A Missouri ethanol plant is undergoing a $2 million expansion that will increase the plant’s capacity and provide a larger market for locally produced corn. POET Biorefining – Laddonia was built in September 2006 with a capacity of 45 million gallons per year (MGPY), but it actually is producing almost 52 MGPY, according to General Manager Robin Venn. The expansion …
Corn Growers Updated on VeraSun
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is keeping corn growers updated about the status of pending contracts with the bankrupt ethanol producer VeraSun. Attorneys for NCGA say that VeraSun generally seems to be handling grower contracts based on the original ownership of the ethanol facilities, but growers need to check with the plants directly to determine what arrangements can be …
Ethanol Report with RFA President
In this edition of the “Ethanol Report” podcast, Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen talks about President-elect Obama’s cabinet choices, input from the ethanol industry on “green jobs”, and why he believes the industry will meet future goals for cellulosic production under the Renewable Fuels Standard. You can listen to “The Ethanol Report” on-line here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/rfa/ethanol-report-23.mp3] Or you can subscribe …
Anniversary of Expanded RFS
The Energy Security and Independence Act (EISA) which expanded the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) is officially a year old today. The ethanol industry is looking forward to the future for the RFS, which requires the use of ethanol and other renewable fuels to reduce dependence on foreign oil, after it survived a major challenge this year by the governor of …
Food and Fuel Kit Wins PR Award
The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council has been recognized by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Nebraska chapter for its work in fighting the misperceptions that ethanol was the primary culprit to the rising cost of food. EPIC’s media kit “Food AND Fuel” received the Award of Excellence from the organization. In addition, EPIC also received an Award of …
Energy Crisis to Energy Security
Ethanol plays a role in a new book about current energy issues. “From Energy Crisis to Energy Security” is a collection of essays edited by Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Clifford D. May for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, which is “a nonpartisan policy institute dedicated exclusively to promoting pluralism, defending democratic values, and fighting the ideologies that threaten democracy,” according …
Plant Shut Off Could Be Key to Cellulosic Ethanol
Keeping on a mechanism in plants that naturally shuts down cellulose production could play a key role in enhancing biomass production for plant-based biofuels. Purdue University researcher Nicholas Carpita says they have discovered that small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) play a normal role in plant development by shutting off genes involved in primary cell wall growth in order to begin development of …
Ethanol Industry Provides Green Jobs Input
At the request of the Obama administration transition team, the Renewable Fuels Association last week submitted discussion ideas for an economic stimulus package partially designed to create green jobs and spur the green economy. According to a statement from RFA, “Some have misconstrued this communication as a request for federal assistance or a bailout. To the contrary, the RFA recognizes …
Obama’s Ag and Interior Choices are Pro-Ethanol
According to media reports, President-elect Obama will announce former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack as his choice for secretary of agriculture at a press conference scheduled for Wednesday. Obama also plans to announce his nomination of Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar as interior secretary at the same news conference. Vilsack served two terms as governor of Iowa from from 1998 until 2006 …
Comments Sought on Ethanol Specific Corn
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking comments on a petition to deregulate corn that has been genetically engineered to produce a microbial enzyme that facilitates ethanol production. USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has regulated the corn, developed by Syngenta, since 2002. If approved, the petition would allow the corn, which goes by the name Event 3272, to …