaring, the nation's government is expected to put forth a policy to reduce the mandatory ethanol blend in gasoline. Brazil's energy minister, Edison Lobao, recently met with President Dilma Rousseff. The two immediately arrived at the conclusion that unless Brazil's mandatory ethanol blend is reduced, the nation will run out of the biofuel before the next sugarcane harvest.

Until now, all gasoline sold in Brazil had to contain at least 25 percent ethanol, but that figure will reportedly drop to 20 come October 1. Lobao says this reduction is a precautionary measure that will be applied indefinitely since Brazil's upcoming sugarcane is expected to be disappointing, too.

Brazil to reduce mandatory ethanol blend in gas by 5% originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. to beat Brazil as world's leading ethanol exporter

Eric Loveday — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:25:00 EST

Filed under: Ethanol, South/Latin America, USA

Lagging U.S. sales of E85, lax trade restrictions and Brazil's worst sugarcane harvest of the last decade will allow the United States to overtake the South American nation as the world's leading ethanol exporter during the second half of 2011, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced last week. Okay, officially, the EIA said it was "likely" to happen, but when you put all the pieces together, we think "likely" = "will."

With U.S. corn-based ethanol relatively inexpensive, U.S. ethanol producers have been able to win out contracts to supply countries that previously imported ethanol from Brazil. U.S. farmers have also benefited from Brazil eliminating its 20-percent import duty and lower European tariffs on ethanol.

Since the federal renewable fuel mandate classifies sugarcane ethanol as an advanced biofuel, but corn-based ethanol as only a biofuel, it's quite likely the United States will continue to export corn-based ethanol to Brazil while at the same time importing mass quantities of the sugarcane-based biofuel from Brazil. This looks like we're moving towards a future that puts us right back where we started: relying on foreign fuel.

U.S. to beat Brazil as world's leading ethanol exporter originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Did you know Venezuela has the most oil? Meet the man in charge of it

Eric Loveday — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., South/Latin America

Quick, name the country certified by OPEC as number one in national oil reserves. Saudi Arabia? No. Canada? Nope. Venezuela? Bing!

After redefining as extra-heavy crude a field previously classified as tar, OPEC certified the South American nation of Venezuela as the controller of the world's grandest oil reserves. The Faja field is estimated to contain 220 billion barrels of crude, rocketing Venezuela's reserves to 297 billion barrels - close to 20 percent of the world's oil.

One man, Rafael Ramirez, is in charge of all that crude and, as such, should probably be considered one of the most powerful figures in the world. As the nation's minister of energy, Ramirez credits Venezuela's world-leading oil reserve status to president Hugo Chavez, saying:

If President Chavez had not arrived to power, we would be out of Opec, the price of oil would have not recovered, and Venezuelan oil would be in the hands of privates.

At the ripe young age of 48, Ramirez is expected to hold his position as minister of energy for decades to come. Now you can say you knew him when.

Did you know Venezuela has the most oil? Meet the man in charge of it originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google using trikes and boats for Street View of the Amazon Rainforest

Eric Loveday — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., On Two Wheels, South/Latin America

Ever wonder what it's like to hike across the massive Amazon Rainforest, the most species-rich tract of land in the world? Well, wonder no more 'cause Google Street View will take you inside the tropical rainforest, which is shortlisted as one of the 7 Wonders of Nature by the New Seven Wonders of the World Foundation.

Capable of reaching remote areas where even the Paramount Marauder can't, Google trikes (and even some tricked-out boats) will begin mapping the byways of the Amazon River and roads in the area for Google Street View. Google has teamed with the Sustainable Amazon Foundation to promote awareness of one of the world's most stunning ecosystems.

The three-wheeled, human-powered trikes lug around 250 pounds of ballast in the form of a "mounted Street View camera and a specially decorated box containing image collecting gadgetry," says Google. All that extra heft requires a "super fit" rider, but what other practical way is there to get shots of some of the most remote areas in the world?

