Ethanol Week - February 20, 2012

Billion gallons U.S. ethanol exported, Brazil top destination A total of 1.19 billion gallons of U.S. ethanol was shipped out in 2011, with one-third going to Brazil, this year's No. 1 importer of U.S. ethanol. All in all, it was a huge year for U.S. ethanol exports. READ MORE SHARE
EPA approves study on E15 health effects, emissions The U.S. ethanol industry came one step closer today to seeing low-cost, renewable E15 sold into the American fuels marketplace with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's evaluation of the health effects of E15. READ MORE SHARE
	Industry urges EPA to dismiss oil's cellulosic RFS waiver request Representatives and supporters of the cellulosic biofuels industry filed a series of letters with the U.S. EPA on Feb. 16 pushing back against petroleum refiners who requested the agency waive 2011 cellulosic biofuel obligations. READ MORE SHARE
Engineering to begin on Greenfield, Enerkem MSW-to-ethanol plant Greenfield Ethanol Inc. has teamed with Enerkem Inc. to establish a 10 MMgy cellulosic ethanol facility at the site of Greenfield's existing 120 million liter per year (about 31 MMgy) corn ethanol plant in Varennes, Quèbec. READ MORE SHARE
Vilsack joins other big name speakers at RFA's annual conference Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is the headline speaker at the upcoming National Ethanol Conference, Feb. 22-24 in Orlando Florida. Other featured speakers include White House insiders Karl Rove and Robert Gibbs. READ MORE SHARE
Senate ag committee hearing focuses on Farm Bill energy programs Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and bioenergy stakeholders testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry about the importance of the Farm Bill's energy programs during a Feb. 15 hearing. READ MORE SHARE
DOE increases funding request for biomass, biorefinery activities The U.S. DOE released information detailing Obama's $27.2 billion budget requested for the department. Nearly $2.34 billion, or 8.61 percent of the total budget, would support energy efficiency and renewable energy activities and projects. READ MORE SHARE
NAFTC seeks hosts for biennial alternative fuels education event The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium is seeking hosts for the next National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day Odyssey, a biennial nationwide event, set for Oct. 18, to promote alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. READ MORE SHARE
Senior DOE official visits Novozyme's biofuels enzyme plant A dedicated biofuels enzyme plant under construction for Novozymes North America in Blair, Neb., was visited by U.S. DOE Senior Advisor Peter Gage on Feb. 10. READ MORE SHARE
Illinois River, Pinal Energy slow down their production rates Illinois River Energy LLC, a 110 MMgy plant located in Rochelle, Ill., is reducing its February output by about 7 percent and Pinal Energy LLC, a 50 MMgy ethanol plant in Maricopa, Ariz., has slowed down production to about 90 percent of capacity. READ MORE SHARE
Environmentalists withdraw, poultry/meat RFS challenge heard While environmental groups withdrew their broader challenge, poultry/meat association objections to the RFS are being heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals. READ MORE SHARE