AgWired

Jeff Simmons, driver of the Rahal-Letterman Ethanol Car was on hand today to talk about how things are going. I interviewed him just after the Ethanol Summit concluded.

Jeff describes how his backup car is performing. He had to move to it after a little wall incident with the other car last week.

Jeff also says that the attention ethanol is getting from the people here at the Ethanol Summit, like USDA Under Sec. Tom Dorr, is overdue.

You can listen my interview with Jeff here: Jeff Simmons Interview (2 min MP3)

Okay, I’m here and in action in Indianapolis. I’ve got a couple posts for you and you can find more on Domestic Fuel.

The keynote speaker today at the Ethanol Summit here at the Indianapolis Speedway was USDA Under Secretary Tom Dorr (pictured to the right of NCGA Chairman, Leon Corzine).

I interviewed the Secretary and asked him what his department is doing to assist in the development of alternative fuels. He says that the main ways they help are by providing small grants to companies that are starting up and developing alternative fuel alternatives like ethanol and then some initial financing in the form of low interest loans.

You can listen to my interview with Secretary Dorr here: Secretary Dorr Interview (4 min MP3)

I hope you like to hear about the promotion of ethanol because we’re certainly going to have a lot of that over the coming days. In my lead-up to the Indy 500 I want you to meet the President of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. He’s Tom Branhan, CEO of Glacial Lakes Energy, a farmer-owned ethanol plant in Watertown, SD.

I intereviewed Tom on Ethanol Day in Indianapolis. He tells us a little bit about the success of his company and gives us some information about EPIC and how it’s working to promote ethanol. He also explains what the activities of Ethanol Day mean to the industry.

You can listen to my interview with Tom here: Tom Branhan Interview (5 min MP3)