Today was the official release of the Associated Press (AP) article, “The secret, dirty cost of Obama’s green power push,” and the ethanol industry is outraged at the way corn ethanol was portrayed and by how Iowa farmer and retired Methodist pastor Leroy Perkins says his quotes were misrepresented. With the ethanol industry’s outrage gaining momentum, the AP responded by …
Wisconsin Biomass-Fueled Power Plant Goes Online
We Energies has brought its biomass-fueled power plant located on the site of Domtar Corporation’s Rothschild, Wisconsin, paper mill into commercial operation Friday, Nov. 8, 2013 after testing and commissioning activities were successfully completed. Wood, waste wood and sawdust are being used to produce up to 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity; steam provided by the plant is also supporting Domtar’s …
NASCAR Drives 5 Million Miles on E15
NASCAR has announced that during the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Phoenix it surpassed more than five million competition miles across its three national series on Sunoco Green E15, a biofuel blended with 15 percent ethanol, made from American grown corn. The five-million-miles have been accumulated across practice, qualifying and racing laps dating back to 2011 when the biofuel was …
BioEnergy Bytes
NewWorld Capital Group, LLC has announced a strategic investment in Astrum Solar, a residential solar installer. NewWorld will also assume a seat on Astrum’s Board of Directors. NewWorld’s co-investors in the transaction were CCM US, LLC and Constellation. Mario Garnero, founder and Chairman of Brasilinvest, Brazil´s foremost merchant bank, and one of the key people on the launching of ethanol …
Xcel Continues to Attack Rooftop Solar
Xcel energy has been fighting the loss of market share through its efforts to curb rooftop solar in areas in Colorado. The Alliance for Solar Choice is striking out against the utility for disregarding consumer choice in what they call “an attempt to protect its monopoly status and inflated profit margins.” This would occur if Xcel were able to eliminate …
9 Propane Conversion Centers Join Alliance AutoGas
Nine new propane conversion centers have joined the Alliance AutoGas, a U.S. distributor of PRINS autogas technologies. New members include: Benna Ford, Superior, Wisconsin R. Anthony Enterprises, Marion, Ohio MRT Manufacturing, Forest Hills, Virgina NAEU North American Upfitters, Hooksett, New Hampshire Northside Auto & Truck Service Watertown, Wisconsin Clean Car Conversions, Indianapolis, Indiana NTC Delta Transportation, Greenville, Mississippi Gary Sapp …
Mewah Acquiring Malaysian Biodiesel Plant
Mewah International, a palm oil refiner in Malaysia, will buy the biodiesel assets of Gomedic Sdn. Bhd for $13 million. Biodiesel Magazine reports the assets include 25,055 square meters of land, with a lease expiring in 2109, and a 30 MMgy biodiesel production facility. According to Mewah International, the biodiesel plant is strategically located in the vicinity of the company’s …
Minnesota Gets First Biodiesel Blender Pumps
Minnesota gets its first biodiesel blender pumps with some help from the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC). Staples Enterprises in Heron Lake has the pumps offering up to 20 percent biodiesel blends. “The store and the blender pumps have actually been in operation since January and we’re promoting biodiesel now during our fall celebration,” said Daric Zimmerman, Retail …
AP Story Causing Stir Before Release
The ethanol industry has gone on the offensive to defend itself against an Associated Press “investigative report” that has yet to be released for publication. Fuels America held a conference call today about the article which is embargoed until after midnight but was circulated last week on the internet. The call included Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Vice President of Research …
AP Story Fact Checking
A yet-to-be officially published “investigative report” by the Associated Press is causing an uproar in the ethanol industry which is responding ahead of time with fact checking on the article. The article included interviews with several industry leaders and farmers who are disturbed by what they have read in advance copies. One of those interviewed at length by the AP …