Collecting images will take time, but team leader of Street View in the Amazon, Karin Tuxen-Bettman, says, "Once all the images are uploaded to the Internet, we can share the local culture and beauty of the Amazon with anyone, anywhere in the world." And we'd bet that's worth the wait.

Google using trikes and boats for Street View of the Amazon Rainforest originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Petrobras to invest $2.5 billion to increase production of biodiesel, ethanol

Eric Loveday — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:05:00 EST

Filed under: Biodiesel, Ethanol, South/Latin America

Brazilian energy giant Petrobras, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Petrobras Biocombustível, will invest a massive $2.5 billion between 2011 and 2015 to increase production of biodiesel and ethanol. This hefty chunk of change is part of $4.1 billion Petrobras earmarked for its biofuels operations, which includes $1.3 billion for ethanol logistics and $300 million for biofuel research.

Increasing ethanol production will be Petrobras' priority, with $1.9 billion set aside for the sugar cane-based biofuel. Petrobras says that by 2015, its production of ethanol will hit an annual volume of 5.6 billion liters (1.5 billion gallons U.S.). Though that sounds substantial, it's predicted that 1.5 billion gallons will make up just 12 percent of Brazil's total ethanol production in 2015.

Petrobras to invest $2.5 billion to increase production of biodiesel, ethanol originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T3 Motion scores $110,000 Chilean electric vehicle order

Eric Loveday — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, South/Latin America

T3 Motion, makers of the Segway-ish T3 Series Electric Stand-up Vehicle (ESV), has partnered with Telestop Electronic Control Devices to distribute the ESV in Chile. Telestop, a major Chilean distributor of security and military devices, will sell the T3 ESV to police, military and security agencies throughout the country. T3 says it will ship the initial $111,000 order within the next sixty days. With this partnership, Chile joins Argentina as the second South American country to sell the T3 ESV.

The T3 ESV is specifically designed for use by security personnel. T3 says the ESV is known for its "ability to increase command presence, decrease CO2 emissions, turn on a dime and run on ten cents per day." Some of the ESV's notable features include its zero-degree turning radius,
its pair of on-board, rechargeable and easily swap-able batteries, its ability to hit speeds of up to 15 miles per hour and its 30-mile range.

[Source: T3 Motion]

Continue reading T3 Motion scores $110,000 Chilean electric vehicle order

T3 Motion scores $110,000 Chilean electric vehicle order originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Sugar cane shortage may force Brazil to cut ethanol mix from E25 to E18

Eric Loveday — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Ethanol, South/Latin America

A sugar cane shortage in April caused Brazil's ethanol prices to soar, rising 65 percent to $6.31 a gallon or more than double what it was the year before. Since Brazil blends its gasoline with a mandated 25 percent ethanol, the rising cost of the biofuel directly affects pump prices. Even though the U.S. stepped in to assist by shipping some 200 million liters (52.8 million gallons) of ethanol to Brazil, the biofuel shortage has continued to worsen in the South American nation.

Brazilian officials are now reportedly considering a reduction in the mandatory amount of ethanol mixed into gasoline. Brazil's agriculture minister, Wagner Rossi, has proposed slashing the ethanol content in gas from the current level of 25 percent down to 18 percent. This, according to Rossi, would ease the strain on sugar cane growers and limit Brazil's need for imported ethanol. A final decision on the move to E18 should come within the next couple of weeks.

[Source: Bloomberg | Image: cliff1006 - C.C. License 2.0]

Report: Sugar cane shortage may force Brazil to cut ethanol mix from E25 to E18 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 09 Jul 2011 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen Touareg TDI to embark on 14-day, 16,000-mile journey

Eric Loveday — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Volkswagen, North America, South/Latin America, USA

Renowned adventurer Rainer Zietlow will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the legendary Pan-American Highway by embarking on a two-week drive from Argentina to Alaska on the world's longest road. Crossing through portions of 14 countries and covering a distance of nearly 16,000 miles, Reiner, along with two co-pilots (Carlos Fernandez and Marius Biela), will put a modified 2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI to the test.

