National Poll: Biofuels Most Acceptable Way to Achieve Energy Independence

Omaha, Neb. (November 12, 2008) – Biofuels top the list as the most acceptable avenue to long term energy security in the nation, according to a national consumer survey commissioned by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC). EPIC Executive Director Toni Nuernberg said they interviewed over 1,000 consumers nationwide for the survey. “About 73 percent of them responded that they want to see domestically produced biofuels such as ethanol to replace oil,” she said. In addition, 62 percent of the consumers surveyed cited conservation as a solution to long-term energy independence, 58 percent favored increased domestic drilling, 55 percent support mandated manufacturing of environmentally friendly vehicles and 24 percent cited drilling in environmentally friendly…

EPIC and South Dakota Corn Utilization Council Announce Blender Pump Program

Sioux Falls, SD. (May 1, 2008 – AgNewsWire) – South Dakota is poised to lead the nation in raising public awareness for higher blends of ethanol with a new blender pump initiative announced Thursday. Through a partnership between the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) and the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council (SDCUC), the initiative will help gas station retailers obtain funding and the equipment needed to sell blends of ethanol ranging from 20 to 40 percent to be used in flex-fuel vehicles. According to EPIC Director of Operations Robert White, South Dakota is the perfect place to launch this new program. “South Dakota is where the blender pump movement started and we are happy…

Make it Ethanol for Earth Day

Omaha, Neb., (April 22, 2008 – AgNewsWire) – If every car in America would use a ten percent blend of ethanol for one week, the amount of greenhouse gases produced in the U.S. would be reduced by nearly 1.3 billion pounds. That is according to calculations done by life sciences researcher Nathan Danielson, president of BioCognito. “What we did was take some fairly complex modeling that was done by Argonne National Laboratory and distill it down to where it would mean something to the average consumer,” said Danielson. “We considered if you took E-10, E-85 and cellulosic ethanol and put it in a typical gas tank, what would the impact on the environment be.” Assuming…

Green Racing Showcased in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, Fla. (April 4, 2008 – AgNewsWire) – St. Petersburg, Florida will be the site of the greenest racing event in history April 5-6 when both the IndyCar Series and the American Le Mans Series will compete on the streets in the Honda Grand Prix and Acura Sports Car Challenge. This is the second year that the IndyCar Series is racing on 100 percent ethanol and the first year the American Le Mans Series is offering cellulosic E85 racing ethanol to its teams. Doug Robinson, executive director of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), which is the sanctioning body of the American Le Mans Series, says allowing the use of 85 percent cellulosic ethanol…

EPIC Hires New Executive Director

Omaha, Neb. (March 4, 2008 – AgNewsWire) – The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) has a new executive director. She is Toni Nuernberg, who comes to EPIC from ACA International in Minneapolis where she worked for 29 years, the last 12 as Chief Operating Officer of ACA International Holding Company Inc. and its for-profit subsidiaries. Nuernberg says when she decided to make a career move she was looking for an exciting new industry with lots of potential. “Clearly the ethanol industry is that and so much more,” she says. “The thing that struck me about it was that every person that I talked with about this position from the CEOs of the member organizations…

Cellulosic Ethanol to Premiere at Sebring

Sebring, Fla. (January 29, 2008 – AgNewsWire) – In a technological breakthrough for both renewable fuels and racing, cellulosic ethanol will be used for the first time in motor sports this year, paving the way for eventual consumer use of the biofuel. KL Process Design Group (KL) of Rapid City, SD, will supply the American Le Mans Series with cellulosic E85 racing ethanol for the 2008 season. The fuel, produced from waste wood, will be used for the first time during the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 15. Corvette Racing will be the first team to use the cellulosic-based flex-fuel ethanol in competition. Through the marketing partnership with the Ethanol Promotion and…

Ethanol Report Takes a Look Ahead for 2008

Attached is an audio interview with Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen on the outlook for ethanol in the coming year. Dinneen talks about what the impact of the energy bill will be this year, what legislation might be considered this year that could affect the industry, and what the presidential election could mean for ethanol. Full Release

EPIC Responds to Record Oil Prices

Omaha, NE – January 2, 2008 (AgNewsWire) – While ethanol detractors continue to spend millions mounting a smear campaign against alternative fuels, consumers bear the brunt of the economic pain as oil prices trade above the $100.00 a barrel mark. Record oil prices translate into record profits for the petroleum industry. The impact upon the economy is being felt in many business sectors. Motorists struggle with gas prices that are 85 cents higher a gallon than a year ago, and record heating oil prices present tough choices for many homeowners. Family budgets are stretched thin. American consumers continue to be powerless as they endure rising energy costs and frequent supply shortages. America’s foreign oil bill…

