DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol and the University of Tennessee Research Foundation have announced a partnership to construct an innovative pilot-scale biorefinery and state-of-the-art research and development facility for cellulosic ethanol in Vonore, Tenn. According to DuPont Danisco, the pilot-scale biorefinery will develop the commercial package for the partnership’s leading cellulosic ethanol technology. The project will also utilize UT’s world-class expertise …
Ethanol Experts Available
The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) has unveiled a new Renewable Fuels Experts Database to help fight public misconceptions about ethanol. EPIC is the first organization to offer such a media resource containing experts from the renewable fuels industry. The database is an online tool that allows journalists to find experts by searching keywords or a category list such …
RFS Restrictions Could Delay Cellulosic Ethanol
Members of a House Agriculture subcommittee are expressing concerns that restrictions under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act could be detrimental to the development of second generation ethanol using biomass. The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research held a hearing to review the RFS implementation and agriculture producer eligibility. Chairman …
MO Gov Candidates Debate Ethanol
As we reported back on July 16th, ethanol has become a key issue in the race for Missouri’s governor office. Tonight, the two key opponents in the debate over Missouri’s ethanol mandate, one of the first in the nation, faced off in a televised debate. Republicans Congressman Kenny Hulshof and State Treasurer Sarah Steelman tangled over each other’s positions on …
EPAC 18th Annual Conference Concludes
Ethanol Producers and Consumers’ (EPAC) 18th Annual Ethanol Conference concluded in Kalispell, Montana yesterday. The conference featured more than twenty speakers within the one and a half day event. The focus of this year’s conference was to help dispel the myths of the food and fuel debate. Michelle Kautz of NEVC, Julie Ward of R.J. O’Brien, Steve Markham of CHS, …
Study Offers Objective View of Food Price Drivers
An agricultural public policy group is releasing a new study today that offers a comprehensive, objective assessment of the forces driving food prices. The Farm Foundation study “What’s Driving Food Prices?” was written by three Purdue University economists. Lead author Wally Tyner says that while ethanol demand is definitely the main reason for increased corn prices, the ultimate driver behind …
Open Fuel Standard Act Introduced
U.S. Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) today introduced the Open Fuel Standard Act. The legislation would require that half of all new automobiles starting in 2012 be flex-fuel vehicles warranted to operate on gasoline, ethanol, and methanol, or be warranted to operate on biodiesel. The requirement would be increased to 80 percent by 2015. …
EPA Delays Ethanol Waiver Decision
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson announced today that the agency will not meet its July 24 deadline to issue a decision on the renewable fuels standard (RFS) waiver request submitted by Texas Governor Rick Perry. Johnson said in a statement, “Given the amount of work that remains to sufficiently answer the Texas request for a waiver from the …
Candidate Positions on Ethanol
Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain spoke to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Council of Presidents meeting in Washington DC last week by teleconference about various issues of importance to agriculture, including it’s role in America’s energy needs. McCain heralded his “Lexington Project” to make America energy independent which includes alternative fuels, ethanol, nuclear and offshore drilling. The plan …
VeraSun Starts Up New Ethanol Plant
VeraSun Energy has announced the startup of its 110 million gallon per year ethanol biorefinery located near Hankinson, N.D. The Hankinson production facility marks the 12th VeraSun biorefinery in operation, increasing the company’s annual operating capacity to 1.2 billion gallons. Construction on the Hankinson facility began in August of 2006 and was completed in June. The opening of the plant …