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Legislative Update

USDA Releases Corn-Ethanol Industry Report Showing Improving Energy
Efficiency
June 22, 2010

USDA’s Chief Economist Joseph Glauber yesterday announced the publication of a report by the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses that surveyed corn growers for the year 2005 and ethanol plants in 2008, which indicates the net energy gain from converting corn to ethanol is improving in efficiency. The survey asked ethanol producers to respond to questions about ethanol yield (undenatured) per bushel of corn and energy used in the plants. The 2008 updates presented in the report recorded the effects of current practices used by corn producers and ethanol processors.

This report measures all conventional fossil fuel energy used in the production of 1 gallon of corn ethanol. For every British Thermal Unit (BTU) unit of energy required to make ethanol, 2.3 BTUs of energy are produced. The ratio is somewhat higher for some firms that are partially substituting biomass energy in processing energy. Since the last study in 2004, the net energy balance of corn ethanol has increased from 1.76 BTUs to 2.3 BTUs of required energy.

According to the report, overall, ethanol has made the transition from an energy sink, to a moderate net energy gain in the 1990s, to a substantial net energy gain in the present. And there are still prospects for improvement. Ethanol yields have increased by about 10 percent in the last 20 years, so proportionately less corn is required. In addition to refinements in ethanol technology, corn yields have increased by 39 percent over the last 20 years, requiring less land to produce ethanol.

KAEP Members Voice Concern on EPA's Delay

June 21, 2010

Several KAEP members including Chairman Steve McNinch with Western Plains Energy, have contacted our Kansas Congressional delegation voicing concern over the EPA's delay in approving E15. Senator Brownback's chief of staff expressed disappointment as well and promised the Senator will continue to fight for this issue.

According to an EPA statement, the Department of Energy is still conducting testing on cars to see how they run on a 15 percent ethanol blend. However, Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis sent a letter to President Obama outlining his concerns with the delay and suggests Obama direct federal agencies involved in the testing to wrap up their work and issue a decision.

"As you would expect, we find this further delay unacceptable," Buis said. "The fact that the federal agencies involved here cannot meet their own deadlines - on a decision that means so much to our nation - reinforces a public perception that government bureaucracy does not work in the best interests of the public."

Several other organizations including the Renewable Fuels Association and the National Corn Growers Association have also issued statements of disappointment in EPA's delay.

KAEP Supports Agriculture Education in Kansas

June 21, 2010

KAEP has agreed to sponsor a golf hole at the Kansas FFA Foundation and Kansas Association of Agricultural Educators Blue & Gold Golf Scramble on Sunday, August 1 in Spring Hill. Sponsorship dollars and proceeds from the tournament will be used to develop seasoned instructor training sessions for 165 agricultural education programs in Kansas.

KAEP will be recognized with our logo at a sponsored hole, recognition in all promotional materials and in press releases.

K-State Professor to Serve on Prestigious UN Climate Panel

June 21, 2010

Kansas State University's Chuck Rice, university distinguished professor of agronomy, has been selected again to join other leading international scientists as part of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Rice has been chosen to become one of just two lead authors from the U.S. for the chapter on agriculture in the panel's upcoming Fifth Assessment Report on Climate Change. Read More.

KAEP Supports MGA Letter for Pipeline Construction

June 3, 2010

The Midwestern Governor's Association (MGA) sent a letter to members of congress expressing its support of efforts to establish a dedicated ethanol pipeline within the next year. The KAEP was one of the states to support a sign-on letter to be sent from MGA Chairman Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio.

Bioenergy Program Open for 2010 Applications

May 12, 2010

The Rural Development Agency is now accepting applications for the 9005 program from May 6, 2010 through July 6, 2010. Click here for the federal register.

Kansas Ethanol Supporters Welcomed to Nation’s Capital
April 19, 2010

Growth Energy, the coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters, today welcomed a delegation of 11 Kansas ethanol supporters to Washington D.C. for a series of meetings with members of Congress.

During the group’s two day visit, the delegation will meet personally with Sens. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Reps. Jerry Moran (KS-1) and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-2) to help raise awareness about ethanol and its role as the leading biofuel to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, create jobs, and strengthen our economy.

“The state of Kansas has been a consistent ally in the fight for renewable, sustainable ethanol and we are delighted that so many Kansas natives have traveled to our nation’s capital to help educate our members of Congress about the benefits of ethanol,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “These meetings provide a critical opportunity for ethanol supporters to interact one-on-one with their legislators and inform them about the issues that are most important to the state.”

The 11 Kansas delegates include Brian Baalman of Western Plains Energy, Mike Chisam of Kansas Ethanol, Donna Funk of Kennedy & Coe, Ed Condon, Tom Willis, Nick Hatcher and Greg Stone of Conestoga, Greg Krissek and Monique Garcia of ICM, Tom Tunnell of the Kansas Assoc. of Ethanol Producers and Steve McNinch of Western Plains Energy.

“We know effective representation of domestic ethanol means bringing constituents to Capitol Hill so the lawmakers hear firsthand what we can do to strengthen America’s energy independence, create U.S. jobs and reduce pollution – all through increasing the production and consumption of American ethanol,” said Steve McNinch, CEO of Western Plains Energy, in Oakley, Kan., and a member of the Growth Energy board of directors.

“This is an important opportunity for Kansas ethanol supporters to speak directly with the decision makers in Washington about the benefits of domestically-produced Ethanol,” said Greg Krissek, ICM Director of Governmental Affairs, and a member of the Growth Energy board of directors. “Ethanol is America’s fuel: it is homegrown, it creates U.S. jobs, and it contributes to our rural economies.”

During their visit, the delegation will also attend a Policy Issues briefing conducted by Growth Energy Staff and meet with members of the House Committee on Agriculture and staff from other Congressional offices.