|
Future is bright for renewable fuelsBy Jennifer M. Latzke For wheat, sorghum and corn growers in Kansas and across the High Plains, renewable fuels and other sources of renewable energy are two buzz words for progress. Robert White, with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, Omaha, Neb., told producers gathered at the 2007 Kansas Commodity Classic last month that the future looks bright for the U.S. ethanol industry. It's a combination of factors that has brought ethanol to the forefront of our minds, White explained. Consumers are looking for more green solutions at the fuel pump and in the car showroom; the supply of ethanol is growing to meet demand; and rising oil prices are making ethanol blended fuels competitive in the marketplace. Today, there are about 131 ethanol plants in operation, 72 in construction and 10 under plans for expansion, White said. "The RFS is at 15 billion gallons per year now," White said. "Our current capacity is 13.5 billion gallons of ethanol per year. We've come a long way from the 2 billion gallons per year of production just three years ago." Today's capacity is just shy of the 14 billion gallons per year goal, which would replace 10 percent of the current gasoline market, he added. The world demand for fuel is increasing every day, White said. "World production is at about 83 million barrels of oil per day and demand at 85 million barrels per day, and demand is growing 3 to 5 percent every year," he said. China's demand is up, and over the holidays gasoline is expected to average 87 cents more than in 2006. Something has to fill that demand and ethanol blended fuels can be that solution. "If there was no ethanol, gasoline would cost 14 to 16 percent more, or about 43 cents more per gallon," he explained. There's also an increasing demand for ethanol blended fuels because of the new vehicles introduced on the market that take E85 or E10 blends. With the good news, though, comes the bad. And on the horizon, White said, there are some anti-ethanol messages being placed in front of consumers from various segments of the agricultural and energy industry. EPIC is a member of the Renewable Fuels Now Coalition, which is in the middle of re-focusing the ethanol message to consumers and politicians through a targeted advertising campaign. Support during debates on the farm bill and new energy bill is critical to the future of renewable fuels and ethanol production. "We have to re-focus the politicians way of thinking and wake the consumers back up," White said. "$100 a barrel oil is around the corner, and everyone I've talked to expects that to blow up to $120 a barrel." Compared to $4 per gallon of gasoline, ethanol has a place in today's fuel marketplace and in the future, he added. Jennifer M. Latzke can be reached by phone at 620-227-1807, or by e-mail at jlatzke@hpj.com. 12/10/07 Date: 12/6/07
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2008. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
