Meat-producing giant Tyson is making a bid to be a player in the burgeoning biodiesel market.
This story posted on the Meatingplace.com says Tyson has announced a joint venture with Syntroleum Corp., a Tulsa-based synthetic fuels technology company:
The move creates Dynamic Fuels LLC, which will produce synthetic fuels targeting the renewable diesel, jet and military fuel markets.
Tyson, the nation’s largest protein processor, will supply feedstock derived from animal fats, greases and vegetable oils for the 50/50 joint venture, which aims to construct and operate multiple stand-alone commercial facilities.
The first facility, expected to start construction in 2008 at a yet-to-be-determined site in the south central United States, will produce about 75 million gallons of synthetic fuel annually using a process patented by Syntroleum, with production set to begin in 2010.
The $150 million project adds to Tyson’s growing biodiesel ventures. You might remember last April, Tyson announced a partnership with ConocoPhillips to produce biodiesel. That partnership has drawn the ire of the National Biodiesel Board and some lawmakers who say the companies are trying to take advantage of a tax credit intended for up-and-coming biodiesel producers, not big oil companies (see my posts on April 18th and April 20th).
The latest report from the Renewable Fuels Association shows that a strong production trend continues in the U.S. ethanol industry, producing 391,000 barrels per day in April. That’s and increase of more than 100,000 barrels per day from the same time a year ago and brings the annual output at nearly six billion gallons. Ethanol demand remained constant at 410,000 b/d as did U.S. fuel ethanol imports, at 35 million gallons for the month.
South Dakota-based ethanol producer POET is adding another plant to its list of 20 active ethanol refineries and seven more under construction.
At 65 million gallons of ethanol per year (MGPY), POET Biorefining – North Manchester will consume 21 million bushels of locally grown corn and produce 178,000 tons of premium Dakota Gold Enhanced Nutrition Distillers Products™. Ethanol marketing for the facility will be provided by POET Ethanol Products and byproducts will be marketed by POET Nutrition. The facility will utilize Norfolk Southern rail service.
The IndyCars are really exciting to watch. At the Iowa Corn Indy 250 they were a little more exciting than normal due to all the bang-ups. 
The winner of the first ever Iowa Corn Indy 250, presented by Ethanol is Dario Franchitti. He was a survivor out there because it was a brutal race of attrition after multiple accidents.
One of the founders of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and Team Ethanol is Ron Fagen, 
I’m saddened to say that Jeff Simmons in the Team Ethanol car wasn’t able to finish today’s race. And he was running very well. Unfortunately on lap 86 Tony Kanaan spun out in front of him and he had no where to go and wound up in the wall and was out of the race.
Just prior to the Iowa Corn Indy 250, presented by Ethanol I ran into Bob Dinneen, the CEO/President of the 
They’re billing it as America’s first renewable energy chopper that runs on E85. It was unveiled today at the Iowa Speedway by 
Welcome to race day here at the Iowa Speedway as we near the start of the Iowa Corn Indy 250.