For more than a year, officials at the New North, Inc., a regional collaboration effort focused on promoting regional cooperation and economic development in an 18-county region in Northeast Wisconsin have explored the economic development opportunities surrounding cellulosic ethanol production in Northeast Wisconsin. Earlier this week New North announced the results of phase one of what will be a multifaceted …
ACE & RFA Launch National Mid-Level Blend Campaign
The 22nd Ethanol Conference & Trade Show in Milwaukee kicked off with an announcement of the largest ever consolidated effort to install 5,000 mid-level blend, or blender pumps, throughout the country: BYOethanol. I know many of you are envisioning bringing your own ethanol to the upcoming college football tailgate party, but it really means, Blend Your Own Ethanol. The partnership …
Book Review – The Gort Cloud
Hey all you marketers out there – listen up! This week I reviewed a book on how to successfully market your environmentally friendly product through the “Gort Cloud”. What is the Gort Cloud you ask? “The vast but invisible community that has the power to make or break green brands and much of this community and interaction is done online. …
Phibro’s Process Optimization Seminar Successful
With today’s economic climate, everything an ethanol plant can do to increase efficiencies helps the bottom line. As a plant changes constantly due to inputs and environmental shifts, its important for employees to understand how process aids including Enzymes, Yeast, Antimicrobials, and Water Treatment function alone and in conjunction with other inputs. Another area of focus was to learn about …
PERC Launches National Consumer Propane Campaign
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) launched a new campaign today to promote the ways propane can help cut greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, lower energy costs, and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. In fact, greenhouse gas emissions can be cut immediately, says PERC by using more propane and expanding its uses. Roy Willis, president and CEO …
National Clean Energy Summit 2.0 to be Streamed Live
The National Clean Energy Summit 2.0: Jobs and the New Economy is taking place in Las Vegas on August 10th. If you can’t participate in person, you’re not out of luck. The event will be streamed live via Clean Skies. The summit convenes top energy and environment newsmakers from across the country where they will be discussing ‘green’ jobs, energy …
Colorado Offers Grants for Small Wind Turbines
The state of Colorado is offering businesses the opportunity to apply for grants for small wind turbine installations.Colorado residents and businesses have until August 28, 2009 to apply for the New Energy Economic Development (NEED) grants. The grants provide funds to purchase and install small wind turbines (or other renewable energy systems). These NEED grants help Colorado residents (or businesses) …
AURI Releases Aitkin County Biomass Assessment
BBI International recently completed a county-wide biomass assessment and economic feasibility sponsored by The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute. The report is now available on the AURI website. The report, authored by BBI in the fall of 2008 through spring of 2009, intended to define the amount of economically available biomass available in the county as well as explore the financial …
Economist Barry Flinchbaugh Talks Indirect Land Use
Yesterday during the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress/Ag Media Summit, a “Great Debate” ensued between retired K-State ag economist Barry Flinchbaugh and former Texas congressman Charlie Stenholm. Their topics were ag policy and trade but a lot of the focus was on the new cap and trade legislation, climate change and indirect land use. I had a chance to …
Phibro Responds to Use of Antibiotics in Ethanol Industry
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) recently published a report that called for the ethanol industry to stop using antibiotics in the production process. Many believe that this report is just one of many initiatives the IATP has to fight the modernization of the agriculture and livestock industry and that they are attempting to manufacture controversy. Antibiotics are …