New Solutions to Old Problems

Research Confirms Benefits of High Blends

The results of a Minnesota State University-Mankato and University of Minnesota study confirmed what the recent "Optimal Ethanol Blend-Level Investigation" found, that higher blends of ethanol are practical in today's vehicle fleet.

The research unveiled that E20 presents no materials compatibility issues for current vehicles or fuel dispensing equipment.

This corroborates the results of the "optimal blend" study, released in December, which found that blends of ethanol beyond 10 percent perform well in standard, non-flex-fuel vehicles.

That research also found the conventional wisdom about ethanol's BTU-content mileage penalty to be unfounded.

Not only did the ethanol blends of E20 and E30 perform much better than predicted on an energy-content basis, but in three of the four vehicles tested, these mid-range blends actually offered increased fuel economy over straight gasoline.

Bush Names Biodiesel Most Promising Fuel

At the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference, (WIREC) President Bush called biodiesel the most promising renewable fuel for helping to meet renewable fuels standards.

President Bush said he is confident that biodiesel will help supply the United States with 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel by the year 2022, which is mandatory under the renewable fuels standard.

"Last year, we produced 450 million gallons of biodiesel. That's up 80 percent from 2006. Today there are more than 650 biodiesel fueling stations in America. There are hundreds of fleet operators that use biodiesel to fuel their trucks, and that's just the beginning of what is going to be a substantial change in our driving habits," said President Bush.

EPIC Announces New Executive Director

The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) has named Toni Nuernberg as the new executive director. She will provide new leadership for EPIC members, the industry and mission to promote the benefits of ethanol through education and promotional programs.

"I'm honored to serve as EPIC's executive director, and I'm excited to begin working for a group that is so dedicated and knowledgeable about the ethanol industry—and its mission to bring more ethanol to consumers across the country," said Nuernberg.

Biofuel Events

April 14-15, 2008
Low Carbon Fuels Expo
Sacramento Convention Center
Sacramento, CA
www.lowcarbonfuelsexpo.com
(800) 993-0302

April 15-17, 2008
International Biomass 08 Conference & Trade Show
Minneapolis Convention Center
Minneapolis, MN
www.biomassconference.com
(605) 226-9058

April 21-24, 2008
USDA BioPreferred Showcase and Training
Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, CA
http://expo.gsa.gov/

May 7-8, 2008
Advanced Biofuels Emerging Technologies & Commercial Development
Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CA
www.platts.com
(781) 430-2118

May 14-16, 2008
Optimizing Ethanol Plants
The Millennium Hotel
Minneapolis, MN
www.infocastinc.com/ethanol
(818) 888-4444

May 21-22, 2008
Distillers Grains Symposium
Westin Crown Center, Kansas City, MO
www.distillersgrains.org/symposium
(800) 759-3448

June 16-19, 2008
2008 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville, TN
www.fuelethanolworkshop.com
(800) 258-6094