Royal Dutch Shell is nearly doubling its investment in cellulosic ethanol. Shell announced this week that it is increasing its shareholding in Iogen Energy Corporation from 26.3% to 50%. Shell first took an equity stake in 2002. The terms of the agreement include a significant investment by Shell in technology development with Iogen. Iogen’s first demonstration commercial plant opened in …
Study: Hydrogen Could Replace All Oil in 50 Years
A new study shows that hydrogen-powered vehicles have the potential to eliminate the use of all petroleum from American transportation in the next 50 years. This story from TradingMarkets.com says the National Research Council study also recommends biofuels should be used in the meantime: In a press call with reporters, the Department of Energy’s Mike Ramage analyzed the findings of …
EPIC Steps Up to Take Charge of Ethanol
The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is the organization that takes charge of educating consumers about ethanol. Just last month, the young non-profit held it’s first ever annual meeting, where new ideas were presented, new members were elected and new goals were set. EPIC executive Director Toni Nuernberg says EPIC has already achieved much success in its first two years, …
Home of Pony Express Making Run at Biodiesel Capitol
St. Joseph, Missouri is becoming a center for renewable fuels in this country as the city will soon become home to its third biodiesel plant, joining an ethanol refinery in the area. This story in the St. Joseph News-Press says the groundbreaking ceremony this week was purey ceremonial as Terra Bioenergy has been busy for some time, pouring concrete slabs …
Texas Approves Major Wind Energy Infrastructure Project
The Public Utility Commission of Texas has approved $5 billion worth of new power lines that will carry wind energy from the western part of the state to more populated areas. This article in the Houston Chronicle says it will give a major boost to a state that is already leading the country in wind-generated power: It should boost the …
Repeal of Missouri Ethanol Standard Would be Costly
Missouri corn growers say repealing the state ethanol standard would be a costly mistake. The CEO of the Missouri Corn Growers Association says that while recent political proposals claim repealing the statewide ethanol standard would lower fuel and food prices, the effect would be quite the opposite. “Simple economics dictate that increasing supply helps reduce price,” said Gary Marshall. “Utilizing …
DOE Awards Cellulosic Grants
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded grants of up to $40 million over five years for two small-scale cellulosic biorefinery projects, one in Wisconsin and one in Louisiana. Flambeau River BioFuels received approval to construct and operate a biorefinery at an existing pulp and paper mill in Park Falls, Wisconsin. When completed, the facility will produce at least 1 …
Poll Finds Bipartisan Support for Ethanol
By a margin of 2 to 1, American voters believe increasing the use of renewable fuels like ethanol should continue, according to a new poll conducted by the Democratic firm of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and the Republican firm Public Opinion Strategies. The survey of 1,200 registered voters conducted June 23 – July 1 also revealed that nearly half of …
NEVC Concludes 2008 Summer Board Meeting
The NEVC along with cosponsors hosted a reception for the attendees of the Corn Congress on Monday, July 14. Also, a reception at the nation’s Capitol was held on July 15. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar addressed the crowd at the reception. She thanked the Minnesota Corn Growers Association for their leadership on pushing this year’s Farm Bill to its success. …
Blue Hawaii Using Green Algae for Biodiesel
While the waters along those world-famous Hawaiian beaches will still be picture-perfect blue, some folks in the Aloha State are banking on some murky-green H2O for power. This story from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin says three companies will team up to develop the world’s first commercial microalgae facility on Maui that will produce oil for biodiesel and and animal feed. Alexander …