High oil prices threaten to topple a tipsy global economy that is still fragile and has yet to find stable ground according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) who issued a wakeup call to the world. The IEA recommends that high oil-consuming countries, such as the U.S., boost efforts to cut back on oil use. In response to these warnings, …
Soybean Checkoff Supports Biodiesel Promotion
The United Soybean Board (USB) has recommitted itself to the support of biodiesel through the soybean checkoff program. USB chairman Marc Curtis, a producer from Mississippi, and National Biodiesel Board chairman Gary Haer held a joint press conference at AG CONNECT Expo this past weekend to discuss the importance of biodiesel to the soybean industry. “We have research that shows …
Wesley Clark at AG CONNECT Expo
Retired General Wesley Clark visited the second AG CONNECT Expo Saturday in Atlanta to talk with farmers and ranchers visiting the event about the importance of ethanol to our nation’s security. Representing Growth Energy, Clark greeted folks at the CASE IH exhibit on the floor of the agricultural trade show. He also made time for some media interviews to talk …
Ethanol All The Way In NASCAR
Kenny Wallace, NASCAR driver, says, “Ethanol all the way in NASCAR!” That’s what he told me this afternoon in the American Farm Bureau Federation Pavilion on the floor of the AG CONNECT Expo. Thanks to Tricia Braid, Illinois Corn Growers, for setting up our interview and taking the photo. Kenny was signing autographs in the Nationwide Insurance exhibit. You won’t …
Biodiesel One of the Keys in Heating Oil Biz in 2011
The use of biodiesel in heating oil, better known as Bioheat, will be one of the key stories for the heating oil business in 2011. HeatingOil.com reports the green fuel for warm living will be in the top five stories for the new year: Biodiesel-blended heating oil (also known by its trademarked brand name, Bioheat) continued to make its way …
OriginOil CEO: 2011 Year of Algae Bio-based Chemicals
This year will be the year of bio-based chemicals made from algae … that according to the CEO of OriginOil, algae-to-biofuel maker. Riggs Eckelberry made the prediction on MoneyTV, an internationally-syndicated weekly business television program. “2011 is the year of biochemicals made from algae.” OriginOil on MoneyTV, 6 Jan 2011 from OriginOil on Vimeo. Eckelberry says some major players in …
Ethanol Alone Can’t Meet Renewable Fuel Goals
The U.S. is at the “blending wall” saturation point for ethanol use according to a new Purdue University study. The cause is lack of infrastructure to meet the federal mandate for renewable fuel use with ethanol, but the country could still meet the standard with significant increases in next-generation biofuels and cellulosic fuels. Wally Tyner, the James and Lois Ackerman …
Book Review – Why We Hate The Oil Companies
Two, four, six, eight, who do we love to hate? The oil companies! Despite my story lead, I was not a cheerleader in another life but I couldn’t get that cheer out of my head while I read this week’s book, “Why We Hate The Oil Companies Straight Talk From An Energy Insider,” by John Hofmeister. I recently gave Mr. …
Velasco Leaves UNICA for Amyris
The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) announced today that Joel Velasco, the organization’s Washington, DC-based Chief Representative for North America, is leaving the position he has held since 2007, to join Amyris, Inc., as Senior Vice-President, External Relations. “Joel has provided UNICA with wise counsel, effective strategy and solid results. We wish him well at Amyris and will continue cooperating …
Update on China DDGS Dumping Probe
Three years ago there were virtually no dried distillers grains (DDGS) going to China. Last year there were more than 1.5 million metric tons of DDGS exported to the country and some estimate that the number could be as high as 3 million metric tons at the close of this year. So, although the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) felt that …