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Current Events CFDC is supported through membership dues and program services. Services include the production and dissemination of educational publications, the creation of and participation in outreach events, and other education and awareness programs. This section of our website is intended to provide you with pertinent information on current issues, events, and other information pertaining to the development of clean fuels. CFDC supports these current events with testimony, speeches, educational outreach information distribution, promotion, and professional networking and information exchange at many of these public, industry, and private forums. CFDC Executive Director Doug Durante was
one of the key speakers at the World Ethanol’s 10th Anniversary
Conference held in Amsterdam November 5-8, 2007, which included an Ethanol
Production Workshop and Ethanol Risk Management Seminar. For further
details go to www.agra-net.com/worldethanol.
CFDC has been involved in the World Conference since its inception and
Mr. Durante presented an overview of the U.S. Ethanol program and the
challenge of meeting a 36 Billion gallon renewable fuels standard.
EPA Cellulose Technology Workshop a Success CFDC recently coordinated an invitation only workshop for the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency in support of EPA’s responsibilities under the
Energy Policy Act of 2005. EPA is directed to demonstrate several paths
to biofuel production and CFDC is advising the agency on candidate technologies.
CFDC was pleased to once again be involved in the Future Fuels Conference from Dec.5-8, 2007 held Washington, D.C. Building on the successful launch of the conference in 2006, the 2007
program shaped up to be an informative and unique event. CFDC Executive
Director Doug Durante Chaired the program along with International Energy
Association President Herman Franksen. A number of CFDC member companies
participated in the event.
CFDC Sponsors Cellulosic Ethanol Summit in
DC
Nation’s First Commercial
Cellulosic Ethanol Plant
CFDC Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary in 2007.
Burl Haigwood Returns for 2nd Tour of Duty
at CFDC
CFDC Chairman Honored for 30 Years of Ethanol
Industry Service.
CFDC Meets with GM Biofuels Team at the Detroit
Auto Show
Annual CFDC Marketing Summit & Strategic Planning Slated for Omaha CFDC held its Annual Ethanol Marketing Summit in Omaha, Nebraska March 28-29, 2007. The invitation only event brought together over 200 leaders in ethanol marketing to exchange ideas and address innovative ways to address the issues facing the renewable fuels industry and the nation. CFDC also sponsored the Biomass and Biorefinery Deals 2007 held in Washington DC, March 26th – 28th to present information on the latest developments on Capitol Hill.
Renewable Energy in America:
Phase II Policy Forum
110th Congress Starts with a Flurry The 110th Congress started with a flurry of activity around ethanol including bills to create a renewable fuel fund for research and development, and an expanded RFS and incentives for the use of E85. CFDC has already been in discussions with key members of Congress on potential legislative strategies for protecting the excise tax exemption and increasing ethanol demand. For more information please contact CFDC about becoming a member.
Investing in Ethanol: As the domestic ethanol industry continues to expand, one pressing need is to increase the pool of lenders so that capital is affordable and available for building new plants. For that to happen, a new generation of financiers needs to be educated on ethanol plants and the opportunity they represent for a solid investment. CFDC is actively participating in a number of conferences and forums across the country to help spread the positive message and assist in bringing new investment into the industry. The Coalition is one of the supporting organizations for the Renewable Energy Finance Summit to be held in Phoenix Arizona March 8-10. For more information on this conference please click here. CFDC recently supported similar finance events in Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC.
CFDC is supporting General Motors'
Governors' Ethanol Coalition E-85 Program. The Clean Fuels Development Coalition (CFDC) was pleased to receive a General Motors Avalanche E-85 vehicle as part of GM’s continuing commitment to develop the use of E-85 in the United States. GM prepared a special batch of Avalanche and Tahoe SUVs to promote the fact that these vehicles operate on E-85. Most of the vehicles were provided to members of the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition through a no cost, one-year loan program. GM has been a member of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition for the past 17 years and provided CFDC with one of these vehicles as well. In just a short period with the vehicle, CFDC has been able to create some significant exposure for E-85. The vehicle was displayed over the 4th of July weekend in Ocean City, Maryland and has since participated in events in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. CFDC’s headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland is close to several E-85 refueling facilities, including a government operated refueling site that is available to the public at the Montgomery County government headquarters just minutes from the CFDC offices. In addition, refueling sites in Annapolis and Fort Meade, Maryland make it easy to keep the Avalanche running on E-895. “Talk about the right message at the right time. With oil prices going through the roof and the energy bill passing this summer, interest in ethanol has never been greater. We appreciate the opportunity to work with GM, which has been such a key member of our Coalition for so many years, to promote ethanol and alternative fuels,” said Doug Durante, CFDC’s Executive Director.
