Ethanol makers, who have been having a tough time making ends meet as their primary feedstock skyrocketed in price, are finally seeing some relief in lower prices… and better bottom lines. This Aberdeen (SD) American News article posted on the Chicago Tribune web site has details: The industry, which buys corn to make ethanol, has been finding it tough to …
Georgia Researchers Increasing Ethanol Yields
A group of researchers from the University of Georgia are working on technology to get more ethanol from non-food sources, such as biomass. This story from ChemicalOnline.com says they’re finding a way to make ethanol out of bermuda grass, switch grass, napier grass and even lawn clippings cleaner than previous biomass ethanol efforts: “Producing ethanol from renewable biomass sources such …
EPA To Announce Ethanol Waiver Decision
The highly-anticipated decision by the Environmental Protection Agency on whether to grant a partial waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard will be announced Thursday afternoon. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson and Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Robert Meyers will hold a press conference at noon central time to officially answer the request from Texas Governor Rick Perry to cut the RFS ethanol …
New Cellulosic Ethanol Partnership
BP and Verenium Corporation have announced the creation of a strategic partnership to accelerate the development and commercialization of cellulosic ethanol. According to a Verenium press release, the partnership “combines a broad technology platform and operational capabilities in an effort to advance the development of a portfolio of low-cost, environmentally sound cellulosic ethanol production facilities in the United States, and …
Ethanol Wins in Missouri Primary
Missouri’s ethanol industry got a boost today as pro-ethanol Republican gubernatorial candidate Kenny Hulshof defeated Sarah Steelman, who had vowed to cancel the state’s new ethanol mandate. Hulshof will now face Democratic candidate Jay Nixon, who also purports to support ethanol. As you might remember from my earlier posts (especially on July 23), ethanol had become a key issue in …
New Report Confirms Purdue Ethanol Study
A couple of weeks ago, we told you about how Purdue University had come out with a study that showed that increasing costs for oil were responsible for 75 percent in the rise in the price in corn, while demand for ethanol accounted for just one-fourth of corn’s skyrocketing price. Now, a report coming out of Nebraska also says the …
USDA, DOE Hand Out Biomass Grants
The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy announced $10 million worth of grants for 10 places of higher education to help accelerate the use of biomass into cellulosic biofuels. This USDA release has details: “USDA is committed to fostering a sustainable domestic biofuels industry at home in rural America,” [Agriculture Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics Gale Buchanan] said. …