Today in Biofuels Opinion: US Energy Secretary says ethanol contributes to rising corn prices, “we must also pursue diversity in our biofuels”

April 21, 2008

The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation writes in the Hartford Courant: “The popular misconception that increased usage of corn for ethanol production is the only factor driving higher food prices is just that â€” a misconception….Global demand for U.S. agricultural products has increased significantly over the past several years….Even though corn prices for the current marketing year are up $1 per bushel from last, corn exports are projected to increase by 200 million bushels. Rising exports in the face of rising prices is an indicator of very strong demand.

Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman told the Wall Street Journal on Friday that corn ethanol contributed to higher food prices. “As we pursue diversity in our overall energy mix, we must also pursue diversity in our biofuels,” Mr. Bodman said at a conference in Alexandria, Va. “This means moving away gradually from ethanol produced from foodstocks like corn…The reason that cellulosic fuels like ethanol are not on the market in large volumes is not because we don’t know how to make it in commercial quantities. The production process at present is too complex and too costly, but I am confident that we can find the way forward.”

Today in Biofuels: US Department of Energy awards $86 million in cellulosic ethanol grants; new plant in South Dakota, Illinois, Germany and Italy

Top Story: In Washington, the US Department of Energy awarded $86 million to three cellulosic ethanol projects in Maine, Tennessee and Kentucky. The four-year grants will produce an average of 2.5 ...

Today in Biofuels Opinion: “People who blame high food prices on US policies…are flat out wrong” says DOA Secretary; Tyson CEO, Mad Money’s Jim Cramer crusade against ethanol

A release by Poet quotes U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer:Â "Secretary Schafer said only about 25 percent of the corn crop goes to make ethanol and that the forces driving rising prices in ...

Today in Biofuels Opinion: “The more and more ethanol that’s produced, however, the less and less it looks like a solution”

USA Today editorial: "In 14 years, under current federal mandates, about 40% of America's corn crop would be heading for its gas tanks. The more and more ethanol that's produced, however, the less and...

Today in Biofuels Opinion: “Biofuels were developed in response to a very serious problem, they weren’t invented just for fun.”.

UN under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs John Holmes told AFP:Â "I think we should avoid a knee-jerk response. Biofuels were developed in response to a very serious problem, which is the...

Today in Biofuels Opinion: “While ethanol production … is a factor in increased (food) prices, it’s not the driving factor.”

US Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer: "Things have become apparent that while ethanol production ... is a factor in increased (food) prices, it's not the driving factor. Energy, and increased consum...

Today in Biofuels Opinion: “Corn-based ethanol’s supporters are whining”

Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist: "Corn-based ethanol's supporters are whining, again. They want to keep governmental mandates to use the fuel. Too bad." Secretary of E...

Written by Jim Lane · Filed Under Opinion