CFDC Tells International Ethanol Audience the U.S. Will Easily Meet and Exceed RFS Requirements Durante's presentation was part of the "big three" of ethanol programs, covering the U.S., Brazil, and European Union. He shared with the audience of more than 450 delegates details of the recently passed Renewable Fuels Standard in the United States, and factors driving the rapid development of the industry. "For the first time ever, a course has been charted that ensures sustained ethanol development. Not goals, not targets, but mandated, required levels of ethanol use," Durante said. "Days of low prices, lost market share to MTBE, and uncertainty from the investment community are gone. The support structure is in place for ethanol to do in the next 7 years what we have accomplished in the first 20." Durante told the conference delegates that the U.S. ethanol program was not without challenges but will meet and exceed the level of ethanol use called for in the recently passed National Energy Policy Act of 2005. More than 40 countries were represented at the conference, now in its 8th year. Key speakers included Luiz Carlos Carvahlo of Brazil and Patrick Woodyatt of Copersucar of Brazil, Robert Vierhout of the European Union, and additional speakers from emerging ethanol programs in India, Germany, the Philippines, and other countries. 
CFDC hails passage of Energy Policy Act of 2005. The bill includes a provision establishing a renewable fuels standard that would increase the market for ethanol, biodiesel, and other renewable fuels by more than 4 billion gallons over current production.
Speaking before the Wisconsin legislature, Gary Herwick testified on behalf of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition (CFDC), and told the badger state lawmakers that properly blended ethanol can be beneficial to a wide range of criteria pollutants without any conclusive link to ozone formation.
CFDC's Executive Director Doug Durante before the National Press Club
Energy Bill Needs Recharge
Ethanol – Fueling Corn Demand
CFDC in cooperation with the Ethanol Across America program recently released the latest in their series of Issue Briefs. The Energy Security Issue Brief examines the implications of the U.S.’s growing dependence on imported oil, particularly in terms of its negative economic impact on the American economy. The Issue Brief contains an introduction by Ethanol Across America Board member Senator Richard Lugar who points out that increasing the development and production of renewable fuels such as ethanol will help ensure our national and economic security. Look for future Issue Briefs, including the Economic Impact of Ethanol Plants, in the Publications section of our web site
CFDC Releases Ethanol & Energy White Paper. CFDC “White Papers” feature guest writers, policy discussion, and coverage of topical and current events. These informative papers will feature experts from government, academia, and industry. The first in this CFDC family of publications is by CFDC Board member Gary Herwick, formerly Director of Mobile Emissions and Fuel Efficiency for General Motors. Produced in cooperation with the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, the White Paper makes a compelling argument for accelerated use of ethanol in E85.
CFDC and Ethanol Across America produce a new E10 brochure. When it comes to consumer information the need for quality, consistent information is constant. Despite decades of trouble free use, ethanol blends continue to be subjected to rumors or unfounded concerns. To counter the many myths associated with ethanol CFDC and Ethanol Across America recently produced a new E10 brochure that is available to the public.
CFDC sponsors the first coast-to-coast journey of an automobile operating on E85 the entire way. The trip was the project of Washington area entrepreneur Dr. Chris Lapp who converted his classic 1957 Cadillac to operate on E85. The trip was featured on CNN and generated nationwide press coverage. And he finished!
CFDC is proud to participate again in POWER-GEN Renewable Energy 2006, the all-renewable energy trade show to be held in Las Vegas on April 10-12, 2006. CFDC will have a panel featuring Chairman Todd Sneller, Philip Madson of Katzen International, Gary Herwick of General Motors, and other member companies.
