Renewable Energy Report: March 2015 Report

The AgMRC Renewable Fuels Monthly Report is now being produced as a partnership between the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center operated by the Value Added Agriculture Program at Iowa State Extension and Outreach (ISUEO), and the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative (IGQI) (www.iowagrain.org), an ISUEO program directed specifically at grain processing and handling.


Connection of the IGQI and the monthly report will provide a long-term connection with the research and technical expertise of Iowa State Extension and Outreach, as well as provide expanded student opportunities for interaction with industry.

The sharp decline in crude petroleum prices in recent months has triggered a substantial decline in ethanol prices to keep it competitive with gasoline. That in turn is raising questions about impacts on corn prices this spring, summer, and fall. In this report, we focus on this issue, including a perspective on whether low energy prices might strongly temper the up-side potential in the corn market in case of spring or summer weather concerns.

Shale oil and natural gas are transforming the world’s energy industry.  Are we approaching another transforming moment? Namely, the emergence of a solar industry that will make fossil fuels obsolete.  Although there have been several “false starts,” many experts believe solar’s day has come.  Its impact would evolve at a slower pace than shale oil, but overall it would be more transformative.