On June 29th, the trio will set off from Ushuaia, Argentina. Their goal is to drive the entire length of the Pan-American Highway in 14 days or less, finishing in Deadhorse, Alaska. Taking five-hour shifts, the trio will drive non-stop for 336 hours, testing the drivers' will as well as the Touareg's durability and the padding of the SUV's seats. As with all of his prior long-distance driving challenges, Zietlow will donate 10 Euro cents (14.2 cents U.S. at the current exchange rate) for each kilometer driven.

The entire 16,000-mile journey can be followed by clicking here. Once the trek begins tomorrow, that site will feature a map and live streaming video, as well as photos and blog posts to document the endurance challenge from start to finish.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen Touareg TDI to embark on 14-day, 16,000-mile journey

Volkswagen Touareg TDI to embark on 14-day, 16,000-mile journey originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shell, Cosan formalize creation of Razien sugarcane ethanol JV

Eric Loveday — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:09:00 EST

Filed under: Ethanol, South/Latin America

In one of the biggest biofuel deals to date, Shell, along with Cosan - one of the world's leading producers of sugarcane-based ethanol - has launched a multi-billion dollar joint venture (JV) to become a leading producer of the low-carbon biofuel. Named Raízen, this massive retail and commercial fuels company will operate out of Brazil and focus solely on ethanol made from Brazilian sugarcane.

By establishing a JV, Shell is combining its retail knowledge, global network and extensive research in advanced biofuels with Cosan's technical biofuel production know-how. Raízen will pump out 2 billion liter of ethanol a year.

According to Unica, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, Raízen's sugarcane-to-ethanol process is one of the most efficient in turning biomass into fuel. Unica says that Brazilian sugarcane yields 7,000 approximately liters of ethanol per hectare of sugarcane, compared to 3,800 liters per hectare of corn in the U.S. and 2,500 liters per hectare of wheat in Europe.

Under the JV, Shell - already a major distributor of sustainable biofuels - will venture into production for the first time. According to Shell, the deal with Cosan is a major step in its strategy of investing for selective growth in advanced biofuels.

[Source: Shell|Image: cliff1006 - C.C. License 2.0]

Continue reading Shell, Cosan formalize creation of Razien sugarcane ethanol JV

Shell, Cosan formalize creation of Razien sugarcane ethanol JV originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Petrobras to invest $400M in advanced biofuel research, development

Eric Loveday — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Biodiesel, Ethanol, South/Latin America

Brazilian energy company Petrobras has set aside nearly $400 million for research and development related to advanced biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol and aviation fuels. According to Petrobras Biocombustível's head of technology management, João Norberto Noschang Neto, the energy giant's 2010 to 2014 business plan calls for a deep dive into biofuels and, as Neto indicated:

We are using a number of approaches in our research, including the reuse of glycerin, rejuvenation of mature fields, and even cellulosic ethanol and aviation biofuel development.

Neto says that Petrobras is already conducting experiments with the goal of exploiting microalgae as a feedstock for biofuels. In the coming years, the Brazilian firm will prioritize the development of second-generation biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol produced from cane bagasse. Petrobras says that its target is to at least double its biofuel output within the next four years. Now that's a remarkable goal.

[Source: Green Car Congress | Image: Agência Brasil - Wikimedia Commons]

Petrobras to invest $400M in advanced biofuel research, development originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cuba shows interest in hydrogen vehicle technology

Eric Loveday — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:51:00 EST

Filed under: Hydrogen, South/Latin America

Cuba may be where the cars of the past survive today, but it's also a place that's interested in the fuel of the future. According to Tania Carbonel Morales, director at the Center for Studies on Renewable Energy Technologies (CETER), hydrogen is being studied on the island nation as an alternative energy source for vehicles. During the 7th International Conference of Renewable Energy, Energy Saving and Education, Morales said that students at the Jose Antonio Echevarria Higher Polytechnic Institute are actively studying ways to use hydrogen in the transportation sector.

