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U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu Commends KCFC Efforts
 Secretary Steven Chu approved of KCFC's efforts to reduce foreign
oil dependency across Kentucky in an article on Tuesday June 13th.
After confirming that President Barrack Obama has a long-term plan
to reduce oil imports by one third, he pointed out that meeting such
a goal will require the help of cities and states, not just the
federal government.
He credited the Clean Cities Program nationwide for saving nearly 3
billion gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel since its launch 18
years ago. Citing he Hybrid Horsepower for Kentucky Schools Program
and Mammoth Cave National Park's efforts, he praised KCFC
specifically for saving 38 million gallons of gasoline from 2005 to
2009, and developing a number of partnerships to transform Kentucky
fleets into greener, more fuel efficient vehicles.
“By working together through programs such as the Clean Cities
initiative, we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and help
protect Kentucky families from pain at the pump,” says Secretary
Chu.
ASTM Approves Biofuel Specification For Jet
Fuel
 June
13, 2011 – The ASTM International Committee on Petroleum Products
and Lubricants approved a new specification that could allow biofuel
blends to power commercial flights.
"Once finalized, the new specification will enable use of biofuel
blends comprised of up to 50% by fuel generated from feedstocks such
as camelina, jatropha or algae,” says US FAA Administrator Randy
Babbit. "We anticipate publication of a standard in the next few
weeks will open the door for production of commercial aviation
biofuels that can be used without changing aircraft systems or
airport fueling infrastructure."
The U.S. Air Transport Association anticipates the final issuance of
the specification by August 2011.
Senate Votes to Keep Ethanol Subsidy on Tuesday, Repeals it on
Thursday
On Tuesday June 13th the U.S. Senate voted 40-59 in favor of
allowing the $5 billion annual subsidy on ethanol to expire at the
end of this year. On Thursday, however, they voted to immediately
repeal the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit.
Opponents of the subsidy expressed concern about the deficit and
suggested that the subsidy be either eliminated immediately or
phased out over several years. Advocates of the subsidy emphasize
the need to reduce foreign oil dependency.
White House spokesman Clark Stevens said President Barack Obama
opposed the elimination of the subsidy but was “open to new
approaches that meet today’s challenges and save taxpayers money.”
The Kentucky Corn Growers Association, a KCFC member, posted this
statement from the National Corn Growers Association:
The National Corn Growers Association expressed severe
disappointment today that the Senate allowed petty politics to trump
prudent policy in the fight for the future of the ethanol industry.
The passage of Sen. Dianne Feinstein's amendment to immediately
repeal the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit represents a tax
increase on fuel that will kill jobs in rural America and hit all
consumers in the pocketbook, NCGA said.
The ethanol industry supports more than 400,000 U.S. jobs,
contributing more than $56 billion each year to the nation's economy
and $11 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue.
Also Thursday, the Senate rejected a proposed amendment by Sen. John
McCain that would have prevented the U.S. Department of Agriculture
from providing grants for blender pumps.This is good news because
blender pumps provide options for those with flex-fuel vehicles and
can help the ethanol industry grow in the years to come.
 Save
the Date
Electric Vehicles: is Kentucky Ready to Run?
Friday, October 21, 2011
9:00 am - 2:00 pm ET
Aristides Room - Churchill Downs
Louisville, KY
Details coming soon!
See our news blogs at
http://kycleanfuels.blogspot.com
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