Environmental & Clean Energy Inaugural Ball A Huge Hit U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Mike Leavitt, U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary David Garman, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Jim Moseley were among those attending. They joined Interior Secretary Gale Norton, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chairman James Connaughton, and others. “We were pleased to see support for this event come from the public, industry, and government at all levels,” said Douglas Durante of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition and Co-Chair of the Environmental Ball. “Our message of working together on the environment, and to produce clean energy as a means of protecting the environment, will keep these issues at the forefront of the public policy agenda,” said Durante. He also noted that in addition to current Administration officials, a former EPA Administrator and three former Deputy Administrators were in attendance. There were 50 Members of Congress on the Honorary Ball Committee, and more than 100 organizations and companies on the supporting committee. Held at the Sequioa Restaurant in Georgetown Harbor, more than 700 people were in attendance. Through a certified process, the ball is deemed to be CO2 neutral, as the carbon credits necessary to offset energy expended in traveling to and from the event, as well as the event itself, were donated by Boston Carbon Corporation, a firm that purchases and redistributes CO2 reductions. For photos from the Environmental Ball click here.
CFDC Talks to Wall Street CFDC Executive Director Doug Durante Chaired a panel that included Vander Griend and several representatives of major financial institutions that have funded ethanol projects and are looking for more. CFDC Counsel Mark Riedy of the law firm Andrews Kurth also was involved in the conference and several other member companies attended. Held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York’s financial district, the conference was organized by the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and drew 500 attendees. Mr. Vander Griend told the audience that ethanol projects in the U.S. have matured to the point where there is virtually no risk in technology and with the market constantly growing, they envision continuing to design and develop ethanol projects through out the U.S. "Farmers are innovators", he told the audience. "Farmers are creative". With feedstocks, technology, and markets no longer an issue, we can put ethanol in every gallon of gasoline in the U.S." CFDC has collaborated with ACORE on a number of Conferences and events and Doug Durante noted that focusing on the financial community is a critical need that ACORE is addressing. "We appreciate being involved in this conference and jumped at the opportunity to get our message out of the positive business opportunity ethanol represents. We are seeing a developing comfort level from Wall Street with ethanol. With that kind of investment power, the sky is the limit as to what we can produce from not just agriculture, but new biomass technologies as well." CFDC co-sponsors ACORE’s Annual Power Gen Conference in Las Vegas in March.
CFDC to State Energy Officials, "We Need Your Help" Durante said the bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the Senate by Richard Lugar (R-IN), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and 20 original cosponsors could set the path for a phenomenal period of ethanol growth over the next decade. The legislation calls for an annual renewable fuel use program that would create demand for 700 million gallons per year for the next 7 years. "We have been working on this legislation for 5 years and during that time the ethanol industry has shown it can meet the challenge of reducing imported oil while revitalizing rural America. But, the right programs need to be in place and the RFS is just that," Durante said. "The market certainty provided by an RFS is the key element in increasing production. Furthermore," he said, "the incentives for celluosic ethanol and a flexible credits and trading system will be key to moving biofuel production beyond the grain belt and utilizing the wide range of feedstocks in the different regions of the country." "If you want the jobs, if you want the economic development and returns to the states, and if you want the increase in fuel supplies that ethanol plants provide, we need you to work with us to get this legislation passed," he told the State Energy Officials. "Without the RFS expansion beyond our current period is uncertain. With it, the sky is the limit. "
CFDC participates in USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum 2005 The 2-day event drew a record 1,400 attendees and covered a wide range of issues affecting agriculture, with a strong focus on energy. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns noted the extraordinary progress of the ethanol industry and predicted continued growth in concert with a predicted record corn crop in 2005-2006. The presentations by Durante and Sneller focused on the specifics of that ethanol growth, and the impact on state and rural economies. Sneller discussed a recent study in Nebraska that identified an economic impact of $83 million from a new plant, with a return of 10 to 1 or more on investment. Durante told the audience that the pressing need for domestic fuel will result in ethanol and biofuels continuing to be at the heart of energy legislation in the current Congress.
MARCH 22-23, 2005
February 4th, 2005
December 28th, 2004 To view the letter sent to President Bush click here.
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