Today in Biofuels Opinion: “if they don’t do what I think is very reasonable, to go to E15, then I think Congress has to intervene.”

Joanna Schroeder, in Domestic Fuel: “Today, Brazil gets the majority of its energy, both renewable and fossil fuel based, within its borders. In addition, the majority of the ethanol produced in the country stays in the country. Also, unlike the U.S., Brazil produces most of its electricity needs from renewable sources as well. Today, more than 80 percent of its power comes from hydroelectricity, but this poses a problem during drought conditions and will be a bigger problem as water issues become more paramount. A solution? To sell the extra electricity from the sugar mills into the grid during the months the plants are operational, which happens to be during the dry time of the year. UNICA, the organization that represents the Brazilian sugarcane industry, predicts that sugarcane could supply 15 percent of the power by 2017.”

Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa: “I think Congress has to get involved if they don’t do it [approve blends up to E15] because we’re up against an E10 stone wall and we have to cross that wall or we’re not going to keep the [renewable fuel standard] mandates that are already in the law. And if they don’t do what I think is very reasonable, to go to E15, then I think Congress has to intervene. But do I think Congress would intervene in the next three weeks before Christmas? I doubt it.”

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