DuPont businesses Pioneer Hi-Bred and DuPont Industrial Biosciences are collaborating with Iowa State University in performing studies on residue to establish best practices in harvesting, storage and transportation, with an eye toward its use in cellulosic ethanol production in the near future. Agronomic benefits of residue removal include preventing stand establishment concerns in the following crop and avoiding nitrogen tie-up …
Aventine Resumes Work on Illinois Ethanol Plant
Aventine Renewable Energy plans to resume work next month on its ethanol plant located in Canton, Illinois. In September 2011, Aventine announced it was delaying work on the plant due to uncertainty surrounding its ability to secure critical third-party technical and engineering support. Since that time, the company has secured the support necessary to move the project forward and now …
Australia Ethanol Firm Gets Sustainable Certification
An Australian ethanol producer has received the first completed commercial certification from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB). The Manildra Group, through its subsidiary Shoalhaven Starches Pty Ltd, produces bioethanol from starchy wastewater generated by their wheat processing facility in New South Wales, Australia. The RSB certification means that “Manildra offers tangible evidence that sustainable biofuels may be efficiently and …
Breakthrough Could Make Fuel Cells More Efficient
A breakthrough by chemists at the University of California-Berkeley could have a profound impact on the growing market for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. In an article appearing this week in the journal Science, UC Berkeley chemists show how to construct a catalyst composed only of edges and demonstrate that it can catalyze the production of hydrogen from water as readily …
Corn Grower Ethanol Committee Explores Future
The Ethanol Committee of the National Corn Growers Association met in Kansas City this past week week to consider the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. “The market for ethanol has grown exponentially over the past decade, thus utilizing an abundance of corn to meet the already-present need for a renewable, domestic biofuel,” said Chad Willis, a Minnesota corn grower …
RFA Calls E15 Bill Another Stall Tactic
The president of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is calling a bill approved by a House subcommittee Tuesday yet another stall tactic to the use of higher ethanol blends in fuel. RFA’s Bob Dinneen says the legislation sponsored by Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) injects “parochial politics into the scientifically established process of approving new fuels.” “In approving E15, the Department …
NBB Chairman Talks About Biodiesel Industry Economic Benefits
National Biodiesel Chairman, Gary Haer, took to the stage at the National Biodiesel Conference to address attendees during a general session. He commented on the Presidential campaign in his state of Iowa and how nice it would be if they could get out and visit biodiesel plants on their campaign stops. A key focus of his remarks was how the …
Will Farm Equipment Sales Increase This Year?
In our latest ZimmPoll we asked the question, “What do you think about the proposed Egg Products Inspection legislation?”. I was surprised to find that although 59% said Dangerous precedent for livestock production, 41% said Necessary to save egg farming industry. Kind of a divided reaction. Does this surprise you? Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, …
Biodiesel Bike Built by Orange County Choppers
The big news today at the National Biodiesel Conference was the unveiling of the biodiesel bike built by Paul Teutul, Sr., Orange County Choppers. The bike was built in partnership with CIMA Green. Today the bike debuted on stage driven by former NBB Chairman, Ed Hegland. Then Paul Sr. himself drove it onto the biodiesel vehicle showcase floor where he …
USDA Funds Two Renewable Energy Programs
Two key programs that will encourage the use of renewable biomass and production of advanced biofuels is available through the FY 2012 USDA budget, according to the Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. About $25 million will be made available through each program. First, the Repowering Assistance Program provides approximately $25 million in funding to biorefineries that have been in existence on …