Oregon awards $250K to study ryegrass straw as ethanol feedstock

In Oregon, the state Department of Agriculture has made a $250,000 grant to study the conversion of ryegrass waste straw into ethanol. Growers view waste straw as a problem, and the Oregon Seed Council and Oregon State University researchers will study if the straw can be converted into ethanol.

Nine counties in northwest Oregon switched to E10 on January 15. E10 will be mandatory in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook, Yamhill, Polk, and Marion counties. Linn, Lane, Benton, Lincoln, Douglas, Coos, Jackson, Josephine, and Curry counties will move to E10 on April 15th, and all remaining counties will convert in September 16.

The City of Portland’s Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) went into effect this year and Oregon’s RFS goes into effect January 1, 2008. The Oregon RFS calls for E10 and B5 blending after regional ethanol and biodiesel production reached 40Mgy and 15Mgy, respectively.

State officials are currently drafting regulations that support HB 2210, which implemented the ethanol mandate.

The Oregon Pilots Association recently announced that it is seeking an exception to state biofuels requirements for the 1,000 members who use automotive fuel for their planes. The Association said that ethanol blends damage their engines.

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