Congress has failed to renew the biodiesel tax incentive that will expire at the end of this year and the biodiesel industry is hoping they will turn it around and act quickly in 2012 to save thousands of jobs that have been created thanks to the initiative this year. “We’re disappointed,” said Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs for …
Poll Shows Agriculture Support for Ethanol
A significant majority believe that ethanol production is a good thing. In answer to this past week’s ZimmPoll question, “Is Ethanol production good for ALL of Agriculture?” 64% said yes and 36% said no. That still shows a large group who aren’t on board the ethanol bandwagon. If you’re in the “no” group let us know why by posting a …
Biofuel and Chemicals Made from Wood Biomass
Researchers at Aalto University in Finland have developed a method using microbes from wood biomass to produce butanol suitable for biofuel and other industrial chemicals. Butanol is particularly suited as a transport fuel because it is not water soluble and has higher energy content than ethanol. Until now, starch and cane sugar have been the most commonly used raw materials …
Solar Energy to Power Irrigation for Chilean Company
Subsole, one of Chile’s largest locally owned exporters of table fruits, is planning to use solar energy from the Atacama desert to help supply its power as the company grows. Subsole plans to increase output 60 percent over the next four years, mostly by expanding farming in the Copiapó Valley, a region 800 kilometers north of Santiago that is surrounded …
Nebraska Ethanol Producer to Buy Grain Elevator
The grain business subsidiary of Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE) is acquiring the grain elevator assets of a company in St. Edward, Nebraska. JW Grain holds 1.9 million bushels of state-licensed grain storage and is located approximately 40 miles from the GPRE’s Central City, Nebraska ethanol production facility. “We continue to seek out opportunities to expand our agribusiness segment that …
Grains Council Promotes DDGS in China
The U.S. Grains Council recently held workshops in Guangzhou and Qingdao to promote the ethanol co-product distillers grains (DDGS) in China. “The day-long sessions were designed to provide an exchange of comprehensive DDGS market information, including discussions and analysis of the value of U.S. DDGS,” said Alvaro Cordero, USGC manager of DDGS. Cordero says they had 200 to 250 people, …
New Ethanol Blender Pumps in Illinois
Three new pumps that can dispense a range of ethanol blended fuel were officially opened in Princeton, Illinois last week. Growth Energy, Horizon Fuels, the American Lung Association and Marquis Energy partnered to help with the promotions and labeling for the three new Flex Fuel pumps at the Princeton Fast Stop. “It was time to upgrade our gasoline pumps, so …
Holiday Greetings from the Renewable Fuels Association
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) sends holiday greetings to all.
USDA Helps Install Ethanol Blender Pumps
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) has used more funds to install 54 ethanol blender pumps in twelve different locations. The REAP program funded a total of 266 ethanol blender pumps in 30 states at a total cost of $4.2 million dollars in Fiscal Year 2011. “The REAP Blender Pump program is a …
Brisk Sales of E85 in Minnesota During 2011
Strong sales of E85 continue across the Midwest and especially in Minnesota, according to organizations that track sales. In the first eight months of 2011, Minnesota E85 sales increased 26 percent compared to the same period in 2010. Reports from Iowa and North Dakota also show significantly higher E85 sales this year than in 2010. Minnesota has more than 360 …