Carbonel Morales says that Cuba's National Hydrogen Group is currently conducting pilot tests using hydrogen as a fuel source for ground-based transportation. Faced with the gradual exhaustion of fossil fuels, Morales says that hydrogen could some day revolutionize the transportation industry. Meanwhile, CETER indicates that hydrogen has been successfully implemented and thoroughly tested in the transportation of students in the Spanish city of Aragon.

[Source: Radio Cadena Agramonte | Image: Romtomtom - C.C. License 2.0]

Cuba shows interest in hydrogen vehicle technology originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is it really possible to have consumers pick which fuel technologies will win?

Richard Canny — Wed, 18 May 2011 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Ethanol, EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Legislation and Policy, Europe/EU, South/Latin America, USA

Markets are great - but the true costs of our fuel choices are not reflected in the price

There an argument that is often repeated, and sounds pretty logical when you first hear it: we should let consumers pick which fuel technologies win, thus letting the market do its work. President Obama's recent announcement on a Clean Fleet Partnership promoted a flurry of stories and editorials arguing this exact point.

In the auto industry, the reasoning continues: set the fuel economy targets, encourage the auto makers to compete and let innovation be the factor that separates the winners from the losers. The problem is that this over-simplistic view assumes that markets correctly price the total cost of each fuel that consumers might choose. Unfortunately, markets don't.

In today's world of transportation fuel choices, we're seeing a growing proliferation of alternatives, with each of those choices having consumer economics and societal economics that are dramatically different. Our markets and present transportation policies just aren't sophisticated enough to price in the direct and negative indirect costs of each of these choices.

Let's take corn ethanol. Certainly, second-generation biofuels have great potential as automotive fuels. But they've been "just around the corner" for years now and may stay that way for a long time. When I lived in Brazil running Ford's South American operations, I was a strong advocate for the sugar cane-derived ethanol that was used in the flex-fuel cars that have become pretty much standard in that country. But ethanol derived from corn is drastically inferior to sugar cane ethanol - and its overall carbon efficiency is neutral at best and negative at worst. It can take more energy to produce a gallon of corn ethanol than the energy you get back from it. Continue reading...

[Image: ToastyKen - C.C. License 2.0]

Continue reading Is it really possible to have consumers pick which fuel technologies will win?

Is it really possible to have consumers pick which fuel technologies will win? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 18 May 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brazil reducing mandatory ethanol blend from 25 to 18 percent

Eric Loveday — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Ethanol, South/Latin America

Fueling station in Sao Paulo, Brazil

With Brazil's ethanol prices soaring to new highs, the nation's government has put forth a policy to reduce the mandatory ethanol blend in gasoline to as low as 18 percent. Until now, all gasoline sold in Brazil had to be at least 25 percent ethanol. With ethanol now in short supply, the government has decided to take action.

The ethanol limit, which was outlined in an executive measure published in late April, goes into effect immediately. Although the measure is not directly related to sugar, a change in Brazil's ethanol policy could potentially impact production of the sweetener because the nation relies upon sugarcane for its ethanol.

Surging ethanol prices over the past couple of months, due mainly to a limited sugarcane harvest, led authorities to take immediate action. Brazil's energy minister, Edison Lobao, says that, although ethanol prices have started to drop, the government will still move forward with plans to reduce its mandatory ethanol blend in gas.

[Source: Ward's Auto - sub. req. | Image: Mariordo - C.C. License 2.0]

Brazil reducing mandatory ethanol blend from 25 to 18 percent originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 09 May 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ethanol shortage in Brazil causing prices to soar

Eric Loveday — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: Ethanol, South/Latin America

Brazil's ethanol prices have soared to levels rarely seen, rising 65 percent over last month's prices and hitting $6.31 a gallon, more than double the amount the biofuel was selling for during this same time last year. Since Brazil blends its gasoline with a mandated 25 percent ethanol, the rising cost of the biofuel can significantly affect pump prices.

Brazil's ethanol supply tightened significantly in the first quarter of 2011, following the end of the sugarcane harvest last December. Ethanol prices are not expected to drop until mid-May, when supply from Brazil's current sugarcane harvest begins to enter the market.

