Investors still seem to have quite an appetite for alternative energy… but their tastes might be changing a bit.
This AP story posted on Forbes.com says energy sources such as solar and wind have made some gains, while ethanol investments became somewhat flat:
According to IPOHome.com, 115 companies went public in the U.S. during the first half of the year. Of those, eight were in the alternative energy sector, compared to nine offerings for all of 2006.
“What we’re seeing is a very strong pipeline” of renewable energy IPOs, both in the U.S. and overseas, said Michael Liebreich, chairman and chief executive of research provider New Energy Finance.
That’s particularly true for solar and wind companies, he said. On the other hand, after a banner 2006 that saw three ethanol companies raise just shy of $1 billion in initial public offerings, ethanol IPOs have ground to a halt as concerns about high raw material costs and saturation curbed market demand.
The article goes on to say ethanol investments might have been hurt a bit by the sharp rise in corn prices. Meanwhile, biodiesel IPOs are just getting off the ground but could be helped by big deals such as Seattle-based Imperium Renewables’ recent large investments.
Just less than a year ago, the prospects for a biodiesel plant in Minot, North Dakota seemed pretty promising as the state’s governor, a U.S. Senator, and North Dakota’s ag commissioner attended the groundbreaking at the Dakota Skies Biodiesel plant.
A congressional committee has added an amendment to the Energy Bill that would require U.S. Government gas pumps to offer E85 ethanol.
“I was pleased the Committee accepted my amendment to expand the availability of E85 and renewable fuel pumps at federal government refueling stations,” Stupak said. “The federal government is the largest energy consumer in our nation and needs to lead by example. By mandating the expansion of renewable fuel pumps at federal refueling stations, we can ensure federal agencies increase their renewable fuel use and help America move away from its dependence on foreign oil.”
Phillip Lampert, the Executive Director of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, praised Congressman Stupak for offering the amendment. “We thank Congressman Stupak for his efforts, insight and acknowledgment of the need to move the federal government’s fleet of vehicles onto E85 and other renewable fuels,” Lampert said. “Bart Stupak has long been a leader on energy issues, and we thank him for offering this bi-partisan amendment.” 
Thanks to the 
The chief science officer for 
The latest report from USDA’s 
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have rolled out an energy plan during what they tout as America’s “Energy Independence Day.”
The nation’s first closed-loop ethanol facility has opened near Mead, Nebraska. Closed-loop means it has a cattle feedlot attached with an ethanol plant. The 
“The U.S. ethanol industry is all about innovation, and this E3 BioFuels facility is a prime example of how innovative