Dow AgroSciences is promoting a product that it says will drive higher production of ethanol. The seed company says it’s MYCOGEN® brand corn hybrids will help corn growers meet the increasing demand for ethanol. The Mycogen Seeds ethanol product lineup features superior yield protection technologies such as HERCULEX® XTRA Insect Protection and the latest in weed control options. “As industry …
Americans Buying Record Numbers of Alternative Fuel Autos
Americans bought nearly half a million alternative fuel automobiles (AFAs) during the second quarter of 2007… a record and good news for the alternative fuel industry and the environment. The Missouri Soybean Association lists the story in its “Bean Briefs” and says the numbers from R.L. Polk & Company are a 27 percent increase from a year ago: Sales of …
Advanced Bioenergy Finances SD Operations
Advanced BioEnergy, LLC has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Heartland Grain Fuels, L.P., has closed on a $118 million financing package for its South Dakota ethanol production facilities. According to the company, the financing will be used to refinance Heartland Grain Fuels’ existing debt, complete construction of a 40 million gallons nameplate per year expansion facility at Heartland’s existing Aberdeen …
UL Announces E85 Pump Certification
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has announced the establishment of safety requirements for E85 fuel dispensing equipment and is now ready to start certification investigations, according to a UL news release. The establishment of safety requirements follows the completion of UL’s comprehensive research program to investigate potential safety concerns associated with dispensing highly concentrated ethanol-blended fuels. The research included extensive gathering of …
Agriculture’s Role in Cellulosic Ethanol Production
The Cellulosic Ethanol Summit is underway in Washington, DC. It’s an interesting mix of people who want to learn more about how we’re going to build this new segment of the fuel ethanol industry. On hand at lunch time was our Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner. He addressed the group on the subject of what agriculture’s role is in …
Biofuels Helping Fuel Cargill’s Profits
Ethanol and biodiesel are making “modest” contributions to ag products giant Cargill’s profits… according to numbers released by the U.S.’s largest agricultural company. This story in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune says the company reports fiscal first-quarter profit rose 83 percent as more soybeans and corn were processed and the company was able to successfully hedge higher grain costs: Cargill benefited from …
U.S. Consumers Support Renewable Fuels
Ask the American public about renewable fuels and odds are you’ll get two thumbs up. At least, that’s what a poll conducted by Harris Interactive found. A new poll conducted by Harris Interactive(R) shows overwhelming American support for expanding renewable fuel options with nine in 10 U.S. adults (88 percent) agreeing the U.S. should pursue renewable energy sources. The poll, …
Flex Fuel Conversion Kit Receives EPA Certification
An alternative fuel conversion unit has received certification from the Environmental Protection Agency for use on certain types of fleet vehicles. Flex Fuel U.S. of Chicago reports that its Flex-Box Smart Kit™ fuel conversion system is “the first and only E85 conversion unit has been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for fleet vehicles.” The Flex-Box Smart Kit is …
USDA Lowers Corn for Ethanol Forecast
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s supply and demand forecast has lowered its estimate of how much of this year’s corn harvest the ethanol industry would use by another 100 million bushels. It was the second straight month the forecast has been reduced reflecting lower indicated plant capacity utilization and lower returns for ethanol producers due to recent declines …
Texas Cuts Biofules Incentives
Surprise, surprise… petroleum giant Texas has cut some of the state’s incentives to biofuels makers. The Dallas Morning News reports that lawmakers in the state legislature removed funding for biodiesel and ethanol because some complained that they were competing with the state’s petroleum industry. But some lawmakers see the move as short sighted: Rep. David Swinford, a Republican lawmaker from …