DES MOINES – Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, agriculture Sec. Bill Northey and DOT Director Paul Trombino this week announced a new biofuels pilot program called “Fueling Our Future,” a public-private partnership that aims to assist in expanding the market for mid-level biofuels blends, building on Iowa’s history as a leader in ethanol and biodiesel development and production.
Through the use of current funding, this initiative will redirect federal funds to further leverage state dollars in the existing renewable fuel infrastructure program, establishing more blender pumps containing E-30 and biodiesel at gas retailers around the state.
“This pilot program will provide Iowans with additional access to higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel, which will help our farmers, communities and economy in producing, processing and profiting locally,” said Branstad.
Iowa State University will work closely on this initiative to evaluate consumer perceptions and the impact of increased assess to mid-level biofuels blending options, including impacts on improved air quality.
“Iowa’s success in biofuels is due to our abundant natural resources, the hard work that goes into its production, and the choice that consumers make in supporting locally-produced and renewable biofuels,” said Reynolds. “I look forward to the installation of these new mid-level blender pumps at locations around Iowa next spring and am hopeful that neighboring states will take a similar approach.”
The Fueling Our Future program will be supported by the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Department of Transportation, Iowa State University and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board.
“This initiative is a great example of coordination and collaboration between the DOT and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship,” said Trombino. “Better leveraging resources from a variety of stakeholders in this public-private partnership will help increase market access to biofuels for Iowa consumers and further diversify our energy portfolio.”
Northey highlighted the value-added component.
“Iowa has a robust biofuels industry that is an important value-add to our state’s agricultural sector,” said Northey. “Bolstering biofuels infrastructure will help Iowa consumers and farmers through increased access to these renewable fuels that are produced right here in Iowa.”
More information on the program can be found here.
EPA has already said that E15 is hard on your engine. Ford Motors said that they will not warrant their engines if you use more than E10. EPA has already made a ruling that we will not be going to E15 because of engine damage. A couple of thing to ponder, Ethanol has 76,000 BTU’s, a gallon of gas is 129,000 BTU’s. Your mileage will go down in proportion to the amount of Ethanol. My experience is this, no Ethanol 43 miles per gallon, E10 38 miles per gallon, E15 34 to 36 miles per gallon. Enough said.
@just saying-On top of what you just explained (good job) there was a news article today that the small engine people put out saying that none of the small engines in your garden tractor. lawn mower, leaf blower, snow blower or boat motors or any of the thousands and thousands of small engines that have been manufactured and sold are designed to run on anything with a higher content than E10. If you run E15 your motor will overheat and blow up.
Mr. Liberty is pleased that there are still some intelligent people out there unfortunately very few are in office.
State politicans (most are teachers and farmers – or own farm land – What group of people are getting rich the last ten years?
Why should our tax money go to subsidize a fuel that 90% of the vehicles on the road can not burn? Also, they bitch about how we are running out of water but each and every gallon of E15 and E30 uses 20 gallons of fresh, good water. Why in the hell would any sane person want to do this??
“Also, they bitch about how we are running out of water but each and every gallon of E15 and E30 uses 20 gallons of fresh, good water.”
Not true, 3 gallons of water are required to produce 1 gallon of Ethanol. That 1 gallon of Ethanol would be blended with 5.66 gallons of Gasoline to produce E15. The 5.66 gallons of gasoline would require an additional 11.3 to 14.2 gallons of water. For a grand total of 14.3 to 17.2 allons of water for 6.66 gallons of E15 or 2.2 to 2.6 gallons of water per gallon of E-15.
Of course you’ll want to add the “water cost” to grow the corn, but than you should also take into account the by-products of Ethanol production: Corn Oil, DDG, MDDG.
@Joao-strange, every report I have ever seen says it takes 20 gallons of water to make one gallon of gasohol. That does include the water to grow the corn of course. It does not include the lost value of burning food that could be used to feed some very hungry people around the world.
“It does not include the lost value of burning food that could be used to feed some very hungry people around the world.”
By the “starving children” claim, why are we feeding our grains to pigs/cows/chickens? Converting grain to meat is a far more wasteful use of grain. Ethanol only removes 20% of the corn from our feed line, MDDG and DDG are fed to cattle, pigs etc.
@Joao-You don’t think we feed pigs and cattle to hungry people?? You don’t think raising the price of corn by more than $2.00 a bushel affects the cost of bread, milk, meat and other food products. Why do you think so many people are on food stamps? It is because they can’t afford to pay for it. I’ll bet you are one of those rich farmers who are making a fortune off the inflated prices while all the time collecting subsidies and while millions of people here in the U.S. and around the world go hungry.
Zing . . right to defense, name calling mode.
If you are going to bring up “all the starving lil’ children in Africa” I WILL bring up the useless and wasteful use of corn to fed pig/cattle/chicken as a method to feed the “starving lil’ children in Africa”. It is a huge waste, and a waste of good pure water to do so. Cut out the middle pig/cow/chicken and you could feed the corn directly to them.
And FYI I do not profit from the sale of or purchase of any agricultural product. Well maybe through a 401K.
@Joao-You sure are defensive. Do you feel guilty because you know you are wrong again. It must really be hard on you to keep on lying all the time. Just where did I mention kids or for that matter Africa. They are you words, not mine.
@Joao-And, since when is saying someone might be a farmer calling someone names? Must be terrible to be so paranoid like that.
“I’ll bet you are one of those rich farmers who are making a fortune off the inflated prices while all the time collecting subsidies”
Not a “farmer” but one of those “rich”, “making a fortune”, “off inflated prices”, and “while collecting subsidies”. Not a slur, r-r-r-right.
“and while millions of people here in the U.S. and around the world go hungry.” I do believe that people includes “all the starving lil’ children. And that the world also includes the continent as well as the country we call Africa.
Be a man for once own, up that you didn’t want to continue an intelligent discourse.
@Dumb Butt like you wouldn’t know intelligence if it bit you. Don’t try to put words in your betters mouth’s.
Still nothing but insults?
Only for those that deserve them.
AND WE GET: Higher fuel prices!
Higher food prices!
Higher taxes!
Branstad is an idiot!
The Democrats are idiots that are voting for this BS!!
The Republicans are idiots that are voting for this BS!
The people that elect these idiots are idiots!
Wake up!!!
Yes an corrupt idiot like many of the people I find in leadership around this state. They have no clue how to benifit from the fact that Iowa is a farming state. They are quick fix artist they coming get rich then get run-out of office when every one discovers that they are corrupt idiots just taking us for a ride. They use political office to enrich themselves. we need new leadership ones that know the value of the resources that we have and are willing to craft a plan that will benefit all Iowans and our future generations. It is possible to create such a plan and implement it however Iowas have jokers to right and clowns to the left and we are stuck in the middle.
All subsidized by the private sector hard working people – government handout and more control of the sheeple.