The world’s largest ethanol producer could be getting even bigger soon. Speculation is that POET is behind a potential buyout of VeraSun Energy Corporation, which filed Chapter 11 less than a month ago. VeraSun announced this week that it received a “non-binding unsolicited indication of interest with respect to the purchase of substantially all of its assets.” Both POET and …
KU* EcoHawks Aim for 500 MPG Car
Some University of Kansas* engineering students are working on a car they hope will get 500 miles per gallon… and ethanol and biodiesel look to figure in as some of the fuels it would run on. This story from the KU* School of Engineering web site says the students are working on a 1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle to turn it …
Dems Ready to Introduce Biofuels Bills
For the first time in 16 years, Democrats control the U.S. House, Senate and the White House. And for some of the Democratic leaders in the Senate, they see this as the best opportunity to get some of their pet biofuels legislation passed and signed. This story from CBS News says Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Senate Environment …
Ethanol Groups Join Together
The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is joining with the newly-formed Growth Energy group. EPIC Executive Director Toni Nuernberg made the official announcement today that the organization’s board of directors is recommending a transition plan to the membership for the two groups to combine. “The mission of EPIC’s formation— growing ethanol awareness through public relations, marketing and promotions — will …
Ethanol Report from Cellulosic Summit
The third annual Cellulosic Ethanol Summit was held this week in Coral Gables, Florida and Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen was once again chairman of the summit. In this “Ethanol Report” podcast, Dinneen discusses a number of issues – including the race to commercialize cellulosic ethanol, the new administration, getting more flex fuel vehicles on the road, …
Indy Chooses Brazilian Ethanol
The domestic ethanol industry is pleading with the Indy Racing League to reconsider the decision to make Brazil the official ethanol supplier for the 23 IndyCar Series races. In a letter to IRL commercial division president Terry Angstadt this week, Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen implored the IRL to “at least ensure that the Indianapolis 500 be run on …
Florida Biofuels Developing
At the same time Florida was hosting the third Cellulosic Ethanol Summit in Coral Gables this week, U.S. Sugar announced an agreement with Coskata to explore building a 100 million gallon per year cellulosic ethanol facility in Clewiston, Florida. The facility would be the world’s largest second generation ethanol facility, converting left-over sugar cane material into ethanol. That is great …