FAPRI Analyzes Energy Bill

John Davis

The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri has completed an analysis of the new energy bill, and the results seem to point to some pretty positive results from the legislation. FAPRI reports the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, signed into law by President Bush on December 19th, will have positive consequences for …

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government, News

Ethanol Outlook for 2008

Cindy Zimmerman

2008 could be an even better year than 2007 for the ethanol industry. That’s the outlook of Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen. In the first “Ethanol Report” podcast for 2008, Dinneen gazes into his crystal ball and sees blue skies and big challenges for the ethanol industry this year. “I think we will continue to see dramatic growth in …

Audio, Ethanol, News, RFA

Ethanol Pioneer Dies

Cindy Zimmerman

One of the original ethanol visionaries has passed away, but the plant he helped to build in 1984 continues to operate. The Washington Post today published the obituary of Donald Evans, a Washington area lawyer and “70s ethanol pioneer,” as the headline reads. In 1980, he and other partners formed New Energy Inc. of Indiana to build a $185 million …

Ethanol, News

POET Opens First Ohio Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

POET hosted a grand opening ceremony Thursday for their 22nd ethanol production facility and the first in the state of Ohio. Some 3,000 people attended the opening of POET Biorefining – Leipsic, including Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, Ohio Congressman Bob Latta and Mike Wagner, Executive Director for the Buckeye Renewable Fuels Association. “The State of Ohio is excited to partner …

EPIC, Ethanol, Facilities, News

Detroit Auto Show Featuring Green-Fueled Vehicles

John Davis

The 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit will feature vehicles using a variety of green fuels, including ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen, and fuel cells. This story from The Auto Channel says when the public comes in to the annual gathering on January 19th-27th, 2008, they’ll see more clean fuels more than ever before: Going green is no longer a …

Biodiesel, Car Makers, Ethanol, Hydrogen, News

McCain’s & Clinton’s Alternative Energy Stands

John Davis

Last week after Sen. Barack Obama and former Arkansas Mike Huckabee posted wins in the Iowa caucuses, I posted their renewable energy stances from their web sites. Now, as it looks like Sens. Hillary Clinton and John McCain have posted wins in their respective Democratic and Republican primaries in New Hampshire, I wanted to give you their stands on alternative …

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

Good News Network

Cindy Zimmerman

Not all the news out there about ethanol is negative, even though it sometimes seems that way. The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council has started a new e-newsletter to spread the good press that ethanol is getting. The “Ethanol Good News Network” communication is sent out twice weekly on Monday and Friday afternoons. EPIC members are automatically subscribed.

EPIC, Ethanol, News

Ethanol Production Moves Full Steam Ahead

John Davis

The latest technology for producing ethanol is getting steamy. Literally. A new patent means more environmentally-friendly production of ethanol. Interstate Power and Light Company, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation, and AE&E – Von Roll, Inc., a technology provider of steam generating systems using renewable, waste and conventional fuels, have together patented(*) a technology application that helps ethanol plants run …

Agribusiness, Energy, Ethanol, News, Production

Study: Switchgrass Better Ethanol Producer than Expected

John Davis

A long-term study in the Midwest shows that switchgrass is a better feedstock for ethanol than previously thought. This AFP story says the trial showed that native North American prairie grass could produce a whopping 540 percent more renewable energy than what it takes to produce the ethanol: Previous estimates, based on small scale research plots, suggested the grass would …

Ethanol, News

E States Number 28

Cindy Zimmerman

The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) state branding program has added another three states to the list of those that have approved the “e” label for ethanol at the pump. Maine, Mississippi and Wisconsin are the latest to approve the pump label, a project EPIC has been working on for just about a year now. The map shows all …

EPIC, Ethanol, News, Promotion