A bill was introduced today in the Senate that would modify the current ethanol blender’s tax credit set to expire at the end of this year. Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen says the bipartisan Domestic Energy Promotion Act of 2011 introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) already has a number of co-sponsors. “Senators Conrad, Johanns, Klobuchar, Franken, …
Ethanol Leader Challenges EIA Reporting
The Energy Information Administration predicts only very modest production of cellulosic ethanol by the year 2022, but the industry is more optimistic. Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen challenged some of the reporting and assumptions the EIA made in the latest energy outlook, which administrator Richard Newell presented at the 4th International Biomass Conference in St. Louis this week. EIA …
EIA Administrator Keynotes Biomass Conference
The head of the U.S. Energy Information Administration is anticipating a significant expansion of biomass in the nation’s energy system within the next 25 years. Dr. Richard Newell told attendees at the 4th annual International Biomass Conference in St. Louis on Tuesday that includes liquid biofuels and electric power working in combination. “You have advanced biofuels made from cellulose and …
Heliae – Measuring Algae by the Barrel
Sun and algae go together like peanut butter and jelly. Just ask Karl Seitz, Co-Founder of Heliae. I sat down with Seitz during the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference in DC to learn a little more about his company and their technology. The first unique attribute of the company is their name. Heli is Greek for the sun and the ae …
The Changing Face of Biodiesel
There are few people who know the biodiesel industry like Brad Albin, vice president of manufacturing for REG. Albin has been in the industry for more than 20 years – before many of us even knew what biodiesel was. Albin was on hand for the briefing and tour of REG’s Newton, Iowa biodiesel plant by USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack …
REG Insights on Biodiesel State of the Industry
All eyes are on the biodiesel industry including those of the USDA and EPA. Last week, USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack along with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, stopped by REG’s Newton, Iowa biodiesel plant for a little learning and a hands-on biodiesel tour. During the event, the big question: will the biodiesel industry be able to meet RFS2 goals this …
Developing Partnerships for Biodiesel Feedstocks
The Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference held in Washington, D.C. last week was a meeting of the minds. During one of the sessions on hot technologies, Jeffrey Stroburg, Chairman and CEO of REG, gave a presentation on advanced partnership strategies for development and commercialization. REG has been the driver in helping to commercialize corn oil extracted from the back end of …
Cornoil – A Growing Feedstock for REG
The synergies between the biodiesel, ethanol and advanced biofuels industries are growing. One of the things that’s been happening over the past few years is the ethanol industry creating a new feedstock for the biodiesel industry – inedible corn oil. Inedible corn oil was one of the feedstocks that REG highlighted during USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Administrator …
REG Says 2011 RVOs Can Be Met
This year is poised to be a great year for the biodiesel industry. The EPA upheld the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) for this year and along with the return of the tax credit, the industry is busy getting back online and producing quality fuel. However, despite the RVO, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed to ensure …
DF Cast: Researchers, Advocates Clash on Algae Biodiesel Feasibility
Some researchers say that, at current production levels, algae biodiesel is not a commercially viable product. But some algae advocates believe researchers might have some ulterior motives for coming to that conclusion. One of the study’s authors, Dr. Peter Pfromm, a professor in Kansas State University’s department of chemical engineering, says that while they found that it’s possible to produce …