So, in stepped the U.S. Sources say that some 200 million liters (52.8 million gallons) of ethanol exported from the U.S. arrived in Brazil recently. U.S. shipments of the biofuel could put a cap on the upward price trend of ethanol in Brazil, but the South American nation does not expect that imports will drive down prices.

[Source: ICIS | Image: cliff1006 - C.C. License 2.0]

Ethanol shortage in Brazil causing prices to soar originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brazil's Petrobras told to pump up ethanol production immediately

Eric Loveday — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:12:00 EST

Filed under: Ethanol, South/Latin America

Brazilian energy giant Petrobras expects demand for biofuels to soar within the next decade and will spend $3.5 billion over the next four years to at least double its biofuel output. However, Brazil's mines and energy minister Edison Lobao told Petrobras (a company that's partially owned by the Brazilian government) that, effective immediately, it will need to produce more ethanol. In a television interview, Lobao said:

Petrobras will now produce ethanol more intensively in order to be the regulator of this market. I asked Petrobras President Jose Sergio Gabrielli to do this two days ago.

Labao's words come amid a surge in ethanol prices due to an inter-harvest shortage of sugarcane, the raw material used to produce the biofuel. Additionally, a bump in global sugar prices convinced many mills to produce the sweetener instead of ethanol. Like it or not, Petrobras will produce enough of the biofuel to avoid shortages during the inter-harvest season, says Labao.

[Source: Reuters | Image: Agência Brasil - Wikimedia Commons]

Brazil's Petrobras told to pump up ethanol production immediately originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brazil imports record amount of ethanol in 1st quarter; almost all from U.S.

Eric Loveday — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:08:00 EST

Filed under: Ethanol, South/Latin America, USA

President Obama visits Brazil

Brazil, the world's ethanol superpower, has had to import unprecedented volumes of the biofuel from December of 2010 through March of 2011. Due to a culmination of factors - an insufficient 2010 harvest, weak expectations for the 2011 growing season and booming domestic demand - Brazil imported an estimated 80 to 200 million liters (21.1 to 52.9 million gallons) of ethanol during the first quarter of 2011. According to some sources, this is only the second time that Brazil's has resorted to importing the biofuel, with the first being in 2009 when Brazil's harvest was devastated by heavy rains.

So, where's Brazil getting all of this ethanol from? The United States. According to Platts, almost all of Brazil's imports were U.S. corn-based ethanol, as prices were deemed to be the world's most competitive. Perhaps coincidentally, President Obama timed his recent trip to Brazil with the height of the South American nation's need for U.S.-produced ethanol.

[Source: Platts | Image: White House]

Brazil imports record amount of ethanol in 1st quarter; almost all from U.S. originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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President Obama highlights ethanol ties during Brazil trip

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Ethanol, Legislation and Policy, South/Latin America, USA

President Obama visits Brazil

UNICA, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, often has a thing or two to say about the federal ethanol policy in the U.S. During President Obama's still-ongoing five-day trip to Latin America - which included a stop in Brazil - the group took note of two "important announcements involving renewable energy."

The first was the expansion of the 2007 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that Brazil and the U.S. signed to cooperate on biofuels, including that used for aviation. Speaking in Barzilia, Obama said:

The only long-term solution to the world's dependence on fossil fuels is clean energy technology, and that is why the United States and Brazil are deepening our cooperation on biofuels, and why we're launching a U.S.-Brazil Green Economy Partnership. Because we know that the development of clean energy is one of the best ways to create new jobs and industries in both our nations.

UNICA also approved of the launch of a "Strategic Energy Dialogue that involves development and access to Brazil's huge new petroleum reserves, but will also deal directly with clean energy technologies."

Some argue that Obama could have - should have, even - stayed home and taken care of the ethanol business from D.C. while dealing with issues like the Lybian conflict, there were good reasons for going, and we may see small changes to the status quo between the U.S. and the latest emerged power in the future.

[Source: UNICA | Photo: White House]

Continue reading President Obama highlights ethanol ties during Brazil trip

President Obama highlights ethanol ties during Brazil trip originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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