Each year during World Food Prize week, the Truth About Trade and Technology Global Farmer Roundtable brings farmers from all over the world to visit Couser Cattle Company in Nevada, Iowa. Owner Bill Couser not only produces cattle, he also grows plenty of corn on his operation and is a big proponent of ethanol as a means of getting the …
AFAI Launches “Jetropha” Campaign
Alternative Fuels Americas (AFAI), an advanced biofuels company, is launching Project Jetropha, a campaign to encourage and promote the use of Jatropha based biofuels in aircraft. The project website will be launched in the coming weeks. “The aviation industry has been under pressure to lower its disproportionately high contribution to carbon emissions,” said CEO Craig Frank. “With fuels costs comprising …
Denmark Awarded for Climate Achievements
Denmark has received the “Gift to the Earth” from WWF, for their climate achievements and its commitment to achieve 100 percent renewable energy across the economy by 2050. Jim Leape, WWF International Director General, will present the report to the Prime Minister of Denmark, Ms. Helle Thorning-Schmidt on October 21, 2013. “Denmark shows that it is possible to develop a …
BioEnergy Bytes
Morrison & Foerster has announced that Jeffrey A. Chester, a project finance and renewable energy lawyer, has joined the firm as a partner in Los Angeles. Chester will advise on global capital-raising transactions for the renewable and alternative energy space. He has closed more than 50 wind-power and two dozen solar-power project financings, including a 1,550-megawatt power purchase agreement by …
ChargePoint Invests for Massive EV Adoption
ChargePoint has teamed up with Key Equipment Finance, one of the nation’s largest bank-held equipment finance companies and an affiliate of KeyCorp, to spur mass electric vehicle (EV) adoption throughout the country. The two companies have launched a $100 million lease-to-own program for EV charging stations that will give small and medium sized companies and municipalities the opportunity to install …
Mixed Results on Impact of Govt. Shutdown
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “ Is shutdown affecting you?” Well, it’s a moot point now since the shutdown is over (for the time being). Our poll results were pretty well mixed though. Our poll results: · Yes, in a minor way –23% · Not at all – 23% · Can’t tell a difference – 25% · Not yet …
European Researchers Look to Turn Algae to Biofuel
University researchers in Europe are looking at ways to turn algae into biofuels, including biodiesel. This article from the BBC says Swansea University is teaming up with scientists in seven other European countries to find the best way of turning it into fuel. “The big driver behind the research for algae is the consideration about what we’re doing to our …
Sugar-Based Catalyst Could Help Brew Biodiesel
One of the knocks about trying to turn fatty wastes into biodiesel is the use of sulfuric acid to aid in the esterification process to remove the free fatty acids (FFAs) that appear in high quantities in low quality oils. But researchers at Wake Forest and Virginia Tech universities have found a sugar-based alternative to sulfuric acid to improve the …
ACE Supports EPA’s RVO Efforts
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding leaks in the press about the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard. While the majority of EPA employees were furloughed during the government shut down, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, along with several other of her key staff, remained on the job. ACE Executive Vice President …
Patriot Adds ICM Selective Milling Technology
Patriot Renewable Fuels LLC of Annawan, Illinois has purchased ICM’s patent-pending Selective Milling Technology (SMT). According to ICM, the technology increases ethanol yield, reduces viscosity and increases oil recovery. In addition, with the Patriot Renewable Fuels contract announcement, ICM and its partners have used this technology to increase ethanol yield to surpass more than one billion gallons of annual ethanol …