The USDA is working on matching the best places to build biofuel refineries with the areas that have the best feedstocks to produce the green fuels. This Agricultural Research Service article says they’ve been looking at the potential in the Pacific Northwest: [ARS] agronomist George Mueller-Warrant, plant physiologist Gary Banowetz, and hydrologist Jerry Whittaker calculated that the 6.2 million tons …
Biofuels Part of Bright Outlook for Farm Economy
The full House Agriculture Committee held a hearing today to hear from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack about the outlook for the farm economy, which is being supported by strong demand for ethanol and biodiesel. Vilsack told the committee that the farm economy continues to remain strong with U.S. agricultural exports, farm cash receipts and net farm income projected at …
Renewables In and Out of Obama Budget
There are renewable winners and losers in the FY2012 budget proposed this week by President Obama. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the president has included funding in the budget “To promote the domestic production of renewable energy, we invest in renewable energy programs related to commercialization; research and development; education and outreach; and energy efficiency and conservation. We are also …
USDA Changes to Rules to Help Biofuels
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has changed some of its rules that will help the bifuels industries, and, in turn, help create jobs in rural America and increase the production and use of renewable energy. The changes will allow non-rural areas to get funding and remove prior citizenship requirements for borrowers under the Biorefinery Assistance Program, the Repowering Assistance Program …
USDA Guarantees South Dakota Wind Loans
A South Dakota wind farm will receive U.S. Department of Agriculture loan guarantees that will help build 100 wind turbines providing 151.5 megawatts of electricity. This USDA press release says the money will help Basin Electric Power Cooperative build the PrairieWinds wind farm energy project in central South Dakota that will join the cooperative’s other electric generation projects to meet …
Comments on USDA Supply Demand Report
There were not many changes in the February World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) report out today, except in the corn department. Corn used for ethanol is projected 50 million bushels higher on a higher-than-expected November final ethanol production estimate and weekly ethanol data that indicate record output for December and January. USDA chief economist Joe Glauber says ethanol …
Ethanol Report on World Supply Demand Estimates
The February USDA World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) report out today includes some revisions in grain use numbers. This edition of the Ethanol Report podcast with Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Research Geoff Cooper takes a look at those numbers and provides some perspective from the ethanol industry standpoint. For U.S. corn supplies, USDA lowered its forecast …
Adminstration Offers Boost for Advanced Biofuels
In addition to loan guarantees for biorefineries in the southeast, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) announced other steps today designed to give the advanced biofuels industry a much-needed boost. “With the renewable fuels standard goal, there’s going to be a need for additional biofuels and it must be met in large part by advanced biofuels,” said …
USDA Announces Funding for Biorefinery Projects
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $405 million in guarantee loans for three biorefinery projects in the southeast under the Biorefinery Assistance Program. The three projects are located in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. “We believe it’s critical and crucial to develop a biofuel industry powered by feedstocks produced in every corner of the country,” said Vilsack during a conference call …
USDA Awards Grants for Sustainable Bioenergy Education
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced two grants that will create educational opportunities in math and science for students interested in bioenergy and bio-based products. NIFA awarded Corinne Rutzke at Cornell University $4,999,940 to provide teachers from grades 8 through the undergraduate level with a strong footing in multi-disciplinary content and research-based training materials and activities …