Political Odd Couple to Highlight Ethanol Conference

America’s most well-known political odd couple will be the keynote speakers for the 2011 National Ethanol Conference, February 20-22 in Phoenix.

According to the Renewable Fuels Association, James Carville and Mary Matalin will “present an enlightening and entertaining look at today’s most important political issues and a behind-the-scenes look at how the outcome of the 2010 Congressional elections will affect Congress and the 2012 Presidential campaign.”

Co-authors of the national best seller All’s Fair: Love, War, and Running for President, Matalin and Carville are key players on the national political stage—they each have over 30 years of experience in politics and have worked for every president over the last three decades. They combine their unique experiences to provide audiences with a stimulating, candid and provocative conversation from both sides of the political aisle.

The theme of the 2011 conference is “Building Bridges to a More Sustainable Future” and there is lots more on the agenda for the premier education and networking opportunity for the ethanol industry. Information on the full agenda, registration and sponsorship opportunities is available on-line.

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Ethanol Industry Files Against California LCFS

The ethanol industry is proceeding with its lawsuit against the state of California over a rule that they claim would shut corn ethanol out of that state.

Late yesterday, the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy filed papers in U.S. District Court in California asking the federal court to declare that California’s low carbon fuels standard (LCFS) violates the U.S Constitution.

The groups filed their suit on December 24, 2009. On June 16, the federal court overruled a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, permitting the ethanol groups to proceed with their claims.

The two groups issued a joint statement on the filing. “With these papers filed in federal court, the ethanol industry is seeking a preliminary injunction, as well as summary judgment, to halt implementation of the regulation. Our argument is that the regulation as written is unconstitutional and injurious to the domestic ethanol industry, and we don’t believe a full trial is needed to decide that.”

A hearing on the motions is scheduled for February 23, 2011.

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Biofuels Journal Ethanol Workshop A Success

The third annual BioFuels Journal Commercial Ethanol Technology and Research Workshop, in partnership with the American Coalition for Ethanol, was a success with nearly 100 attendees coming to St. Joseph, Missouri. This workshop is unique in that it focuses on bolt-ons for existing ethanol plants and new technologies for advanced biofuels. According to Myke Feinman, Publisher of BioFuels Journal, the audience was very positive, especially as they learned that advanced biofuels are here now, not five years down the road. This spurred a lot of conversation on how to get banks to free up financing for plants to invest in the new technologies.

Feinman said one of the most exiting presentations was delivered by Doug Rivers, Director of Research and Development for ICM, Inc. Rivers spoke about ICM’s Total Kernel Optimization Program and reflected on the potential for corn dry grind plants to utilize the fiber in corn as an additional feedstock for cellulosic ethanol right at the plants.

The technology is featured in LifeLine Foods’ fractionation plant, based in St. Joseph, Missouri, and is one of only five dry grind ethanol plants currently operating in the U.S. Attendees were able to tour the plant as part of the workshop.

In addition, Feinman said economist John Urbanchuk gave a very well-recieved talk on the economics of ethanol and how it positively impacts the economy, such as adding millions of dollars. He pointed out that rural communities with ethanol plants are prospering, not because of the 40 to 50 jobs it created, but because of the additional market for the farmers corn and all the additional dollars pumped into the community by the plant and its connected businesses.

For those who missed the workshop, you can access the speakers’ presentations on BioFuels Journal’s website. and Feinman said they will be hosting their next workshop in the fall of 2011.

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