Florida Prepares for Alternative Fuels Leadership Role

St. Petersburg, FL – (July 24, 2007) (AgNewsWire) Florida stands ready to become a leader in both the production and consumption of biofuels, including ethanol. At the second annual Florida Farm to Fuel Summit in St. Petersburg, it was evident that major government leaders, including Governor Charlie Crist, are excited about the potential for ethanol in the Sunshine State. “This has become a movement,” Crist told the conference on Thursday. “It’s finally registered with everybody that this is something that is not only good for our environment, it’s good for our country, it’s a national security issue, it gets us off foreign oil – it is simply the right thing to do for America.” Full…

Summit on Energy Security Brings Together Diverse Group

Washington, DC. – July 14, 2007 (AgNewsWire) – “National Security and America’s Addiction to Carbon: Solutions to Oil Dependence and Climate Change” was the theme of the 2nd Annual National Summit on Energy Security held in Washington DC on Thursday, organized by 2020 Vision. “The purpose of the summit this year was to show how America’s dependence on oil and global climate change are really inter-related issues that stem from similar problems,” said Tom Collina, executive director of 2020 Vision. “Both have national security implications and both have common solutions that we can address without delay.” Collina says one of the primary solutions is ethanol. “There’s no one solution to our energy security challenges,” said…

Gasoline Supply Impacted by Mother Nature

Omaha, Neb. – July 11, 2007 (AgNewsWire) – Midwest consumers are experiencing sticker shock at the gas pump. Since July 1, gas prices have increased on average of more than 40 cents due in part to diminished refining capacity. Flooding and lightening related fire incidences have closed refineries in certain parts of the nation. “If these shortages persist, my fuel stations could run low on fuel supplies,” said Gary Wright, vice president of Wright Oil, Inc., based in Central South Kansas, while waiting in line for several hours to refill his supply tanker. “My current gasoline price is $3.36 but my eighty-five percent ethanol-blend is selling for $2.80 per gallon. With the number of ethanol…

Green Grand Prix Showcases Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Watkins Glen, N.Y. – (July 10, 2007) (AgNewsWire) The scenic community of Watkins Glen, New York once again played host to the Green Grand Prix on July 6 as hybrid and alternative fueled vehicles highlighted energy independence and a cleaner environment. The Green Grand Prix features a road rally held on a 78-mile course around the perimeter of beautiful Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The event is organized annually by the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association, according to Executive Director Carol Fitzgerald. “This was our third annual Green Grand Prix and it was tremendously successful,” said Fitzgerald. “The goal of the event was to be able to create more…

Chicago Board of Trade Honors Greening of Racing

Chicago, Ill. – (May 14, 2007) (AgNewsWire) The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) on Monday hosted Team Ethanol Driver Jeff Simmons and his 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol race car in a tribute to the “Greening of Racing” and a salute to the IndyCar® Series. “Ethanol is sharing the track with a great American past time,” said Chicago Board of Trade Chairman Charlie Carey. “For the first time a renewable fuel will power a vehicle past the checkered flag at the Indy 500. Congratulations to the IndyCar Series.” CBOT Executive Vice-President for Marketing and Business Development Chris Malo noted that the commodity exchange created ethanol contracts as a price discovery tool for the industry. “When we…

Indy Car Races up the Hill

Washington DC – (March 21, 2007)(AgNewsWire) Indiana Senators Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh joined with members of the ethanol industry and the Team Ethanol IndyCar and driver outside the Senate Building on National Agriculture Day to mark the use of 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol in the IndyCar Series starting this weekend. Representatives from the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) coordinated the event, which received a high level of media attention. EPIC Executive Director Tom Slunecka said several other lawmakers in addition to Sens. Lugar and Bayh attended the event as well. “Lawmakers understand that ethanol is bringing a change in this country,” said Slunecka. “Our dependence on foreign…

Branding Program Gains Momentum

Tampa, Florida (March 2, 2007) (AgNewsWire) The ethanol industry is making progress towards the goal of helping consumers readily identify ethanol-enhanced fuel at the pump no matter where they are in the country. Seven states have now officially approved labels that incorporate the “e” brand to mark pumps that dispense E10, or ten percent ethanol fuel, according to the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC). Those states are Kansas, Michigan, Illinois, South Dakota, Nebraska, Arkansas and Ohio. EPIC is spreading the good news this week to corn growers meeting this week in Tampa, Florida at the 2007 Commodity Classic. EPIC Director of Operations Robert White said they are pleased with the progress made in just…