A spiky tree with a reptilian bark may be able to take a bite out of the cost to produce cellulosic ethanol. The tree is often called a sweetgum, but it also goes by the name “alligator tree” because it does look like one. So, it’s appropriate that researchers with the University of Florida – home of the Gators – …
Ethanol Industry Concerns About EPA Peer Review
The Environmental Protection Agency’s peer review of the renewable fuel standards lifecycle analysis released today is being characterized by corn and ethanol industry groups as biased, bizarre and puzzling. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) says the EPA “stacked the deck against biofuels in its process to “peer review” the agency’s indirect land use change analysis (ILUC) conducted for the Renewable …
Book Review – The Gort Cloud
Hey all you marketers out there – listen up! This week I reviewed a book on how to successfully market your environmentally friendly product through the “Gort Cloud”. What is the Gort Cloud you ask? “The vast but invisible community that has the power to make or break green brands and much of this community and interaction is done online. …
Phibro’s Process Optimization Seminar Successful
With today’s economic climate, everything an ethanol plant can do to increase efficiencies helps the bottom line. As a plant changes constantly due to inputs and environmental shifts, its important for employees to understand how process aids including Enzymes, Yeast, Antimicrobials, and Water Treatment function alone and in conjunction with other inputs. Another area of focus was to learn about …
California Biodiesel & Ethanol Co. Patents Algae Dredger
A maker of parts for biodiesel and ethanol operations says it has been awarded a “Notice of Allowance” by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a device that is supposed to make it easier to harvest algae to make biofuels. This press release from San Marcos, California-based Circle Biodiesel & Ethanol Corporation says the company received the notice …
New Biodiesel Plant Opens in East Tennessee
A new biodiesel plant in East Tennessee is the first of its kind for that part of the state. This article from the Southeast Farm Press says officials with the University of Tennessee, as well as state and local officials and members of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy were on hand for the ribbon cutting of the facility that …
Wind Company Getting Into Biodiesel Biz
A Texas wind energy company is getting into the bioidesel business. The Houston Business Journal says National Wind Solutions Inc. has just bought a biodiesel plant for $3 million: The plant, located in Atascosa County just south of San Antonio, produced biodiesel for commercial transportation uses before being mothballed due to high soybean oil prices. Houston-based National Wind intends to …
Feds to Give $2.4 Bil for Battery-Powered Vehicles
Federal grants totaling $2.4 billion will be handed out for the development of fuel-saving, battery-powered vehicles. CNN reports President Barack Obama made the announcement at an RV plant in Elkhart County, Indiana: “For too long, we’ve failed to invest in this kind of innovative work, even as countries like China and Japan were racing ahead,” he said. “With these investments, …