Will the EPA budge on new fuel standards for 2014? Many in the industry and 169 members of Congress are certainly hoping so. Citing increasing volatility in the ethanol price market and the growing loss of corn in the agricultural market, Congress sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Gina McCarthy, asking her to reconsider the current standard target set for 2014.
Crash investigator urges better stall training for pilots
A federal crash investigator urged a conference of aviation safety officials Tuesday to better train pilots to avoid stubborn problems such as stalls.
Earl Weener, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, recalled four separate fatal crashes over the past two decades that he said involved stalls, with pilots basically pulling the plane’s nose up too much until the aircraft fell to the ground.
RFS Gobbling Up Turkey, Cattle Feed
The National Turkey Federation (NTF) doesn’t just believe recent polling that finds two-thirds of Americans believe that, under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), using more corn for ethanol production could force up food prices, they have data to prove it:
“USDA’s average wholesale broiler meat prices leapt from 68 cents in 2005 to a record high 91 cents in December, 2012—a 35 percent increase. Turkey meat soared from 79 cents in 2005 to a record high of 120 cents a few months ago. And it’s not just poultry that costs more. A variety of food products that depend heavily on corn feed are also more expensive. It’s safe to say RFS is hitting consumers, poultry producers, and farmers squarely in the pocketbook.” – Dr. Thomas Elam, president of FarmEcon, LLC, speaking on behalf of the NTF and the National Chicken Council
Transportation reform opens new paths to transportation development
Transportation reform from house bill 2313 has allowed the Virginia Department of Transportation 15.7 billion dollars to invest in transportation needs around the state.
Currently the Salem District has 451 million dollars tied up in current contracts such as interstate paving and construction on Elm Avenue in Roanoke.
More than 100 lawmakers urge EPA to change fuel mandate
More than 100 lawmakers are calling on Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy to reduce the amount of ethanol that oil refiners must blend into gasoline next year.
Signed by 169 House members, the letter sent to McCarthy on Thursday urged the EPA to lower the renewable fuel standard (RFS), arguing the current mandate is unrealistic.
“Whether it’s increasing amounts of ethanol in fuel or higher food and feed prices, the RFS continues to negatively impact American consumers and the economy,” Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) said in a statement.
Train crashes into bus at Nairobi rail crossing
NA train has crashed into a passenger bus as it passed through a rail crossing in Nairobi, killing at least 11 people and injuring more.
Photographs showed a white passenger bus half crumpled and tilted on its side. Hundreds of people gathered at the scene in the Kenyan capital.