One of the sponsors for the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit and Domestic Fuel coverage of it is the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. EPIC Executive Director, Tom Slunecka was on hand and we sat down for a chat. I’ve been waiting to do this since he announced that he’s heading on to a new opportunity with KL Process Design Group (more on KL later).
Tom is the man who has been the voice of EPIC since the beginning a couple of years ago when he, along with founding members, ICM, POET and Fagen had the vision to start a promotional organization to brand their product and educate consumers in a big way. I remember when Tom walked into the media room at the Commodity Classic with some invitations to attend a press conference in Washington, DC with an IRL car on display. I think I was the only one to take him up on that offer at the time and we’ve been working with EPIC ever since.
I’d say we’ll miss Tom (I’m sure his staff will) but I know we’ll still be working with him as he ventures into the cellulosic side of the industry. So I guess you can view this as my exit interview with Tom from EPIC to a new chapter in his career. In my interview with Tom you’ll hear him say that EPIC is on very firm footing from a membership and financial standpoint and that there’s a full staff in place to move it forward aggressively in the coming year. I agree and I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunity to keep up with EPIC right here as we continue our support for the organization and the industry. We’re excited to find out who will replace Tom once the board completes their Executive Director search.
You can listen to my interview with Tom here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/ethanol/cellulosic-summit-07-slunecka.mp3]
Ohio wants wind energy to be a bigger player in it’s overall energy production. That’s why the state is incorporating new projects to develop utility-scale wind energy as part of it’s commitment to renewable energy innovation.
The Chairman of this year’s Cellulosic Ethanol Summit is the “Reverend of Renewable Fuels” and 
There will soon be a number of ethanol plants in operation in Ohio. To help them and the biodiesel industry as well, a new group has been formed called Buckeye Renewable Fuels Association. BRFA is headed up by long time corn grower leader Mike Wagner. In fact, he says the 
One of the people I met with here at the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit is Tim Lust, CEO of the 
The 
A Czechoslovakian-made jet has made history when it became the first jet to fly on 100 percent biodiesel. The L-29 military aircraft flew over the high desert near Reno, Nevada piloted by C.
The experimental test flights were conducted starting with a blend of jet fuel and biodiesel. The engine data was measured and the performance was evaluated and found acceptable for continued use, eventually resulting in the landmark flight using 100% renewable biodiesel fuel. According to Chief Pilot Carol Sugars who wrote and conducted the test program, “As we gradually increased the amount of biodiesel in the fuel blend, the data confirmed that the aircraft continued to perform well, giving me the confidence to transition to 100% biodiesel.” Flight tests were conducted up to an altitude of 17,000 feet showing no significant difference in performance compared to conventional jet fuel.
The 