University researchers from California, Iowa and Chile have found that sugarcane ethanol production creates up to seven times more air pollutants than previously estimated, according to news from the University of Iowa. The research team used agricultural survey data from Brazil to calculate emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases from the entire production, distribution, and lifecycle of sugarcane ethanol …
Congress Urged to Extend Biodiesel Tax Incentive
Representatives of the U.S. biodiesel industry are urging Congress to pass a seamless extension of the biodiesel tax incentive. The $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax credit is slated to expire on Dec. 31. Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate to extend it for three years. Proponents of the bill testified this week in a hearing on alternative …
Alliance AutoGas Achieves EPA-Certification
Alliance AutoGas is now EPA-certified to convert more than 200 vehicle types to propane autogas utilizing the Prins System. The company is a conversion equipment provider and co-founding partner of American Alternative Fuel. American Alternative Fuel privately funded these EPA certifications to ensure fleet owners and managers nationwide can choose from a wide variety of vehicle makes and models when …
E85 Now Offered at Station in St. Petersburg, Fla
Starting this week, E85 is now available to flex-fuel vehicle drivers in St. Petersburg, Fla. at Bollinger’s Gas Station. This is the first E85 station in the area. The station, which specializes in auto repair, partnered with Protec Fuel, to install the E85. Protec, based in Florida, is a turnkey E85 company specializing in station conversions and fuel distribution. Bollinger’s …
Illinois Legislature Extends State Biodiesel Program
The Illinois state legislature has approved an extension of the state’s biodiesel blending program. The bill extends the sunset date for the biodiesel state sales tax incentives to Dec. 31, 2018. Any biodiesel blend of more than 10 percent continues to be eligible for fuel tax exemption. Since the inception of the B11 blending credits in 2004, more biodiesel has …
Christmas Gift List Choices
Gadgets – 28%, are tops on the Christmas gift list according to our latest ZimmPoll, followed closely by Paying Bills – 25%. Those choices were followed by Clothes, 19%; Other, 14%; Farm Equipment, 9% and Tools, 5%. I find it very interesting that no one chose Food! Wow. Food makes a great gift don’t you think? Maybe we’re all so …
Ethanol and the Corn Supply-Demand Picture
According to USDA, global corn production for 2011/12 is projected at a new record high of 867.5 million tons, despite a smaller crop here in the U.S. The latest World Agricultural Supply Demand report estimates the U.S. crop was down 3.5 million tons this year compared to last year, but foreign corn production is expected to be 43.4 million tons …
Doing the Ethanol Shuffle
There’s a hot new craze called the “Ethanol Shuffle” that’s sweeping seaports from Sao Paulo to Los Angeles. No, it’s not a new dance, this shuffle is all about the “confounded realignment of the global ethanol trade.” Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Vice President of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper wrote about the “Ethanol Shuffle” this week on the RFA E-xchange …
2012 Ag Events Calendar
ZimmComm New Media is proud to announce the very first (that we know of) Ag Events Calendar. This slick 10×15 wall calendar includes dates for all the major ag-related and biofuels events in 2012, along with photos each month from the 2011 events that we covered. There’s photos from the National Biodiesel Conference, National Ethanol Conference, Commodity Classic, Iowa Corn …
IRFA Elects 2012 Board of Directors and Officers
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) elected its new 2012 Board of Directors and executive committee during its annual meeting last week. 2012 IRFA Board of Directors include Brad Albin, Renewable Energy Group, who will serve as president; Rick Schwarck, Absolute Energy, vice president; Steve Bleyl, Green Plains Renewable Energy, treasurer and Brian Cahill, Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, secretary. Monte …