Another successful Farm Progress Show has wrapped up in Boone, Iowa. We ended on a high note with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad visiting exhibitors and stopping by the BASF Media Tent to speak with reporters about key ag issues. I spoke with him about three issues: ethanol, water quality and trade. Branstad said that we appreciate the private sector support …
GROWMARK Talks Ethanol Tax Credits
The upcoming Presidential election, and the potential changes to funding and regulation that the changing administration may bring, is a concern for many within the agriculture industry, and it was a major talking point during the 2016 GROWMARK Annual Meeting & Agribusiness Symposium. Chuck Spencer, Executive Director for Government Affairs at GROWMARK, is using the upcoming elections as an opportunity …
NEB Unveils Spill Prevention Plan
The Nebraska Ethanol Board (NEB) has partnered with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Engineering’s Partners in Pollution Prevention program to develop a new Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) plan for agriculture producers who maintain their own fuel storage. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), fuels are hazardous materials, and as such, handling or storing them improperly can …
Diesel Dogs 1st Distributor in Minn to offer #E15
St. Paul based Diesel Dogs Fuel Service is the first distributor to offer pre-blended E15 in Minnesota. This week the company delivered its first gallons of E15 to its municipal and corporate fleet customers in the Twin Cities. And just around the corner, Diesel Dogs will be offering E15 to retail customers. “We hope that by taking the initiative to …
MN Rep Tim Walz Visits Al-Corn Clean Fuel
Minnesota Rep. Tim Walz (D) recently visited Al-Corn Clean Fuel, located in Claremont, Minnesota, on August 24, 2016 to learn more about ethanol and the biorefinery’s upcoming expansion. Rep. Walz also took the opportunity to reiterate his support for Minnesota-produced biofuels. While at the ethanol plant, who recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, Walz was briefed on Al-Corn’s $146 million expansion …
#Ethanol Plant to Gas Station Lowers Pump Prices
Ethanol provides consumers savings at the pump – especially when the retailer passes along the RIN (Renewable Identification Number) savings to their customers. No one knows this better than Dave Sovereign, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Golden Grain Energy, and owner and investor of Cresco Fast Stop in Cresco, Iowa. I was able to sit down with Sovereign …
ICM to Purchase Colwich, KS Abengoa Bioenergy Plant
Abengoa Bioenergy’s U.S. assets have been sold under the provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and their biorefinery located in Colwich, Kansas was purchased by Colwich-based ICM. The ethanol facility was sold by $3.1 million. “ICM values this location in Colwich, Kan., and we are evaluating the best way to exercise that opportunity,” said Dave VanderGriend, founder and CEO of …
#Oil Industry Report Ignores #Biofuel Climate Benefits
A new study has been released out of the University of Michigan Energy Institute led by anti-biofuel Professor John DeCicco. The report challenges the assumption that biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, are inherently carbon neutral. The study, based on USDA crop-production data, finds that during the period of increased biofuel growth, the increased carbon dioxide uptake by the crops …
Texas A&M Offers Biofuel Short Course
A short course is being offered by the Processing Engineering R&D Center entitled, “Practical Short Course on Plant Operations and Process Engineering for Solvent Biofuel Facilities“. The Center is part of Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station and is taking place October 16-19, 2016 at Texas A&M University, located in College Station, Texas. As part of the course, students will have …
GPRE to Purchase Abengoa #Ethanol Plants
Green Plains Inc. (GPRE) has announced the successful bid for three of the U.S. ethanol plants for sale by Abengoa Bioenergy as part of the Spanish-based company’s bankruptcy. The company will purchase the Madison, Ill., Mount Vernon, Ind. and York, Neb. ethanol facilities, with combined annual production capacity of 236 million gallons per year, for approximately $237 million in cash, …