On April 25, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) hosted the Renewable Fuels Summit 2006. The goal of the Summit was to bring together renewable fuel industry leaders, government officials, and automotive executives to discuss the future of renewable fuels like ethanol.
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The RFA was honored to welcome President George W. Bush to the Summit to continue his support for renewable fuels. The President gave a 45-minute speech that focused heavily on increasing the production and use of renewable fuels:
“...And ethanol is an example of what I'm talking about. And ethanol is good for drivers. Ethanol is home-grown. Ethanol will replace gasoline consumption. It's a good -- ethanol is good for the whole country!”
Video (61 MB) | Photos | Transcript |
President Bush addresses members of the RFA.
Source: Associated Press |
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Following President Bush, the President and CEO of the Chrysler Group, Thomas LaSorda, addressed the Summit to make a major announcement concerning Chrysler’s commitment to renewable fuels.
At the Summit, Mr. LaSorda announced that 25 percent of Chrysler’s 2008 model year fleet will be flexible-fueled vehicles (FFV) capable of running on E85. Those models will include the very popular Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Commander.
Video (34 MB) | Photos | Transcript
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| Chrysler President and CEO Thomas LaSorda announces major FFV production at RFS2006. |
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An important part of the discussion concerning the future of renewable fuels is the role Congress can play. To highlight this role, the RFA was pleased to welcome Senator Ken Salazar (Colo.), Representative Gil Gutknecht (Minn.), Representative Jack Kingston (Geo.) and Representative Jerry Weller (Ill.) to discuss legislation they have introduced and the role Congress can and should play to increase the production and use of renewable fuels.
This panel discussion was moderated by RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen and National Biodiesel Board Executive Director Joe Jobe.
Video (73 MB) | Photos |
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When discussing the future of ethanol, it is important to also take into account the role it can and is playing as a truer alternative to gasoline.
E85, 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, provides Americans with the choice at the pumps: oil-based gasoline or renewable E85. While E85 does not exist today in large quantities, especially outside the Midwest, automakers, ethanol producers and state governments are working together to increase the number of vehicles on the road that can utilize the fuel, the infrastructure to supply the fuel and simply the supply of ethanol to make this fuel a larger part of our nation’s motor fuel market.
The RFA was pleased to welcome Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw to the moderate the panel that included VeraSun Energy Vice President and RFA member Bill Honnef and General Motors Vice President for Energy and Environment.
Video (61 MB) | Photos | “Live Green, Go Yellow” |
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To realize the vision President Bush has laid forth for the increased production and use of ethanol, it will be critical that technologies are developed that allow ethanol production from material in addition to grain. This material, often referred to as cellulose, comes in a variety of forms: switchgrass, corn stover, and even municipal solid waste.
Moderated by Chippewa Valley Ethanol Co. General Manager and former RFA Chair Bill Lee, National Corn Growers Association Vice President Ken McCauley and John Ashworth of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory discussed the future of ethanol production from corn as well as cellulose.
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