USDA Deputy Secretary Dr. Kathleen Merrigan will get some first hand knowledge of Iowa’s ethanol industry during a tour scheduled for October 20. During her visit, Dr. Merrigan will learn about ethanol production, utilization of co-products and biodiesel research. Merrigan will first visit Lincolnway Energy, a 50-million gallon per year ethanol plant with a corn oil extraction process. Next, she …
Photos Win Ethanol Sturgis Contest
The Renewable Fuels Association has announced the winners of its E85 Flex-Fuel Challenge Sturgis Photo Contest. Tim Gillespie of Cameron Park, California was the Grand Prize winner of a $1,000 gift card to the motorcycle dealership of his choice after submitting his winning photo, “Sturgis Bikes 2009” pictured left. The photo contest was judged based on creativity as well as …
Coskata Unveils Semi- Commerical Cellulosic Plant
Coskata Inc., has finally unveiled it’s “semi-commercial flex ethanol facility” to the world today with the New York Times taking the lead. In the article author Matthew Wald writes, “The facility, built by a company called Coskata, is not quite proof that a new era is at hand for American transportation fuels. But with the company claiming it will be …
DF Cast: Mixing Ethanol and (Bio) Diesel
You can’t burn ethanol in a diesel engine. Nope. Just not done. Like mixing oil and water. But what if you added more water to the ethanol? And came up with a way to mix the hydrated-ethanol blend with the diesel… or better yet, biodiesel… right at the point of ignition? Ahhh… then you’d have something that National Corn Growers …
Study: Cars Running Corn-Based E85 Outperform Telsa
The Biofuels Digest has reported that a new study found that cars running on corn-based E85 have 30 percent lower CO2 emissions over the car’s lifetime than the Tesla Roadster, an all electric vehicle running on coal-based electricity. These results are based on the new CAFE standards that were passed this summer. But maybe more interesting, the study found that …
Clemson Univ. Partners with Arborgen to Research Biomass
“This kind of research has global implications for climate change, energy security and the long-term stability of our local and national economy, particularly as it can help develop the rural infrastructure and jobs we need,” said Barbara Wells, president and CEO of ArborGen. Joint areas of research include exploration of possible sources of biofuel, such as sweetgum, loblolly pine and …
Ethanol Report on Petroleum Impacts
This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features comments from Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association on his remarks to the annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Journalists on the issue of international indirect land use change and new reports about the environmental impacts of petroleum. You can subscribe to this twice monthly podcast by following this link. Listen …
Evolution Fuels Plans Dallas Ethanol Station
The state known for its oil wells may be in for a fuel evolution. Dallas-based Evolution Fuels, Inc. is planning to start its new brand of renewable fuel stations in the heart of the Dallas metropolis. The company has signed a letter of intent to lease a location for their first fuel station under the brand “Evolution Fuels” that will …
KL Energy & Fair Energy Ink Cellulosic Deal
KL Energy Corp. has inked a deal with Fair Energy to move forward with a partnership that would produce cellulosic ethanol in both the U.S. and Europe. KL Energy was the first company to operate a commercial-size demonstration cellulosic ethanol plant located in Upton, Wyo. In a press statement, Steve Corcoran, KL Energy’s CEO said, “As the industry continues moving …